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The Alabama State School Board has passed a resolution allowing school districts to hire adjunct teachers – teachers without certification who can work half-time.

The resolution was recently adopted by the state board. It allows school systems to hire non-certified teachers and employ them up to half time. The minimum requirement for these teachers is a high school diploma or equivalent and a clean background check by the Alabama Department of Education. Adjuncts can’t teach early childhood or elementary school and they’re also barred from teaching special education classes. They won’t be eligible for benefits and they must work under the guidance of a mentor. If they’re teaching a career tech course, they must have business or industry certification in the field.

Although the focus of the resolution appears to be finding teachers for career tech education jobs, which can be tough for school districts to fill, adjuncts are not limited to those positions. They can also fill open academic teaching positions.

Previously, uncertified teachers had to get an emergency certificate to work in public education in Alabama. If they wished to keep their jobs, these teachers eventually had to seek certification.