House Bill Will Allow Teachers Without Education Degrees In Missouri Classrooms

Intro: The Missouri House is expected to hear a bill this week that would allow teachers without education degrees in state classrooms. With more from Jefferson City, here is Blair Miller. RunTime:0:38
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The bill will allow professionals with college degrees to receive teaching certification after completing a program teaching them how to operate a classroom.

St. Louis County Republican Scott Muschany says the knowledge that professionals bring into the classroom will help students to better learn the material.

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Description: It's not just that we'll get more teachers into our classrooms, that's very neccessary, but I think teachers with a different skill set than has been available to us in the past.

Critics say the new program undermines the education degree current teachers must have for certification.

From Jefferson City, I'm Blair Miller, KMOX News.

Intro: The Missouri House is expected to hear a bill this week that would allow teachers without education degrees in state classrooms. With more from the capitol, here is Blair Miller. RunTime:0:40
OutCue: SOC

The bill will allow professionals to teach full time in public schools as long as it is a subject they have a college degree in.

Springfield Democratic representative Sara Lampe says that while these professionals know the subject material, they may lack the skills to be be an effective teacher.

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Description: This bill says that anyone who has a bachelor's degree can get online, take a test, pay $500-820, and if they pass that test, with a weekend workshop, they can be in our classrooms

Proponents of the bill say the addition of these professionals will give children a higher quality education.

From Jefferson City, I'm Blair Miller, KMOX News.

Intro: Missouri school children may soon be learning from teachers without college degrees in education under a state House bill. For more from Jefferson City, here is Blair Miller. RunTime:0:40
OutCue: SOC

The bill will allow professionals to teach full-time in public schools so long as they complete a course under a national certification program.

They will be required, however, to teach a subject that they have a college degree in.

Springfield Democratic representative Sara Lampe says the new program undermines a college degree in education and that the new certifcation process is not equal to such.

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Description: To me, it's the difference of whether you would want a physician operating on you, or you would want the assistant operating on you. And most of us would want the professional.

Proponents say the program will raise the quality of education in public schools.

From Jefferson City, I'm Blair Miller, KMOX News.