Some American states are dealing with teacher shortages by lowering the requirements to become public school teachers. Education Week and the Education Commission of the States found that 12 states either recently changed or are considering changing rules surrounding teacher certification. In some states, a college degree is not even required to become a teacher. Others are considering making it easier to pass a teacher exam. The cause and extent of the shortages in the United States are widely debated. But the National Education Association (NEA), an organization representing teachers, says that schools are facing a shortage of 300,000 teachers and school workers. And in a study of school officials released by Education Week last year, 40 percent said teacher shortages were either “very severe” or “severe.” And the pandemic worsened the problem. States are hoping that by making it easier to become a teacher, more people will enter the profession. But critics say the plans will put unprepared and unqualified teachers into classrooms. Teacher certification is done on a statewide, rather than a national level. Requirements vary, but certification requires at least a college degree, and sometimes an advanced degree, like a master's or higher. It also requires completion of a state-approved teacher education program and the passage of a teacher exam.
Title: Facing Shortages, US States Lower Teachers’ Requirements
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/A31.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Facing Shortages, US States Lower Teachers Requirements' data-article-id='6236'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='8563'>Some American states are dealing with teacher shortages by lowering the requirements to become public school teachers.</span> <span data-start-time='8563' data-end-time='22729'>Education Week and the Education Commission of the States found that 12 states either recently changed or are considering changing rules surrounding teacher certification. </span> <span data-start-time='22729' data-end-time='28604'>In some states, a college degree is not even required to become a teacher. </span> <span data-start-time='28604' data-end-time='35063'>Others are considering making it easier to pass a teacher exam.</span> <span data-start-time='35063' data-end-time='40417'>The cause and extent of the shortages in the United States are widely debated. </span> <span data-start-time='40417' data-end-time='54771'>But the National Education Association (NEA), an organization representing teachers, says that schools are facing a shortage of 300,000 teachers and school workers. </span> <span data-start-time='54771' data-end-time='67063'>And in a study of school officials released by Education Week last year, 40 percent said teacher shortages were either “very severe” or “severe.” </span> <span data-start-time='67063' data-end-time='71792'>And the pandemic worsened the problem.</span> <span data-start-time='71792' data-end-time='80271'>States are hoping that by making it easier to become a teacher, more people will enter the profession. </span> <span data-start-time='80271' data-end-time='89667'>But critics say the plans will put unprepared and unqualified teachers into classrooms.</span> <span data-start-time='89667' data-end-time='96083'>Teacher certification is done on a statewide, rather than a national level. </span> <span data-start-time='96083' data-end-time='107354'>Requirements vary, but certification requires at least a college degree, and sometimes an advanced degree, like a master's or higher. </span> <span data-start-time='107354' data-end-time='115792'>It also requires completion of a state-approved teacher education program and the passage of a teacher exam. </span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/A31.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=18880 data-hint-location='22729' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/in_some_states_a__blank__degree_is_not_even_required_to_become_a_teacher_.wav'>In some states, a <span class='blank'>college</span> degree is not even required to become a teacher. </div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='college'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/college.wav'><span>college</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/courage.wav'><span>courage</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/cooler.wav'><span>cooler</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/congeal.wav'><span>congeal</span></div></div></div><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=18878 data-hint-location='80271' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/_which_of_the_following_is_a_definition_of_the_word_unqualified.wav'> Which of the following is a definition of the word unqualified?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='not officially recognized as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity through having satisfied the relevant conditions or requirements'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/not_officially_recognized_as_a_practitioner_of_a_particular_profession_or_activity_through_having_satisfied_the_relevant_conditions_or_requirements.wav'><span>not officially recognized as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity through having satisfied the relevant conditions or requirements</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/having_a_natural_aptitude_or_skill_for_something.wav'><span>having a natural aptitude or skill for something</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/belonging_to_the_same_family_group_or_type.wav'><span>belonging to the same family, group, or type</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/unpleasant_or_repulsive_especially_in_appearance.wav'><span>unpleasant or repulsive, especially in appearance</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=18879 data-hint-location='89667' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/at_which_level_are_teachers_usually_certified.wav'>At which level are teachers usually certified?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='state level'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/state_level.wav'><span>state level</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/national_level.wav'><span>national level</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/continental_level.wav'><span>continental level</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5634/township_level.wav'><span>township level</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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