The UHCL School of Education offers the Alternative Certification Program in cooperation with local school districts. This training program allows teaching certificate candidates who have earned a Bachelor’s degree to be employed as full-time teachers while they complete their certification. The length of the program may be from one to three years, depending on the students' qualifications. The UHCL ACP meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of Education's (USDE) definition of "highly qualified" under the No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB). According to the USDE and NCLB, each school district must ensure that all teachers hired who teach Core academic subjects funded by Title I funds are "highly qualified." An uncertified educator is able to meet this "highly qualified" definition by:

• Holding a bachelor's degree or higher from an approved institution,
• Being admitted to an SBEC approved ACP
• Passing the content state assessments required for the certification area being sought

The UHCL Alternative Certification Program guarantees intensive, sustained supervision. An added benefit of the UHCL Alternative Certification Program is that many of the courses count toward a Master’s in education. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates earn initial certification and are well on the way to completing a Master’s degree.

UHCL offers the following options to students seeking teacher certification:

Early Childhood – 6 (EC-6)
EC-6 Generalist
EC-6 Bilingual Generalist
EC-6 ESL Generalist

4-8 Options:
4-8 English Language Arts & Reading
4-8 English Language Arts, Reading & SS
4-8 Generalist
4-8 ESL Generalist
4-8 Mathematics
4-8 Science
4-8 Social Studies

8-12 Options
8-12 History
8-12 English Language Arts & Reading
8-12 Life Science
8-12 Mathematics
8-12 Social Studies

All Level
EC-12 Special Education (all level)

The State Board of Education Certification (SBEC) has approved this program.

Applications deadlines:

• Fall 2010 Internship entry:
  • June 11, 2010 for bilingual certifications
  • July 11, 2010 for all other certifications
    

Candidates Must Have the Following:

• Degree – Must have an earned bachelor’s degree, or higher, from an approved accredited institution. Must be conferred by May for fall entry or December for spring entry into the program. Those students who signed a “UHCL Waiver for Permission to Graduate with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies Without Certification” form are not eligible to enter the ACP Program. If you are a UHCL School of Education undergraduate candidate seeking certification in EC-4 Bilingual, EC-12 Special Education or 4-8 Generalist, you may qualify for this program. Contact an SOE Academic Advisor for additional information.
  
• GPA – Must have at least a 2.500 overall Grade Point Average (GPA). This overall GPA includes all course work from all collegiate institutions attended—not just UHCL. If a candidate does not have a 2.5000 overall GPA, then a 2.500 GPA in the last 60 hours of course work may be accepted (includes all course work in the semester of the 60th hour).
  
• Informational Meetings –Informational Meetings are scheduled during the spring semester for fall 2009 entry. When meetings are scheduled, dates and times will also be posted on the CPDT bulletin board in the hallway of Suite 1231. For Fall 2010 internship entry, the Informational Meetings schedule:
  
  • April 5, 5 pm – 6 pm, Room B1510, Garden Room
  • May 1, 10 am – 11 am, Room B1418, Forest Room
  • June 7, 5 pm – 6 pm, Room B1510, Garden Room
    

  Rooms to be announced as assigned. Dates and rooms are subject to change.
  

• State Assessment – Must pass the TExES content area state assessment that are appropriate level and certification being sought.
  
• Enrollment - Must be admitted to UHCL by the Office of Enrollment Services before the Alternative Certification Program application deadline in order for SOE Advising to obtain transcripts from Admissions to calculate your GPA. Enroll as a “School of Education Graduate” and in the section labeled “Graduate Teaching Cert (ND)” check off the certificate you are pursuing.
  
• Teaching Job
  Must have a signed contract or “Intent to Hire” letter for full-time Teacher of Record employment in an approved teaching field by August , 20 2010 for Fall 2010 internship entry from one of the following districts: