New Ways to Get a Degree in Education

Akilah Robinson turns over a new leaf at P.S. 150 Christopher School in Brooklyn.

If you want to assess an alternative program yourself, McKibbin offers some tips:

• Look at the selection process. Performance evaluations, like asking applicants to present a lesson or organize a classroom, are a sign of quality, as is an emphasis on experience working with kids.

• Seek out schools that blend theory and practice. There's no substitute for spending time in the classroom—the more the better.

• Identify programs with good partnerships. Check what alliances exist between your program, the school district, and local universities: Those are your resources.

• Find out whether there is a strong support system in place. Will you get mentoring in the classroom? How about for your studies? Will you have a chance to talk with your peers about solving classroom problems?

Feistritzer has embarked on a national study looking at which components of alternative routes contribute most to producing effective teachers. Traditional ed schools are looking over their shoulders; if the evidence is there, we may be witnessing a revolution in the way teachers are produced in this country.