This book summarizes the how alternatively certified §teachers reduce teacher shortages. A list of §shortage-area subjects was matched to the numbers §and types of certificates obtained by alternatively §certified teachers. Results demonstrate that §alternative certification programs are an effective §method of recruiting teachers in hard-to-fill §subject areas, particularly those content areas with §the most critical shortages special education, §math, science, and foreign language. Nontraditional §teacher certification programs provide a fast-track §route into the classroom for individuals seeking a §career in education and reduce teacher shortages by §recruiting a significant number of teachers into the §profession in subject shortage areas. For education §leaders seeking to remedy chronic teacher shortages, §alternative certification offers an excellent option §for teacher recruitment and placement.