This month, Representative Brian Linder, R-Dry Ridge, authored House Bill 152, which would lift a requirement that makes it more difficult to become certified to teach in the state of Kentucky.
House Bill 152 would change the policy that is currently in place, which requires a teacher to obtain a master’s degree either before or shortly after an individual begins his or her teaching career.
This bill is aimed to be a remedy for the large number of teachers who leave Kentucky for nearby states, solely for the reason of avoiding the current statute. Kentucky is currently one of only three states in the country to require their educators to earn a master’s degree.
House Bill 152 only targets this one element of the numerous standards that the state holds its teachers to.
“The current law is another example of overregulation and government overreach inhibiting the potential of Kentuckians,” said Rep. Linder. “This bill would go a long way in removing roadblocks to retaining quality educators, so that we don’t lose our best teachers to Ohio or Indiana. While we want to certify the best and the brightest minds to teach our children, we don’t have to simultaneously lay an enormous financial and logistical burden on them.”
House Bill 152 was introduced to the House for its first reading on January.
Office of Rep. Brian Linder