BISMARCK — A bill that would reduce the time it takes for a North Dakota teacher to earn a lifetime educator license passed through the House by a substantial margin Friday, Jan. 24.

Representatives voted 79-12 to advance

House Bill 1238,

sponsored in part by Rep. Zachary Ista, D-Grand Forks.

The House Education Committee unanimously recommended the bill for passage Thursday, though the bill received mixed reviews among education circles during a hearing Tuesday.

The bill would make a teacher eligible for a lifetime license when reaching 20 years in their career, instead of the current 30-year mark.

Anyone with a lifetime license who intends to keep teaching shall report to the state’s licensing agency, the Education Standards and Practices Board, at least once every five years, the bill states.

Reporting could include any crime a teacher committed or other behavior that could lead to license revocation or suspension.

Nothing in the bill would prevent the board from taking its own action against a teacher’s lifetime license, if warranted.

The bill is a holdover from the last legislative session, Ista said, during which it received widespread support in the House but failed on a tie vote in the Senate, with one member absent.

One thing that is different this time is the reporting element, he said, which was a sticking point last time with ESPB.

Much of the support for HB 1238 comes in the name of improving recruitment and retention of teachers.

Ista said the bill would reduce continuing education expenses for teachers, estimating the average educator could save up to $1,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.

Also testifying in support Tuesday was Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, the union representing public education and public services employees in the state.

Archuleta said some opponents maintain the bill would cause teachers to stop taking educational credits they might otherwise have earned.

“Not only is that argument a slight to the professionalism of teachers, it also discounts entirely the fact that teachers … have to take coursework to make lane changes and advance on the salary schedule,” he said.

Testifying in opposition of House Bill 1238 were representatives from the state Education Standards and Practices Board.

Executive Director Rebecca Pitkin said most states require continuing education for license renewal.

“Teachers are the model of lifelong learning. Ongoing education, potentially until almost the end of a career, is critical,” she said.

Pitkin also said reducing ongoing education requirements for teachers would not promote the profession.

Cory Steiner, ESPB chair and superintendent of the Northern Cass School District, agreed.

“There could be unintended consequences, seeing education as ‘less than’ other fields, where it should be equal to or more than,” he said.

Pitkin said there are currently around 18,000 licensed educators in the state system, with around 10,000 of them currently working.

Providing neutral testimony was Ann Ellefson, director of academic support at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Ellefson said the state’s teachers have easy access to an online educational hub offering professional development, training opportunities and educator resources.

Many of the courses are no cost or low cost across all North Dakota zip codes, she said, while some do charge a nominal $40 fee at registration.

There are 557 active users taking part in 68 courses that include child nutrition, North Dakota Native American studies, science of reading, mathematics and educator ethics, Ellefson said.

On the House floor Friday, Rep. LaurieBeth Hager, a Fargo Democrat and cosponsor of the bill, said the legislation would reduce red tape for teachers.

Rep. Pat Heinert, R-Bismarck, said Friday the goal of the bill is to keep teachers in the profession.

Further action on the bill was not scheduled as of Friday.