A Study on the Teacher Certificate at State of New York and on the Teacher Education Programs of SUNY at Buffalo

Abstract

This research investigates the teacher certificate system for the secondary science including Physics; Chemistry; Biology; Earth Science at State of New York and the teacher education programs of State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). Consequently, following five points were revealed. (1) Teacher certificate is divided into two phases, an Initial Certificate and a Professional Certificate. While this system aimed the advancement certificate only, after 2004 the new certificate system employs both advancement and renewal. The Initial Certificate, which is the entry-level for classroom teachers, issued in specific subject/grade titles, valid for five years and could not be renewal. The Professional Certificate is continuously valid with completion of required professional development hours on a five-year professional cycle. This goes along with the federal NCLB regulations enforced in 2002 that all teachers must be "High Qualified." (2) The Initial Certificate applicant must hold at least a bachelor degree and complete major area for the certificate subject. Then teacher candidates start initial certificate program. Although they complete the course works at graduate school, this program is degreeless. Before the student teaching program, teacher candidates participate in "Field Experience" at least 100 classroom contact hours in fall semester. During the student teaching period, they attend a course work once a week at UB to seek support for their teaching and to promote their competence. (3) Both Teacher Education Associate (TEA) at UB and teachers at liaison school instruct student teachers, just like in Japan. The difference between Japan and UB is that TEA is not a faculty member. They belong to Teacher Education Institute and have responsibilities of entrance examination, to teach and support the Field Experience, 15 week-long Student Teaching, give the student teachers the formative assessments and grading, and find employment for them. The University on Student Teaching has heavier responsibility than that of Japan. (4) Three years' full time classroom teacher experience is required for the Professional Certificate. The course works at graduate school must be completed and Master's degree is required. After that, they earn 175 hours of professional development every 5 years otherwise they loose their teaching certificate. (5) This teacher education system was designed based on the professionalism as reflective practitioners.