Career Tech. Educator Community Ed. Act
The passage of HB472 is set to amend the Public School Code to allow community educators to achieve licensure and thereby teach grades seven through twelve in CTE courses. This initiative aims to address workforce development needs by drawing on industry professionals who can provide students with hands-on skills and practical knowledge necessary for the job market. However, the bill also introduces specific conditions under which these educators will operate, including the requirement to pass fingerprint-based background checks and adhere to performance evaluation processes similar to licensed teachers.
House Bill 472, known as the Career Technical Education Community Educators Act, aims to establish a framework for the licensure and employment of community educators specifically trained in career technical education (CTE). The bill stipulates that individuals wishing to teach CTE courses at public schools must be licensed by the state, which requires an industry-recognized credential, a minimum of three years of relevant experience, and completion of an approved pedagogy course. This legislation is designed to enhance the quality and availability of vocational education by tapping into practitioners with real-world experience.
One point of contention surrounding HB472 involves its provisions exempting community educators from certain benefits typically afforded to licensed teachers, such as health plan benefits and tenure. Critics argue this could lead to a two-tiered system of educators within schools, with community educators potentially feeling undervalued compared to their traditional counterparts. Additionally, the ability for school administrators to terminate contracts without cause raises concerns about job security for those employed under this new licensure framework, which may affect recruitment and retention efforts in vocational education roles.