INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana's teacher shortage almost is certain to get legislative attention come January after a panel of Hoosier lawmakers endorsed 11 strategies Monday for combating it.
None of the recommendations of the General Assembly's Interim Study Committee on Education will immediately get more teachers into understaffed classrooms, but they all potentially encourage the recruitment and retention of more educators — if enacted into law.
"I think they will make a difference," said state Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, the top Democrat on the Senate Education Committee.
"At long last, we listened to teachers, which is not what we have been doing in the past, and which is why we find ourselves in the predicament we are in today."
The committee recommendations call for the creation of strong mentoring programs for new teachers, additional state funding to increase pay for early career teachers, student loan forgiveness or other incentives for new teachers in high-demand subjects and the restoration of salary bumps for teachers with master's degrees.
The panel also urged special incentives and salary flexibility be used to attract more science and math teachers, as well as teachers in subjects with existing shortages like special education.
Restrictions on professionals who want to become teachers and out-of-state teachers willing to teach in Indiana should be eased, and further study of changes to teacher salaries and benefits be conducted, the panel said.
Lawmakers additionally agreed, at Rogers' request, to annually compile teacher shortage data for every school corporation, and to seriously consider the recommendations set be issued Dec. 7 by the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Recruitment and Retention of Excellent Educators, a four-month teacher shortage review led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz.
"I think that kind of sets the stage for there to be a good working relationship between the Legislature and the Department of Education's efforts," Rogers said.
The General Assembly will meet Nov. 17 for a one-day organizational session where no legislation will be considered, according to leaders of the Republican-controlled House and Senate.
Daily meetings of the 100 state representatives and 50 senators begin Jan. 5 and run through March 14.