Jefferson City News

The Missouri State Board of Education has taken steps to revise the GPA requirement for certain teacher certifications. The current rule mandates a 3.0 GPA in the specific content area for certification, but the proposed amendment would lower this requirement to 2.5. This change would apply to teachers seeking certification in most secondary school subjects and some specialty courses, excluding elementary, early childhood, and special education.

Research involving 1,174 teacher candidates from STEM fields showed no significant difference in first-time certification exam pass rates between those with GPAs ranging from 2.75 to 3.0 and those with GPAs above 3.0. The study found no correlation between a teacher's future classroom success and a 0.5 GPA difference.

Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger stated, "As part of a comprehensive effort to address teacher recruitment and retention challenges in Missouri, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has been focused on removing unnecessary barriers to the teaching profession." She added that the research indicates potential for expanding the pool of future teachers without negatively impacting student learning or teacher success.

Public comments on the proposed changes can be submitted via email or mail within 30 days after publication in the Missouri Register, expected on January 15. A final vote by the State Board is anticipated in March 2025.

The current GPA requirement was established in 2017 and has led to a decrease in program completions for these certifications, particularly affecting STEM subjects where there is high demand for teachers. Notably, none of Missouri's neighboring states have similar content GPA requirements.