Temporary teaching certificate unanimously approved by Texas State Board

On April 2, the Texas State Board for Educator Certification unanimously approved the controversial Temporary Teaching Certificate, a program that will grant a two-year teaching certificate to college graduates who have a degree in the subject they plan to teach and who pass the state’s teacher exams.

Program supporters argue that it will help to address the teacher shortage in Texas, while those opposed to the program claim that students should not be placed in classrooms with ill-prepared teachers. The previous vote on this measure occurred in February. Since then, new guidelines developed by a committee of 14 representatives from school-related organizations, have been approved. The guidelines, meant to appease the opposition, require that teachers with the new certificate have 80 hours of training before school starts and another 300 hours of training during the two-year period of the certificate

The Temporary Teaching Certificate allows the college graduate to teach in grades 8 through 12. The certificate is valid for two academic years, after which the school district can recommend the teacher for a permanent certificate. Prior to entering the classroom, the new teacher must be trained in school law, instructional methods, curriculum planning, and classroom management, all of which are included in the initial 80 hours of pre-classroom training.

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