Parents worry about the competence of their child s teacher, and they have cause to do so.
As the demand for qualified teachers grows, states are hiring increasing numbers of unlicensed individuals to fill classrooms. To address teacher shortages, most states have emergency licensing provisions that allow school districts to circumvent state standards and place unprepared personnel in the classroom. This practice has become more common recently. Yet states do not sanction emergency licensing of doctors, nurses, architects or engineers. These professions require rigorous professional preparation, and the public demands it.