MSU Denver offers a third alternative pathway to regular education elementary and secondary licensure. This Colorado Department of Education-approved, One-year Alternative Licensure Program (ALP 1) has been created to assist candidates with at least two years of contractual instructional experience. This program is based on the Colorado Teacher Quality Standards for teachers. All ALP 1 candidates must attend a summer training module and create a teaching portfolio documenting proficiency on approximately half of the Colorado Teacher Quality Standards for teachers based upon their previous contracted teaching experiences. Each candidate’s portfolio is then reviewed by the ALP portfolio committee, and an Individual Training Plan (ITP) is created, which identifies which standards were addressed successfully in the ALP 1 candidate’s portfolio and which standards must be addressed via ALP-1 assignments and classroom observations during the coming academic year.
After being hired by a Front Range-school district, charter school, or accredited private school, ALP candidates must enroll in the Alternative Licensure Program at MSU Denver. The Alternative Licensure Program is designed to be completed in one school year, during which each candidate will work as both a full-time teacher and full-time student.
The candidate earns 25 credit hours by attending MSU Denver seminar courses. Additionally, each candidate is responsible for completing the individualized training plan (ITP) in one year. By the end of the year, having completed all program requirements, the candidate will be recommended for an initial license by MSU Denver. College credit received for participating in the ALP is not interchangeable with the existing traditional licensure program curriculum and credit. Candidates must successfully complete the entire year to receive any college credit for the program and MSU Denver’s recommendation for licensure.
To participate in ALP 1, all candidates must:
- Have an Alternative License pending employment/program status from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).
AND
- Have a full time teaching job in the same content as the Alternative License in a front range school district or charter school
To get an Alternative License, the candidate must:
- Submit the alternative license application to the CDE and include transcripts from a regionally-accredited college or university, showing a Baccalaureate degree.
- Pass a Colorado Bureau of Investigation fingerprint check.
AND
- Elementary teachers must pass the Praxis II (5001) Elementary Education content exam.
- ECE teachers must pass the PRAXIS II (5024) Early Childhood exam (ages birth through 8 years old) OR the PRAXIS II (5001) Elementary Education content exam OR have the 24 semester hours of required content specific coursework shown on the transcript(s).
- Secondary teachers must either pass the Praxis II content test OR have the 24 semester hours of required content specific coursework shown on the transcript(s).
In addition, all ALP 1 candidates will be required to:
- Verify two years of contractual instructional teaching experience in their content area.
- Demonstrate proficiency on approximately half of the Teacher Quality Standards for Teachers by means of a portfolio.
Please call 303-615-0013 for further information about the program or visit the Alternative Licensure Program website: msudenver.edu/alp.
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