Nebraska education officials are one step closer to axing the basic skills test that keeps some new teachers out of classrooms.
During a Friday meeting, the State Board of Education unanimously repealed Rule 23, a state rule that requires new teachers to pass a basic skills test before they can get their teaching certificate.
Nebraska has been using the Praxis Core by ETS of Princeton, New Jersey, as its basic skills test. Incoming educators have to pass each section of the exam — including reading, writing and math — to meet the requirement.
But board members now say that basic skills tests like the Praxis aren't the best way to ensure that a would-be teacher is qualified.
Board member Elizabeth Tegtmeier said such tests for years have been a barrier for people wanting to get into the education field. Recently, it has become a substantial obstacle to relieving the state's teacher shortage, which has been worsening since the pandemic.
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The state reported in a fall 2022 survey that 769 teaching positions remained unfilled or were staffed by an underqualified teacher at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. That was an increase from 482 a year earlier.
"We know that basic skills are assessed multiple times throughout our teachers' careers, plus they have to apply for (college) admission, have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and are required to pass many of their classes,"Â Tegtmeier said. "They are also observed in the classrooms by their practicum advisers and cooperating teachers."
The Praxis exam is expensive to take, particularly for people who have to take it multiple times, according to a 2020 recommendation from Johns Hopkins School of Education to Nebraska education officials. The report also said basic skills tests like the Praxis have not been shown to correlate with teaching effectiveness.
The state board repealed Rule 23 to help with the teacher shortage, which is a short-term goal of the board, said Patti Gubbels, board president. A public hearing in February included testimony about how removing the requirement would benefit educators.
"We have heard evidence that there are a number of teacher candidates who do not enter the profession because they can't pass that basic skills test," Gubbels said. "We are keeping some people out of the profession because of one required test."
The repeal of Rule 23 is only the first step in the process to change the basic skills test requirement. Nebraska education officials said that before the requirement can be completely removed, the state board has to repeal both Rule 20 and 21, which set out more guidelines around the basic skills test for colleges and school districts.Â
The board was scheduled to discuss the repeal of both Rule 20 and 21 but ran out of time Friday. Members moved the discussion to April's board meeting.
Gov. Jim Pillen also will have to sign off on all repeals and he can take as long as he wants to make a decision, Gubbels said.
"The governor can send (the repeal) back, the governor can not sign it — there is no timeframe we can count on," Gubbels said. "We hope that the governor agrees with our position and that it is signed."
The state board considered ending the test in 2019, but didn't go through with the repeal after then-Gov. Pete Ricketts said it would lower standards for teachers.
Kirk Penner, board vice president, said the board wants to streamline the process to become a teacher and it's not "dumbing down anything."
While the repeal process might be drawn out, officials said decisions still could be made in time to remove the basic skills test requirement for the 2023-24 school year. Board member Sherry Jones said she knows May graduates who are "waiting in the wings" for the repeals to go through.
"My ask is for people who support this — especially those who may know the governor — to share their concerns about this," said board member Lisa Fricke. "If you are serious about making a difference for kids, they need qualified teachers in the classroom and this is a way to open the door for more teachers. Talk to the governor. It is his decision."
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Top Journal Star photos for February 2023

A mostly empty Lincoln Airport terminal is pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, in Lincoln.

Deb Polacek of Friend (center) gets ready to play the accordion to welcome Miloslav Stašek, the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic, as he tours the state during a stop on Wednesday at Nebraska East Union.

Liam Rosengren endures blustery conditions while working out with a portable punching bag outside at Holmes Lake Park on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. A windy day at Holmes Lake did not deter Liam from taking his workout outside on Thursday afternoon. with a cold southerly wind making it feel like it was just over 11°F. "I'm just sort of doing it for the sake of being outside," Rosengren said. "I mean I bought this bag and it's portable, so I can take it anywhere I want.

Former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne speaks during a press conference at the Capitol on Monday about Gov. Jim Pillen's mentoring program for young Nebraskans.

Lincoln Northeast's Doneelah Washington (back) tries to stop Lincoln Southwest's Eleanor Griffin in the second half Friday at Lincoln Northeast.

Dean Thompsen reacts after correctly spelling the word, 'affluent' correctly after believing he spelled it wrong during the second round of the annual Lincoln Public Schools Oral Spelling Bee on Saturday at Culler Middle School. "I cant believe I just got that right," Thompsen said as he went back to his seat.Â

Bennington assistant coach Jarod Owens (left) and head coach Craig Pokorny celebrate after Kianna Wingender won the 120-pound consolidation semifinal match at the A-3 district meet Saturday at Lincoln Southeast.

