Indiana Gives Initial OK To New Teacher License

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The State Board of Education has given its initial approval to a proposal that would allow college graduates with a B average in any subject to earn a K-12 teaching license in Indiana.

State schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz tried to kill the licensing proposal during Wednesday's meeting, but her motion failed.

Critics maintain the proposal would allow untrained teachers to lead a classroom without understanding childhood development or classroom management.

The Indianapolis Star reports the board addressed some of the objections by requiring that applicants have at least 6,000 hours of real world experience and undergo teaching training upon taking the job.

Those changes were approved on an 8-3 vote. The alternative teaching license proposal is among several licensing changes the board must vote on later this year.