A bibliometric analysis of alternative routes to teaching: Scope, development, and topical foci

This bibliometric review sourced 166 articles on Alternative Routes to Teaching (ARTs) from Web of Science published in 1988–2024. It reveals the global presence and over-representation of US studies in ARTs research. Journals in education policy and teacher education publish that research strongly. Topical foci of ARTs research include teacher education, policy reform, Teach For America, teacher certification, and student achievement-cum-teacher retention. Early ARTs research challenged traditional teacher certification, using student achievement to query the effectiveness of traditional and alternative teacher education. Alongside neoliberal reform, ARTs research then highlighted accountability in the name of equity. Future research directions are discussed.