Lawmaker pushes to end required testing for aspiring teachers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — An Illinois lawmaker wants to get rid of a required test for teachers before they can step into the classroom.

The test is called edTPA. It’s a performance-based and subject-specific exam.

The test requires aspiring teachers to submit videos of themselves working in a real classroom, which is then scored by other educators.

A big reason why some want this assessment gone is that requiring it can contribute to the teacher shortage in Illinois.

State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Louisville, said the test is expensive, and requiring it is making the teacher shortage worse.

“We’ve heard from teachers and administrators alike that the edTPA is making the teacher shortage worse,” Bailey said in a statement. “As a former school board member, I have personally seen a large number of good and qualified teachers that would have been very successful but were turned away because they were unable to clear this arbitrary requirement.”

Bailey said it unfairly hurts certain candidates, especially those who are lower-income.

Illinois Regional Superintendent Kyle Thompson, who oversees 25 schools in the state, agrees.

“We are in a teacher shortage right now, and so why would we make a roadblock to make it even harder to become a teacher?" Thompson said. "We find people taking this test over and over again at a cost every time and it’s completely unnecessary."

Thompson believes instead of requiring the edTPA exam, local schools should be allowed to evaluate the candidate and determine if they are qualified to teach in their classrooms.

The legislation to get rid of this requirement, Senate Bill 49, was filed on Jan. 29 by Bailey. Since then, four other senators have been added as co-sponsors.

More information on Senate Bill 49 can be found here.