Q: Who is eligible for the program?
A: Any mid-career professional, recent college graduate or paraprofessional who is interested in teaching students with Mild/Moderate educational needs and is not a currently licensed or a certified teacher.
Substitute Teachers, Reserve Teachers, Teacher's Aides, and Tutor's may be eligible for the program. Contact Thad Haddad for eligibility details. All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than education.
A: Participants must have:
1. A Bachelor's degree in any field other than education with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher
or acceptable scores on the GRE/MAT
2. Minimum passing scores of 173 in Reading, 172 in Mathematics and 172 in Writing on the Praxis I
3. An acceptable criminal background check from BCI and FBI
4. Participants must also be accepted and enrolled in the University of Dayton's Graduate School
5. Be selected by a participating school district (Interview required)
Q: Is there any way to be eligible for the program if my undergraduate GPA is below 2.75?
A: Yes. Individuals with an undergraduate GPA below 2.75 may be eligible for the program by completing the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) and by being accepted to the University of Dayton's graduate school. Minimum acceptable score on the MAT is a raw score of 40 or a scaled score of 396. Minimum acceptable scores on the GRE are: Verbal = 430 and Analytical writing = 4.0. The Quantitative section is not required.
Q: Do I have to complete the Praxis I test?
A: Yes. Passing scores on all three sections of the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) is a program requirement. It is required regardless of degrees or experience. Please note that ACT or SAT scores cannot be used in lieu of the Praxis I.
A: Visit www.ets.org and select "Praxis" from the homepage.
Q: Is there study material available for the Praxis I exam?
A: Yes. Please click on the following link. http://www.praxisprepinfo.com/ You may also obtain study material from your local library or from www.ets.org.
Q: When can I apply to the program?
A: Applications may be completed and submitted on a year-round basis.
Q: How do I obtain an Information and Application Packet?
A: The Information and Application packet can be downloaded by clicking here.
Q: When is the deadline for applying to the program?
A: The deadline for submitting ALL application paperwork for cohort #11 is February 18, 2011.
Q: Can previously completed coursework count toward the program requirements?
A: No. Program participants will not be able to count previously completed coursework for any of the 30 semester hours that are provided by the project to obtain an Alternative Educator License. Coursework beyond the Alternative Educator License may be eligible for credit by consulting with the University of Dayton.
Q: When will I need to complete Praxis II?
A: In Ohio, individuals in the area of special education must pass Praxis II prior to obtaining a Provisional Educator License.
Q: How long does it take to obtain a Professional Educator License through Ohio's Alternative Pathway?
A: Participants in the Transition to Teaching program are able to obtain a Professional Educator License approximately five years from the time they start the program. (12-16 months to obtain an Alternative Educator License, two years to obtain a Provisional Educator License, and two years to obtain a Professional Educator License).
Q: How often is the training offered?
A: Training through the Transition to Teaching program is offered each year. The program begins each April.
Q: When does the training begin?
A: The training for cohort #11 is scheduled to begin on April 16, 2011. A mandatory orientation for all selected partcipants will be held on April 16, 2011.
Q: How long does it take to complete the training?
A: Although this number may vary, the training will take approximately 12-16 months to complete.
Q: How many individuals can participate in the training?
A: The Transition to Teaching project can accept up to 50 participants per year. This number may change depending on the number of teachers needed by the participating school districts.
Q: What types of courses are included in the training?
A: To obtain an Alternative Educator License, participants will complete courses in human development, educating students with diverse educational needs, behavior management, introduction to learners with mild/moderate needs, assessment, curriculum, instructional strategies, assistive technology, reading methods, children's literature, and field experience in Special Education. For a complete list of courses, click here.
Q: Where are the courses taught?
A: A combination of online courses and face-to-face instruction will be used, with the expectation of weekend meetings (Saturday). Some evening classes may be scheduled. Some independent study may be scheduled at the discretion of the instructor. Evening classes and independent study will take place within the school district. Monthly Professional Development workshops will take place at the University of Dayton - Columbus Center in Columbus, Ohio on Saturdays. A majority of coursework will be completed on-line.
Q: How often will I attend class?
A: A majority of coursework will be completed in an on-line format. However, certain courses may require that classes be held one or two nights per week for approximately two hours per session. Certain courses may require that class be held occasionally on a weekend (Saturdays) for up to 6 hours. The field experience hours will be arranged individually.
Q: Can I keep my current job while completing the training?
A: Yes. The program is designed to offer a level of accessibility and flexibility that is not always available through a traditional teacher preparation program. Participants may keep their day-time jobs while completing the program.
Q: Will I receive a Master's degree after completing the training?
A: No. The Transition to Teaching program is designed to meet the licensure requirements in Ohio. This is a licensure program only, however some coursework taken within the program may be applied towards a Master's degree at the University of Dayton.
Q: What school districts are participating in the Transition to Teaching program?
A: As of June 2010, the school districts represented are, Akron Public Schools, Cincinnati Public Schools, Columbus City Schools, Dayton Public Schools, Mansfield City Schools, Springfield City Schools and Trotwood-Madison City Schools.
Note: Participating school districts may change. Please check with the program coordinator for the most up-to-date listing.
Q: When will I be employed by the respective school district?
A: Participants will be employed by the appropriate school district after successfully completing the Transition to Teaching program and obtaining an Alternative Educator License. Cohort #11 participates are expected to be employed by the school districts in August/September of 2012 for the 2012/2013 school year.
Q: How will my placement with the school district be determined?
A: Personnel from each district will work closely with participants throughout the program to determine each participant's interest and preference. However, participants will be placed in the school district according to the staffing needs of each district.
Q: How much do the positions in the represented school districts pay?
A: For specific employment information, please contact the appropriate individual as listed on the "Contact Us" page.
Q: Will my placement with the represented school districts provide any benefits?
A: For specific district employment information, please contact the appropriate individual as listed on the "Contact Us" page.
Q: Will I receive additional assistance and guidance once I am placed in the represented school district?
A: Yes. Each participant, who is placed in a school district, will receive a mentor who will help orient them and provide guidance throughout the first year of teaching.
