Expanding the Pool of Teachers Policy
Connecticut does not offer a license with minimal requirements that would allow content experts to teach part time.
Offer a license that allows content experts to serve as part-time instructors.
Connecticut should permit individuals with deep subject-area knowledge to teach a limited number of courses without fulfilling a complete set of certification requirements. The state should verify content knowledge through a rigorous test and conduct background checks as appropriate, while waiving all other licensure requirements. Such a license would increase districts' flexibility to staff certain subjects, including many STEM areas, that are frequently hard to staff or may not have high enough enrollment to necessitate a full-time position.
Connecticut recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis but noted that the Connecticut State Board of Education has proposed an "Adjunct Faculty Permit" that would allow a person employed by a higher education institution to teach in a K-12 setting on a part-time basis in an inter-district magnet school.
The Adjunct Faculty Permit appears to be a step in the right direction. The state should consider expanding this permit to include others with deep content-area expertise in addition to college faculty.