MO training leaders need certification change 2 months early
The rule change will reduce the requirements from 60 semester hours to 20 hours. The new rule goes into effect December 31st, but leaders want it to start in November
NS. LOUIS – Missouri education authorities want to make it easier to get certified as a substitute teacher starting next month.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is seeking permission to introduce a new regime to facilitate certification as a substitute teacher. A change to lower the requirements has already been approved, but is expected to come into effect on December 31st.
The State Education Committee allowed DESE to request the State Secretary and the Joint Administrative Regulations Committee to bring forward the date of entry into force of the new regulations. Both the Foreign Minister and the Joint Administrative Regulations Committee would have to approve the change.
Under the new rules, prospective substitute teachers must complete a 20-hour online course approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to earn certification. The current scheme requires 60 semester hours or more of college-level credits from a DESE-recognized and regionally accredited institution that awards academic degrees.
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A DESE press release states that the online training includes “professionalism, respect for diversity, student engagement, basic classroom management techniques, basic teaching strategies, supporting students with special needs and working with young people at risk”.
“The sooner this new path to certification can be made available to potential substitute teachers, the better,” said Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven in the press release. “When schools cannot find substitute teachers, other full-time class teachers often have to give up valuable, much-needed time to prepare classroom materials, grade student assignments, and collaborate with peers on their personal time.”
According to the announcement, DESE submitted a similar change in 2020, but the state education committee withdrew that request to investigate the effectiveness of the training course. The state board was encouraged by early feedback from school principals and others involved in the process and approved the change.
