MORGANTOWN – The GOP legislative supermajority is aiming to add another, expedited means to get certified teachers into classrooms. Monday afternoon, the House Education Committee approved a bill matching a Senate bill that provides a third means to get certified.
The committee originated the bill so it didn’t have a number yet on Monday. But it’s the same as SB 14, set for first reading in the Senate on Tuesday.
There are currently two means to get certified. One is to pursue the traditional teacher training program offered at several universities, have three years of teaching experience or have completed an alternative program offered in another state.
The second is to earn an alternative certificate in West Virginia. This requires at least a bachelor’s degree, successful passage of skills and subject matter tests and completion of an alternative teacher education program.
Committee counsel told members the alternative certification process takes from three to five years to complete and isn’t drawing many candidates. That’s the reason for this bill.
This method requires a bachelor’s degree, a criminal history check, pedagogical training aligned with national standards or approved by the state board, and passage of subject matter and competency tests.
Democrats on the committee were uncomfortable with the expedited process.
Delegate Cody Thompson, D-Randolph, and a teacher, said he recognizes the teacher shortage crisis but it’s unfair to those like him who have years of training to have someone without that preparation come in with less scrutiny and fewer requirements.
The real issues of the teacher shortage, he said, are pay, insurance and the often-cited concept “let teachers teach.”
Delegate Ed Evans, D-McDowell and a former teacher, agreed with Thompson that the bill lacks specifics on how much training is needed.
Delegate Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, said, “Reducing the standards puts the students in danger.” and it could affect enrollment in university teacher programs.
Supporting the bill, Delegate Wayne Clark R-Jefferson, said, “Opposong this bill basically tells the state we don’t want certified teachers in our schools.”
Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, attempted to offer an amendment to make this certification provisional: renewable after a year based on successful experience, to ensure the teacher is competent.
After lengthy discussion, no one could quite figure out where in the bill the amendment should go, to make sure it doesn’t disrupt the other two means of certification, so Doyle withdrew it to fine-tune it and present it on the House floor.
The committee approved the bill in a party line roll call vote, 17-6. It goes to the full House.
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