State law currently allows those who have completed a teacher preparation program to receive up to three one-year licenses without passing a basic skills exam. On Feb. 13, the House passed a bill that would require teaching candidates to produce a passing score on the exam before obtaining a license in Minnesota. The vote was 132-0.
Rep. Andrea Kieffer (R-Woodbury), the sponsor of
HF1770, is concerned that teachers are instructing children while being potentially unable to pass the basic skills test themselves. She believes the bill will increase the quality and rigor of teachers in Minnesota.
Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Savage) unsuccessfully offered an amendment that would require teacher candidates to pass the exam before entering a teacher training program in college.
Buesgens worries that unqualified students are allowed admittance to these training programs. He explained that, if they fail the skills test after graduating, they will not have the opportunity to work as teachers, which will hamper their ability to pay off massive student loans.
Buesgens said, “What we are doing to the young men and young women of this country is the next great financial crisis, after the mortgage crisis, to hit this country. … Shame on us for allowing a system like that.”
Supporters of the bill disagreed, saying that teacher candidates still have much to learn before they enter their degree programs. They believe it would be too difficult for students to pass the test without the education a teacher program provides.
Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul) compared teacher degree programs to another profession. “A good analogy here would be requiring aspiring doctors to pass their medical boards in order to get into medical school. Why would we do that?”
The bill now awaits action on the Senate floor. Sen. Ted Daley (R-Eagan) is the sponsor.
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