INITIATIVE RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT’S CALL FOR ‘INNOVATIVE WORK’ BY STATES TO PROMOTE SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION
HARRISBURG – Skilled professionals in math, science and other fields could bring their real-world knowledge and experience into Pennsylvania’s classrooms under a proposal by Gov. Edward G. Rendell that will boost student achievement, address teacher shortages and better prepare the state’s future workforce for high-demand science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, fields.
The Governor has outlined a plan to attract mid-career professionals to the teaching ranks through the use of “residency” teaching certificates, which would create a streamlined process for professionals with expertise in key fields to earn a teaching certificate and bring their knowledge into the classroom.
“The most sought-after jobs in the workforce are those in the technology and engineering fields — jobs that require a solid background in math and science,” Rendell said. “Yet, at the same time we are vying for those jobs, Pennsylvania also is struggling with a shortage of educators in those fields.”
Rendell’s proposal responds to President Obama’s call for “innovative work” at the state level to promote math and science education.
In a recent speech at the National Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, President Obama lauded Rendell’s work with the National Governors Association, or NGA, to increase schools’ focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Pennsylvania is one of just six states that received an NGA grant to establish a STEM Center to bring together key stakeholders in technology education and research best practices of STEM education.
Secretary of Education Gerald L. Zahorchak delivered draft legislation establishing the new teacher certification today to the chairmen of the Senate and House Education Committees.
The administration’s proposal would allow the Secretary of Education to issue a residency teaching certificate in subject areas where the secretary determines there is a statewide or regional shortage of teachers. To obtain the residency certification, an applicant would be required to have one of the following:
• A bachelor’s degree in the subject area, along with at least five years of relevant work experience.
• A master’s degree in the subject area, along with at least two years of relevant work experience.
• A doctoral degree in the subject area.
Candidates for the residency certification also would have to complete an intensive, four-month program that focuses on instructional strategies, child development, emotional support, assessment skills and the standards aligned systems for student achievement. The teacher also would receive personal mentoring throughout the school year.
A residency certificate would be valid for three years. After that, the teacher would have the option of converting the certificate into an instructional certificate to continue teaching.
Rendell said his teacher recruiting proposal not only would reinvigorate math and science learning, but it also could help Pennsylvania vie for more national education funding.
The recently enacted federal economic recovery package includes a $5 billion “Race To The Top” fund that rewards states for pursuing education reforms, including taking steps to recruit and retain math and science teachers. This incentive is intended to address a projected shortfall of more than 280,000 math and science teachers across the country by 2015.