On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Senator Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas introduced Bill 282-37, which aims to eliminate the Praxis mathematics requirement from the Guam initial educator certificate. He argues that this change would help alleviate the shortage of certified teachers on the island.
Read more: San Nicolas seeks to remove Praxis math test to address certified teacher shortage (GuamPDN)
Here’s what should be done instead of lowering standards to recruit and retain educators:
- Make pay an incentive. We are no longer at the 50-percentile.
- Make schooling and licensure free. Expand the Dr. Antonio C. Yamashita Teacher Corps Scholarship Program to cover everyone entering the field of education.
- Offer lifetime certification for those teaching 20+ years or having a terminal degree.
- Credit teaching experience at other states or districts in lieu of taking the Praxis.
- Set retirement eligibility based on years in service as opposed to age.
- Let teachers teach by removing the administrative load of paperwork, phone calls for attendance, etc.