Innovative School Districts Win Approval

The Kansas State Board of Education is allowing unlicensed teachers to work in six school districts.

The measure was poised to fail, but passed Tuesday 6-4 after a compromise.

Board member Kathy Busch of Wichita dropped her opposition when proponents tweaked the measure so the state board would retain greater control over hires in the six districts.

More than a dozen educators and parents tried to dissuade the board from exempting the districts from the state’s licensure regulations.

The measure waives the state’s licensure regulations for school districts in the Innovative Districts Coalition, a program the Legislature in 2013.

Supporters contend it would help address teacher shortages and hard-to-fill subject areas. Opponents say it would hurt students and is a slippery slope for education.