“Hardship Waiver” Addresses North Dakota Teacher Shortage

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota schools with teacher shortages might be allowed to bring in people from the community to help educate students.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler says the state Education Standards and Practices Board endorsed the proposed "hardship waiver" on Monday and authorized the drafting of emergency administrative rules. The governor must approve them.

The proposal came out of a task force formed in June by the Department of Public Instruction. It would allow people in a community to teach about their area of expertise. For example, a farmer might teach vocational agriculture.

Baesler says there are nearly 175 open teaching positions in the state, with some schools starting classes in fewer than three weeks.