Assessment of Teacher Certfication/Licensure

           Chapter thirteen describes the assessment for teacher certification/licensure for three states.  The states used are Kentucky, Utah, and California.  To assure that our business teacher education programs are developing highly qualified teachers, the qualifications of business teachers must be scrutinized and assessed.  Each state discussed represents a different region of the National Business Education Association.

            In Kentucky, business educators are certified to teach grades 5 through 12.  Certification is based upon the completion of an accepted four-year teacher preparation program that includes student teaching and testing when applicable.  The approval of teacher education programs rests with the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) Kentucky teacher certification involves three rank levels and a state-prescribed internship.  The multiple levels are to encourage teachers to continue their education and update their skills.  There are also alternative routes to teacher certification, which is mainly used by candidates who did not follow the traditional education route in becoming certified.  The EPSB has set high standards for college and university programs approved to prepare business and marketing education teachers in the Commonwealth.

            In Utah, there are state specialists who are responsible for establishing state standards for five distinct business-related content areas.  The content areas include business education, economics and entrepreneurship, keyboarding, information technology, and marketing education.  The teacher program standard, along with the institutional requirements, are designed to prepare business teachers and marketing teacher to teach courses related to the various subject areas in the 6-12 grade levels.  There is a traditional route and an alternative route to licensure.  The traditional route has two levels of licensure requirements.  The alternative route is through Alternative Routes to Licensure (ARL) and is for individuals who lack teacher preparation.  Utah is also in its initial stage of implementing the PRAXIS II test.  The state has recently implemented NCLB requirements into the licensure process which is being accomplished through content area assessment testing in both the traditional and alternative routes.

            In California, the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing (CCTC) launched an extensive standards and assessment development effort designed to improve the preparation of K-12 teachers.  The result of that effort was the passage of SB 2042, which is a two-tier credential with specific requirements for each tier.  To teach in California, candidates must graduate from a college/university that has a subject-matter competency program in business teacher education that has been approved by CCTC.  For alternative paths to certification, there are four options:  The California Subject Examination for Teachers exam; Transcript evaluation; supplementary authorizations; and individuals who hold an out-of-state credential.

            It is interesting to learn about the requirements of other states for being a business education teacher.  I know that if I teach in a different state I will have to meet their requirements.

McDonald, M. L., LaBonty, D., & Lacy, R. C. (2007). Assessment for Teacher Certification/Licensure. In M.L. Bush (Ed.), Assessment for an Evolving Business Education Curriculum (pp. 172-185). Reston, VA: National Business Education Association