No Child Left Behind
"Highly Qualified" teacher Q & A
 Who has to be highly qualified under No Child Left Behind?
 As of June 30, 2006, under NCLB, all public school teachers who teach a core
subject are required to be highly qualified. This includes Special Education
teachers providing instruction in core academic areas, even to alternative achievement standards.
Back to top
What are the core
academic subjects?
The core academic subjects are defined by state and federal authorities as:
English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science (biology, chemistry, earth
science, general science, physical science, and physics), foreign languages, civics
and government, economics, history, geography, social studies, speech
communications, music, theatre, and art.
Under the federal law, certificated education professionals in non-core academic
subjects do not need to meet the new requirements. This includes PE teachers,
counselors, librarians, and nurses.
Back to top
When do teachers have to
be highly qualified under this federal requirement?
As of June 30, 2006, under NCLB, all public school teachers who teach a core
subject are required to be highly qualified.
Back to top
What does it mean to
be highly qualified under NCLB?
To be highly qualified a teacher must be fully certified (no emergency
certifications), have a bachelor’s degree, and have demonstrated subject matter
competency in each core academic subject taught.
Back to top
What pathways exist for a teacher to demonstrate subject matter competency?
Elementary Teachers (K-6) can demonstrate that they are highly qualified in any
one of the following ways:
- Passing score on a state-approved elementary Praxis II exam or
- Passing score (100 points) on the state’s HOUSSE matrix or
- National Board Certification (NBC) as an Early Childhood Generalist for
grades K-3, Middle Childhood Generalist for grades 3-6, or Early
Adolescence Generalist for grade 6 or
- Pass the State Performance Review or
- State reciprocity
Elementary content specialists (e.g. reading, art, or music specialists) can be
deemed highly qualified by using one of the following ways:
Secondary (Middle & High School) and Content Specialist Teachers must be
highly qualified in each core subject they teach. They can become highly
qualified in any one of the following ways:
- Degree or advanced degree in the core subject or
- College major in the core subject or
- Major equivalent in the core subject (30 semester credits or the equivalent) or
- Passing score on state-approved Praxis II exam in core content or
- Passing score (100 points) on the HOUSSE or
- National Board Certification in the content area or
- Pass the State Performance Review or
- State reciprocity
Back to top
What is the HOUSSE?
The HOUSSE (High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation) is an alternate method for experienced teachers to obtain a highly qualified designation. HOUSSE criteria can be found at www.eed.state.ak.us/TeacherCertification/hq.html. However, ASD teachers must use the My HQT button at www.MyLearningPlan.com to submit HOUSSE requests. The HOUSSE matrix awards points for such things as years of experience, training and coursework, contributions to the profession, awards, etc. Under federal law, only teachers hired prior to July 1, 2002 are eligible to use HOUSSE as a pathway to highly qualified status.
Back to top
Do college/university ED-prefix courses count toward core content credit?
ED 500-level classes do not count toward 30 credit major equivalency when
education is the option being used for acquiring an HQ designation. However,
some ED-prefixed courses can count under the HOUSSE matrix. For elementary teachers, credits in education or in a core subject taught in elementary school
earned after the completion of a teacher preparation program may count for 3
points each on the HOUSSE matrix. So for elementary teachers, ED-prefix classes may count. For middle and high school teachers, ED-prefix credits that
relate to the core subject HQ designation being sought may count for 3 points per
credit on the HOUSSE matrix. Thus, ED-prefix credits that can be tied to teaching the core may content area count for middle and high school teachers on the
HOUSSE form
Back to top
If I choose to take the testing route, which tests have been approved by the state? What are the passing scores for these tests?
For a list of Praxis II subject assessments, fees, passing scores, testing dates,
registration information, and HQ designation matching, go to:www.asdk12.org/NCLB/teachers/praxis.asp.
Back to top
How do I know which Praxis II test matches to the HQ designation I am seeking?
For a list of Praxis II subject tests and matching HQ designations, go to: www.asdk12.org/NCLB/teachers/praxis.asp.
Back to top
I took a PRAXIS II test in another state. Can I use that score to acquire an HQ
designation in the ASD?
If the test you took is on Alaska’s state-approved list and it’s a passing score, yes.
