Teachers are the heart of a school, and state policymakers have a responsibility to ensure schools have the teachers they need. But for students to get the educators they deserve, the best and brightest need access to the profession, and they need to be compensated accordingly.

However, one particular factor has an inordinate effect on who can enter the teaching profession: state certification. Unfortunately, contemporary teacher certification not only leaves much to be desired but is a huge contributor to the growing staffing crisis facing schools.