Connecticut Office of Higher Education Alternate Route to Certification (ARC)
About
The Alternate Route to Certification program (ARC) is an innovative and challenging program. ARC was created as part of the Education Enhancement Act of 1986. It has been offered since 1988 and is administered by the Connecticut Office of Higher Education. ARC faculty members have extensive experience working in the field as public school teachers, administrators and professors. ARC is the state’s seventh largest preparer of teachers overall and one of the highest preparers of shortage area candidates in mathematics, science and world languages. The mission of the ARC program is to provide a time-condensed pathway to teaching credentials for adults who strongly desire to become teachers and who possess strong academic and content backgrounds, as well as a wide array of life and professional experiences. ARC is designed to support adult learning styles.
Numerous state and local organizations have recognized ARC graduates for their contributions to the teaching profession. Connecticut's 2007 Teacher of the Year is an ARC graduate, and since 2007, more than 50 ARC graduates have been named District or Building Teacher of the Year, selected for the Presidential Award in Mathematics and Science, received fellowships or other honors. Others have become superintendents, district leaders and administrators.
As a student at the Connecticut Office of Higher Education Alternate Route to Certification (ARC), you will take a foundations of teaching course, a methods course (in your content area), and Saturday seminars. Towards the end of your program, you will enroll in a practicum placement.
ARC offers educator preparation in the following certification areas:
Secondary Education, Grades 7-12
Business Education
English
Math
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science & Physics
Grades K-12
World Languages: French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese,Russian, Spanish & other World Languages
Grades PreK-12
Family Consumer Science
Music
Technology Education
The ARC 2022 hybrid program will be held from September 17, 2022 - May 25, 2023. The hybrid class schedule will be as follows:
Online classes will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
In-person classes will be held in Hartford on two Saturdays a month from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
A full-time practicum is required to be completed during the program year. The practicum is for 40 school days and is scheduled to start in late winter or early spring.
Students at Connecticut Office of Higher Education Alternate Route to Certification (ARC) have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Connecticut Office of Higher Education Alternate Route to Certification (ARC) to see if you can, too!
Amount
Description
$3,000
Tuition Discount
Military connected students receive $3,000 credit toward the $6,000 tuition.
As a student at the Connecticut Office of Higher Education Alternate Route to Certification (ARC), you will take a foundations of teaching course, a methods course (in your content area), and Saturday seminars. Towards the end of your program, you will enroll in a practicum placement.
The ARC 2022 hybrid program will be held from September 17, 2022 - May 25, 2023. The hybrid class schedule will be as follows:
Online classes will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
In-person classes will be held in Hartford on two Saturdays a month from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
A full-time practicum is required to be completed during the program year. The practicum is for 40 school days and is scheduled to start in late winter or early spring.
Program Hallmarks
ARC students are required to observe other teachers in their content area at both the high school and middle/elementary school level during the first month of the program. While in the program, students will complete 40 consecutive days of student teaching (practicum) in a public school in their content area. Students are evaluated by TEAM trained cooperating teachers and ARC evaluators.
ARC believes all teachers must value and respect the diverse learning needs and cultural backgrounds of students and their families to create a positive learning environment. Teachers must understand the differing needs of their students, and care about, motivate and actively engage students in learning. ARC students are required to attend large-group sessions that cover Culturally Responsive Teaching, English Language Learners and Special Education to support continuous learning on complex issues in education. All students must complete the CT English Language Proficiency (CELP) and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) assignments as a part of ARC's program requirements.
ARC provides graduates with voluntary instructional coaching to assist with their transition to teaching. The coach provides non-evaluative support and mentoring.
ARC strives to continuously improve the program by using information gathered in student/faculty surveys. Faculty are required to provide the ARC Administration with their plans for improvement based on student feedback.
Stats
Gender
Male
Female
31%
69%
Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian
Black
Hispanic/Latino
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander
White
Two or more races
0%
6%
5%
23%
0%
64%
2%
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