Published: November 05, 2009 10:45 am      

Teachers hear information on license changes

NAPPANEE — Around 50 local educators attended an informational meeting Wednesday about potential rule changes that could affect their jobs and teaching licenses.

Educators across Indiana are concerned about the proposed rule changes for teacher licensing that were offered by State School Superintendent Tony Bennett and are under review by the state Professional Standards Advisory Board.

The third public hearing on the proposals was held Monday in Indianapolis, with 120 people signing up to speak, said Teresa Meredith, vice president of the Indiana State Teachers Association.

Meredith, a kindergarten teacher from Shelbyville, was the main speaker at an informational meeting held Wednesday evening at NorthWood High School, with nearly 50 local educators attending. She explained that 300 people attended the first hearing at Rochester and about 80 were at Scottsburg, where the hearing was shortened by about 30 minutes from the advertised time. But the Indianapolis hearing, which was scheduled to end at noon, went to 4 p.m. to allow people to speak.

“We think several hundred association members were present at the hearings,” Meredith said.

The proposals — and Meredith stressed these are proposals at this stage — are revisions to the state teacher preparation and licensure rules, known as REPA — Revisions for Educator Preparation and Accountability.

She distributed an explanation of the rules that begins with an e-mail from the Department of Education, listing nine “REPA myths” and ISTA clarifications.

“REPA will not cause any teacher to lose his/her license or job,” is myth No. 2.

Meredith said that is true “if they jump through all the hoops to keep their license.”

She explained that middle school teachers may be put in jeopardy if those teachers hold a general elementary license and a “non-departmentalized” license for grades seven and eight.

“These teachers would be restricted to teaching K-5 without going back to school and/or passing a content-area test,” a state teacher association handout explained.

When asked if the new rules affect teachers with a life license, Meredith said “you can breath.” She added that those experienced teachers should tell state officials “what works” and the effect the new rules may have on teachers and schools.

Andrew Borrelli, a local ISTA UniServe director, called the issue political.

“It is every bit political. It makes you look like you are not doing your job well,” Borrelli said. He suggested state officials might privatize part of education, as was done with the Indiana Toll Road.

Board to meet Nov. 18

Meredith said the association will try to stay on top of it and explained that State Superintendent Bennett may move the plan for the changes ahead, they may die or they may be changed by the state legislature, if it takes any action next year.

The standards advisory board meets next on Nov. 18, she told the group. The members are expected to review feedback they have received at that meeting.

Meredith said the standards board may be asked to make its recommendation by December, as it had a one-year deadline in the issue. She said if the rules are recommended, they will be reviewed by the Secretary of State and then sent to the governor. If approved, the rules would go into effect next July, Meredith said.

When asked about input from colleges and universities, Meredith said some deans have voiced their opinions as well as the Butler College president, but the presidents of the three state universities have not commented.

She recommended that teachers learn about the proposals, write letters to state officials and speak with members of the legislature — both Democrat and Republican.