Ohio is facing a teacher shortage. In response to an Ohio Department of Education and Workplace (DEW) study, lawmakers have proposed several changes to education and licensure requirements for teachers and educators in Ohio Senate Bill 168. Proponents believe these changes will help to alleviate the teacher shortage. Critics worry that students will be left with underprepared teachers.

The DEW, formally known as the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released a study last year identifying teacher shortages and making the following Key Observations:

Teacher shortages must be examined and understood locally.

• • There are localized areas of concern related to student-to-teacher ratios when considering region, district type and grade band/subject area – especially in the Southeast, Southwest and West regions.
  • While the current number of teachers statewide is comparable to the previous 10-year average for the state, a predominant downward trend in public school enrollment (accelerated by the pandemic) has resulted in historically low student-to-teacher ratios.

Licensure and attrition trends impact local shortages.

• • • The number of courses taught by teachers whose licenses do not match the courses they are teaching (improper certification) has increased statewide. The number of districts with such courses also has increased.
    • The statewide teacher attrition rate (those not returning as a teacher) was slightly elevated in 2021-2022 compared to the previous six years for all teachers, as well as for the subset of teachers early in their careers. 
    • The number of newly credentialed teachers steadily declined statewide from 2013-2014 to 2018-2019, then stabilized through 2020-2021 before declining again in 2021-2022.
    • In 2021-2022, there were more than 43,000 individuals with active teaching credentials in Ohio (excluding substitute licenses) who were not employed in a public school as a teacher or other staff member.
    • District-level teacher attrition rates (percent no longer teaching in a specific district) have increased recently, generating more hiring and onboarding burdens regardless of supply sufficiency.

Collection of more data, particularly on teacher demand, is needed to help inform policy.

Legislative Response

In response, HB 168, proposes changes to teacher requirements.  According to NBC 4 News, the bill allows districts and private schools to hire unlicensed individuals to teach, so long as they hold a master’s degree and pass a standardized subject area exam. Under current law, qualified people can teach without an educator’s license so long as they are working toward licensure.

The bill also reduces the qualification that those seeking advanced educator licenses have a master’s degree, instead requiring they have a bachelor’s degree. The degree requirement for administrator licensure is also reduced to a bachelor’s degree.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester), said SB 168 will reduce unnecessary barriers and regulations while helping schools battle teacher shortages. 

Reynolds said that she considered recommendations from school administrators when writing the legislation. A group of education administrator organizations, including the Ohio School Boards Association, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, support changes that increase schools’ flexibility in addressing open teaching positions.

Concern about Quality

However, several organizations have expressed concern about the ramifications of several provisions in the bill. The Ohio Education Association (OEA) have expressed opposition to several provisions including allowing employment of non-licensed individuals as classroom teachers if they hold a master’s degree and pass a subject matter exam.  

On their website, they write that, “OEA opposes cutting corners on teacher preparation. Ohio’s students and taxpayers deserve trained and licensed educators in every classroom. Holding a master’s degree and passing a subject matter exam is not a substitute for the preparation required to obtain a professional educator license.”

Jessica Poiner, Thomas B. Fordham Institute education policy analyst, worries that lawmakers do not have sufficient data necessary to craft meaningful legislation. She writes, “..although Ohio leaders deserve kudos for trying to address teacher shortages, their efforts are too reliant on guesswork if we don’t have data on teacher demand. Even if state leaders blindly manage to hit a few targets, we won’t actually know they’ve been hit. Without accurate and annually updated data on demand, we have no way of knowing whether the policies and initiatives Ohio implements have actually succeeded in bolstering the teacher workforce.”

Despite concerns, Ohio Republican lawmakers are moving forward with SB 168. It is currently in House committee and, if passed, will move to Governor Dewine’s desk for his signature or veto.