HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) -- A newly passed law, backed by Sen. Greg Hembree of Horry County, will allow South Carolina public schools to hire uncertified teachers in hopes of combating the statewide teacher shortage.

News13 spoke with parents and education professionals in Horry County and received mixed reactions about the pilot program for the new law, which would allow uncertified teachers to make up 10% of teaching staff at state public schools.

"Just because I have a mom that is a certified teacher, I don't know if I would want an uncertified teacher teaching my kids," retired teacher Vicki Owens said. "I feel like there's a reason that there's a certification for that."

Many parents expressed concerns that uncertified teachers could negatively impact the quality of their children

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