Assessment Benchmarks for an Alternative Certification Program

The Accelerate Online/OPTIONS alternative certification program provides those possessing a degree an option leading to certification that can be completed in 18 months. The program consists of an online curriculum, an early field experience, and a year-long paid internship. To determine program effectiveness across five years, five benchmark ratios were established and calculated each year as formative assessment markers. These ratios are: Applications/Inquiries; Candidates/Applications; Field Placements/Candidates; Teachers Certified/Candidates; and Teachers Retained/Teachers Certified. These benchmarks have provided informative quantitative markers for annually assessing protocols that were developed and applied in implementing this program.