Kentucky Today
A state panel that oversees professional standards for teachers has dropped a longstanding requirement that teachers obtain master’s degrees within the first 10 years of their careers.
Wayne Lewis
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board took the action on Monday.
Interim Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis said requiring teachers to obtain master’s degrees doesn’t increase their effectiveness in classrooms.
Lewis said teachers should be able to choose for themselves whether they want master’s degrees and the bump in salary that comes along with it.
The Kentucky Education Association opposed the move, saying the move by the panel was based on politics.
“During a time when we are supposed to be encouraging students to think of themselves as college and career ready, even beginning in kindergarten, it seems counterintuitive that our certifying authority would publicly state that it sees no value in having teachers earn an advanced degree,” Kentucky Education Association President Stephanie Winkler said in a written statement.
“It certainly is undisputed that the teachers are one of the more influential role models for our students. Part of that modeling is respecting education for its own sake.”
