North Dakota approves emergency request to allow non-licensed student teachers into classrooms for 2023-2024 school year

(Bismarck, ND) -- North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is granting an emergency request to allow student teachers into classrooms across the state.

The request filed by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board is intended to help address the state's teacher shortage. The emergency measure allows school districts to temporarily use student teachers to fill empty classrooms.

“As the ESPB executive director has stated, this is a Band-Aid, not a permanent solution. This emergency action simply gives local school boards and administrators additional flexibility and retains local control in determining how to fill teacher openings with the best interests of students in mind," said Governor Burgum in a statement to WDAY Radio

North Dakota United, the state's largest teacher's union, says the emergency measure undercuts the experience of educators across the state in a social media statement. 

"Unfortunately, the Education Standards and Practices Board’s request to allow unlicensed college students to teach children in North Dakota has been approved by Governor Doug Burgum, "said North Dakota United in the media statement, "We at North Dakota United believe this shortchanges K-12 students and undercuts the experience of teachers, who earned their licenses and have spent years in professional development learning best practices to serve children in North Dakota."