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It argues that teacher quality strongly predicts student academic achievement and explains why elementary settings are especially critical. The article describes how Kansas State University’s Masters in the Arts of Teaching (MAT) supports candidates seeking initial licensure, including military-connected learners, through fast-paced, meaningful, and accessible online coursework and field experiences.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/an-alternative-pathway-to-elementary-teaching-article-7/601879/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/an-alternative-pathway-to-elementary-teaching-article-7/601879.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"CatatanPagi","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":24},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"Why does the article emphasize teacher quality for student achievement?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"It states that classroom teacher quality is the single most predictive school-related variable of student academic achievement, grounded in the knowledge, skills, and values teachers bring to the profession.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What need does the MAT program aim to address?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"It is built to meet increasing demand for elementary classroom teachers and respond to teacher shortages, including barriers faced by candidates who need accessible paths to initial licensure.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"How does the program support candidates through the licensing pathway?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The article highlights a fast-paced, year-long structure with intensive online coursework and related field experiences, designed to be accessible without sacrificing quality.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},601879,1792171010,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":24,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":34,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144},962090894170,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Educational Considerations  \n\n| Volume 44\u003Cbr>Number 1 Changing Teaching Education | Article 7 |\n| --- | --- |\n| 5-2018\u003Cbr>An Alternative Pathway to Elementary Teaching\u003Cbr>Lotta Larson\u003Cbr>Kansas State University, [lottalarson@ksu.edu](lottalarson@ksu.edu)\u003Cbr>Tom Vontz\u003Cbr>Kansas State University, [tvontz@ksu.edu](tvontz@ksu.edu)\u003Cbr>Follow this and additional works at: [http://newprairiepress.org/edconsiderations](http://newprairiepress.org/edconsiderations)\u003Cbr> Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Elementary Education Commons, Online and Distance Education Commons, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons |  |\n\nRecommended Citation  \nLarson, Lotta and Vontz, Tom (2018) \"An Alternative Pathway to Elementary Teaching,\" Educational Considerations: Vol. 44: No. 1.  \n[https://doi.org/10.4148/0146-9282.2164](https://doi.org/10.4148/0146-9282.2164)  \nThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Considerations by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. For more information, [please contact](please contact cads@k-state.edu)[ cads@k-state.edu](please contact cads@k-state.edu).  \nLarson and Vontz: An Alternative Pathway to Elementary Teaching  \nAn Alternative Pathway to Elementary Teaching  \nLotta Larson and Tom Vontz  \nThe quality of the classroom teacher is the single most predictive school-related variable of  \nstudent academic achievement. Teacher quality is a function of the unique blend of knowledge,  \nskills, and values that individuals bring to the profession. These assertions are supported by  \ndecades of education research, and by the policies and expenditures of local, state, and national  \ngovernments. In short, the ways in which teachers are educated, developed, and mentored matter  \n(Rice, 2003) .  \nWhile high-quality educators are essential at every level, they are particularly important in  \nelementary schools. Here, children build foundational ideas and skills that persist into future  \nschooling and adult life. The United States Department of Labor (2016) projects that jobs for  \n“kindergarten and elementary school teachers” will increase by 116,300 (7%) by 2026 as student  \nenrollment is expected to increase, coupled with a “substantial number of older teachers” who  \nwill retire over the coming decade (n.p.). Many school districts are experiencing teacher  \nshortages. However, many Americans are inspired by the idea of shaping young minds and  \nturning to teaching as a second, or even third, durable career (Rich, 2014) . Most states require  \nthat teachers demonstrate strong content knowledge in their subjects, particularly at the  \nsecondary level. However, those seeking to teach elementary school may have more flexibility in  \nterms of credentials.  \nYet, traditional pathways to elementary teaching present a host of practical obstacles. In  \nresponse, there has been a rapid growth in alternative pathways to licensure (Grossman & Loeb,  \n2010). While the prevalence and expectations vary by state, and even district, these programs  \nseek to meet the increasing demand for classroom teachers. Recognizing this need, faculty  \nmembers at Kansas State University’s College of Education launched the Masters in the Arts of  \nTeaching (MAT) program in May of2016. Of course, while creating and implementing a new  \nprogram, we’ve gained insights and wisdom. The goal of this article is to share the vision of our  \nprogram, along with lessons learned, in hopes of inviting further dialogue about innovative  \npathways to teaching and support others who wish to embark on a similar journey.  \nFrom Traditional to Innovative  \nBuilding on our expertise and experience in a successful, yet traditional, teacher preparation  \nprogram, we identified the labor market’s demand for additional elementary teachers in the State  \nof Kansas and the rest ofthe country. With several military bases close by, we","cbCaieLIaQWAYtCK","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaieLIaQWAYtCK","pdf",383294,"English","# Introduction\n## From Traditional to Innovative\n## Fast-paced\n## Meaningful","[{\"question\":\"Why does the article emphasize teacher quality for student achievement?\",\"answer\":\"It states that classroom teacher quality is the single most predictive school-related variable of student academic achievement, grounded in the knowledge, skills, and values teachers bring to the profession.\"},{\"question\":\"What need does the MAT program aim to address?\",\"answer\":\"It is built to meet increasing demand for elementary classroom teachers and respond to teacher shortages, including barriers faced by candidates who need accessible paths to initial licensure.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the program support candidates through the licensing pathway?\",\"answer\":\"The article highlights a fast-paced, year-long structure with intensive online coursework and related field experiences, designed to be accessible without sacrificing quality.\"}]","An Alternative Pathway to Elementary Teaching - Article 7 | PDF",1792093608,18]