Teaching

The shortage of qualified teachers is causing a national crisis in our educational system. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and NJN are working together to promote public awareness of the shortage in the teaching profession.

The Need

As school populations grow nationwide, school districts, especially in urban areas, are struggling to find ways to attract new teachers and keep them there. The bulk of the nation's teaching force is nearing retirement age, with most teachers in their mid-40s to early 50s. States and school districts nationwide are offering incentives in the way of signing bonuses, as well as covering relocation costs. States are awarding scholarships to education majors who agree to teach in low-income areas, adding low-cost rental housing, affordable mortgages and financial aid for graduate-level tuition at state universities. Pursuing a teaching career is one of the most noble things one can do. Of course, being a good teacher is not easy. Being entrusted to make our young people smart, responsible human beings is an enormous task. But no other profession offers the potential to create a more positive impact on a community.

Qualifications for becoming a teacher

When considering a career as a teacher, certification is required to teach in a public school. While every state has its own requirements, all states require the following:

• A bachelor's degreeCompletion of an approved teacher training programA prescribed number of academic subject and education credits
• Supervised practice teaching

Certification is usually granted by the state board of education or a certification advisory committee. Teachers may be certified to teach the early childhood grades (usually preschool through grade 3; the elementary grades (grades K through 6 or 8); or a special subject field, such as reading or math. In most states, special education teachers receive a credential to teach in grades kindergarten through grade 12. These teachers train in a particular specialty, such as teaching children with learning disabilities or behavioral disorders. Contact the education department or licensing office in your state.

Many colleges and universities offer education programs that will help prepare you for a career in the classroom, including giving you your certification and teaching experience. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (www.ncate.org) publishes an annual list of accredited schools, colleges, and departments of education.

Because there are many public schools that do not have enough teachers and are desperately looking for new recruits, there are short cuts to getting into the classroom. Many states can issue emergency credentials to college graduates who want to teach, but who have not met the state's minimum requirements for regular credentials. But these emergency credentials are given on the condition that the teacher will eventually take all of the required courses for valid certification. So the teacher must take classes outside of work while he/she is teaching.

Also, some states offer alternative teacher certification to college graduates who lack teacher education training but have some experience in subject areas where teachers are needed. Provisional certificates have been offered to compensate for this shortage, and these teachers are given a specified time to complete requirements.

In New Jersey, novice teachers become certified through the Provisional Teacher Program. This program offers two ways to become a certified teacher:

• Traditional Route
  
  Teachers must be graduates of a four-year accredited college/university with an academic major in the subject field they will teach and a minimum 2.5 grade point average. They must also have completed an approved teacher preparation program culminating in a successful student teaching experience and achieve a passing score on the appropriate Praxis test. Traditional route teachers must complete a year long mentoring experience under the direction of school based professionals to achieve a standard teaching certificate.



• Alternate Route
  
  Teachers must be graduates of a four-year accredited college or university, have at least a 2.5 grade point average and achieve a passing score on the appropriate Praxis test. Alternate Route teachers are required to complete an initial 20 days of intense mentoring before assuming full responsibility of a class. They must also complete 200 hours of formal instruction and a year long mentoring experience under the direction of school based professionals to achieve a standard teaching license.