STAR Program (Secondary Teacher Alternate Route)
Middle School/High School
Saint Martin’s University

Program Overview – updated November 24,2009

The South Sound Consortium partnership is seeking to enroll individuals with baccalaureate degrees and unique qualifications* who are seeking an alternate route to teacher certification.  Candidates for teacher certification in this alternative route work with mentors in a middle school or high school and take courses designed to meet their needs through a state approved Teacher Education program.  The nature of these courses varies depending upon the needs of the candidate and the requirements and expectations of both the district and the University.  All candidates must meet all standards established by the State of Washington for residency certification and all standards established by Saint Martin’s University for program completion.

Unique qualifications may include:  Non-certificated district employees of school districts who hold Bachelor’s degrees (or higher) and who are seeking residency certification and endorsement in an area with shortages and/or professionals who have Bachelor’s degrees (or higher) in content areas that could lead to endorsement in a district-specific shortage area.    

Districts generally give priority to individuals who are seeking residency teacher certification in endorsements in the following areas: math, biology, chemistry, general science, middle level math or science, ESL/ELL, bilingual education, special education, music, Japanese or in subject matter shortages due to geographic locations.    

The University will do a careful review of each applicant’s background and transcripts.  The minimum number of candidates for the program is 15; the maximum to be accepted is 25.   In the event minimum enrollment goals are not met, the College of Education reserves the right to cancel the “Alternate Route to Certification” Program.    

Cohorts of candidates for this program shall attend an intensive Summer Teaching Academy (June 21 through August followed by an unpaid full academic-year mentored internship in a district (approximately September 1, 2010 through May 5, 2011). Early certification after a minimum of ½ year internship (after February 1, 2011) may be possible, based on documentation of meeting standards on the assessment rubric, and completion of all learning module assignments, certification and placement file paperwork.    

Candidates agree to register for a minimum of 45 semester credits in the Certification only program or 36 semester credits in the MIT program.

Additional credits may be needed for endorsement competencies based on transcript review. Tuition for the Summer Academy (pending the budgetary process) will be $330 per semester credit; tuition for the remaining program will be $350 per semester credit. Program fees will total $235; books are in addition to tuition and fees. Candidates will earn credits in three ways: 1) through regular course enrollment during the Summer Academy, 2) through modular learning opportunities throughout the program year, and 3) through credit earned by evaluation of documentation of previous life experience. Tuition for the 45 credits will be $15,330, program fees of $235, totaling $15,565. The MIT tuition will be $12,320, program fees of $235, totaling $12,555.  

The legislature, through the PESB, has approved a conditional loan scholarship of $8,000 (pending legislative approval) for successful applicants seeking endorsements in high needs areas. Please note the legislature is still meeting and we are hopeful for additional favorable financial incentives. Tuition and fees will need to be paid prior to each term by the candidate, regardless of any loan scholarship possibilities. Loans and scholarships are awarded directly to the participants.

Candidate Entry Requirements:

• Candidates must have a minimum of one year experience in the work force.  
• Candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.  The individual’s cumulative (or a recent 12 semester credits’) grade point average must be 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Candidates must successfully pass the statewide (West B) basic skills exams , the West E subject area exam prior to certification and/or prior to receiving the conditional loan scholarship from the PESB, and the pedagogy observation assessment during Student Teaching. Saint Martin’s requires two endorsement areas prior to teacher certification.  
• Candidates must complete and submit the Saint Martin’s University, College of Education STAR and Teacher Certification application packets, including three letters of reference, state and university forms, and an on-site essay.
• Candidates must meet the age, good moral character, and personal fitness requirements adopted in the Washington Administrative Code for teachers.

It is possible to integrate the STAR program with a Master's In Teaching (MIT) at a substantial cost savings. Candidates who wish to pursue the graduate degree would apply for both programs at the same time.

Public Information Nights:  November 30 and December 14, 2009 and January 14 and February 3, 2010; all at 6:30 p.m. in the Marcus Pavilion/Norman Worthington Conference Center, Saint Martin's University. 5300 Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey, WA 98503. 

Application deadlines and important dates:

Information and Application packet
Request Application Packet