Education Secretary Cardona calls lowering standards for teachers ‘unfortunate’

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the way to address teacher shortages is competitive pay, not lower standards.

“Unless we’re serious about providing competitive salaries for our educators, better working conditions, so that they can continue to grow … we’re going to constantly deal with shortage issues, especially in our areas that are harder to teach or where there are less candidates,” Cardona said Sunday on “Face the Nation.”

Arizona no longer requires teachers to have a bachelor’s degree, and Florida is offering temporary teaching credentials to those without a teaching certificate. Cardona calls this lowering of standards “unfortunate.”

“Our students need more now, not less,” Cardona said.

He suggested getting “creative” by, for instance, using American Rescue Plan dollars to get student teachers and give them a salary.

“I think we need to raise the bar on making sure teachers are getting paid what they’re due,” he said.