Expanding the Pool of Teachers Policy
Nebraska 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.
Nebraska 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.
Nebraska noted that it offers the Dual Credit Certificate and the Career Education Certificate.
Neither the Dual Credit Certificate nor the Career Education Certificate meets the intent of this goal, which is to allow content experts to teach part time in the K-12 classroom. The Dual Credit Certificate authorizes the teaching of college courses, and the Career Education Certificate pertains only to vocational areas.