School of Education faculty question new teaching license rules

The Indiana Department of Education’s new license rules will strongly affect teachers' education for the state.

The rules, which will take effect July 1, 2010, are supposed to hold teacher’s qualifications to a higher standard, but some IU School of Education faculty and administration question changing a program that works.

These revisions to the current license regulations hope to ensure that “the next generation of Hoosier kids have teachers who have a deep understanding of the content of the material they teach,” said Communications Director of the Department of Education Cam Savage.

The most important thing when these reforms go through is that future teachers have a deeper understanding of what they teach, Savage said.

While Savage said that this revision is an opportunity for the IU School of Education students to be leaders, some faculty of the school are still uneasy about the goal and outcome of the changes.

“Teaching is much more than understanding content,” Assistant Dean for Teacher Education Jill Shedd said. “Teaching is about children and students and how they learn while making content applicable to students.”

Shedd is concerned that the depth of content balances well in a way to have Indiana teachers teach and excite young children to meet curriculum for public students in Indiana.

“What is less clear is the goals and research behind the proposal that have been presented,” Shedd said.

Under the current program, the IU School of Education has been producing highly qualified teachers that have not received any negative comments from the principles and staff that have hired them, Shedd said.

The School of Education has obligations to the current education students that need to be met, said Associate Dean for Teacher Education Thomas Brush.

While Brush did say that the proposed changes could hurt the education program, he is thinking positively for the future.

“Regardless of the changes, we still provide a world class facility and high quality program,” Brush said.

The IU School of Education will now be thinking differently about their courses and prioritizing what is important for perspective teachers of Indiana to know.

“In the end we want the best for teachers and students in Indiana,” Shedd said.


What are the new rules?

Secondary education teachers must now earn a baccalaureate degree in the area they want to teach, such as history or mathematics.

They must also earn a minor in education. Certification by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence will qualify the teacher to teach in private schools.

Elementary teachers must earn either a baccalaureate degree consisting of an education major with a minor in some other field, or a major in a field besides education with an education minor or a Certification by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence.

The new proposed rules and license changes will be grandfathered to fit the situations of education students who will graduate before 2012.