Understanding Recently Changed State Requirements for NJ Alternate Route Programs
Last spring the Department of Education proposed updates to a range of teacher preparation and certification requirements, effective for the 2015-16 school year. These changes affect how teacher candidates earn their Certificate of Eligibility (CE) and how provisionally licensed teachers advance toward earning a standard certificate.
How have the program eligibility requirements changed?
The New Jersey Department of Education is phasing in more stringent requirements for teaching candidates. During the four phases of this interim period, candidates will need to pass a basic skills assessment, hold a 3.0 GPA and undergo new evaluation processes. Starting September 2017, alternate route candidates will also need to fulfill a clinical teaching requirement in approved learning settings prior to receiving a CE. Candidates must also complete additional formal instruction hours as a provisionally licensed teacher. This chart outlines these changes in requirements for initial, provisional, and standard teaching certifications based upon the year candidates start teaching with a CE: 
(See here for full memo from the New Jersey Department of Education)
How has the process changed?
Alternate Route Teachers must now enroll themselves in our program. The state will no longer manage the process for candidates. however, you may still support them in the enrollment process by completing this course registration form and faxing it to us. [Note: An online version can be found here] Candidates may, alternatively, visit our website to enroll.
They may register to attend classes at one of the following Rutgers course sites using the links below:
How will I know if my alternate route teacher is attending class?
We will provide an attendance confirmation for your alternate route teacher following the first day of class. You will also receive a Regional Training Center report documenting the teacher’s progress.
What are the responsibilities of my district/school?
Again, you may directly enroll your teachers in our program using this course registration form. It is also your responsibility to register your alternate route teacher in the state’s provisional teacher program. You may access the required form here and upon completing the form, fax it to the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of Licensing and Credentials. You must still offer mentoring support to candidates and evaluate their progress. Click here for more information on your responsibilities.
Once the district/school registers a candidate, how is payment handled?
Once you complete a course registration form for a candidate, we encourage you to provide a copy of the completed form to the candidate for her/his reference. Our course registration form outlines the payment policies for each of Rutgers sites. You may also choose to forward this list of links, which may be used for course payment, to your candidates:
What if classes start, and I still need to send my teachers for training?
The Rutgers sites will accept late registrants up to three weeks after the start of the class with the understanding that candidates will participate in scheduled Make Up Sessions to help them satisfy the course requirements in both content and hours. Simply notify us by contacting MaryEllen Morris at altroute@gse.rutgers.edu or 848-932-5656, and we will provide candidates with further logistical details.
We hope this brief overview of the process has been helpful, and we look forward to working with you to usher your alternate route teachers through their certification journey. If you require additional information regarding the program or process, feel free to contact us! Now that we’ve answered your questions, we also invite you to share our professional development resources with the career changers, substitute teachers and recent college graduates who are launching their teaching careers at your school.
The Rutgers Alternate Route Program has served New Jersey’s school districts for more than a decade, providing provisionally licensed teachers the required 200 hours of coursework prescribed by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Heather Ngoma has over 25 years of experience collaborating with educators across New Jersey to drive education innovation. She currently serves as the Director of the Rutgers-GSE Alternate Route Program in the Department of Learning and Teaching, a program which helps career changers, recent college graduates, and other aspiring education professionals become licensed teachers in New Jersey. Follow her on Twitter @heatherngoma.
