Frequently Asked Questions

Is an online alternate route a good fit for me?

Here are some factors for you to consider:

  • Online courses offer many advantages, including reduction in travel to campus and flexibility in time. Most paraeducators have had many opportunities to use technology in educational environments and are well prepared to take online classes. Technology support will be available to solve unexpected problems and glitches with each online course that is offered. Online courses require as much time and effort in learning as traditional face-to-face courses do. The online courses are designed to be interactive, though the give-and-take of social interaction is shaped by the nature of technology.
  • Candidates can count on taking the special education and reading endorsement courses online. They will be offered only once online in the one-time offering, however, and may be unavailable to candidates who are unable to take courses as offered each semester.
  • One component of the program is 12 institutional credits. Each institution is responsible for determining what courses will be required. These courses may not be offered online, and they may not be available and/or accepted from other institutions, so candidates should be prepared to travel to the institution to satisfy this requirement.

How do I apply for the Collaborative Online Para-to-Teacher Alternate Route?

  • First, discuss your interest with an administrator in the school district in which you work. They must verify that you are a candidate with appropriate dispositions, and they must also agree to employ you while you pursue this program, so make sure they support your application.
  • Next, choose the institution that you wish to work with (Boise State University, Idaho State University, Lewis Clark State College, or University of Idaho). Make contact with the representative from that institution, as listed under "Faculty and Staff" on the main menu, so that they are aware of your interest. At the same time, apply for admission to the institution. A link to the admissions office is posted under "Requirements" on the main menu. You may wish to apply for financial aid at the same time.
  • Gather all of the documents required by the online Paraeducator-to-Teacher Alternate Route and the institution. These include transcripts and test scores, among other things. Submit them, as specified.
  • After you have submitted your materials, make arrangements to discuss your application with the institutional contact. The contact will inform you of any additional requirements necessary for admission to its teacher education program.

What if I lack some of the prerequisites?

It depends on which requirements are not met. Because university administrators have approved the Collaborative Online Para-to-Teacher Alternate Route as a one-time cohort at this point in time, the participating institutions are eager to fill 28 slots with the candidates most likely to successfully complete the program. Thus there may be a little leeway given, depending on the criterion. For example, applicants who have not yet completed two prerequisite courses may do so within a year of acceptance into the alternate route. If you have questions, contact the institutional representative listed on Faculty and Staff on the main menu.

What if I am not accepted by the institution that is my first choice?

For the one-time cohort, the four participating institutions have agreed to balance two goals: dividing the 28 slots equally among the four institutions (i.e., seven candidates per institution), and filling all 28 slots. Thus it is possible for you to be accepted by one of the other institutions, or even by your first choice, later in the selection process. Applicants who wish to be considered by an institution other than their first choice will not be required to pay additional fees to apply for admission at another institution. It is a good idea to have required test scores sent to all four institutions, in case you are accepted at an institution other than your first choice.

When will I be informed about the status of my application?

The institutions will first inform applicants of their status in mid-October. Applicants who are denied at their first choice will be asked if they wish to be considered elsewhere; those who so wish will be informed of their status mid-November. The institutions will finalize selection of the 28 candidates between mid-November and the start of the Spring 2008 semester, attempting to fill all 28 slots.

How long will it take me to complete the alternate route?

Plan on four years. Click on Course Sequence on the main menu to view the planned sequence. This was designed to permit candidates to complete all courses in special education, the online reading endorsement, and the 12 institutional credits by the end of Summer 2011. It will enable you to begin employment as a fully certified special educator at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year. However, institutional requirements for practica, internships, and student teaching and for individual candidates may vary, resulting in a one or two semester delay in fulfilling all requirements needed for completion of the degree and recommendation for certification. All requirements for the alternate route must be completed within five years. Be sure to work closely with the institutional contact to develop a specific course of study.

Can I move through the course sequence at a faster pace?

In accepting a spot in the one-time cohort of the Collaborative Online Paraeducator-to-Teacher Alternate Route, candidates must commit to taking the required courses in special education as they are offered. Candidates who pursue the online reading endorsement must also commit to taking the required courses as offered. Other components of the alternate route, such as the institutional credits, may be taken at a faster pace, upon approval of the institution that awards the degree.

What if I am unable to take courses as offered in a particular semester?

At this point in time, the online special education and reading endorsement courses will be offered only once during the one-time offering of the Collaborative Online Paraeducator-to-Teacher Alternate Route. Thus they may be unavailable online to candidates who are unable to take courses as offered each semester. Equivalent courses may be offered by the institution awarding the degree; if available, they may be offered on campus rather than online. Candidates should work closely with their institutional contact to adjust their course of study if this situation occurs.

How will credit for prior learning work?

At this point in time, the institution awarding the degree will use its own procedures for making such determinations but will consult with the institution that offers particular courses. In general, institutions require that prior learning and experience be documented in very specific ways, such as tests or portfolios. They generally compare documented knowledge and experience against specific course objectives and learner outcomes. That is, they are unlikely to award credit based only on years of experience as a paraeducator. The institutions are eager to acknowledge documented prior learning but are also responsible for ensuring that candidates possess all the knowledge, skills, and dispositions expected of the certified special education teacher. Because the job duties of a paraeducator are not identical to those of the special educator, some "gaps" in knowledge and skills may need to be addressed.