All MO Students Deserve Fully Qualified Teachers

As a Missourian, I stand in opposition to HB2776 (Haley). While I appreciate the intent to address teacher shortages, this bill dangerously lowers standards for one of our most vital professions. It creates a tiered system where students in underfunded districts, disproportionately serving low-income and minority communities, will be taught by educators with only an associate's degree and temporary authorization. This is an unacceptable equity issue. Our students, especially those facing systemic barriers, deserve fully prepared professionals with deep pedagogical training, not the least qualified teachers we can legally place in classrooms. This bill exploits the very real crisis of underpayment and poor working conditions by offering a cheap, fast-track alternative instead of funding competitive salaries, reducing class sizes, and supporting existing teachers. It frames teaching not as a complex profession requiring expert knowledge in child development, curriculum design, and inclusive practices, but as a technical skill that can be acquired in a two-year program. The “temporary authorization” creates a perilous loophole, allowing individuals to serve as full teachers for two years with minimal preparation. The proposed path to full licensure relies heavily on evaluation systems that are often flawed and subjective, rather than guaranteeing rigorous, standardized professional expertise. We must solve the teacher shortage by respecting and investing in the profession, not by dismantling licensure standards. I urge you to reject HB 2776 and instead pursue real solutions: significant raises for educators, student loan forgiveness, and increased funding for high-quality, university-based teacher preparation programs that ensure every Missouri child has a well-qualified teacher.