ACTION ALERT: State board to take final vote tomorrow on new permit that would put students at risk and de-professionalize teaching
09/02/2014
The State Board of Education has added a last minute agenda item for its meeting tomorrow. The board will be taking a final vote on REPA 3, which includes the controversial new teaching permit known as the adjunct permit or now renamed as ‘career specialist’ permit.
The adjunct permit was first advocated by former Superintendent Tony Bennett and Governor Mitch Daniels in 2012. Indiana is currently operating under REPA 1 rules.
Teachers, school administrators and university officials overwhelmingly opposed the adjunct waiver in public forums on REPA III held by the board just months ago.
If passed, the adjunct permit would allow a candidate to teach secondary education if the candidate passes a content exam, but it does not require a degree in education. The candidate is only required to have received a Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA.
We believe that our students deserve teachers who are trained in areas like child development, child psychology and how to run a classroom.
We believe that student teaching under an experienced mentor in a real classroom environment should be required for the sake of our children’s education.
ISTA opposes the adjunct permit as a step backwards in lowering standards to enter teaching. ISTA joined a coalition of leaders representing professional and parent organizations earlier this year to oppose the adjunct permit.
Please contact these members of the State Board of Education and thank them for their past opposition to the career specialist permit:
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More importantly, please contact these members to ask them to reconsider their vote in support of the career specialist permit.