New Program Helps People Become Teachers

Education New Program Helps People Change Careers To Become Teachers @ (NAPSA)—Experts predict that America needs 2.4 million new teachers over the next ten years. To meet the needs of children and communities, several states are opening new pathways for talented professionals to change careers and become certified teachers. One of these programsis the Passport to Teaching certification offered by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence www.abcte.org. To earn the Passport to Teaching certification, individuals must hold bachelor’s degrees and demonstrate mastery on subject area knowledge and professional teaching knowledge examinations. Individuals can prepare to earn Passport to Teaching certification on their own time and at their own pace, using resources and materials from a variety of sources. No additional college courses are required unless the certification candidate chooses to participate in them for preparation purposes. Individuals certified through Passport to Teaching are considered highly qualified under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and several states accept Passport to Teaching as a route to full state certification. Certification is available in a variety of subject areas. For more information about Passport to Teaching, call the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence at 1-877NOW-ABCTE(1-877-669-2228) or visit www.abcte.org for a free introduction kit.