Teachers object to weakened licensing rules

The debate over controversial new teacher licensing rules — favored by Tony Bennett, former state superintendent of public instruction, and opposed by his successor, Glenda Ritz — is heating up again.

Teachers and college of education deans blasted the rules at public forums this week, strongly questioning changes that would allow college graduates with a B-average to earn "adjunct" K-12 teaching licenses by passing one test, and reducing requirements for principals and superintendents.

The state board of education could vote on the changes as early as March.

Bennett's original proposal went much further, with provisions to take away licenses from teachers with consecutive low performance evaluations, and to allow teachers to take a test to become certified to instruct students with special needs, without taking the specialized coursework that typically is required.

Dozens of educators cried out against these issues at public forums in 2012.

Eventually, the most controversial aspects of the rules were removed at Bennett's final State Board of Education meeting as superintendent. The board approved the rules 9-2 despite a request from Ritz, the incoming superintendent, to hold off.

Some board members said they wanted the new rules to get more quality teachers into the classroom more quickly.

But the rules were not implemented, likely setting off one of the first volleys in the long-running discord between Ritz, a Democrat, and the board, which consists of members all appointed by Republican governors.

After the board's vote, the attorney general's office requested language changes to the rules and for the board to approve the final version by March 31.

Ritz's Department of Education was unable call a board meeting to vote on the final version by the deadline because the agency found out about the necessary changes too late in the process, said spokesman Daniel Altman.

Now, a new version of the rules known best as REPA III, or rules for educator preparation and accountability, is being discussed at public forums across the state.

The three main sticking points in the proposed rules are:

-- "Adjunct" licenses for teachers. This permit allows anyone with a four-year college degree and a 3.0 GPA to teach after passing an exam. These teachers would be required to get training while teaching and if they sought a license renewal after five years.

-- Allowing teachers to teach fine arts if they pass a special test. No experience as a band instructor or artist would be required.

-- Allow educators with a master's degree and two years of teaching experience to be superintendents. Currently, a more rigorous education specialist degree is required.

Gerardo Gonzalez, dean of the Indiana University School of Education, was one of about a dozen educators who testified against the proposed rules during a forum Tuesday at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis.

Gonzalez said changes open teaching careers "to anyone with a college degree" instead of existing teachers who have been spent years being trained as educators.

While the state has increased accountability of regularly-licensed teachers, Gonzalez said, this new class of adjunct permit holders initially would not have to meet some of the same standards, including knowledge of classroom management and using data to determine how much a student has learned.

"How can we require more of our students and less of our teachers and school leaders?" Gonzalez asked. "When we lower standards we find that academically talented, highly motivated young people who are passionate about teaching turn away from it."

Education deans at University of Indianapolis and Butler University also spoke out against the rules Tuesday. Public comments are being taken online through Jan. 31 at www.in.gov/sboe/REPAIIIcomment.htm. The board will weigh the comments before its final vote.

Not everyone Tuesday wanted the rules killed. Sean Steele, a junior high teacher Orleans Community Schools, said he had been an artist all his life and likes the idea of an easier path to instruct fine arts.

"Art should not be treated any differently than other subjects," Steele said. "It should not be the sacred cow."

Call Star reporter Eric Weddle at (317) 444-6222. Follow him on Twitter: @ericweddle.