Bill to Ease Hiring of Teachers Advancing

Aug. 21–RALEIGH – It looks as if Gov. Mike Easley will have to decide whether to veto a bill that would make it easier to hire out-of-state teachers.

The Senate passed a bill last week that would eliminate any hurdles for local schools to hire teachers considered “highly qualified” by other states. The House passed a version of the bill unanimously earlier this year and is scheduled to vote on the changes Monday.

The bill then would go to the governor’s desk.

Easley has criticized the bill, saying it lowers teaching standards because those with teaching licenses from other states would not have to pass an N.C. exam.

The state Board of Education already has exemptions that allows out-of-state teachers to lead classrooms on a probationary basis and get licenses if they work out. But several school systems, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, want the full exemption for teachers whom other states have deemed highly qualified.

House Speaker Jim Black, a Matthews Democrat, often an Easley ally, said he can’t bury the bill. He’ll have to let it come up for a vote.

“I don’t think I can not do it because my members are up in arms about it,” Black said.

“I listen to them because they elect me — or don’t elect me,” the speaker said.

Rep. Becky Carney, D-Mecklenburg, said she’s pleased the vote will go forward, and she expects the bill would again get unanimous support.

“This is an issue that has not gone away …,” Carney said.

She noted lawmakers and the governor have agreed on ways to train more teachers, but it will be years before those students graduate.

“Children should not have to wait,” she said. “It’s not fair.”

The governor’s office responded to questions from the Observer by e-mail, saying Easley “will not support teacher standards being lowered and that is what this bill does.”

When asked whether the governor would veto the bill, Easley’s office would not say.

—–

To see more of The Charlotte Observer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.charlotte.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.