Chicago teachers find success with Alternative Early Childhood Licensure Program
“I’m not a renter anymore,” Charkeya Jackson said. “I was able to buy a house because as my pay increased, every time I earned another credit, I was able to think outside the box and elevate myself, my life, my kids.”
Jackson was the lead teacher for 3- to 5-year-old children at New Horizons Altgeld for nine years before enrolling in the UIC College of Education’s Alternative Licensure program. Because she didn’t have a teaching license, her salary was on the low end for teachers. But through the program at UIC, Jackson was able to do her teaching residency where she already works, removing one of the main barriers to getting her teaching license. The classes are held in the evenings, which also support teachers who are in the field.
Modified on February 29, 2024