Oklahoma officials are looking at the teacher shortage obstacles created by certification requirements.Officials are seeking new ways to address some of the reasons behind Oklahoma’s continuing teacher shortage.State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said she wants to ensure qualified individuals can teach in Oklahoma classrooms without being bogged down by state-specific exams.”This is something that we believe is really important to ensuring we have high quality, tested, experts teaching in our schools,” Hofmeister said.Hofmeister said teachers and teaching candidates now have access to more than 40 subject tests through praxis, an online teacher certification platform. The Department of Education said it’s used around the country and will allow schools to attract more teachers while also comparing their test scores to national averages.KOCO 5 asked how this program doesn’t take away barriers that could reduce qualifications.”Actually, it’s just the opposite, so we don’t think you should be taking away the high bar to have tested, subject matter experts in front of our children. Instead, what we’re doing is saying, let’s be nationally competitive,” Hofmeister said.In addition to attracting more teachers, the hope is the wide range of test subjects will allow teachers to become certified in new topics, perhaps filling roles that may be more difficult to fill.There are tests for a wide array of topics from early childhood to secondary education. Test costs, like all certifications, are paid by teachers.”It strengthens the teacher pipeline, it’s good for kids,” Hofmeister said.
Oklahoma officials are looking at the teacher shortage obstacles created by certification requirements.
Officials are seeking new ways to address some of the reasons behind Oklahoma’s continuing teacher shortage.
State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said she wants to ensure qualified individuals can teach in Oklahoma classrooms without being bogged down by state-specific exams.
“This is something that we believe is really important to ensuring we have high quality, tested, experts teaching in our schools,” Hofmeister said.
Hofmeister said teachers and teaching candidates now have access to more than 40 subject tests through praxis, an online teacher certification platform. The Department of Education said it’s used around the country and will allow schools to attract more teachers while also comparing their test scores to national averages.
KOCO 5 asked how this program doesn’t take away barriers that could reduce qualifications.
“Actually, it’s just the opposite, so we don’t think you should be taking away the high bar to have tested, subject matter experts in front of our children. Instead, what we’re doing is saying, let’s be nationally competitive,” Hofmeister said.
In addition to attracting more teachers, the hope is the wide range of test subjects will allow teachers to become certified in new topics, perhaps filling roles that may be more difficult to fill.
There are tests for a wide array of topics from early childhood to secondary education. Test costs, like all certifications, are paid by teachers.
“It strengthens the teacher pipeline, it’s good for kids,” Hofmeister said.