Washoe County School District was recently authorized by the Nevada Department of Education to host an Alternative Route to Licensure (ARL) program, which allows teachers to work on provisional licenses while they complete the coursework required for full licensure. 

 News Story from April 2017 regarding WCSD's ARL Program

ARL is available for high-needs teaching areas: Elementary Education, Secondary Math, Secondary Science, Early Childhood Education, Music, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, and Special Education. ARL candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree and may not have been previously licensed or have completed student teaching in the United States. 

Step 1 - Online Application

Access WCSD’s Online Application System and fill out a Certified application. 

If you don’t currently possess some type of license issued by a state Department of Education (i.e. Substitute teaching license), please enter “ARL” in all of the required fields on the licensing page so that the system recognizes there is a record entered.  Make sure you have four professional confidential references returned and have attached a copy of your transcripts to your application.  

Once your application is complete:

We will review applications for minimum qualifications when we are selecting a new cohort of program participants.  Apply by the end of September in order to complete Orientation and Pre-Service Training in the spring and become eligible for contract hire the following fall. Apply by the end of March in order to complete Orientation and Pre-Service Training in the fall and become eligible for contract hire the following spring. 

Step 2 – Interview with an Administrator

Any applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be interviewed by one of our school leaders to assess program and teaching potential.

Step 3 – Orientation and Pre-Service Training

• Boot Camp – 120 hours of professional development training
• School Based Experience – 120 hours of in-class observation and participation
• Praxis Testing – all teachers must pass the Praxis Core Exams in Reading, Writing, and Math.  Teachers must also pass content-specific exams depending on what subjects they will be teaching.

Step 4 – Lesson Observation

At this point, candidates will teach a lesson in a WCSD classroom and be observed by a School Leader and a Human Resources representative.

Step 5 – Program Planning Meeting – Mentor Assigned

Candidates will meet with WCSD’s Licensing Technician to complete a final review of transcripts and Praxis scores and to compile the ARL Program Plan, scheduling out the remaining requirements to be completed during the course of the three-year program.

Step 6 – School Site Interviews

At this point, candidates interview with School Leaders for specific positions.

Step 7 – Apply for License

Once a candidate is hired, WCSD applies for a conditional license on the employee’s behalf. 

Step 8 – Ed Program Coursework/Begin Teaching

ARL teachers work in the classroom for up to three years while they complete the coursework and testing requirements for complete licensure.  Once those requirements have been met, the teacher is issued a clear teaching credential.

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2020, 4-5 PM - This information session will be held on Zoom. 

 For more information about WCSD's ARL Program, please contact:

Janet L Pulleyn, Ph.D.

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