North Carolina Teacher shortage and Governor Easley's Failure to Lead!!

This past legislative session, the North Carolina General Assembly approved House Bill 706 by large margins. This bill would allow teachers from other states who were deemed "highly qualified" to obtain North Carolina licensure without additional burdens. School districts across North Carolina, administratrive associations, and policy makers from both political parties pushed hard for the Governor's approval of House Bill 706. However, Governor Michael Easley decided to veto the bill because he was concerned it would lower teacher standards.

By failing to sign House Bill 706 into law, Governor Easley sent a powerful message to school districts across the state: "long-term substitutes are better qualified teaching our students than college educated teachers from other parts of the country."

North Carolina faces severe teacher shortages each year. At a time when our state is in need of highly qualifed teachers to train the next generation of Tar Heels citizens, Easley has chosen to gamble the needs of our children by forcing school districts to hire uncredentialed individuals and long-term substitutes. Many of these people have no teaching experience, and many only have a high school diploma.

For a governor who champions education issues, the refusal to accept House Bill 706 because of fears it will lower teacher standards, while unlicensed individuals staff Tar Heel classrooms each day, is simply BUSH LEAGUE! A graduate of a teacher preparation program in another state should be the alternative to local school districts in meeting their teacher short fall.

Easley is quick to say we need the best education sytem in North Carolina because it helps attract industry. If we cannot place a highly qualified teacher in every classroom of every school, how can we meet the demands of the very business and industry we are trying to recruit to North Carolina?

As a Democrat who voted for Governor Easley, I am concerned at this lack of leadership on an issue of grave importance to our state. The stakes are too high to allow unqualified teachers in our classrooms. We must continue to pressure through legislative and grass roots means so that regulation will be lifted making it easier for qualified teachers to make their way into Tar Heel classrooms.

I applaud the bi-partisan leadership displayed by the General Assembly. Pass a similar law again. Our state needs it!