Alternative Route to Certification Programs

Guidelines for Submission of Proposals

Pursuant to KRS 161.028 as amended by the 2000 General Assembly, the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) is directed to promote and approve alternative route to certification programs offered through colleges/universities, private contractors, the Kentucky Department of Education, or the Kentucky Virtual University. “Alternative routes” must be significantly different from traditional preparation programs in design, but must adhere to the same standards of quality. The goal of every program, traditional or alternative, must be to provide each prospective teacher/administrator with the content, pedagogy, and field experiences necessary to making him/her a successful instructional leader.

Institutions/agencies seeking approval of alternative route programs should refer to the EPSB’s Approval of Alternative Route to Certification Programs Offered Under KRS 161.028 Policy and Procedure (September 11, 2000) contained herein. Proposals should include a one-page executive summary that includes the following: general description of the program, continuous assessment, program resources, mode of program delivery, faculty, and other items of note for the EPSB’s attention. Proposals should address the following:

Institution:

Date: 

Reviewer: 

Type of Proposal:

___ Individual Program

___ Umbrella Program

I. Statement of Intent ___ Unacceptable ___ Acceptable ___ Target

Narrative should include the following items: (0 = Not Present; + = Present; I = Inadequate) 

___ What will be offered?

___ Why is an alternative to the traditional program necessary?

___ How will this program differ from the traditional program? (Pursuant to KRS 161.028, the EPSB may “waive administration regulations if needed in order to implement the program.” Institutions must specify any regulations for which a waiver will be requested and the rationale for same.)

II. Program Description ___ Unacceptable ___ Acceptable ___ Target

Contains: (Ö = Present; Blank = Not Present) 

___ Methods of delivery

___ Timeline and sequence of courses/activities

___ Clinical/field experiences

___ Faculty

___ Dedicated resources

___ Collaboration with colleges/departments outside education

___ Incorporation of Kentucky Teacher/Principal Internship Programs

III. Admission Criteria __ Unacceptable ___ Acceptable ___ Target

(Must include a plan for evaluating a candidate’s previous educational and work experiences, and how that evaluation will be used in determining which program requirements the candidate must fulfill.) 

IV. Program/Candidate Continuous Assessment Plan (if different from the one approved by the EPSB for the traditional program) ___ Unacceptable ____ Acceptable ____ Target

V. Curriculum Contract ___ Unacceptable ____ Acceptable ____ Target

Waivers requested: _____ Yes _____ No

Regulations: ________________________________________________________________________

VI. Executive Summary Includes:

Theme of the unit ____
Brief description of: Continuous Assessment Plan ____
KERA Initiatives ____
EPSB Themes ____
Unique features of the program ____
Rationale for the implementation of the program ____
Differentiation between this program and traditional program ____

NOTE: As noted in the EPSB policy, alternative route programs based on existing certification programs for which the institution already has EPSB approval may be submitted under a single “umbrella” proposal. Alternative route programs in certification areas for which the institution does not hold prior EPSB approval must be submitted individually and go through the EPSB’s regular program approval process.

Approval of Alternative Route to Certification Programs offered under KRS 161.028
Policy and Procedure

Pursuant to KRS 161.028, the Education Professional Standards Board (hereinafter “the Board”) is directed to promote and approve alternative route to certification programs offered through colleges/universities, private contractors, the Kentucky Department of Education, or the Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University. The following procedure shall be followed regarding the submission and approval of alternative programs offered under this statute. Alternative routes to certification established by the General Assembly in KRS 161.048 are governed by the requirements in that statute, related statutes, and corresponding administrative regulations, and are not included in this policy.

Kentucky Colleges and Universities

A Kentucky college or university (public or private) that has received accreditation from the Board for its teacher education unit shall follow the following procedure:

• Submission and approval of alternative route to certification programs shall be done in accordance with the program approval requirements of 16 KAR 5:010, Section 17 (and its ensuing reference to Section 8 of the same regulation).
• If the alternative route to certification program is offered in addition to or in conjunction with a previously approved, traditional program in the certification area(s), the alternative route program shall be considered a “new” or “substantially revised” program as defined in Section 17 of this regulation.
• If a college or university is requesting the alternative route program for one or several certification areas for which the teacher education unit has previously received approval, then the college or university may submit only one (1) program for approval denoting all the previously approved certification areas it intends to offer through the alternative route; this single program must contain all relevant information delineated in Section 8 of 16 KAR 5:010 for each certification area offered through the alternative route. If the college or university is requesting the alternative route program for a new certification area for which the teacher education unit has not previously received approval, then the college or university shall submit an individual program for each new program/certification area.
• Submission and approval of an alternative route program can occur at anytime during an accredited institution’s accreditation cycle and the Board will make diligent efforts to review and approve programs in a prompt and efficient manner.
• A college or university that has not received full accreditation of its teacher education units must submit alternative route programs in accordance with the timelines provided throughout 16 KAR 5:010 for institutions pursuing full accreditation.

Colleges and Universities located outside of Kentucky

A college or university having its parent institution geographically located outside of Kentucky, but which chooses to offer teacher education programs in Kentucky must meet all of the standards for accreditation as an institution established in 16 KAR 5:010 prior to submission of an alternative route to certification program. (See Accreditation of Preparation Programs Policy and Procedure November 8, 1999.) Following approval of the teacher education unit, the out-of-state college or university may submit alternative route programs under the same guidelines established above for Kentucky colleges and universities.

Kentucky Department of Education

For purposes relating to the submission and approval of alternative route to certification programs under KRS 161.028 (1)(q), the Kentucky Department of Education shall adhere to the program approval requirements of 16 KAR 5:010, Section 17 (and its ensuing reference to Section 8 of the same regulation). The Board may waive any Section, or part thereof, of 16 KAR 5:010 that is unduly restrictive to the development and implementation of the program.

Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University

For purposes relating to the submission and approval of alternative route to certification programs under KRS 161.028 (1)(q), the Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University shall adhere to the program approval requirements of 16 KAR 5:010, Section 17 (and its ensuing reference to Section 8 of the same regulation). The Board may waive any Section, or part thereof, of 16 KAR 5:010 that is unduly restrictive to the development and implementation of the program.

Private Contractors

KRS 161.028 (1)(q) allows the Board to approve alternative route to certification programs offered by private contractors. Private contractors must meet the accreditation standards established throughout 16 KAR 5:010 and the specific program approval guidelines established in Section 17 (and Section 8) of the administrative regulation. The Board shall review the merit of the request for approval and the fiscal and educational credibility of the “private contractor” offering the program; the Board may waive any requirements in 16 KAR 5:010 that it deems unduly restrictive to a private contractor’s request or to promotion of the alternative routes.

The Board will promote and approve those alternative route to certification programs that, in its professional judgment, meet the same rigorous standards for obtaining and maintaining certification that govern traditional programs.

The Board will review the alternative route to certification programs in a fair and efficient manner, with balanced deference to quality and supply issues.

Program proposals and requests for assistance should be submitted to: 

Division of Educator Preparation
Marilyn Troupe, Division Director
100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Phone: (502) 564-4606
Fax: (502) 564-7080
Toll Free: (888) 598-7667
E-mail: Marilyn.Troupe@ky.gov

Contact Division of Educator Preparation

Return to Guidelines for Submission Homepage