Thursday, April 30, 2009
August AEPA Test Date Added
NES/Pearson, the testing provider for the AEPA exams has announced a Supplemental test date not originally in the 08-09 test schedule. A new test for August 22 is scheduled only for subject knowledge tests. Professional knowledge (#91, #92) will not be available for testing on this new date. With the state "phasing out" the Emergency Certification, candidates will have the Teacher Intern pathway as their only option if not full certified. There are five basic requirements for the Teacher Intern pathway: have a bachelor's degree (in any field), a DPS IVP fingerprint clearance card, a passing score on the subject knowledge AEPA for which you are seeking a teaching position and be enrolled in a state board approved teacher preparation program. The next step after meeting these requirements is to compete for available teacher vacancies. The Teacher Intern pathway allows you to teach for two years while completing the education coursework required for certification. After the two year period, all education coursework and additional AEPA testing, qualified Interns will then transition to the regular AZ provisional teacher certification. As we always recommend, it is in your best interest to take the AEPA subject tests as soon as possible, especially given that the test is normally only administered 6 times a year. Passing the subject test is the first step in the right direction toward possibly entering the Teacher Intern pathway. For information on the new August 22nd administration date for subject knowledge tests, see http://www.aepa.nesinc.com/AZ_ann082209admin.asp
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
New AEPA Math Workshop
A new workshop is being offered through Arizona State University's College of Teacher Education and Leadership. The new workshop is specifically designed for those seeking to "brush up" on preparing for the AEPA Math (#10) upcoming testing dates of June 6th and July 11th. ASU West campus will hold the two day workshop May 16th and 30th (0800-1300) and the Downtown campus will hold the two day workshop June 20th and 27th (0800-1300). For more information and to register, go to http://ctel.asu.edu/community/learning_forever/.
You can find the only "official" study guides from the testing company available for download at http://www.aepa.nesinc.com/AZ_viewSG_opener.asp.
However, other test preparation materials are available for purchase at
http://www.xamonline.com/browse/Arizona
http://www.mo-media.com/aepa/
http://www.flashcardsecrets.com/aepa/
As a reminder, we always recommend you take the subject knowledge test for the academic area you wish to teach as soon as possible. Keep in mind the test results post 30 days after the test administration date. So, of the two upcoming test dates (6/6, 7/11), the July test results won't post until 8/10, after most AZ schools will already be back in session. Having a passing score on the subject knowledge test is one of the first steps to pursuing the alternative path certification - the teacher intern - which allows you to teach in the content area while completing the education coursework and other AEPA test (professional knowledge) over a two year period. For more information or inquiries on whether this pathway might work for you, contact the AZ TTT Academic and Certification Advisor, Ashford Harrigan, at aharrigan@azdvs.gov or 602-234-8421.
You can find the only "official" study guides from the testing company available for download at http://www.aepa.nesinc.com/AZ_viewSG_opener.asp.
However, other test preparation materials are available for purchase at
http://www.xamonline.com/browse/Arizona
http://www.mo-media.com/aepa/
http://www.flashcardsecrets.com/aepa/
As a reminder, we always recommend you take the subject knowledge test for the academic area you wish to teach as soon as possible. Keep in mind the test results post 30 days after the test administration date. So, of the two upcoming test dates (6/6, 7/11), the July test results won't post until 8/10, after most AZ schools will already be back in session. Having a passing score on the subject knowledge test is one of the first steps to pursuing the alternative path certification - the teacher intern - which allows you to teach in the content area while completing the education coursework and other AEPA test (professional knowledge) over a two year period. For more information or inquiries on whether this pathway might work for you, contact the AZ TTT Academic and Certification Advisor, Ashford Harrigan, at aharrigan@azdvs.gov or 602-234-8421.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Help Pass The Troops To Teachers Improvement Act of 2009
Troops to Teachers Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Troops to Teachers program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (which provides eligible Veterans with teacher certification stipends in exchange for three years of service in a high-need local educational agency (LEA) or public charter school) to make any LEA that is receiving school improvement funds eligible to participate in such program.
LEARN ABOUT HR 1313 HERE:
http:///thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1313.IH:
We have created the following email, which I would encourage each of you to copy into an email to your Congressional representative. House members are closely tuned to the requests from the constituents in their particular district, so the more requests that each district receives the better! Given the security procedures in effect for mail these days in Washington, the best way for us to contact our representatives is by email or fax, rather than writing them a letter and sending it to D.C. You can send your representative an email directly from their website, or you can fax them a letter. However you do it, please do it soon!
Sample Email: Copy into the body of an email, instead of attaching to an email, since many virus programs will prevent attachments from being opened.
