District Of Columbia Teaching Certificate Programs

(found programs from 5 schools)

DC Dept of Education:

http://osse.dc.gov/service/state-board-education

Teacher Certification in DC:

District of Columbia Teacher Certification Info

According to the DC Public Schools, there are individual schools in the region that are performing admirably, but there are still some severe system-wide problems. During the 2006-2007 school year, DC Public Schools reported that they were last in the nation in terms of academic achievement, with less than 15 percent of students meeting reading and math standards. Only just over half of DC public school students graduate. DC schools face teacher shortages in almost all core areas. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the school's teacher shortage areas for 2011-2012 included English, math, reading, science, social studies, English as a second language (ESL), elementary education, foreign languages, music, technology, career and technical education, special education, and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, DC employed just over 200 secondary special education teachers in May 2010.

At American University, teachers can earn an advanced graduate certificate in curriculum and instruction. The 18-credit hour program is intended for teachers who want to gain advanced classroom skills. Teachers can focus on literacy, technology, and leadership. George Washington University offers a number of specialized graduate certificates in areas like reading and literacy and educational technology. Many of the certificates are in special education areas, so teachers can obtain them to fill D.C.'s special education needs. Finally, Howard University offers a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in administration, which can prepare teachers with master's degrees to become principals. DC administrators earned a mean salary of over $84,000 in 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.