Nonprofit Mississippi News Rolander Harbin (46), has been teaching physical and health education in Mississippi Delta schools for over two decades after he graduated from Delta State University and served in the military. Harbin was not certified as a teacher while he was teaching. Harbin spent more than 10 years studying for and retaking Praxis licensure exams. He often missed the mark by up to two or three points in a particular area. Harbin stated, “It never made it happy when I realized I had to take that test.” Harbin said, “I can teach. I can do lesson plans. He said that although I can do all the work required, I was unable to pass the test. He is currently employed at Delta State’s aviation department, and hopes to return to K-12 schools. Harbin’s story doesn’t seem unusual. Teachers across Mississippi struggle to pass Praxis exams in order to be certified in Mississippi classrooms. This is especially true in the Delta where as many as a third are not certified. The coronavirus will remove this obstacle from the test which was once a major hurdle for many. Before Gov. The Mississippi Department of Education took action to prevent Tate Reeves’ decision to close schools for the remainder of the semester in an attempt to slow down the spread of the disease. The Mississippi State Board of Education lifted multiple requirements that teacher candidates must meet to be licensed in late March. The Praxis is not required to be licensed at the moment. Kelly Riley, executive director, Mississippi Professional Educators, stated that “as with any assessment there are some people who don’t perform well. So I think this will offer an opportunity for some potential teachers candidates who have never been able to get a license in their past.” A license from the Mississippi Department of Education is required to become a teacher certified in Mississippi. The route you choose can take hours of student teaching and require passing a series of challenging exams. Usually, there are four to five tests. Educational Testing Services created the Praxis Core national certification exam to assess teachers’ knowledge of writing, reading, and math. The Praxis Core is $150 for the combined exam. A retake or individual section costs $90. For a two-hour exam, non-core subjects cost around $120. Mississippi Today reported that the exam has proven to be a significant obstacle for many teachers candidates. It is expensive, time-consuming and costly. The state board has suspended several policies relating to teacher licensure. Teachers candidates who apply to educator preparation programs prior to Dec. 31, 2021 are exempted from the testing requirement. This means that they don’t have to take Praxis Core or score a 21 on the ACT in order to be admitted. They only need to have a bachelor’s degree in the subject they want to teach or have completed at least 18 hours in coursework in that area. Because testing centers have closed, applicants for licenses are exempted from the testing requirements. Test dates have also been delayed. Teachers who had been due to renew their licenses in June have been granted a one year extension. This is because many of the professional development opportunities and conferences that educators need to complete the required units have been cancelled. To be eligible for a license, student teachers must complete 12 weeks of full time student teaching. The board granted a one-year extension to allow time for virtual learning and schools being closed during the remainder of the semester. A bill that would have loosened the licensing requirements for teachers was in the legislature before the coronavirus forced the suspension of the 2020 session. Currently, a teacher must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in coursework and a 21+ score on the Praxis or the ACT to be eligible for admission to a prep program. The law would have been amended to include “or” in the language, meaning that a candidate could meet any of these requirements. To set the state’s budget, the Legislature must meet again in July. However, some bills that were not fiscal may not be reintroduced. This could mean they will need to wait until next year. Erica Jones, president of Mississippi Association of Educators, stated that “this is likely to open up some opportunities for the Mississippi Department of Education and legislators to start looking at alternative options for potential educators.” “I believe that the test should not be the only indicator of whether someone is qualified to teach in the classroom.” However, some experts fear that Mississippi may be taking licensure waivers to far. The idea that tests will be unavailable in Spring 2020 and that [MDE] exempts teachers from having to take them in the future seems not to be in the best interests of children. These tests are used to assess whether teachers can read and write on the eighth grade level. They also test their knowledge of the content they are teaching,” stated Kate Walsh, president, National Council on Teacher Quality. Walsh stated that Mississippi seems to be an exception to the changing licensing requirements due to the coronavirus. Walsh recommends that states distribute one-year emergency licenses to allow testing to resume. “For years, states have abused [emergency] licences to cover a gap or use it for purposes that aren’t considered emergencies. Walsh stated that we are now in a legitimate emergency. So use the license for this purpose. “I don’t get why Mississippi would say that you have five years to teach ].'”. She also said that removing tests completely implies that MDE doesn’t consider certification exams meaningful. Walsh stated that it was frustrating to see states not pay attention to their licensing structures. Walsh said, “It is frustrating to see states show not very much regard for their licensing structures.” Perhaps they should consider doing something else. This doesn’t add up.” However, the licensing changes are helping teachers who wouldn’t otherwise be qualified but couldn’t pass Praxis to become fully certified. In 2017, Larry Stokes, a long-term substitute teacher in Clarksdale schools for seven years, became a certified teacher. He did not achieve his goal. He has a bachelor’s in physical and health education and a master’s in technology teaching. He felt that he could make a greater contribution to math education in his area. Stokes failed Praxis Core and the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills test (PPST) more than fifteen times before he was granted a special, non-renewable, three-year license to teach mathematics. “I feel that I don’t have the right to teach math, even though my students are proficient and growing, but that is not my area of study.” These students would be more successful if we could find the right people to go to college in that field,” he stated. He was pleased to learn that prospective teachers do not need to pass a test, but he believes the test should be eliminated. Stokes stated that he has seen excellent teachers leave the teaching profession to become cashiers or restaurant workers. They became discouraged when they had to test in areas that were not related to their studies. He said, “They became so discouraged that they won’t try again.” You’re failing the student and the teacher by your policies. These great teachers are being kept out of the classroom by a test.” Adrienne Hudson, RISE’s executive director, stated that suspending the testing requirements would be a “game-changer in the world teacher shortage” and a way to even the playing field for applicants to teach. She stated that the main thing about it is that it allows people to demonstrate proficiency in pedagogy (teaching), and other things, rather than just knowledge on the exam. Hudson stated that she understands that those who don’t support this decision aren’t aware of the educational issues. She also said that fewer students are interested in education. According to the most recent Title II data, Mississippi prep programs had approximately 2,600 students. In 2009, however, almost 4,000 students were enrolled. She said, “At the conclusion of the day I realize that those individuals have never walked into (a) school where 60% of the staff were on temporary licences.” “If they understood, then they would have empathy.” You can support this work by making a regular donation today to celebrate our Spring Member Drive. This will allow us to continue important work such as this story. Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of all Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think.