NC has changed teacher licensure laws. How it could impact your child’s school
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- North Carolina budget eases requirements for educators to gain state licensure.
- The budget makes it easier for college students to enter teacher preparation programs.
- Lawmakers folded licensure changes from Senate Bill 840 into the $34.4 billion budget.
North Carolina’s public schools could have an easier time recruiting and retaining educators as a result of changes to teacher licensure laws included in the recently approved state budget.
In addition to providing raises and school funding, the state budget includes multiple education policy provisions. The provisions include making it easier for college students to enter teacher preparation programs and easing requirements for educators to get licensed in North Carolina.
“It will help to increase teachers who are fully certified,” said Geoff Coltrane, senior director of government affairs and strategy for the state Department of Public Instruction.
Coltrane reviewed the licensure changes with the State Board of Education on Thursday. Many of the licensure changes were originally part of Senate Bill 840, which GOP lawmakers folded into the $34.4 billion state budget that was signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Josh Stein.
The licensure changes come during a time when 1 in 10 North Carolina teachers are leaving the profession annually. Schools are hiring teachers for next school year, which starts in August for most students.
Here’s a look at what’s changing for teacher licensure:
Admissions tests eliminated for teacher training programs
In what Coltrane called “a very exciting development,” the budget eliminates requirements that college students must pass the Praxis Core test and have a minimum SAT or ACT score to gain admission into an educator preparation program.
The State Board of Education and DPI have long sought the elimination of the Praxis requirement, saying there isn’t a strong correlation between passing the test and being an effective teacher. DPI has also said that the Praxis test is a barrier to admission, particularly for Black students.
Making it easier for beginning teachers to be licensed
North Carolina used to require new teachers to pass their exams before they began teaching. But in an attempt to make it easier to recruit teachers, state lawmakers passed a law in 2017 creating an initial professional license that gives beginning teachers three years to pass their exams.
The initial professional license is non-renewable and good for three years. Teachers who meet the requirements can have their license changed to a continuing professional license, which is a renewable five-year license.
The state budget eliminates the requirement that beginning teachers had to have taken the exams in their first year to be eligible for the continuing license. DPI has cited how some teachers who passed their exams can’t get a continuing license because they hadn’t taken them during their first year.
Helping effective teachers with limited licenses
Teachers who haven’t met the exam requirements for a continuing license can apply for a limited license, which is a renewable three-year license. It can be requested by the school district employing the teacher.
The budget allow teachers to convert their limited license to a continuing license if their students have a positive EVAAS growth score on state exams for two of the past three years.
“It’s essentially acknowledging teachers who are showing growth with their students, who are obviously showing they’re effective,” Coltrane said.
But state board member Olivia Oxendine said they need to study how they can help teachers who don’t have EVAAS growth data because they teach subjects such as art and music.
Teaching licensure reciprocity
The state budget will also make it easier for experienced teachers in other states and countries to get a continuing license in North Carolina.
Previously, an out-of-state teacher who had at least three years of experience and was in good standing also had to show their state had “substantially similar licensure requirements” to get a continuing license. Coltrane said this resulted in some experienced out-of-state teachers having to pass licensure exams in North Carolina.
The new budget drops the “substantially similar” wording from state law.
“Now if a teacher comes to North Carolina with a license, three years of teaching and is in good standing, DPI and the State Board will be able to award them a full continuing professional license, which will really help to smooth the process for a number of teachers,” Coltrane said.
The state budget extends the same flexibility for experienced teachers who are coming from other countries.
“We have a growing number of international faculty who come,” Coltrane said. “This provision will now also help to smooth out those teachers.”
Middle school licensure changes
The one teacher licensure change that state leaders weren’t as sure of was one that impacts who can work in middle schools.
The budget directs the State Board to adopt rules expanding elementary licenses to include teachers of grades seven and eight. Previously the elementary grades license covered K-6 and the middle grades license covered grades 6-9.
“That essentially eliminates the middle grades license, doesn’t it?” Oxendine asked.
Coletrane said DPI is still reviewing the impact of the change.
“There are a lot of issues and questions to be wrestled with,” Coltrane said.
