Contact: Lindsey Ross, Senior Press Secretary
Lindsey.Ross@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498
STATEHOUSE (Feb. 21, 2019) – A bill authored by State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) that would update requirements for teacher preparation programs in Indiana recently passed the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development unanimously.
Senate Bill 562 would require teacher preparation programs to report to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and make public on their website the number of teacher candidates in each content area who complete the program, do not pass the content area licensure exam, and do not retake the exam.
“By requiring this information to be made public, SB 562 would help hold teacher preparation programs reasonably accountable for preparing students for licensure exams,” Raatz said. “Many teacher candidates are repeatedly failing the current tests required of them, which is adding to our teacher shortage. I am hopeful this legislation would be a first step in addressing this issue and help bring more qualified teachers into our classrooms.”
SB 562 would also require the IDOE to annually report information regarding teacher preparation programs and teachers who hold licenses to the Interim Study Committee on Education and Legislative Council.
SB 562 will now move to the full Senate for consideration.
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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Raatz, click here.
