IS ALTERNATIVE TEACHER EDUCATION AN OPTION FOR UKRAINE?

Abstract

The present paper is devoted to the study of alternative models of teacher education in the USA. Its relevance has recently grown owing to the political, sociological, demographic, and economic challenges Ukraine faces caused by the full-blown military intervention. As many as twenty-seven thousand teachers fled the country to seek refuge, which led to substantial teaching force shortages. Alternative pathways to the teaching profession can potentially alleviate some of the problems in education, as the US experience of non-traditional teacher preparation has demonstrated. The paper thus aims to highlight the organization of alternative teacher preparation in the US educational system and outline the possible venues for utilizing this experience to expedite the Ukrainian teacher preparation system. The study was carried out by applying the method of analysis of the available empirical, legislative, and educational documentary sources. Next, the comparative analysis method was used to look into the alternative pathways to the teaching profession in the USA and Ukraine. Finally, the extrapolation method helped uncover the perspectives and expediency of the US experience to leverage Ukrainian teacher education. Based on this, the organization of alternative programs of teacher preparation in the USA, including residency programs, was discussed. Their benefits and caveats were highlighted compared to traditional teacher education. The effect of the teacher preparation model on teacher outcomes and also the impact of the type of program on learner achievement were discussed on the basis of an extensive empirical database. Lastly, implications for Ukrainian policy and practice were assessed.