The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has announced proposed changes to secondary school teacher GPA requirements to address the state’s teacher shortage. The current 3.0 GPA requirement for certain content areas in secondary education may be lowered to 2.5 based on research findings that GPA does not strongly correlate with teacher performance. The department also aims to reinstate the general science certification for grades 9-12 to meet the demand for more science teachers. These changes are intended to increase the number of qualified educators in Missouri schools.
The proposal will undergo a 30-day public comment period before final voting in March 2025. The department encourages feedback from stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome. With only 43.55% of first-year teachers considered “comprehensively prepared,” the department recognizes the urgency of addressing teacher shortages and providing high-quality education to students. By adjusting GPA requirements and certification options, the goal is to attract more individuals to the teaching profession and improve teacher preparedness in the state.
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