COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 100
July 26, 2002
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
"Career Switcher" Alternative Route to Licensure
Program |
In 2000, the Board of Education piloted
a career switcher program for military personnel who were interested in
becoming public school teachers. The
program offered qualified men and women an opportunity to begin new careers as
classroom teachers, without having to enroll in a traditional teacher
preparation program at a college or university. In 2001, the board piloted another career switcher program, this
one for individuals from other professions.
After two successful years, the two pilot programs have graduated more
then 200 highly qualified and motivated teachers, increasing the number of
persons needed in the public schools to fill positions in critical teacher
shortage areas. On February 13, 2002, the board amended the Licensure Regulations for School Personnel
(8 VAC 20-21-01 et seq.) to establish the career switcher program.
With school enrollments continuing to
grow and current teacher retirement rates increasing, states are faced with the
need for a large number of teachers within a short period of time. Since 1990, at least 45 states have adopted
some type of alternative licensure program for teachers. Graduates of these nontraditional programs
tend to teach high demand subjects such as mathematics and science and have
higher retention rates despite being concentrated in more challenging locales
such as the inner cities or isolated rural areas.
In an effort to provide additional
information on the career switcher program, the Department of Education
recently developed a brochure describing the program in detail. Enclosed is a copy of the brochure for you
to view and disseminate. Copies of the
brochure will also be shared with others in your school divisions. Further information regarding the career
switcher program can be found at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/newvdoe/teached.html.
Please do not hesitate to contact Dr.
Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent, Division of Teacher Education and
Licensure, (804) 371-2522, or David A. Crossley, education specialist,
alternative routes to licensure and recruitment, Division of Teacher Education
and Licensure mailto:dcrossley@mail.vak12ed.edu,
(804) 225-2802,if you have any questions regarding the "career
switcher" alternative route to licensure program.
JLD/TAE/dac
cc: Human Resource Directors
Profession in Virginia