Superintendent Arntzen Announces Alternative Teacher Licensing Pathway

• Brian O'Leary
• March 21 2024

HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen proudly announces that the Montana Board of Public Education (BPE) approved the alternative teacher licensing pathway to the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) on March 18, 2024. The legislature passed SB 373, which created new requirements for alternative teacher credentialing for a class 2 standard certificate to include holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, the passage of a background check, completion of coursework related to Indian Education for All, and successful completion of an alternative teacher certification and endorsement program. The bill also creates new requirements for an alternative teacher certification and endorsement program that includes subject-area content training in the area in which the applicant seeks to be certified and endorsed and training on how to teach that includes effective instruction delivery, classroom management, and organization, assessment, instructional design, and professional learning and leadership.

“I have focused on including more flexibilities in our teacher licensing rules to benefit our children and our communities,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “This alternative pathway is another innovative solution to teacher recruitment challenges our districts face. Montana students rely on quality educators to achieve academic success.”

The ABCTE was granted initial approval for the following endorsement areas:

• Elementary Education (K-8)
• Special Education (K-12)
• English Language Arts (5-12)
• Mathematics (5-12)
• Science Broadfield (5-12)
  • Biology (5-12)
  • Chemistry (5-12)
  • Physics (5-12)
• History (5-12)

ABCTE is initially approved until 2026 when BPE will review the program for full approval.