- March 4, April 15, and May 20 - 6:30 p.m.
To receive information about joining these sessions, RSVP to ACET@montgomerycollege.edu
On Campus: Face-to-face information sessions will not resume until Montgomery College ends remote operations.
ZOOM Online Sessions:
To receive information about joining these sessions, RSVP to ACET@montgomerycollege.edu
Montgomery College and Montgomery County Public Schools have partnered to offer an innovative teacher preparation program for talented individuals who wish to change careers and become teachers in MCPS secondary schools.
This competitive admissions program is designed to address MCPS needs for excellent teachers in high demand fields. Subject areas may vary from year to year depending on MCPS needs and teacher shortage areas and include areas such as:
Potential candidates must have:
If you have a bachelor's degree and wish to become a teacher but the ACET program is not for you, see Alternate Paths to Teacher Certification in Maryland.
Following a competitive admissions process, selected candidates join a cohort for 10 to 12 weeks of intensive coursework, followed by a five-week teaching internship, and a one-year supervised teaching residency in MCPS with full pay and benefits.
The instructional component of ACET includes 10 to 12 weeks of intensive coursework, with classes meeting most Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings and some Saturdays. The Teaching Institute utilizes blended instruction, including face to face and distance learning, and includes performance based activities, development, planning, and delivery of instruction.
It is composed of eight modules, based on the InTASC standards, which include human development, learning theories, secondary methods, secondary assessments, diversity, students with exceptions, and collaboration and communication. Students will also enroll in READ 238, Methods of Teaching Reading in the Secondary Content Area (Part 1), if not previously completed.
The following textbooks are required:
Carjuzaa, J. & Kellough, R. (2012). Teaching in the Middle and Secondary Schools (10th Ed.)Boston, MA: Pearson
Taylor, R., Smiley, L. & Richards, S. (2015). Exceptional students: preparing teachers for the 21st. century. (2nd ed.) Pearson: Boston
Saphier, J., Haley-Speca, M. & Gower, R. (2008). The skillful teacher: Building your teaching skills (6th ed.). Acton: MA: Research for Better Teaching Inc.
Thompson, J. (2013). First-year teacher’s survival guide. (3rd Ed.) San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
For World Language Candidates only:
Hadley, A. (2001). Teaching language in context. (3rd ed.) Heile/Cengage: USA
Recommended Texts:
DiAngelo, R. (2018) White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. Beacon Press: MA.
Kendi, I. X. (2019). How to be an Antiracist. One World: NY.
Kozol, J. (1991). Savage inequalities: Children in America’s schools . Crown Publishers, Inc.: NY
Note About Textbooks: Textbooks are not available in the College bookstores; the best way to obtain them is via an online book source. Additional readings and other resources will be assigned during the institute.
A five to eight week unpaid internship is offered following successful completion
of the Teaching
Institute, with candidates assigned to MCPS at either the middle or high school level.
During the first week candidates observe in their placement classrooms. For the next
few weeks they teach with frequent observation and feedback from Montgomery College
School of Education faculty with experience in supervising student teachers.
After successful completion of the internship, candidates will interview for paid positions in MCPS. Once candidates are placed, intensive mentoring and supervision along with a regular cohort seminar provide strong support for each teacher candidate.
Residents must also successfully complete the appropriate Praxis Pedagogy exam and Part II of the Methods of Teaching Reading in the Secondary Content (READ 239) at MC or equivalent professional development course in MCPS. At the end of a satisfactory resident year, candidates will be awarded the MSDE Standard Professional Certificate I.
Follow these step-by-step directions to apply for the ACET program.
SAT taken after January 1, 2019, math and critical reading total score of 1180 OR
SAT taken BETWEEN April 1995 and December 2018, math and verbal/critical reading total score of 1100 OR]
SAT taken before April 1995, math and verbal total score of 1000 OR
To be certified in: | Take this Praxis subject assessment: | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
---|---|---|---|
Middle School Mathematics | Middle School Mathematics (On-screen calculator provided) | 5169 | 165 |
Middle School Science | Middle School Science | 5440 | 150 |
Chemistry | Chemistry: Content Knowledge | 5245 | 153 |
Computer Science | Computer Science: Content Knowledge | 5652 | 149 |
English | English Language Arts: Content and Analysis | 5039 | 168 |
Mathematics | Mathematics: Content Knowledge (On-screen graphing calculator provided) | 5161 | 160 |
Physics | Physics: Content Knowledge | 5265 | 143 |
Technology Education | Technology Education | 5051 | 159 |
For World Languages certification: Successfully complete the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI or OPIc) and the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) in your desired language, given through the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Intermediate high scores or higher on each test are required for qualification. For more information and to schedule testing, go to the LTI website.
All items should be submitted electronically to ACET@montgomerycollege.edu
OR to
Debra Poese, Director of Teacher Education Partnerships, debra.poese@montgomerycollege.edu
We recommend that you keep a copy of all documents for your records. After consideration by the Selection Committee, qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview.
The ACET program costs currently total approximately $11,000 for in-state students, and approximately $16,400 for out-of-state students.
See the chart below for a breakdown of the costs and when each portion is due. Tuition and fees listed here are as of July 1, 2019, and are subject to change pending annual budget approvals. Books and supplies are additional.
STEM professionals may qualify for the Noyce Scholar program to cover the full cost of ACET.
Program Component | Cost for In-State Students (Total includes tuition and fees) | Cost for Out-of-State Students (Total includes tuition and fees) | Due |
---|---|---|---|
ACET Applicant Evaluation Fee | $60.00 | $60.00 | With application |
Teaching Institute (Coursework) | $5,490.00 | $7,790.00 | In three blocks of module registration over the span of the Teaching Institute |
Montgomery College CREDIT Application Fee (required ONLY for new Montgomery College credit students) | $25.00 | $25.00 | Before registration for READ 238/239 |
READ 238 and 239, Secondary Reading requirement (exempted if courses were taken previously) |
Per Course: |
Per Course: $1,243.20 |
Before the beginning of the semester in which the courses are taken |
Internship (five weeks standard) |
$3,750.00 |
$4,800.00 | Before beginning of internship |
Fall Residency Seminar |
$416.00 |
$641.00 | August of resident year |
Spring Residency Seminar |
$416.00 |
$641.00 | January of resident year |
TOTAL for all components |
$11,102.60 |
$16,443.40 |
Those interested in teaching in a STEM field may qualify for a $16,000 stipend to cover the full cost of the ACET program.
The Montgomery College Noyce: Excellent Teachers for STEM (MC NEXT STEM) program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals to become secondary mathematics and science teachers. The program supports STEM professionals who commit to teaching STEM fields in high-need middle schools and high schools upon completion of the ACET program.
If you meet the following requirements, you may qualify to receive a $16,000 stipend through our National Science Foundation grant:
ACET is a Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program.