Fast-track teaching in Arizona in question.

A two-year alternative teaching path for potential Arizona teachers is under the gun after only three out of six candidates are still in the classroom full time this school year.

The Arizona Education Association agreed to work with Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas Horne on the Alternative Secondary Path to Certification program as a way to address the teacher shortage and bring in mid-career professionals looking to switch careers, say from an engineer to teach high school science, says John Wright, president of AEA. "We'll see what happens in year two, but the current indication is that it's a lot of work, a lot of financial resources for very little benefit," Wright says.

The program involves a four- to six- week intensive summer training program and an ongoing two-year training program of college course work and embedded professional development.

Arizona is one of 48 states that is implementing an alternative route to certification. Arizona offers a four-year college program for certification as well as a one-year post-baccalaureate program that gives "better preparation and better training" than the summer program, Wright says. The summer program, however, does require passing the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment and completing the two-year program to receive a provisional teaching certificate.

Wright, who says a misunderstanding of what it takes to even manage a classroom may be behind the quick alternative routes, stopped short of saying the instant program wasn't worthwhile. "There are a number of alternative paths to becoming fully certified that will give the teacher full preparation and training," he says. "I don't think this particular path ... is good in the long run."