Requirements for State-Certified Teachers in Virtual Education

Educator certification requirements vary by state. Even so, each individual state has requirements in place to ensure public school teachers have the educational qualifications and skills needed to do the job. In almost all instances, aspiring teachers will need to earn a bachelor's degree, submit university transcripts to the state, undergo and pass a background check, and pass entrance exams and a basic skills test. Some states require that new teachers gain on-the-job experience via an internship in order to learn the ropes, while others require teachers to attend training workshops on topics such as school violence prevention and how to recognize child abuse. Additionally, teachers who want to teach higher grades and specialized subjects must meet additional requirements, which may include obtaining a Master's degree and/or a degree in the field being taught. Even states and school districts that allow for the hiring of underqualified teachers in order to alleviate the current acute teacher shortage have educator certification requirements and rules in place to ensure these teachers have basic qualifications.

Is Teacher Certification Required for Virtual Teachers?

As virtual education becomes increasingly popular, there is concern that the quality of education will fall if virtual teachers don't have the same qualifications as regular public schools teachers. This is certainly a valid concern as not all virtual teachers have the same qualifications. Virtual charter schools, for instance, often have more lenient educator certification requirements than public schools. For instance, charter school teacher candidates may only need an associate's degree instead of a bachelor degree; alternatively, they may have a degree and/or experience in a related field (i.e. science, history, math, etc.) rather than a degree in education.

Many private schools are likewise willing to accept a bachelor's degree in a related field and/or put a premium on on-the-job experience rather than educator certification. However, some private schools have more stringent requirements in place than charter or even public schools. They may require a greater degree of expertise in a specialized field or ask prospective teachers to take various assessments even if they already have received certification.

Platforms such as YouTube and Outschool that offer pre-recorderd classes do not have teacher certification requirements. While some instructors may have attended an educator preparation program or even hold a degree in their field, many are self-taught and don't have the expertise needed to provide a well-rounded education in an academic content area.

How to Find Certified Virtual Teachers

Platforms such as Proximity Learning that partner with public schools to provide synchronous online classes to school students ensure that teachers are not only certified but also experienced in their field of instruction. What's more, certified teachers hired by virtual education platforms that work with public schools are required to undergo ongoing training in order to maintain educator certification.

Will a Virtual Teacher Meet State Board Requirements?

One advantage of working with a virtual education platform is that it gives your district access to certified teachers throughout the nation. Schools don't have to struggle to bring teachers into the area or hiring undercertified teachers simply because there are no other options around. Rather, the district can pick a certified teacher who has the experience and training needed to help learners reqcieve a quality education. Even so, the question remains: is it OK to hire a certified teacher from another state if that state's requirements are more leninient than our own state's requirements?

This question has no easy answer as educator certification requirements vary depending on geographic location. However, there are two important points that are worth bearing in mind:

1. Certified teachers from any state are qualifeid to provide students with a good education. While some requirements vary, basic requirements are uniform across all 50 states.
2. Virtual learning platforms specialize in connecting school districts with the best certified teachers for each class. District administrators who are concerned about providing learners with a top-tier learning environment should request teachers with specific credentials and/or that meet specific requirements. Virtual learning platforms typically have multiple teachers and can select the one that best meets the needed qualifications.

Are There Other Requirements to Look for When Working with a Virtual Education Platform?

Educator certification is imperative. Virtual education platforms that partner with public schools should ensure all virtual teachers are certified and meet other state requirements for holding a teaching license. Even so, educator certification isn't the only thing to look for when partnering with a virtual education platform. Some other criteria that should be met include:

• In addition to educator certification, virtual teachers need training and experience teaching online. Experts agree that teachers making the switch from in-person teaching to virtual teaching need weeks if not months of in-depth preparation. Strategies for making learning fun in a virutal environment aren't the same as the ones many teachers use for in-person classes. Additionally, even certified teachers need time to get familiar with the technologies and tools used in a virutal learning environment. It's a good idea to choose a virtual platform with certified teachers who have experience teaching both in-person and over the internet.
• Ability to teach state-approved curricula. All learning material should be compliant with state board requirements.
• Synchronous learning environment. Students who come to school and attend livestream classes in the public school classroom not only study the academic material but are also able to engage with the teacher and fellow learners in real time. Studies show that this personal interaction positively impacts cognitive processes, increases class retention rates, and help students cultivate positive feelings of community and belonging.
• Classes should be offered on your school's bell schedule.
• Virtual education platforms should have tools and amenities to keep learners engaged. These include interactive whiteboards, chat rooms, and breakout rooms for group assignments.
• Virtual education platforms should provide resources that enable district administrators to keep track of student progress. Furthermore, these platforms should have clear channels of communicaiton that make it easy for administrators to contact teachers and tech support to resolve challenges as they arise.

Why Proximity Learning?

Proximity Learning has more than fifteen years of experience providing synchronous instruction options to school districts throughout the United States. As industry leaders, we ensure that all our teachers are not only certified but also experienced in delivering virtual instruction. We have the tools and technologies needed to make virtual learning fun, engaging, and effective.

We also have all the tools your district's schools need to keep track of student progress. You can choose how often you'd like us to generate and send reports. We conduct in-depth evaluations at the end of each semester. We'll communicate with your team in the way that works best for you, be it by email, text, or over the phone.

Your learners' success is our top priority. Contact us to find out more about our classes and teachers or to start the onboarding process for your school district.

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