AUGUSTA - Rep. Vicki Doudera, D-Camden, introduced legislation Thursday before the Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee that would increase the number of available educational professionals in Maine by accepting out-of-state certifications.
LD 67 would require the Maine Department of Education to accept a certificate for an administrator, teacher, educational technician or educational specialist issued by another state, the District of Columbia, a United States territory or another country as a qualification to work in Maine.
"We are in the midst of a school staffing crisis, with a record high number of professionals having left the field," said Doudera. "Our school district reached out to me regarding the difficulty they've faced when trying to hire qualified teachers from other states. Their frustration is completely warranted. In some parts of Maine, kids are being sent home early because there are not enough teachers in the classrooms."
More than 1,300 teachers, education technicians, administrators and other educators in Maine left their jobs in 2022, with more than half doing so in June or August. In addition, 927 educators retired, adding to the gap of workers in Maines education sector.
"This is a workforce problem, one that also affects the futures of our children and the day-to-day lives of everyday Mainers," said Doudera. "Solving it requires a multi-pronged solution. Increasing teacher pay and providing debt-relief assistance is helpful, but allowing those certified in other states and countries to move here and fill open positions is a more immediate solution that we desperately need."
Doudera is serving her third term and is a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the Marine Resources Committee. She represents the towns of Camden and Rockport and is the Maine State Lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. She also chairs the Legislature's Gun Safety Caucus.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Doudera], 305-965-2744