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Legislative committee taking up teacher shortage issue

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A state legislative committee is set to discuss concerns about some Indiana school districts facing teacher shortages.

The Legislature’s study committee on education is scheduled to hear Monday from several education experts on the situation.

The Indiana Department of Education says the state has seen a 33 percent drop in the number of initial teacher licenses issued since 2009.

Republican legislators have disputed arguments blaming the drop on school overhaul actions such as additional student testing and allowing private school vouchers that have been adopted in recent years.

They say the short supply of teachers isn’t unique to Indiana and is also happening in states that haven’t adopted similar overhaul measures.