ABSTRACT
Created by the same omnibus piece of education legislation, the Teacher Trainee Program! and the Mentor Teacher Program in the state of California have developed within the broader national debate in the United States about enhancing the teaching profession. The Teacher Trainee Program in California addresses a chronic teacher shortage problem by allowing school districts to hire college graduates who lack a teaching certificate. It is an alternative to issuing emergency teaching credentials to individuals who lack any formal teacher education. Supporters argue that the Program helps upgrade the quality of the field by attracting talented candidates with strong academic credentials and relevant work experience.
