Arizona Dept. of Education takes teaching certification process online
PHOENIX (AZFamily)— As Arizona continues to deal with a teacher shortage, the state is making it easier than ever to get certified online.
More than a quarter of Arizona teaching positions are vacant, according to the state. State Superintendent Tom Horne says the new online system will make the process of filling those positions easier and more efficient.
Right now, there’s a fight to keep teachers in Arizona schools. The classrooms are not just filled with children, but there are moments of stress, too.
“It’s an extreme problem, it’s a real emergency,” said Tom Horne. “We’ve compiled statistics that we’re losing more teachers than we’re gaining.”
The state has made efforts to increase retention rates, like raising pay, and Horne says it’s focusing the same energy on attracting new people to the profession.
“We have many classrooms now that have permanent substitutes instead of trained teachers,” said Horne. “That’s not good.”
According to state numbers, over half of the teacher vacancies this year are filled by people who don’t meet the state’s teacher requirements.
“The schools have to put someone in the classroom, so they’re putting substitutes in the classroom. Problem is, all you need is a high school degree to be a permanent substitute, and they’re not really trained to do the job properly,” Horne said.
Horne believes part of the solution is cutting the red tape and simplifying the process of getting certified.
“It used to be that people had to fill out paperwork and bring it down here and it was a burden. Now it’s all online,” Horne said.
Arizona has some of the lowest scores in the nation regarding education and is ranked the fifth-lowest state for high school graduation rates.
Horne believes having more certified teachers would make a difference and raise academic results.
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