PSS clarifies PRAXIS extension report

The Public School System clarified yesterday that its request for an extension in the PRAXIS deadline for CNMI public school teachers apply only to those who have already taken the PRAXIS but have not received the results yet.

Associate commissioner of education David M. Borja said it was earlier reported (not in the Saipan Tribune) that PSS would ask for an extension of the PRAXIS deadline for all teachers. The associate commissioner said this is not true.

Commissioner of Education Rita Inos also reiterated yesterday that all teachers are required to be highly qualified as defined by the Board of Education and by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

She said every teacher and school administrator, must take and pass PRAXIS I and II tests.

“There are no exceptions,” she said.

The Commissioner said that PSS would only be hiring highly qualified teachers who show evidence that they have passed both PRAXIS exams.

Substitute teachers

Inos said that those teachers who fail to comply with the federal requirement would still have the opportunity to teach in the CNMI but they would be joining the substitute teacher pool and would be paid $100 per day for each full day that they teach.

Borja said the teachers would be hired using a substitute teacher contract and without the regular benefits of a public school teacher that is certified and PRAXIS I and II-compliant.

Inos said the Central Office gave public school teachers two years and 14 test dates opportunities to take the PRAXIS tests. She added that the U.S. Department of Education has reaffirmed that they expect every state and territory to comply with the highly qualified teacher requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

“PSS cannot offer a teacher contract to teachers who are not highly qualified,” said Inos.

500 teachers apply online to CNMI PSS

The commissioner said that PSS is currently actively recruiting teachers online and through newspaper advertisements.

Over 500 teachers have already responded to the online advertisements.

Inos said that PSS is planning to recruit over 100 teachers for the next school year.

She encouraged all teachers to turn in their PRAXIS test results to the PSS Human Resources Office as well as to their school principal. The goal, she said, is for every class to be taught by a highly qualified teacher.