Multicultural Teacher Attitudes and Cultural Sensitivity: an Initial Exploration of the Experiences of Individuals in a Unique Alternative Teacher Certification Program

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether length of experience in an alternative teacher certification program and teacher-in-training sex will predict individuals' multicultural sensitivity. Prior studies' samples have consisted primarily of White females entering the U.S. elementary and secondary teaching force. The current study's sample consists of 40% males and 12.1% individuals of color. Findings indicate that female teachers scored significantly higher on the Teacher Multicultural Attitude Survey (TMAS) than male teachers. In addition, teachers with more experience in the alternative teacher certification program showed significantly less endorsement of color-blind racial attitudes than teachers with less experience. This study also presents important information about the experiences of individuals who participated in an alternative teacher certification program designed to assist under-resourced Catholic elementary and secondary schools and offers an extension of the literature.