|
|
||||||||||||
|
State's schools face looming teacher shortage. The small but noticeable "whoosh" starting to be heard at schools around the Blackstone Valley - and the state - is the sound of experienced teachers heading out the door into retirement. Since a state law went into effect in July 2001 that enhanced retirement benefits for teachers with 30 years or more experience, schools have begun to scramble for new teachers. Nationwide, 50 percent of the teaching force will retire over the next decade. This teacher exodus, combined with increased enrollments from children in the "baby boomlet" generation, will lead to teacher shortages in many areas. The teacher shortage comes at a time when policymakers are trying to raise education standards as well. Massachusetts has attempted to meet the demand for new teachers by offering a wider variety of paths to professional licensure. Public school teachers traditionally entered the field through a bachelor's degree in education, which included supervised classroom experience. Education reform initiatives of the past few years have added a requirement for teachers to obtain a master's degree or equivalent performance assessment, usually within five years of beginning teaching. But increasing the professional standards for teachers makes it harder to bring in large numbers of new teachers when they are urgently needed. In an effort to attract mid-career professionals from fields other than teaching, several certification routes have been developed in lieu of requiring a degree in education. Some school districts and state programs have also offered signing bonuses. One such alternative certification program is the Massachusetts Institute for New Teachers (MINT). MINT selects promising candidates from mid-career professionals and college graduates in fields other than education, and provides them with a seven-week, intense summer training program. The program includes seminars and daily student-teaching in summer school sites. Top applicants to the MINT program may be eligible for a $20,000 signing bonus if they teach full-time in a public school district for four years. Candidates qualified to teach in high-need areas such as middle or high school math, science, special education, or bilingual education, and who are committed to work in urban school districts are given priority for bonuses. Douglas Middle/High School, typical of other Blackstone Valley schools, lost three veteran teachers last year and will be losing more over the next few years, according to Curriculum/MCAS Director Debra Pincince. Pincince said it is particularly difficult to meet the need for math, science and foreign language teachers. Quote re: need avenues, but need teacher support Focus on Education - April 2002Susan Spencer Education Foundation Director Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Read previous Focus on Education articles...
Six years of focusing on education. (November 2006) |
|
Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
