PII News Release

Contact:                                                                                                            For Immediate Release:
David Hogberg                                                                          Monday, February 25, 2002
319-385-3462

Flexibility Needed in Teacher Hiring

            Mt. Pleasant, IA – Hiring practices in the education field must change in Iowa.   That’s the conclusion of Public Interest Institute Research Analyst David Hogberg.   In a February Institute BRIEF entitled “Improving Education in Iowa:  Flexibility in Teacher Hiring”, Hogberg says restrictions on who can receive a teaching license in Iowa is hurting education overall.  

            Iowa law allows only those individuals with education degrees to obtain a state teaching license.  Hogberg says this restriction excludes some of the brightest and most talented individuals from teaching in public education in Iowa.  Hogberg says loosening this restriction would create innovation and creativity in public education.

            Hogberg says some of the best potential teachers can be found outside of the education field.   He supports this claim by citing data from the American College Testing (ACT) scores from the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa, which show the “best and brightest” are not entering the education field. 

            Hogberg suggests legislation like House File 670, which passed in both houses of the Legislature in 2001, before it was vetoed by Governor Tom Vilsack, be revisited by the Iowa General Assembly. 

            For further information about this Institute BRIEF or Public Interest Institute, you may call    319-385-3462 or log on to the PII web site at: www.limitedgovernment.org.

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