Bill would let non-certified teachers fill the vacancies

COLOMBIA, SC – South Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bill allowing people without teacher degrees to teach in schools if there is a vacancy five days before the start of the year.

“[This bill] it allows the student to have more opportunity to be better prepared for the next grade level ”, said Republican deputy Raye Felder.

“Just because you have basic math skills … and you can be a great mathematician … it doesn’t make you a good teacher because you never had teaching experience,” Democratic MP Wendy Brawley, who fears that this project will be harmful rural schools, he said.

House Bill H3590 stipulates that non-certified teachers cannot make up more than 25 percent of the school’s faculty.

Staff shortages have affected classrooms across the state for years, but concerns about teacher vacancies have only been exasperated because of the pandemic.

Although teaching certifications are not required, non-certified teachers must hold bachelor’s or postgraduate degrees from a regionally accredited college or university in the subject they are hired to teach and must have at least five years of relevant work experience. , as determined by the school board location.

The project also limits the time that a non-certified teacher can teach to two years.

Non-certified teachers would have to pass a state criminal background check by the State Law Enforcement Division and a national criminal background check conducted by the FBI to be eligible for hiring.

Imminent deadline for South Carolina lawmakers

COLOMBIA, SC – An important deadline for legislation is coming soon at the South Carolina State Chamber.

Thursday marks the crossover deadline. Any bill passed in the House or Senate after that deadline must obtain a two-thirds vote in the other House to be considered.

This high barrier makes it difficult to address issues that have significant opposition.

Some bills that are trying to pass a house before the crossover deadline are a hate crime bill in the House and a Senate proposal to allow medical marijuana.

The regular session of the General Assembly ends on 13 May.

From reports by WCSC, WIS and The Associated Press