One of the issues lawmakers are expected to consider this session is the state’s teacher shortage. This school year, Kansas school districts reported more than 1,600 vacancies. Deans of education at public universities in Kansas say the state could ease the teacher shortage by lowering college costs for people who want to become teachers. A task force created by the Kansas Board of Regents wants to expand a state scholarship program for teachers. The program is currently available only for hard-to-fill positions in parts of the state.
Task Force Chairman Rick Ginsburg is Dean of Education at the University of Kansas. He says the state should also start paying student teachers. Education is one of the only fields where people do internships that they don’t get paid for, and they actually pay for credit hours to do it. A draft report offers 15 recommendations to reduce the teacher shortage in Kansas. Lawmakers will review the suggestions.
