New regulations skirt qualifications to teach in Nev.
By Trevon Milliard, Reno Gazette-Journal
Nevada’s emergency change to teacher licensing simplifies hiring in a state short on public school teachers, but it also opens the door to those who don’t meet basic expectations.
An emergency regulation – approved a month ago by Gov. Brian Sandoval – allows the state to immediately license teachers who’ve never taught in a classroom or tested competent in their subject matters, both of which Nevada usually requires to be a licensed teacher.
The regulation lets Nevada ignore up to a dozen of its own requirements per teacher, including that applicants show mastery of “principles and methods of teaching” and basic reading, writing and math skills.