State Certification.

Overview & Synopsis

This paper notes that the demand for qualified special education personnel, the problem of emergency certification, and other pressures have led to a growing interest in alternative routes to teacher certification. The school reform movement has intensified efforts to professionalize teacher education and to improve the quality of teacher preparation and student performance. Many states reformed their teacher education, licensing, and compensation processes through legislative enactments during the 1980's. Several possible solutions to these certification issues are proposed. Solutions include narrowing the disparities in different states' special education terminology, philosophical bases, and training practices; developing interstate agreements; and assessing alternative certification programs. The paper concludes that there appears to be a mismatch between the needs of special education consumers and the trainees produced, which relates not only to trainee competencies and understanding, but also to the positions for which they are being prepared. Making necessary changes in training philosophy, resources, and quality concerns requires a highly collaborative effort among state education agencies, local education agencies, and institutions of higher education to develop state certification to meet the challenges. (19 references) (JDD)