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Does MCPT offer scholarships or subsidies for teachers to take content courses?
Beginning July 2010, MCPT has become a self-supported operation. Therefore, subsidies available for teachers in the past are no longer available. However, the MCPT team continually looks for ways to subsidize tuition for teachers. Recent successful efforts include a California Mathematics and Science Partnership (CaMSP) Grant with Downey Unified School District. Participants from Downey Unified School District take MCPT courses at a 50% discount.
MCPT continues to seek funding for its programs and scholarships for its participants. We welcome districts who would like to partner with MCPT to offer courses for teachers. Continuation of funding to support participants
is a very high priority in the MCPT office, and we are doing
our best to
find ways to keep the program accessible to everyone.
What
is the status of the Supplementary Authorization in Mathematics?
A Supplementary Authorization in Mathematics (30 quarter
units of college level math) does not meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulations because it does not require
enough units to be considered “coursework equivalent to
a major.” Nonetheless, it is still a valid certificate
in California for middle school teachers, and the California
Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) will continue to issue supplementary
authorizations in the future. A supplementary authorization allows
the holder to teach mathematics through grade 9 or geometry. It is up to
your school district to determine if the supplementary authorization
is an adequate certificate for your particular teaching assignment.
In
January 2005, CCTC began issuing a new authorization, called
the “Subject Matter Authorization.” At MCPT, we like
to refer to this one as a “Supplementary Authorization
on Steroids” because it requires coursework equivalent
to an undergraduate major (48 quarter units). This is an NCLB-compliant
authorization, and teachers who are considered “new to
the profession” (earned a credential on or after July 1,
2002) will be required to hold a Single Subject Credential in Mathematics or a Subject Matter Authorization to teach
mathematics as a single subject. All courses taken through MCPT may be considered
core coursework in mathematics or standards-based professional
development for NCLB compliance purposes.
For more information about the
Supplementary Authorization and the Subject Matter Authorization,
go to http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/manuals.
Is
my Supplementary
Authorization still valid?
Supplementary authorizations are a valid form
of certification for classroom assignment in middle school; however,
the requirements to earn them are not rigorous enough to comply
with the subject matter competency requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Therefore, teachers who hold supplementary authorizations
must take additional steps to meet Federal regulations. The process
for updating certification depends upon when you earned your teaching credential, and the date for compliance depends upon your teaching
assignment.
If you earned your credential prior to July 1, 2002,
the Supplementary authorization will continue to be a legal basis
for classroom
assignment. However, this is not NCLB compliant. The most painless
process to demonstrate subject matter competency will probably
be through a "HOUSSE" certification, which involves
establishing competency through a points system. If you earned your credential on or after July 1, 2002, you will need to complete 48-quarter
units of college level mathematics (e.g. the UCLA Supplementary
Authorization in Mathematics plus four courses) or demonstrate
content competency through a rigorous test.
What
is a Subject Matter Authorization?
In January 2005, the California Commission
on Teacher Credentialing began issuing Subject Matter Authorizations
in Mathematics. This new authorization requires 48 quarter units
(32 semester units) of college level mathematics, including one
course each in algebra, advanced algebra, geometry, probability
and statistics, and development of the real number system. It
allows the holder to teach mathematics through geometry. This
authorization is considered “coursework equivalent to a
major” and is NCLB compliant.
Do
courses I’ve taken in the past count towards earning a
Subject Matter Authorization in Mathematics?
All MCPT courses have been approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and can be applied towards earning a Subject
Matter Authorization in Mathematics. It is at the discretion
of CCTC to determine
whether other college-level courses taken will also apply. MCPT staff is not authorized to evaluate transcripts for participants.
What is a Foundational Mathematics Credential? How do I earn a Foundational Mathematics Credential?
A Foundational Mathematics Credential is a certification that allows the holder to teach through Algebra 2 or beginning probability and statistics. There are two ways to earn a Foundational Mathematics Credential:
Option 1: Individuals can satisfy the subject matter requirement by the examination option. Individuals must obtain passing scores on the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) subtest 1 (Algebra and Number Theory) and subtest 2 (Geometry, Probability and Statistics.) Invididuals must also complete all other requirements for the Single Subject Teaching Credential: baccalaureate degree, attendance of an appropriate teacher preparation program, the basic skills requirement, and personal and professional fitness verification.
