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This article, written by reporter Megan Tagami, was published in Civil beat. It discusses the debate that entailed after a bill allowing emergency hires to work in schools for 5 years, instead of the 3 now, while they earn their teaching license, was introduced. Lawmakers and the teacher licensing board argue that having emergency hires too entrenched in the system reduces the quality of education and disadvantages students in areas that rely heavily on emergency hires. While the education department argues that giving emergency hires more time to earn their license is better than losing educators and relying on substitute teachers.

This article can serve as a mentor text because it meets the conflict, impact and proximity element of newsworthiness (TIPCUP). The reporter has “put her boots on the ground,” interviewing various sources: teachers who currently have or had an emergency hire permit, state representatives, board chairs, deputy superintendents, etc. And showed that she has asked the right questions through the quotes and information included in her transitions.

The article references other states like Texas to give readers an idea of other states’ reactions to emergency hires in schools. Sourcing studies, like the one done by the University of Texas at Austin where they investigated the effectiveness of emergency hires teaching students compared to licensed teachers.