Internet Sites:
• Can Teacher Quality Be Effectively Assessed? (2004)
“In this paper, we describe the results of a study, based on a unique data set from North Carolina, assessing the relationship between NBPTS certification of teachers and elementary level student achievement.” Produced by the Urban Institute.
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/410958_NBPTSOutcomes.pdf
• NBPTS Certification: Who Applies and What Factors are Associated with Success?
“We find that with all else equal, those teachers who are African- American, and/or female, score higher on standardized tests or are younger are more likely to apply for certification. With respect to NBPTS certification, we find that African-American and male teachers are less likely to be certified. Finally, we find that teachers who score higher on standardized tests are more likely to be certified.”
http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=410656
• The Effectiveness of “Teach for America” and Other Under-certified Teachers on Student Academic Achievement: A Case of Harmful Public Policy
“The academic achievements of students taught by under-certified primary school teachers were compared to the academic achievements of students taught by regularly certified primary school teachers. This sample of under-certified teachers included three types of under-qualified personnel: emergency, temporary and provisionally certified teachers.”
http://olam.ed.asu.edu/epaa/v10n37/
• Research and Rhetoric on Teacher Certification: A Response to “Teacher Certification Reconsidered”
An article from the Education Policy Analysis Archives by Linda Darling-Hamilton addressing the effectiveness of certified and uncertified teachers.
http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v10n36.html
• The Effectiveness of “Teach for America” and Other Under-certified Teachers on Student Academic Achievement: A Case of Harmful Public Policy
An article from the Education Policy Analysis Archives by Ildiko Laczko-Kerr and David C. Berliner addressing the effectiveness of certified and uncertified teachers.
http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v10n37/
• Moving Past the Politics: How Alternative Certification Can Promote Comprehensive Teacher Development Reforms (2002)
From the National Association of State Boards of Education, a report on the merits of alternative teacher certification programs.
http://www.nasbe.org/Archives/alt_cert_report.pdf
• Teacher Certification Links
This site contains a list of links to the teacher certification offices in the various state departments of education.
http://philville.com/tchrcert.html
• 50 States’ Certification Requirements
An ongoing project to collect the teacher certification requirements for the 50 states. Certifications for 48 states currently listed.
http://www.uky.edu/Education/TEP/usacert.html
• National Board Certification
This site includes information on national board certification available through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
http://www.nbpts.org/standards/nbcert.cfm
• State Contacts for Alternative Teacher Certification
From the National Center for Education Information; in many cases, names of individuals and email and telephone contact information are provided along with postal address for inquiries.
http://www.ncei.com/State-alt-contact.htm
• National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education (NASDTEC) Interstate Contract Information
The NASDTEC Interstate Contract is an agreement which facilitates the movement of educators among the various states and other jurisdictions which have signed the contract. Although there are conditions applicable for each jurisdiction, the Contract allows an educator certificate or license in one state or jurisdiction to be accepted for certification in another state or jurisdiction.
http://www.nasdtec.org/contract.tpl
• Praxis Series Online
The Praxis Series is an Educational Testing Service (ETS) program that provides tests and other services for states to use as part of their teacher certification process. Colleges and universities use these assessments to qualify individuals for entry into teacher education programs. The Praxis Series is the choice of 36 of the 40 states that include tests as part of their teacher licensure process.
http://www.ets.org/praxis/
• ERIC Digest – “I Already Have a Bachelor’s Degree, How Can I Obtain a Teaching License?” (1998)
http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-3/degree.htm
• ERIC Digest – A Guide to Organizations Involved with Licensing and Certification of Teachers and Accreditation of Teacher Education Programs. (1999)
http://www.ericdigests.org/2000-3/guide.htm