RECONSIDERING EMERGENCY TEACHING CERTIFICATES AND ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS AS RESPONSES TO TEACHER SHORTAGES

This article examines two recent studies on alternative certification programs and presents findings from a survey of emergency-certificated teachers. These studies reveal vast differences in emergency teacher preparation. Although some alternative certification programs may represent a more responsible approach to teacher shortages than emergency certificates, in terns in these programs still assume full teaching responsibility with substandard training and experience. It appears that students of emergency-certificated teachers and alternative certification interns bear a considerable cost in the education of these teachers.