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TCTA testified on a bill in the Senate Education committee that would prohibit certified teachers from adding Visual Impairment (VI) certification by passing the relevant certification examination without having to complete an educator preparation program.
TCTA’s testimony centered on the fact that we’ve been strong proponents of the certification by examination option for certified teachers since it was first put into law in 1997, that it’s widely used, and that it’s instrumental in situations in which a certified teachers is assigned out of field and needs to acquire the appropriate certification in a short period of time.
Although TCTA appreciates the fact that visual impairment instruction is an area of specialty, we expressed concern that if certification by examination is disallowed for visual impairment certification, other programs in specialty areas will come forward to seek the same ability.
TCTA told the committee that requiring a certified teacher to go back to school and pay tuition in order to add an area of certification was unreasonable; that the better way to address the situation is to increase the numbers of persons seeking initial VI certification.
The bill was left pending in committee.
Posted: 04/23/09
