Blunt enacts teacher legislation on Springfield visit

The move is expected to help alleviate teacher shortages, particularly in math and science, and provide a new path for those who want to embark on a second career in teaching, according to a Blunt news release.

“In the 21st century, with an increasingly global and technology-driven economy, we must provide students with the training and job skills they need to compete with students from around the world,” Blunt said in the release. He signed Senate Bill 1066, sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville, at SRC Devices, a division of Springfield-based SRC Holdings Corp.

Missourians can obtain alternative teacher certificates through the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, if they meet requirements regarding hours of classroom experience and have:

• at least 30 hours of professional development;

• two years of participation in a mentoring program;

• completed a performance-based teaching evaluation; and

• participated in the beginning teacher assistance program.

Alternative certification will not be granted in early childhood, elementary or special education, though it does align with one of five recommendations made by the Math, Engineering, Technology and Science Alliance following the governor’s 2006 summit that called for increasing the number of METS educators in Missouri.