Show-Me State Times

Legislation to allow Missouri teachers to continue to participate in hands-on learning and take that knowledge back to their students was sent this week to the full Senate for consideration.

"The Missouri Chamber was in strong support of Shields’ bill. We believe it’s good policy for the state to integrate and build relationships between businesses and schools." - Kara Corches, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber

The bill in question is HB 1945, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph), which seeks to repeal the sunset provision for the teacher externship program set to expire on Aug. 28. The teacher externship program, in place since 2019, allows K-12 teachers to participate in externships at local businesses and career centers, providing them with valuable hands-on experience to bring back to their classrooms.

Over 400 teachers took part in externships last year, as reported by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Shields, drawing on her own experience working at the Quaker Oats Company, expressed her motivation for the bill, emphasizing the need for teachers to be aware of the diverse opportunities available in the workforce.

"Partnerships with the Missouri Chamber and local chambers have been extremely valuable in getting the program off the ground." - Rep. Brenda Shields

Additionally, the Missouri Chamber Foundation runs a teacher externship program called Show-Me Careers, allowing educators and school counselors to visit businesses and engage in practical learning experiences.

For further details on the bill and the teacher externship program, interested parties are encouraged to reach out to Kara Corches at kcorches@mochamber.com or 573-634-3511.