INTERSTATE TEACHING MOBILITY COMPACT FINALIZED
Rep. Woodson Champions Efforts for Teachers' Mobility Across States
In efforts to lower barriers to teacher mobility and get educators back into the classroom, Hawaiʻi State House Representative Justin Woodson announces that the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact (ITMC), a collective agreement[1] that facilitates the mobility of teachers across member states, has been finalized and ready for introduction in the upcoming 2023 legislative session.
"There is a critical shortage of teachers in our communities. With this compact, we hope to see a clear pathway to licensure mobility for teachers and boost the number of qualified educators in our state," said Rep. Woodson, who represents Hawaiʻi on the ITMC Document Team. "This compact prioritizes safety, progression, and paves the way to more classrooms for our keiki."
Requirements for teacher licensure vary tremendously throughout the states, often creating obstacles for educators who hold a license in one state, to obtain a license in a new state. The new compact states that a teacher with a valid, unencumbered license is eligible to teach in another participating state if they hold a bachelor's degree, have completed all requirements of a state-approved program for teacher licensure, and undergo a criminal background check in the receiving state in accordance with laws and regulations of the receiving state.
Each state must enact the ITMC model legislation to join the compact, and there is a minimum requirement of ten participating states for the compact to become actualized. To get involved in the stakeholder review process or learn more about advocating for the interstate compact in the State of Hawaiʻi, visit teachercompact.org.
On December 7, 2022, Rep. Woodson will appear as a guest panelist at the 2022 Council of State Governments National Conference to discuss the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. The event takes place at Hilton Hawaiian Village. For more information on the conference, visit csg.org.
Representative Justin Woodson serves House District 9, which includes the areas of Kahului, Puʻunēnē, and portions of Wailuku.
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[1] The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact is a collaborative effort between the Council of State Governments (CSG), Department of Defense (DoD), and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), which began in fall 2020.
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