By Lolita Long, Editor, New York NEW YORK:
OVER 1,000 teachers could benefit from new legislation introduced by Jamaican Assemblyman Nick Perry, a Brooklyn, New York Democrat, which seeks to eliminate the requirements of being a US citizen to get permanent teacher certification.
The Assemblyman is optimistic that the legislation will be passed in the Assembly and the Senate if the support from political and educational representatives is anything to go by. Once it's passed in the Senate the Governor is expected to sign it.
Immigrant teachers who are not United States citizens, or have not applied for citizenship, can only receive temporary certification which expires in 5 years, and cannot be renewed.
The current law prohibits qualified legal permanent residents from receiving permanent certification, even if they meet all other requirements, such as a Master's degree, passing state exams, or having two years full-time teaching experience.
"It is just so unfair," declared Perry.
Schools Chancellor Harold Levy reportedly has pleaded for a change in the law before a joint committee of state legislators. He feels there should be a law to allow teachers with Green Cards to become permanently certified once they meet all other requirements.
Over 13,000 teachers are regarded as non-certified in New York City alone, with another 1,000 promised certification. As of 2003, the State will not allow non-certified teachers in the system.
The announcement and endorsements came last week by Perry along with political and educational representatives at City Hall in Manhattan.
"In addition to increasing the pool of certified teachers throughout the State, the legislation will remove a major impediment to recruiting new immigrants who, just prior to relocating to New York, were working as qualified, experienced and well trained educators in their native countries," said Perry.
Under the current law, Section 3001 of the Education Law, legal resident immigrants who are trained and qualified as teachers are ineligible for permanent teaching certification.
"We want to provide our children with quality education, and that's one of the most valuable investments we can make," said Perry. "Their future accomplishments will form the foundation of our communities, state and nation."
The law enacted in 1973 had stipulations with regard to police as well, but that was removed thus leaving teachers the only group ineligible for permanent certification.
The legislation would also help New York City comply with last year's court-ordered mandate that said that all public schools should hire only certified teachers in the lowest-performing schools.
"If the citizenship requirement is eliminated many of the teachers who become eligible for permanent certification would be able to teach in the schools where students need them most, while helping to raise the ratings of New York city public schools," said Perry in an interview with The Gleaner.
There are too many unnecessary immigration barriers," said Margie McHugh, executive director, the New York Immigration Coalition. "Certified teachers are needed who understand the language and culture of the students."
Senator John Sampson was pleased at "putting children first."
For him, to "remove the barriers for teachers to understand and give back to the children" is one way of "increasing standards."
New York City is a city of immigrants, so for Councilman Kendal Stewart, there is every reason to support the Bill.
Newly-elected Councilmember Yvette Clarke (daughter of Una Clarke) says that to remove the barrier will "enable those with the talent and expertise" into the system. "Permanent residents will be motivated into becoming citizens. There is a backlog at the INS and we are expecting that to change as well," charges Clarke.
The representative from the United Federation of Teachers, Rose Berman, feels the effort is "wonderful" that will "enable qualified teachers to be permanently certified."
Jamaican Irwine Claire, head of the Caribbean Immigration Services saw it as part of the "empowerment process."
State Senator Malcolm Smith feels that it's a "win-win" situation for the teachers, students and the New York school system.
