A Step in Meeting Teacher Crisis

California schools, already burdened by a shortage of fully qualified teachers, will need to hire at least 300,000 more teachers over the next decade to replace retirees, accommodate projected growth and reduce the number of those who hold emergency credentials. Because state college programs can’t meet the demand, many school districts will need to recruit qualified and experienced teachers from other states.

At least applicants from other states will no longer face a ridiculous California licensing procedure that took up to five years, including duplicative course work and repeat practice teaching, no matter what the teacher’s qualifications. So far, 130 out-of-state teachers have received their credentials under regulations that resulted from a 1998 law sponsored by Assemblyman Jack Scott (D-Altadena) to encourage good teachers from other states to come to California.

The California Basic Education Skills Test, an examination of reading, writing and low-level mathematics, is still required, as it should be, but other requirements have been relaxed by the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing.

Under the reforms, teachers with three years of experience and positive evaluations can earn a full credential by participating in a program of support and mentoring intended for all inexperienced teachers in California. Teachers who have five successful years of experience in another state automatically get a credential if they meet state requirements and take the same professional growth courses, approximately 150 hours every five years, that California requires of all veteran teachers.

In addition, beginning out-of-state teachers will have an easier time earning credentials if they graduated in one of 18 states that have teacher training programs and academic standards equivalent to California’s. Some states not on the list, for instance Texas, deserve reconsideration in March in the next round of evaluations for raising student achievement through well-planned programs.

Making it easier to get into the classroom will help attract good teachers. The next step, of course, is making California’s schools places where they want to stay.