State Bill Would Let HOPE Money Help Train Teachers

By Christina Cooke, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

Jun. 9–Teachers will be able to apply for lottery scholarships to obtain advanced degrees in math or science if Gov. Bredesen signs a bill that passed both houses in late May.

Ken Collins, a geography and physical science teacher at Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts, said he would pursue a master’s degree in environmental science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga if the bill becomes law.

“I haven’t been able to put out the money for a master’s degree,” he said. “This allows me to get a degree in my field and have it paid for, so I’ll actually be able to do a better job teaching.” The bill would make HOPE scholarship money, formerly reserved for graduating high school seniors and pre-kindergarten programs, available to tenured teachers in the Tennessee public school system. Teachers could receive $2,000 per year and up to $10,000 total to pursue advanced degrees in math, science or education administration or to work toward a teaching license.

Recipients must work in a Tennessee school for two years after receiving their degree or repay the scholarship.

Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, the Senate sponsor, said the bill will benefit teachers.

“They’ve got the opportunity to not only to be better teachers, but to make more money,” Sen. Tracy said.

According to the General Assembly’s Fiscal Review Committee, the state’s anticipated cost in the first year would be $4.2 million, then $5.2 million each year thereafter.

About 2,300 teachers would be eligible, including about 1,750 pursuing master’s degrees and about 550 pursuing teaching licenses. Hamilton County officials did not know how many teachers in the system would be eligible.

House sponsor Rep. Leslie Winningham, D-Oneida, said the bill is designed to increase the competency level of math and science teachers.

Finding and keeping qualified math and science teachers has been a struggle in Tennessee in recent years, said Dr. Valerie Rutledge, department head for teacher preparation academy at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Many math and science teachers are reaching retirement age, and not enough specialists are graduating from teacher preparation programs to take their places, she said. Many people with math and science degrees enter fields where they can earn more money, she said.

Also, the No Child Left Behind act requires that all teachers to be “highly qualified” in the subjects they teach by the first day of next school year, educators said.

That means teachers must have a bachelor’s degree, be fully certified or licensed to teach by the state and be able to prove they know the subjects they teach.

Orchard Knob Middle principle Reuben Justice said he would encourage eligible staff members to apply for the scholarships.

“Everyone in this building, including myself, is encouraged to grow,” he said.

E-mail Christina Cooke at ccooke@timesfreepress.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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