Published: October 29, 2009 10:13 pm      

Changing the rules: Public hearing sought input on proposed teacher licensing changes

SCOTTSBURG — Dozens of people came out to have their say about proposed teacher licensing changes Thursday as part of one of the three public hearings hosted by the Indiana Department of Education, including the Indiana State Teachers Association who is telling them to slow down.

Those changes include having more content-based education for teachers. For secondary teachers, that means having to major in the subject they hope to teach, such as math, and minor in education. Elementary teachers would be required to major in a content area or education and minor in the opposing of the two.

The rules would make it easier for those changing professions to become a teacher, requiring them to have a bachelor’s degree, get an education minor and pass a content-knowledge test for licensure.

Possible waivers would open the door for non-traditional administrators who don’t have a teaching license. There are also proposed changes dealing with how teachers renew their licenses.

Before deciding whether to pass the changes as they are, alter them or do nothing, the IDOE gathered information from comments online, totaling nearly 1,000, and are taking notes on those choosing to speak out at the public hearings in Scottsburg, Rochester and one in Indianapolis on Monday.

Many comments complained about the timing of the hearings, which were from 10 a.m. to noon, saying that isn’t conducive to many, especially teachers who are really affected by the proposed changes.

Many also said emphasis needs to remain on the art of teaching, rather than content.

“Teaching is about having content knowledge and caring about children,” said Gloria Murray, dean of the school of education at Indiana University Southeast. “Children do not drop out of school because teachers lack content knowledge. They drop out because the teacher or the educational environment does not deliver the content in a way to that learner [to meet their needs].”

“The knowledge is not the problem,” said Tim Payne, who has 40 years of experience as a teacher and principal. “The problem is within the methods, being able to stand up and speak up.”

He said the universities know what they are doing.

“You keep up with your good work and let the universities do their work, because they are doing a good job,” Payne said.

Not all agreed. Don Hanlin said as a teacher, he would ask simple content questions to other teachers about their fields of study, such as asking an English teacher about what direct and indirect objects were, and they didn’t know. He pointed out that an advanced economics teacher at his school was hired and considered to have a solid background in the subject after taking just two classes in the subject in college.

He said putting the focus more on content-based education will help diversify staff by eliminating similar thinking patterns. He said it will also ensure that students are getting the correct knowledge in this “age of increased mis-information.”

Some questioned the move to allow waivers for administrators.

“We continue to ask more and more of our children, but we lower the standards for our administrators,” said Cynthia Miller, who teaches in the Crown Point school district.

Ray Graves, senior evaluator/consultant with the IDOE, said the comments were outstanding, but they did echo what he has heard in online comments and those made at the first hearing in Rochester.

“The idea behind these public hearings and the reasoning why they are so valuable is our advisory board — the decision making body for these rules — needs to truly hear each and every comment that was made, because they are all constructive and they’re all going to allow that advisory board to make the best decision about the final product,” Graves said. “We’ve heard the comments about the need for more public hearings. We’ve heard that and we take that to heart ... In hindsight, it might have been a good idea to have a p.m. hearing. I say that’s a legitimate comment and food for thought for the next time we do public hearings we’d like to do that.”

Graves said he isn’t sure whether the advisory board will decide to hold additional hearings.

Members of that board, which were selected and appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels, will meet again Nov. 18 to discuss possible revisions and will vote on the final changes once they feel comfortable, according to Graves.

The board started work on this initiative this summer.

Teresa Meredith, vice president of the ISTA, said she wants the IDOE to slow down and look at all the possible ramifications that could be caused by the proposed changes before making a final decision.

“Is it change for the sake of change or is it change for a good purpose?” she asked.



PROPOSED LICENSING CHANGES

• Requires Emphasis on Content-Knowledge. Proposed changes would revise the licensing requirements to emphasize teachers’ content knowledge.

— Elementary teachers (Pre-K to 6) must earn a baccalaureate degree consisting of an education major with a content-area minor OR a content-area major with an education minor.

— Education major must include no more than 30 credit hours in pedagogy.

— Education minor must include no more than 15 credit hours in pedagogy.

• Secondary teachers (grades 5 to 12) must either receive:

— A baccalaureate degree consisting of any applicable content-area major — as well as a minor in education; or

— Certification by an education preparation that has been approved by the Advisory Board of the Division of Professional Standards.

— Opens Door to Non-Traditional Administrators. Proposed changes would allow school boards to hire superintendents outside of the traditional education system if they apply and receive a waiver with the DOE.

— Candidates for superintendent would be required to have at least a master’s degree and pass the school leader’s licensure test.

• Requires Testing of Every Teacher. Proposed changes would require all teaching candidates to pass certain tests to demonstrate competence in content-area knowledge and pedagogy (including the PRAXIS II exams). No more testing waivers would be granted to any teachers or teaching candidates.

• Changes License Renewal for Current Teachers. Proposed changes would eliminate tuition-based course requirements for teachers to renew their licenses.

• Simplifies Licensing Process for Out-of-state Teachers and Career Changers. Proposed changes would reduce licensing barriers for out-of-state teachers and other highly knowledgeable adults looking to enter the teaching profession. Related changes:

• Changing Professions: A teaching candidate with a baccalaureate degree may obtain an education minor and pass a content-knowledge test for licensure.