FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2004
CONTACT: Kay Hendricks, ACCD Coordinator of Communication
210.208.8006
THREE ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGES ADD ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
The Alamo Community College District will begin offering alternative teacher certification at Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College and St. Philip’s College in August 2004. Applications for the programs are being accepted now through July 15. Applications submitted after July 15, 2004 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
San Antonio College’s alternative teacher certification program is currently underway, but applications will be accepted at SAC this fall for a new round of classes to begin in January 2005. The programs at all four colleges are being offered to meet the needs
of individuals who are interested in non-traditional routes to a teaching career and to help address the teacher shortage in Bexar County and across the state.
Anyone with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and an interest in teaching areas from early childhood (EC) to grade 12 may apply. In order to become a teacher, applicants must be accepted to the program and meet the college’s additional program requirements by certification area, satisfy a one-year internship requirement as a teacher-of-record (a paid position) and pass the state teacher certification examinations in content area, pedagogy and professional responsibilities.
The alternative teacher certification programs at Northwest Vista, Palo Alto and St. Philip’s College will include these content areas: bilingual generalist (Spanish) EC-4; special education EC-12; generalist 4-8; ESL/generalist 4-8; social studies 4-8 and
8-12; life science 8-12; physical science 8-12; and English language arts and reading
4-8. Additional content areas are being developed for spring and fall 2005.
The Alamo Community College District alternative teacher certification programs are approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and meet the requirements of the national No Child Left Behind Act.
Tuition and fees for the programs are among the lowest in the region and financial aid is available for qualified applicants. Information on costs and financial aid is available from the individual colleges.
For information on the web, visit www.accd.edu/district/ atcp/index.htm. For information by phone, call Northwest Vista College at 348-2376, Palo Alto College at 921-5030 or St. Philip’s College at 531-4784.
San Antonio College’s program offers certification in math, science and EC-4. For information and application deadlines for SAC’s program, visit their web site at www.accd.edu/sac/ce/cepp or call at 785-6221.