Department of Education

 

GDForum ID: 637

Description of Proposed Guidance Document Changes

The Virginia Career Switcher Alternative Route to Licensure Program was originally created in response to Senate Joint Resolution 384 and the 1999 Appropriation Act (Item 127D and 129Q). The legislation was designed to provide an alternative pathway to teaching for individuals who had not completed a teacher preparation curriculum, but had considerable life experiences, career achievements, and academic backgrounds that are relevant for teaching in pre-K through grade 12. The Board of Education approved conducting a pilot program for the career switcher program for military personnel during the summer of 2000. An amendment to the Licensure Regulations for School Personnel to establish an initial “Career Switcher” Alternative Route to Licensure Program for military personnel was approved by the Board during the fall of 2000. The Career Switcher Alternative Route to Licensure Pilot Program for Military Personnel for the 2000-2001 academic year, concluded on June 30, 2001. On November 30, 2000, the Board approved expanding the program to other professions. On November 27, 2001, the Board of Education approved the Licensure Regulations for School Personnel 8VAC 20-21-01 et. seq. – Establishing a Career Switcher Alternative Route to Licensure. Those regulations became effective February 13, 2002. Current regulations related to Alternate Routes to Licensure can be found in 8VAC-20-23-90. Career Switcher Program providers must go through a rigorous application process and be certified by the Virginia Department of Education in order for their program completers to be issued a Virginia teaching license. Programs are required to meet the requirements outlined in the regulations to be certified by the Department of Education. There are currently five certified programs in Virginia offered through institutions of higher education, including Shenandoah University, Regent University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Educate Virginia (Virginia Community College System). Certified career switcher programs are certified for five years after the first year of program services. Subsequent reviews are conducted on a five-year cycle, or as deemed necessary. In addition, each certified program must submit an Annual Report for review. The Recertification Guidance Document for Career Switcher Programs (July 2021) outlines the recertification process and the information needed from certified career switcher programs in order to be recertified by the Virginia Department of Education.

 

Guidance Document(s) for this Comment Forum

Document ID	Document Title	Document in Effect	Proposed Document
7069	Recertification Guidance Document for Virginia Career Switcher Programs	n/a	Proposed Document

 

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