Governor wants to strip back rules that make it complicated to become a teacher

Audio By Carbonatix

Four weeks into the 2016 school year, more than 2,000 teacher positions in Arizona were still unfilled.

One way lawmakers and Gov. Doug Ducey want to address the problem: Make it easier to become a teacher.

Several bills moving through the Arizona Legislature would do just that, by providing alternative ways to certify teachers, allowing reciprocity for teachers certified in other states and letting experienced teachers whose certification has lapsed come back into the classroom.

But critics of plans to ease teacher certification say it’s a misguided attempt to solve a deepening teacher shortage, and it will weaken the profession. The bigger problems, they say, are low pay and a lack of support to succeed in the classroom.

Read more at AZ Capitol Times

Corrie O'Connor