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Legislation Aiding Texas Schools Takes Effect Tuesday

Posted/updated on: September 1, 2015 at 5:15 pm
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Matt Schaefer4TYLER — Legislation that takes effect in Texas today gives local school districts flexibility to employ highly qualified teachers for career and technical education courses. The bill was filed in the Texas house by State Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler. He said Austin had been making the matter very difficult. His bill cuts the red tape. According to Schaefer, “I want our local school officials deciding whom to put in the classroom, not bureaucrats in Austin.”

“For too long public schools have been prevented from hiring subject-matter experts like engineers, nurses, plumbers, and welders to teach vocational courses because these professionals had not returned to college to pursue an education degree and a teaching certificate. Yet these experts have real world experience, understand practical application, and possess the technical skillset to teach students their craft. Our schools have struggled to find good teachers for vocational programs because often the best available people faced a mountain of red tape. Finally, the red tape has been cut,” Rep. Schaefer said.

Under the new law, school districts in the state will be able to hire teachers for career and technology education (vocational) courses who may not possess a traditional teaching certificate. With the help from East Texas school superintendents and business owners, the enabling language from a bill Rep. Schaefer authored was included in a larger education bill that the governor signed.

Looking at the upcoming changes, Rep. Schaefer said: “Now the hiring decision is local, not controlled by bureaucrats in Austin. It makes no sense to require someone like an electrician, with a professional license and lots of experience, to return to college for an education degree in order to teach what they already know. We trust our local school officials with millions in taxpayer dollars. We should trust them to hire good people as well.” Rep. Schaefer also believes the new law will help schools that want to expand their existing career and technology programs.



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