Dear Congressman(woman) _______,
I am requesting your support and co-sponsorship of the Troops to Teachers Improvement Act of 2009 (H.R.1313).
Troops to Teachers (TTT) has been very successful in assisting Veterans to become teachers, with over 12,000 hired across the nation. Arizona currently ranks 8th nationwide in the number of teachers hired through the Troops to Teachers program. When eligible participants receive funds from TTT to pay for their certification programs, they incur an obligation to teach for 3 years in a qualifying district, currently defined as a district in which 20% of the students fall below the poverty level. In many states, this severely limits the number of districts in which our participants can be employed. In many states less than 50% of the districts meet the criteria for TTT participants. The TTT Improvement Act will greatly expand the employment opportunities for these new teachers, and allow them to fulfill their teaching commitment in more than 90% of the districts in most areas of the country. Making this change would not cost the government any additional funds, but would provide more districts in Arizona in which TTT participants could teach and fulfill their obligation. Your co-sponsorship of this legislation would be most welcome.Troops to Teachers participants have proven themselves as outstanding teachers, and this legislation will help more of them to achieve their goal of serving again - this time in the classrooms of America!
Thank you for your consideration of my request.
Best regards,
(Your Name)
Representatives:
AZ 1st District - Ann Kirkpatrick
AZ 2nd District - Trent Franks
AZ 3rd District - John Shadegg
AZ 4th District - Ed Pastor
AZ 5th District - Harry Mitchell
AZ 6th District - Jeff Flake
AZ 7th District - Raul Grijalva
AZ 8th District - Gabrielle Giffords
Who is your Representative? - Find out here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
LEARN ABOUT HR 1313 HERE:
http:///thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1313.IH:
We have created the following email, which I would encourage each of you to copy into an email to your Congressional representative. House members are closely tuned to the requests from the constituents in their particular district, so the more requests that each district receives the better! Given the security procedures in effect for mail these days in Washington, the best way for us to contact our representatives is by email or fax, rather than writing them a letter and sending it to D.C. You can send your representative an email directly from their website, or you can fax them a letter. However you do it, please do it soon!
Sample Email: Copy into the body of an email, instead of attaching to an email, since many virus programs will prevent attachments from being opened.
Dear Congressman(woman) _______,
I am requesting your support and co-sponsorship of the Troops to Teachers Improvement Act of 2009 (H.R.1313).
Troops to Teachers (TTT) has been very successful in assisting Veterans to become teachers, with over 12,000 hired across the nation. Arizona currently ranks 8th nationwide in the number of teachers hired through the Troops to Teachers program. When eligible participants receive funds from TTT to pay for their certification programs, they incur an obligation to teach for 3 years in a qualifying district, currently defined as a district in which 20% of the students fall below the poverty level. In many states, this severely limits the number of districts in which our participants can be employed. In many states less than 50% of the districts meet the criteria for TTT participants. The TTT Improvement Act will greatly expand the employment opportunities for these new teachers, and allow them to fulfill their teaching commitment in more than 90% of the districts in most areas of the country. Making this change would not cost the government any additional funds, but would provide more districts in Arizona in which TTT participants could teach and fulfill their obligation. Your co-sponsorship of this legislation would be most welcome.Troops to Teachers participants have proven themselves as outstanding teachers, and this legislation will help more of them to achieve their goal of serving again - this time in the classrooms of America!
Thank you for your consideration of my request.
Best regards,
(Your Name)
Representatives:
AZ 1st District - Ann Kirkpatrick
AZ 2nd District - Trent Franks
AZ 3rd District - John Shadegg
AZ 4th District - Ed Pastor
AZ 5th District - Harry Mitchell
AZ 6th District - Jeff Flake
AZ 7th District - Raul Grijalva
AZ 8th District - Gabrielle Giffords
Who is your Representative? - Find out here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Sunday, April 26, 2009
State Budget, Stimulus and RIFs
From my persepctive, allow me to reiterate what I tell folks concerned over the much publicized teacher RIFs across the state. I anticipate things will turn around somewhere around late May, when the state budget gets squared away and when districts begin to see Recovery Act (stimulus) funds. Some $200 million is estimated to funnel into Arizona districts. For detailed estimations by district, go to http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/titlei/fy09recovery/arizona.pdf.
State Representative Debbie Lesko (disrict 4), summs it up as "It appears that many of the fired teachers will be re-hired after the schools receive their final budget numbers." (Surprise Independent, 4/22/09)
State Representative Debbie Lesko (disrict 4), summs it up as "It appears that many of the fired teachers will be re-hired after the schools receive their final budget numbers." (Surprise Independent, 4/22/09)
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