Temporary 90-Day Certificate

Upon successful completion of the ARC Program, the graduate will receive a Record of Completion from ARC. This credential qualifies the ARC graduate for certification in any Connecticut public school pending the passing of the PRAXIS II subject exam(s) or the ACTFL world language exam(s) and the recommendation from the superintendent of the district that will employ the graduate. Once the graduate has the promise of a position, he/she must apply for the Temporary 90-Day Certificate from the Connecticut State Department of Education. This certificate will be granted only in the ARC area of study and only if all certification requirements have been met. At the end of the 90-day period, the graduate will be eligible for the Initial Educator Certificate if the district superintendent so recommends.

Finding a Teaching Position

ARC does not find or guarantee teaching positions for its graduates. However, on average, 70-75 percent of ARC graduates obtain teaching positions within six months of program completion. In most shortage areas, the hiring rate has been 85-90 percent.

Most subjects that ARC offers are considered shortage areas by the Connecticut State Department of Education or have been shortage areas in recent years. Finding a job may be more challenging and could take longer in a non-shortage area. This year, the following subjects are on the shortage list: English, mathematics, science (biology, chemistry, earth science, general science, and physics), and world languages.

ARC does share via email information about job openings and annually runs a job fair for ARC candidates and graduates.

Information about Connecticut teaching vacancies:

Connecticut Education Association (CEA) www.cea.org
Connecticut Regional Education Alliance Program (CTREAP) www.ctreap.net

Support for Beginning ARC-Prepared Teachers

Each district employing an ARC-prepared teacher is required by state regulations to provide a special program of supervision to support the transition into teaching. The Connecticut Department of Education also provides support programs for new teachers, including the Teacher Education and Mentoring program (TEAM). In addition, ARC provides each of its graduates who so desire with a coach to assist in this transition. The coach is employed by ARC and does not report to the school in any evaluative manner. ARC also offers a series of support seminars for its beginning teachers, and these seminars are focused on issues unique to beginning teachers.

Social Security and Teaching in Connecticut

Connecticut teachers are part of the Connecticut Teacher Retirement System and are not allowed to contribute to Social Security. Connecticut teachers who also are eligible for Social Security benefits may have benefits reduced if they retire under the Connecticut Teacher Retirement System. Consult the Connecticut Teacher Retirement Board website (www.ct.gov/trb/lib/trb/formsandpubs/ss32001.pdf) for further information. These could be important considerations for individuals leaving job positions covered by Social Security.