Law may intensify teacher shortage

[Staff]

'No Child' says all must meet stringent N.C. standards by '06
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PETER SMOLOWITZ
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Staff Writer
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Sandy Fowler has taught for 13 years. She has a master's degree, she's nationally board certified, and she's a former Mooresville school district teacher of the year.

But according to a new federal definition, she's not "highly qualified."

Why? Fowler teaches several subjects to students in an alternative school, and she hasn't "proven" herself in each topic.

It's a scenario that helps explain why educators across North Carolina -- and to a lesser extent, South Carolina -- worry a well-intentioned federal law could exacerbate statewide teacher shortages.

Excerpt...
classes may end up being taught by long-term subs, whose minimum requirement in some districts is a high school diploma. That's "the grand irony of the whole thing," said Walter Hart, Lincoln County's associate superintendent for human resources. "It's one of those situations of unintended consequences."


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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/education/11124161.htm

[Unregistered]

This is ridiculous...

I read this article in the paper and I nearly died. What will happen to lateral entry teachers who are still trying to obtain certification?

NCLB realy makes me angry.

[NMTeacher]

Any lateral entry teacher could be removed until they meet the requirements for being a teacher in NC. Bascially, what it means is that students are going to end up with long term subs teaching their classes. As an amusing aside, all you need to be a substitute teacher is a high school diploma. Since they aren't considered teachers, however, they can be in a classroom indefinetly, so long as they are not hired as a "teacher". Amused yet?

[Unregistered]

Not really amused. ::sigh:: I'm lateral entry and have another year...when in 2006 is this supposed to take effect? Being removed from my job would really rub me wrong considering I moved all the way from NY to teach! But, oh wait! With my bachelors, I could be a highly qualified substitute teacher! Well, what a relief!

</sarcasm>

[NMTeacher]

If it makes you feel better, I think it would take effect for the 06-07 school year (so, Sept 06). However, I too moved from NY, the city actually. At this point, I'm so frustrated I'd rather be in NYC. However, I'm going to apply to graduate school over this next school year. I only wish I'd decided this sooner.