Steps of the Admission Process

Step 1: Eligibility Review – Review of all applications by ARC central office staff to check for completeness and to assure eligibility both for program admission and state certification requirements. Incomplete applications will not proceed past Step 1 of the review process.

Step 2: Evaluation of Application - Analysis and ranking of applications by two Program Specialists, based on ARC's admission criteria to identify those applicants who will be interviewed.

Step 3: Interview - If needed, interviews by Program Specialists to determine those who will be recommended for admission to the program. Not all qualified applicants will be called for interviews.

Step 4: Offer of Admission - Letter of admission will be sent by the ARC Program.

Admission Criteria

1. Eligibility Requirements - To be eligible to apply, an applicant must have:

• A minimum of a bachelors degree from an accredited institution with a major in, or closely related to, the intended teaching field. Applicants must also meet any specific course requirements for certification in their subject area as established by the State Department of Education (see pages 6-7 of the catalog).
• A minimum grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in their undergraduate program or the same minimum average in 24 semester hours of graduate study. Waivers may be granted in some extenuating circumstances (see page 8 of the catalog).
• Passing scores on all sections of the PRAXIS I examinations (reading, writing and math) or a waiver from the State Department of Education based on SAT or ACT or PAA or GRE scores (see page 8 of the catalog for more information about the Praxis I waiver).
• World Language applicants may also be required to take the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) from ACTFL as a requirement for eligibility (see pages 6-7 under “World Language” for more details).
• Access to email and the internet, as only online applications are considered. In addition, ARC communicates with its students on an ongoing basis chiefly via email, and posts messages for its students on the ARC portal.

2. Application Requirements:

• Completed Application for Admission available at www.ctohe.org/ARCOnline/ARCInstructions.shtml.
• Current resume (sent along with the signature page and application fee via regular mail).
• Three sealed and current letters of reference along with the reference forms which are part of the online application. Reference letters must be received by ARC in sealed envelopes, and must be original letters with official signatures.
• Praxis I scores sent directly to ARC from the Educational Testing Service, or a copy of the Praxis I waiver approved by the State Department of Education and then sent to ARC by the applicant (see pages 5-6 of the catalog for more information).
• OPI and WPT scores for world language applicants, if required (see page 12).
• College transcripts for undergraduate and any graduate work, sent directly to ARC, 61 Woodland St., Hartford, CT 06105-2326, by the colleges in sealed envelopes. If you have transcripts sent to you and they are in sealed envelopes, you may submit the sealed envelopes to ARC.
• If your bachelor’s degree, or any other collegiate study, was earned at a school outside of the United States, you will need to have a review of your transcript conducted by an approved agency (see pages 9-10 of the catalog).
  GPA waiver request, if required, submitted as part of the online application (see page 8 of the catalog).
• Experience Working with Youth waiver request, if required, submitted as part of the online application (see page 8 of the catalog).

3. Review of Applications: ARC Program Specialists review the applications of eligible applicants, based on the following admissions criteria:

• Academic Strength and Subject Knowledge - The transcript is reviewed for evidence of the applicants academic strength and for breadth, depth and currency of content knowledge. Reference letters also are checked for information about the applicants academic strength.
• Work Experience -The application and resume are reviewed for work experience and career development that indicate that the applicant possesses the maturity and drive necessary to succeed in the ARC Program.
• Experience Working with Youth - The application is reviewed for the applicants experience working with youth in an ongoing, organized activity. This experience can take various forms, such as substitute teaching, coaching, religious education, etc. An applicant may request a waiver of this requirement (see page 9 of the catalog).
• Communication - The application and the applicants personal essay are read closely for content and writing skills. The care shown in the completion of the application also is noted.
• Personal Attributes and Motivation - The letters of reference and the personal statement are read with a focus on the potential for the applicants success in the program as well as for success as a teacher.

4. Interview - In-person interviews of the highest-rated applicants may be conducted by Program Specialists if additional information is required to make a final decision. Interviews will take place as needed, and not all qualified applicants will be called for an interview.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Alternate Route to Certification (ARC) Program recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person and strives to foster tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among all students and staff. ARC believes that diversity among its students and staff is a critical component in preparing teachers for Connecticut's schools. Thus, no student in ARC will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, and/or physical disability.