North Carolina has many open teaching positions. That’s not news.
The exact number is a function of how you calculate the number. What’s beyond debate, however, is that North Carolina needs more teachers and a better way to get qualified teachers quickly into the classroom.
One of the obstacles to the current process is that the State Board of Education can require an out-of-state applicant (someone licensed in another state) to complete an examination as a condition of licensure. This contributes to delays in getting teachers in the classroom and may even deter some from even applying for teaching positions altogether.
Senate Bill (SB) 147, sponsored by Sens. Hanig and Moffitt, is designed to help address this problem. SB 147 would prohibit the State Board of Education from requiring out-of-state applicants who already hold a teacher license from another state and who have been working for at least three years to complete any standardized examination as a condition of receiving a continuing professional license for teaching.
Let’s remember, the pool of teachers here already includes teachers who are already licensed in other states, have been working for at least three years, and are in good standing. At a time when many of our schools have a dire need for qualified teachers, why erect yet another barrier to getting qualified teachers in the classroom?
SB 147 is a commonsense, inexpensive solution to a serious problem. Lawmakers should give it serious consideration.
