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February 20, 2008

House Education Committee takes up three bills to lower teacher quality standards

The House Education Committee held hearings on three bills that would allow the creation of teacher preparation programs that would not be required to hold their candidates to the same quality standards of traditional teacher preparation programs.

The first bill, HB 2842 would recognize the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) in granting teaching licenses. ABCTE was created as a quickie teacher licensing program and to offer an easy alternative to the rigorous certification process of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

ABCTE was going nowhere until it was adopted by the Bush Administration. They are currently depending on funds from the United States Department of Education for their continued existence.

The ABCTE program would have candidates complete some online training, take a multiple choice, and then be eligible for a teaching license. No practicum experience of student teacher would be required.

The second bill was HB 2874 introduced by Rep. Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson) and would allow school districts, service centers and community colleges to provide alternative teacher training programs. It is somewhat similar to HB 2903 introduced at the request of Wichita USD 259 which also would allow school districts, service centers, and others to provide these programs.

KNEA opposed both of these bills because they do not require such programs to meet the educator standards or be subject to program review. KNEA believes that there are appropriate programs for alternative licensure in place currently. If there is a problem it would be a perceived lack of flexibility on the part of some of the teacher training institutions in assisting career change teacher candidates.

If an institution – either a school district or a community college – that would be willing to establish a program that meets the educator standards and would submit itself for program review, we do not see a problem with such a program.

Unfortunately the teaching profession is the only one that deals with shortages by lowering standards to enter the profession. The state would never consider legislation to allow a nurse to practice as a physician after some online courses and a multiple choice or simply by going to work under a program that is not required to meet the standards of the American Medical Association. We don’t do this for accountants, lawyers, plumbers, or even cosmetologists. Why is it okay with teachers?

Here’s a recruitment suggestion: professional pay, paid health benefits, quality mentoring, strong professional development programs, and a supportive administration. Of course, that takes resources. Many would prefer to do it on the cheap.

KNEA Director of Instructional Advocacy Peg Dunlap, presented KNEA’s position on all three bills. Others in opposition included representatives of higher education; both the Regents institutions and the private colleges of education.

A subcommittee will be formed to decide how to proceed on this issue.

Senate Ed takes up healthy weight program

The Senate Education Committee held a hearing on SB 582, a bill establishing a healthy weight education grant program for middle schools. The bill was proposed by Rep. Pat Colloton (R-Overland Park ) and Sen. Marci Francisco (D-Lawrence). Colloton has been in the forefront of efforts to promote healthy choices in schools from PE to nutrition to general wellness.

KNEA supported this bill as a good step in helping formalize the role of schools in promoting healthy behaviors and wellness. KNEA lobbyist Mark Desetti, in speaking to the committee, urged them to remember that others had a role to play as well. Said Desetti, “there is much more to addressing obesity than PE or healthy weight education programs or collecting and reporting student body mass index information. Government, schools, business, and parents all have responsibilities in this battle. How the government handles health care issues, how businesses promote healthy lifestyle choices, how the hospitality industry prepares and serves food, and how parents feed their children are all part of the solution.”

Bill to take non-felony DUI’s out of the lifetime teaching license ban passed by committee

Senate Bill 492 was introduced when it was found that a young woman who had a misdemeanor DUI on her record during college was told she could never hold Kansas teaching license. Under current law, that’s true.

Senator John Vratil (R-Leawood) introduced a bill to remove that ban from statute. His bill was rewritten to simply provide a list of offenses for which one could be denied a teaching license and a second list of those offences that could lead to a five year ban on a license.

The revised version was adopted by the Senate Education Committee and passed on to the full Senate for consideration.

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