Leaves frame the Sower atop the 400 ft tall Nebraska state capitol on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. The statue of the Sower, modeled after the traditional method of hand sowing grain for planting, is a symbol of the importance of Agriculture to Nebraskans. A reprieve from cooler temperatures will arrive for Lincolnites over this weekend. With highs in the upper 40s and mostly sunny weather will greet the day on Saturday and Sunday.

Nebraska's Axelina Johansson uncorks the second-longest throw in NCAA history — 63 feet, 4 inches — at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Jaxson Bowman, 1, holds the finger of his dad, Josh Bowman, during a deployment ceremony for the 1-134th Cavalry at the Lancaster Event Center on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Bowman, along with other soldiers at the ceremony, did not deploy but attended out of support for his fellow soldiers.

Supporters of the Niskithe Prayer Camp block a bulldozer preparing to tear down trees at Wilderness Park on Monday.

Bellevue West's Josiah Dotzler (left) collides with Lincoln Southeast's Wade Voss in the first half Tuesday at Lincoln Southeast High School.

Wayne's Jersi Jensen (center) gets a high-five as she walks up to get her first-place medal at the Class B state bowling singles championship on Wednesday at Sun Valley Lanes.

Norfolk's Carter Jackson flips upside down in the middle of a dive Thursday in the Heartland Athletic Diving Championships at Lincoln Southeast.

McCool Junction's Garrett Hansen celebrates during the Class B state bowling singles championship on Wednesday at Sun Valley Lanes.

Julia Kennedy (right) shares a piece of cake with her granddaughter Samara Quwa while manning a FAQ booth about the 16th president Saturday.

Wisconsin's Max Klesmit and Nebraska's Blaise Keita battle on the floor for possession on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Nebraska's Dayne Morton (left) wrestles Rutgers' Tony White in the 149-pound match Sunday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Members of the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry -- Ron Rockenbach (from left), Gage Stermensky, Paul Hadley, David Smith and Keith Rockefeller -- guard the Abraham Lincoln statue on the west side of the Nebraska Capitol on the 214th anniversary of his birthday on Sunday.Â

Lincoln East's Westin Sherlock (top) wrestles Bellevue East's LaBrian Sherlock during the 152-pound final at the A-2 District meet on Saturday at Lincoln East.

Lincoln East's Carter Toomey and Lincoln North Star's William Schafer vie for a rebound under the net in the third quarter on Tuesday at Lincoln East High School.

Aven Larson, 7, throws snow into the air and tries to catch it with her tongue at Pioneers Park during a winter storm in Lincoln on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023.

Shawn Fauver shovels snow outside El Chaparro on F Street on Thursday in Lincoln.

UNL student Paxtyn Dummer (from left) and Maggie Mienhueser complete work on a white board while Miles Kastl and Katelyn Petry do the same on the other side, during a tutoring session at the UNL Reading Center on East Campus. The reading center pairs teachers in training with students from the community who are reading below grade level.Â

Shoun Hill walks through Tower Square on Thursday in downtown Lincoln, where nearly 9 inches of snow fell overnight.

Norfolk's Jackson Bos (front) wrestles Bellevue West's Ryland Schweiss during a Class A 220-pound consolation match Friday at CHI Health Center Omaha on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

Lincoln Southeast's Bangot Dak dunks the ball against Lincoln North Star in the final minute Friday at North Star High School.

Blood covers the face of Chadron's Kenli Boeselager as she wrestles on the mat against Conestoga's Maggie Fiene during a 145 lb semifinal match on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at CHI Health Center in Omaha.

Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) scores off a steal against Maryland on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Lincoln Southeast's Eve Nelson dives during the girls state diving championships Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.

The Lincoln Lutheran student section rushes the court to celebrate with their team after they defeated Lincoln Christian during the C1-2 subdistrict championship game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at Lincoln Lutheran High School.

Swimmers take off from the starting blocks for the 50-yard freestyle during the girls state swimming prelims Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Lincoln High's Kiana Wiley (24) holds up the championship plaque after the Links defeated Lincoln Northeast in the A-3 district final Friday at Lincoln High.

Alexander Syniy of Lincoln (right), originally from Kherson in Ukraine, prays during a rally on the anniversary of the war in Ukraine on Saturday at the state Capitol.

Nebraska's Sam Griesel fist bumps Derrick Walker before they are introduced ahead of the Minnesota game on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Lincoln East fans roar as Lincoln Southwest's Cole Christensen (5) raises his arms to question a referee call at Lincoln East on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.