Latest news with #Elledge
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma House passes bill to permit adjunct teachers in early childhood classes
A student raises her hand at Mayo Demonstration School in Tulsa on April 8. The state House on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow adjunct teachers to work in early childhood classrooms. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Cari Elledge still remembers how perfectly the third grader in her classroom could read aloud. But, the boy froze if you asked him what he had just read, the former elementary teacher said. Although his reading ability seemed to be strong, he still lacked foundational comprehension skills, an issue known as 'word calling' that Elledge herself struggled with from childhood through college. It's an issue that takes expertise to recognize and correct, she said. That's why Elledge, now the president of Oklahoma's largest teacher union, warned against a bill that would allow adjunct teachers with no form of certification to teach early childhood classes, which set the foundation for students' schooling. 'I think there might be a misperception that in the early stages people come in and we do a whole lot of playing and it might be a glorified babysitting job,' Elledge said. 'And it can't be further from the truth.' House Bill 2125 is on its way to the state Senate after passing the full House on Wednesday. Lawmakers approved the bill by a vote of 68-22, mostly along party lines. The bill would permit adjunct teachers to work at all grade levels, including early childhood classes from pre-K through third grade. Adjunct teachers would still be excluded from teaching special education. State law mandates that adjunct teachers have 'distinguished qualifications in their field,' but they aren't required to have a college degree nor any type of teaching certificate. The bill's House author, Rep. Clay Staires, R-Skiatook, said he intends to help school leaders who are struggling to fill teaching positions. 'A superintendent is looking for the best possible fit for their classroom,' Staires said while defending the bill on the House floor. 'Just like you and I, they want the most for the kids in their class. Just because this bill allows for adjunct (teachers) doesn't mean that superintendents are going to start hiring adjuncts unless that's the only choice that they have or if that is the best fit for that position.' Oklahoma schools employ about 1,300 adjunct teachers, Staires said during an Education Oversight Committee meeting last week. That means the number of adjunct teachers in Oklahoma public schools has skyrocketed from 370 a few years ago amid a decade-long shortage of qualified educators. Emergency certified teachers, who must have at least a bachelor's degree, also have become common. In 2022, the state Legislature eliminated the 270-hour cap on adjunct teaching per semester, enabling schools to hire adjunct teachers full time. But the state maintained stricter requirements to teach its youngest students. Oklahoma law requires early childhood education programs to have a certified teacher. Any early childhood educators teaching with an emergency certificate must complete training that the Oklahoma State Department of Education administers or approves. Vici Public Schools Superintendent Coby Nelson said he avoids hiring adjunct teachers, but he's all too familiar with how quickly the pool of qualified candidates is drying up. Nelson said he might have a single applicant for a job opening at his small, rural district in northwest Oklahoma. He said HB 2125 shows the state is at a 'sad point' in its teacher shortage, but he still supported the legislation. 'I don't like the thought that we put untrained people in those positions, but I think what you have to do is you have to give schools every tool possible at this point,' Nelson said. 'I am for it because we need the flexibility that it will allow. I don't like it personally, but it's unfortunately where we're at.' The House Democratic Caucus unanimously voted against the bill. Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, said the measure is no solution to the teacher shortage, calling it a 'Band-Aid on a gaping wound.' The former public school teacher said lawmakers should pursue other ideas to retain and recruit fully certified educators. Some retention and recruitment efforts have gained traction in the Legislature this year. The House passed a bill that would give the Oklahoma's Promise college scholarship to children of full-time certified teachers who have worked in the state's public schools for 10 years or more. If it's signed into law, that bill is one the Oklahoma Education Association 'might celebrate at the end of this session the most,' said Elledge, who leads the organization. She endorsed another bill the full House approved Thursday from Common Education Committee leader, Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber. HB 1087 would extend the teacher salary schedule by 10 years, making sure educators can earn annual step raises for up to 35 years. Bills offering other incentives failed to advance past the committee stage this session, including a proposed increase to minimum teacher salaries and a measure to give $35,000 signing bonuses to certified educators. Lowering qualifications to work in public schools is an 'ineffective fix,' McCane said. 'We know that early childhood education is important and requires special training,' McCane said in a statement. 'It is imperative we make sure we have certified teachers in these classrooms. Furthermore, I can say having just come from working at a public school after the pandemic, we have serious issues with behavior that require training for classroom management.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teachers to be required to take U.S. Naturalization test
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma Board of Education recently approved a rule requiring teachers to take a test based on the U.S. Naturalization test, the same test used to become U.S. citizens. 'All of our teachers will be required to take the U.S. Naturalization test to ensure that they understand the basics of America, American history, American government and civics,' said State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Superintendents react to proposed counting of students' citizenship The rule would mean, in addition to getting a teaching certification, teachers would also have to take the U.S. Citizenship test. 'And this requirement will help Oklahoma lead the way to ensure in every classroom that understanding, is being given,' said Superintendent Walters. However, some believe this isn't the best idea. 'There have been so many efforts in the recent past from the legislature to do things like decrease the number of assessments we have to take to become educators,' said Cari Elledge, the elected President of Oklahoma Education Association. The elected president of the Oklahoma Education Association also said this new rule wouldn't be in Oklahoma's best interest when it comes to getting more teachers to apply for jobs and staying in them. 'This just kind of adds some redundancy to it. And it's one more thing on the plate when they've been trying to take things off the plate of educators,' said Elledge. OSDE passes rule to require citizenship status of families The rule would mean all teachers would take the test, which the OEA said might be easier for those who already teach that content. 'A pre-k teacher, a PE teacher, there are so many different examples of how that would just be an extra hoop to jump through,' said Elledge. The OEA said they will continue to push for ways to help make things more efficient for educators in any way they can. The rules aren't in effect yet. First, they will go through the legislature then head to the governor's desk. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
