Committee advances Grow Your Own amendments to include special education endorsements

Representative Wilcox presented HB 163, which amends the Grow Your Own educator pipeline scholarship to include special education endorsements. He said the program has been successful in converting paraprofessionals and aides into licensed teachers and that adding special-education endorsements addresses acute shortages in high-need areas, including rural and Native American communities.

Witnesses from rural service centers, school superintendent associations, and local educators endorsed the amendment, saying it will help recruit and retain teachers where vacancies are hardest to fill. Representative Wilcox and committee members emphasized there are no new appropriations in the amendment. Senator Hinkins moved a favorable recommendation and the committee approved the bill unanimously.