The Kansas State Board of Education is thinking about changing how teachers are licensed.
Board members have wanted to review the licensing process for years, and the increased scarcity of technical and career education teachers sped up the process.
The Kansas Department of Education is proposing board members change the regulations to allow for the issuance of a three-year, renewable part-time teaching permit for people with industry-recognized certification or other experience in specialized industries.
During the board's meeting Thursday, Kanasas National Education Association President Karen Godfrey raised the concern that the licensing changes could lead to teachers who don't have the skills to adequately educate students.
Godfrey said she understood the desire to revisit regulations for licensing teachers, but it's important that those new faculty members have the teaching method instruction that other, traditional classroom teachers receive in college.
Background in a specific technical or career content area may not be enough, she said.
Kansas enacted new laws in 2011 to encourage students to take courses that will earn them certification in technical fields, as well as college credit that can be used to give them a head start in future training.
High schools can receive $1,000 bonuses from the state for each student who completes the program and earns industry certification.
