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House Education Committee approves lowering teacher-prep GPA to 2.8
Summary
The House Education Committee voted to amend the public school code to reduce the undergraduate GPA requirement for teacher preparation programs from 3.0 to 2.8 and to apply the same minimum to alternative preparation providers; the measure passed after debate over standards and teacher shortages.
The House Education Committee on Oct. 11 approved House Bill 14‑01, amending the public school code to lower the undergraduate GPA requirement for teacher preparation programs from 3.0 to 2.8 and extending that 2.8 minimum to alternative teacher preparation providers.
Sponsor Representative Young, who introduced the bill, said the change is intended to remove barriers and help address the state’s teacher shortage. “In our attempt to address the teacher shortage, providing an opportunity for more students to complete requirements, so they can graduate,” Young said. She added the change is designed to bring “qualified, passionate, and creative individuals” into classrooms.
Opponents argued the change lowers standards. Representative Anderson, drawing on his experience as a coach and teacher, called the proposal “literally lowering the standards” and said a 3.0 approximates a B average while 2.8 is closer to a C+ to B‑, arguing that the measure moves in the opposite direction of “highly qualified.” Representative Gleim said shortages are concentrated in STEM and languages and warned the bill “paints with a broad brush,” suggesting targeted adjustments would be preferable.
Other supporters pushed back that GPA is only one predictor of classroom success. Representative Prokopiak described personal experience of having a low undergraduate GPA yet succeeding professionally and supporting the bill as a way to keep capable candidates in the teacher pipeline. Representative Schlegel said he has seen teachers hired under relaxed standards grow into strong leaders, describing an example of a first‑year teacher who became a department head and is “loved by their students.”
Committee members first voted on amendment A000661 — an amendment offered by the chair at the Department of Education’s request that explicitly applies the 2.8 minimum to alternative preparation providers — which passed on a roll call, 16 yeas to 10 nays. After further discussion the committee approved the bill as amended on a roll call vote of 17 yeas to 9 nays. The chair noted the amendment had been requested by the Department of Education.
The committee’s debate centered on two competing priorities: widening access to the profession to help fill vacancies and maintaining subject‑matter rigor, particularly in STEM and world languages. Several members said they were open to working on future, targeted adjustments for specific subject areas.
House Bill 14‑01 will be reported out of committee as amended.
