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Ohio teachers would have to complete an externship to renew their teaching license under a provision in Gov. John Kasich's budget proposal.

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio teachers would have to job shadow someone in a local business to renew their licenses under a provision in Gov. John Kasich's state budget proposal.

The "externship" would be completed with a local business or chamber of commerce and could count toward required continuing education courses.

The idea is the latest in Kasich's push to better connect schools with their local business communities. Requiring externships for license renewal was one of several recommendations made late last year by Kasich's Executive Workforce Board.

Kasich's Office of Workforce Transformation Director Ryan Burgess said businesses often can't find qualified workers and externships are a way for teachers to gain a sense of what skills jobs require. He said the work experience would help teachers discuss careers with students and prepare them to enter the workforce.

"Our workforce and our jobs are changing so quickly," Burgess said. "To understand what our local jobs and in-demand skills are would benefit everyone."

Teachers generally renew their licenses every five years. District professional development committees would be responsible for identifying externship experiences.

Burgess said the budget language was broadly written to allow local districts to decide what types of job experiences to arrange. He said the work experience could be as simple as taking teachers on a field trip to tour a local business.

Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, said the externship would be a good continuing education option for teachers renewing their licenses. But she said it shouldn't be mandatory nor is it appropriate for all teachers.

For example, a science teacher could use an industry experience to better connect the topic to his students. But Cropper questioned whether an externship would be beneficial for say, a kindergarten teacher. And she said it might be difficult for some teachers to find externships, especially in rural areas.

"Let's not take what could potentially be a good idea and turn it into a bad idea by making it be compliance driven," Cropper said.

The Ohio Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, also has concerns about the proposal.

"Teachers are always eager to grow professionally and we agree it is important to find ways to incorporate job skills in and information about careers in the classroom," association President Becky Higgins said. "However, working in an outside business is unnecessary and we oppose this as a condition of being licensed to teach."

The proposal, first highlighted on a pro-public school blog, was quickly criticized by educators on social media.

Why on earth? I want my teachers teaching, not "interning"! https://t.co/9mZzEZukMo — Little Miami Super (@LM_GPSuper) February 14, 2017

@ElectMattDolan I work 60-80 hours a week. How would I have time to intern? How does this improve teaching? https://t.co/KHLYDBTFPp — Tina Kovach (@ubeme) February 14, 2017

.@JohnKasich Seriously? How about OH reps intern in a school before passing ridiculous laws like this?https://t.co/4CMF0dXVgT — MarysGotClass (@MarysGotClass) February 13, 2017