Certifying adult education staff and faculty

Publisher: Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy

Published At: New York, NY

Date Published: January 3, 2011

Distributor: Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy

Source Address: 1221 Avenue of the Americas - 46th Floor

Source City/State/Zip: New York NY 10020

Material Type: Information Analysis

Intended Audience: Policy Maker

Physical Media: Print

Physical Description: i + 88 p.

Subjects: Adult Educators; Teacher Certification; Credentials

Abstract:
This report describes certification and credentialing of instructional personnel in adult education programs in the United States. It was prepared as a background information paper for a CAAL Roundtable held in June 2010. It reviews certification activities at the state level and in postsecondary institutions. It considers the pros and cons of developing a comprehensive certification system with comparable elements across the states, and offers suggestions for research and action. This paper examines three broad questions: (1) What adult education “certification and credentialing” systems for teachers and staff are currently in use in the U.S.(in terms of standards, requirements, and mechanisms)? (2) What benefits could a comprehensive adult education certification system have—for learners,teachers, and institutions? and (3), based on current practice and understanding, what steps might be taken to further examine difficult issues and develop a comprehensive certification system if one is desired? One of three appendices gives examples of eleven state and national systems/frameworks for setting and tracking teaching standards and competency.