Economic Downturn May Benefit Washington State Students

Business Wire, Jan 30, 2008

Statewide Need for Math Teachers to Attract Career Changers

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Washington state needs math teachers. With the economic downturn, and threat of a recession, there are more professionals who are seeking a career change. City University of Seattle and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) have a great solution for individuals with over five years of career-related math experience. Both organizations are working together to put math teachers into state schools by offering an Alternative Route to Residency Certificate in Math, beginning July, 2008. The one-year certification program includes a tuition offset by the state, which is perfect for professionals looking for a new career.

According to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's 2006 report, "Educator Supply and Demand in Washington State," more than 306 math teachers are expected to retire between 2006 and 2011. This places mathematics teachers fourth after Elementary Education, Special Education, and English/Language Arts as the highest number of expected retirees over the next three years. With the anticipated decline in math teachers comes an incentive to invite new teachers into the classroom.

To offset the costs of the program, PESB is providing successful applicants with $8,000 in forgivable loans to be applied toward tuition costs in exchange for a two-year commitment of teaching math in Washington state. Qualified candidates must have a degree in math (or a related content area applying higher-level math), a minimum of five years of field experience using math, pass two entrance exams demonstrating their skills, and have a genuine interest in working with middle or high school students.

"With over 300 teachers graduating from City U of Seattle each year, we are proud to partner with PESB to increase the number of math teachers entering the school system," comments Corll Miller Morrissey, Program Director, CityU. As the Northwest's largest private not-for-profit university, CityU offers small classes taught by instructors who have real classroom experience teaching K-12. The Alternative Route to Residency Certificate in Math not only answers the need for math teachers, but also puts professionals with diverse backgrounds into the classroom who can truly answer the question, "When am I ever going to use this?"

In June, paraprofessionals in Seattle Public Schools will complete the Dual Endorsement in K-12 Special Education and K-8 Elementary Education program. The Alternative Routes programs have been so well received by paraprofessionals in the district that PESB has approved the expansion of the programs to include all districts in King, Snohomish, and Skagit counties. These programs will begin in the summer of 2008.

For more information about the program go to www.cityu.edu/math.> About City University of Seattle

Founded in 1973 in Seattle, Washington, City University of Seattle is a private, not-for-profit university that has awarded over 45,000 degrees and certificates worldwide. City University of Seattle's goal is to change lives for good by offering high-quality and relevant online and in-class education options to any person in the world with a desire to learn. The university is comprised of three schools: The School of Management, The Gordon Albright School of Education, and The School of Arts and Sciences. Headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, City University of Seattle offers classes at locations throughout Washington, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Slovakia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, and China.

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