John Charlton, spokesman at ODE, said the department doesn’t have an estimate for the number of educators that might be eligible for the fee waiver or by how much money the fee waiver will impact the department.
“It could be significant, but it’s worth it,” Charlton said. “We’re showing our appreciation.”
Charlton said the licensure fee waiver can be used on any of the department’s 45 different types of licenses, ranging from superintendent and teaching licenses to renewals and pupil activity permits. Fees for the licenses can range from $25 to $240.
Capt. Jim Allison, retired from the U.S. Navy, is a senior naval science instructor at Hamilton High School. Allison said he has to pay about $40 every year to renew his license to teach military science because he’s certified through the U.S. Navy and doesn’t have a teaching degree.
Allison said he believes the waiving of license fees for military families will be “good for the system as a whole.”
“I’m glad they’re providing this as one way of honoring veterans and service members and in return their getting a good-quality employee,” Allison said.
Allison said it will help attract young members of the military with “real-life experience” to come into the education field.
“It will have the most benefit to people who had a few years out there, got a degree and now they’re at a phase in their life ready to move on and just coming into this workforce,” Allison said. “It’s going to help somebody get into the system who needs to be.”
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