ABSTRACT
In this chapter, I explore the emergence of alternative teacher certification pathways in China. The establishment of fast-track teacher preparation programs in a country such as China represents something that, on the surface, would seem rather unexpected considering the strong state politics of the country. The People’s Republic of China is a single-party state governed by the Chinese Communist Party. While China is a nation that is comprised of province-level administrative divisions, the centralized authority of the state largely negates the potential autonomy of China’s provinces. As such, the tolerance of reforms that in other contexts are used to challenge state power and authority represents a curious phenomenon deserving of critical analysis.
