In the interest of brevity, the purpose of this week’s newsletter is two-fold: to inform you of the latest developments in an ongoing debate over teacher certification in our state, and to provide you with details about an education event you won’t want to miss.
First, to the news. Recent debate in our state has swirled around the impact of teaching standards and certification on student performance. Governor Easley has vigorously opposed easing teachers’ licensing requirements, suggesting that doing so would “cheat our children out of a quality education.” In fact, Easley recently vetoed legislation (House Bill 706) that would have made it easier for school districts to hire teachers from other states.
In light of the Governor’s veto, the State Board of Education has stepped in to try and pre-empt a possible veto override in the legislature, revising their policy on out-of-state teacher certification. The State Board would permit North Carolina school districts to grant teaching licenses to out-of-state teachers if they are licensed in another state, have at least three years of experience, and have successfully completed one year of teaching in North Carolina. Keep your eyes trained on Raleigh for late-breaking developments: yesterday, Easley reconvened the legislature to reconsider House Bill 706, and now there is a designated “House committee” for further compromising.
Who has the data on their side? Terry Stoops, education analyst for the John Locke Foundation, has authored a timely new report,
The Certification Myth: Teacher certification does not improve student performance, debunking the notion (and Easley’s view) that certification standards determine teacher quality.
Dr. Stoops’ state-by-state comparison found that certification standards and teacher testing did not improve students’ test scores. This report is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the research behind this politically-charged issue.
In other news, a champion of school choice will soon be coming to North Carolina. T. Willard Fair, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami and Vice Chairman of the Florida State Board of Education, will speak at a luncheon event on October 26th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Urban League of the Central Carolinas, 740 West Fifth Street, Charlotte, North Carolina.
I first had the privilege of hearing Mr. Fair at a national conference on education in 1999. The recipient of the “Rebel with a Cause” award that evening, Mr. Fair spoke eloquently about the needs of urban children. Since that time, I have heard Mr. Fair speak on many occasions, and have always been heartened by his unflagging advocacy for children’s educational needs.
A vigorous defender of disadvantaged students, Mr. Fair has referred to tuition vouchers as an “important and just opportunity” for poor and minority children. In 1996, Mr. Fair began a partnership with Jeb Bush to advance charter school legislation; both men went on to found the Liberty Center Charter School, the first charter school in Florida. Mr. Fair has used his influence in Florida to push for wide-scale education reform, referring to public schools as “too regulated, entrenched in bureaucracy, with overcrowded classrooms, out-of-control children, and teachers who are not held accountable due to too much union interference.”