Option 2: Institutions of Higher Education may offer a program of subject matter preparation in Foundational Credential in Mathematics. However, there are currently no institutions with an approved Foundational Credential in Mathematics program.
I took an MCPT course several years ago but opted not to sign up for UCLA Extension units at the time. Can I pay for the units now?
Unfortunately, UCLA Extension does not allow MCPT to record participant grades or add participants to a class roster retroactively. Therefore, MCPT staff cannot honor such requests and we highly recommend participants to sign up for units within two weeks from the start of the course.
How
do I order a transcript?
You can order a transcript for MCPT courses
through UCLA Extension. Please check the UCLA Extension website for specific
information. https://www.uclaextension.edu/str/Transcripts.aspx
NOTE: MCPT courses are offered year round, but grades are recorded
only at the end of each UCLA traditional quarter. To be sure
that your grade is posted, please allow up to one month after the quarter
ends for processing.
What
are the academic prerequisites for participation in MCPT?
The only prerequisite for participation in MCPT is an intermediate
algebra course. Participants new to MCPT have several course options with intermediate algebra as the only prerequisite. They include: Math X462A (Number Power 1), Math X462B N(umber Power 2), Math X468A (Perspectives on Algebra), and Math X467 (Perspectives on Geometry). However, other courses in the program have specific prerequisites.
See Course Descriptions for specific prerequisites for other
courses.
What
is the recommended sequence for taking courses through MCPT?
We recommend that participants who have not
taught middle school or high school mathematics recently begin
with the Number Power sequence (Number Power 1 and Number Power
2). Anyone
who works or wishes to work with students at a "pre-algebra" level should take the Perspectives on Algebra course. These three courses are considered the "first year" courses.
After completing Perspectives
on Algebra, the second year courses (Perspectives on Geometry,
Dealing with Data, and Topics in Algebra
and Geometry) may be completed in any order.
Because of the sequencing
of mathematical content, we require that participants complete
Topics in Algebra and Geometry , Perspectives
on Functions 1, Perspectives on Functions 2, and More Topics
in Algebra as a sequence.
Perspectives on Functions 1 is a prerequisite
for all “More
Topics” courses.
Participants who are unsure which course
is appropriate for their skill level and interest may call
the office (310-794-6588) or
e-mail Helen Chan (hchan@math.ucla.edu) for course counseling
assistance.
I
currently hold a Supplementary Authorization (not earned through
MCPT) and want to earn a Subject Matter Authorization. What courses
are required?
If the Supplementary Authorization was earned
before January 2005, CCTC will credit the holder with 30 quarter
units of college level mathematics towards a Subject Matter Authorization.
This means that you will need to take about 5 additional courses
to earn the authorization.
To understand the philosophy, expectations
of the program, and breadth of the program, current holders of
a Supplementary Authorization
should complete one “first year course” (Number Power
1, Number Power 2, or Perspectives on Algebra), one “second
year course” (Perspectives on Geometry, Dealing with Data,
or Topics in Algebra and Geometry), and Perspectives on Functions
1 before taking other MCPT courses. Two additional courses
of your choice will complete the unit requirements for a Subject
Matter Authorization.
Would
you consider your courses CSET Preparation?
The topics of study in MCPT overlap extensively
with those tested on the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET.) However, the program is not designed
for CSET preparation. Beginning summer 2010, teachers interested in preparing to take the CSET should consider the CSET content series. The series consists of four 10-week courses:
Topics from High School Mathematics 1A: Advanced Algebra
Topics from High School Mathematics 1B: Linear Algebra and Number Theory
Topics from High School Mathematics 2A: Plane Euclidean Geometry
Topics from High School Mathematics 2B: Geometry, Probability, and Statistics
Though not designed as "prep" courses, the CSET content series explicitly targets the topics assessed on the CSET Subtest 1 and Subtest 2. See Course Descriptions for a comprehensive list of topics for each course and for course prerequisites.
What
are my payment options?
Payments for courses are due on the first
day of class. Participant may pay by check or cash. We also
recommend that you contact your district to see if reimbursements
are available. We are unable to accept credit cards at this
time.
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