American Board presents online alternative certification model and Alabama application details

Isabel Welch, director of government affairs at American Board, presented to the Alabama State Board of Education about American Board’s online alternative-route teacher-preparation program and the organization’s application to operate in Alabama.

Welch described American Board as an online, competency-based program designed for career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree. She said candidates are typically about 39 years old, that American Board has certified nearly 20,000 teachers nationwide and that the organization operates in 14 states. Welch said the program is self-paced, includes online modules, practice exams and a remediation team of licensed teachers who provide support after candidates attempt exams.

In Alabama, Welch told the board that candidates completing the American Board route must also pass the state’s required assessments: the approved subject-area and pedagogy assessments and the foundations of reading assessment where applicable, and must participate in the Alabama teacher mentorship program during their first one to two years in the classroom, depending on the district. She said American Board also administers its own pedagogy and subject-area exams and that many candidates complete the program in roughly seven to ten months.

Welch said the program costs about $1,900 and that American Board offers installment plans, discounts for school districts and military personnel, and partnerships such as DOD SkillBridge for service members transitioning to civilian employment.

She cited a Drexel University study American Board commissioned that surveyed more than 150 principals across 12 states, reporting that 95% of American Board-trained teachers performed “better than or equivalent to” traditionally prepared teachers across assessed aspects and that 97% of principals expected to retain American Board teachers. Welch said the study’s results and employer feedback were part of American Board’s application materials.

Board members asked Welch whether the program includes supervised classroom internships and she said American Board’s program does not include a student-teaching internship; instead, candidates who enter classrooms do so under state provisional or alternate licenses and participate in the state mentorship program. Welch said the program has a help desk and remediation team, and that tutors and remediators are licensed teachers.

Welch answered additional questions about candidate subjects and said elementary and special education have the most participants; she said American Board’s special-education pathway has been used in rural districts lacking certified special-education teachers.

The presentation included a description of American Board’s application materials submitted to the State Department of Education, including years of operation in each state and documentation showing the program has been operating since 2001.

Board action: the item was a presentation and Q&A; no vote was recorded.

Ending — Next steps: Welch said American Board would follow up with board staff and could provide more detailed enrollment breakdowns on request.