Seeking to address strains on the teacher workforce, legislation newly adopted in ten states aims to make it easier for teachers to move to a new state. The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact eliminates additional training and testing requirements for teachers seeking to obtain a teaching license in a different state. With the adoption of the compact, if a teacher holds a bachelor’s degree, has completed a state-approved teacher licensure program and holds a full teaching license, they are eligible to receive an equivalent license from another participating state.
The compact notes CTE teachers as an exception to these requirements. CTE teachers are not subjected to the bachelor’s degree requirement since they can often obtain their original licenses without holding this degree. However, the participating states reserve the power to select which program or subject areas to apply this agreement, and the inclusion of CTE licenses will be decided on a state-by-state basis.
In the last few months, ten states have adopted the compact which ratifies the agreement. These include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. Additionally, legislation is currently pending in California, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The status of the legislation can be tracked here.
The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact receives funding from the Department of Defense which partnered with the Council of State Governments and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) to develop the agreement. The Department of Defense launched this initiative originally to assist military spouses who face obstacles to maintaining a teaching profession as they frequently move between states, but it has a much more far-reaching impact. In the midst of a national teacher shortage, the compact eliminates barriers for military spouses and all other educators seeking to work in another state.
As more states consider this legislation, the agreement will likely continue to expand. Updated information and further details can be found here.
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