Go to www.asdk12.org/NCLB/teachers/praxis.asp to see the state-approved
Praxis II and passing scores list. ETS (the Praxis II testing company) keeps
scores on file for up to 10 years. To acquire a score report, contact ETS (www.ets.org) request a copy. Using the My HQT button under your MyLearningPlan.com account, submit your score using the Praxis II option. Don’t forget to deliver the score report to ASD Human Resources. If you took the
test more than 10 years ago, you would need to have the score report showing the
score.
Back to top
Can a Master’s degree in Education be used to acquire a content HQ designation?
No. The federal law states that the degrees or credits earned must be in the core
content area being taught. (Examples of core content include English, math,
science, social studies, etc.) However, points are awarded under the HOUSSE matrix for such a Master’s degree.
Back to top
Is a high school teacher with a degree in a specific scientific field or who has otherwise demonstrated subject-area competency in a specific scientific field (e.g. biology or chemistry) considered to be highly qualified (HQ) to teach any science course?
No. Being content knowledge HQ in one scientific discipline does not necessarily
mean that a high school teacher will be deemed HQ to teach in another scientific
discipline. High school science teachers must demonstrate subject-matter competency appropriate to the specific courses they are teaching. For example, a
teacher who majored in biology is not, on that basis alone, considered highly
qualified to teach physics.
Back to top
In what ways does the ASD support teachers seeking highly qualified designations?
The ASD is committed to supporting its teachers in obtaining HQ designations.
For consultation regarding HQ planning, support, and fiscal resources – contact Clendaniel_Zareena@asdk12.org at 742-7819. Specific examples of HQ support include:
Praxis II prep classes for credit, Praxis II study groups for credit, Praxis II study
guide checkout, addenda for eligible Praxis II scores, foreign language testing
(LTI), HQT application assistance, and HQT consultation.
Back to top
Must special education (SPED) teachers who teach core academic subjects be highly qualified?
Yes. Under NCLB special education teachers who provide instruction in core
academic subjects must meet the highly qualified teacher requirements for those
subjects. These requirements apply whether a special education teacher provides
core academic instruction in a regular classroom, a resource room, or another
setting. This includes Special Education teachers providing instruction in core
academic areas, even to alternative achievement standards.
SPED teachers have a few more options in terms of how to meet HQ
requirements. Rather than attaining separate HQ designations in each of the
content areas being taught, the MS or HS SPED teacher of multiple subjects may be eligible to use the SPED Multiple Subjects HOUSSE. Also, secondary SPED
teachers whose students are assessed against alternate learning standards (i.e.
those students on the alternate assessment) can take one of the approved elementary level Praxis II exams to be designated HQ.
Back to top
What activities may special education teachers carry out if they are not highly qualified by June 30, 2006 in the core academic content area being taught?
Special educators who do not directly instruct students in any core academic
subjects or who provide only consultation to highly qualified teachers in adapting
curricula, using behavioral supports and interventions, or selecting appropriate accommodations do not need to demonstrate subject-matter competency in those
subjects. These special educators could also assist students with study skills or
organizational skills and reinforce instruction that the child has already received from a teacher who meets the federal requirements in that core area.
Back to top
Must ESL teachers be highly qualified?
Yes. If teachers of English language learners provide instruction in core academic
subjects, they must meet the requirements of the law for highly qualified teachers,
in addition to the ESEA Title III requirements for teachers of English language
learners.
Back to top
Must the teachers of courses that offer a content credit option (e.g. KCC, JROTC, Voc. Ed., CTE, and Family Consumer Science) be highly qualified?
Yes. If the class offers core academic credit, the instructor must be highly
qualified under the federal definition.
Back to top
Are charter schools’ teachers required to be highly qualified under the No Child Left Behind Act?
Yes. Charter schools’ teachers are required to attain a highly qualified
designation in the core academic areas in which they teach
Back to top
How do the highly qualified requirements apply to individuals working in extended learning time programs?
If services offered outside of regular school hours in a Title I extended learning
time program provide instruction in core academic subjects designed to help
students meet state or local academic standards, the persons providing such core
academic instruction must meet the highly qualified teacher requirements.
However, if the instructor is not an employee of the school district, the teacher
quality requirements do not apply.
Back to top
What required notifications must be sent to parents about teacher qualifications?
Notification must be sent to parents if a Title I school or program teacher has
taught for four consecutive weeks and has not met the highly qualified
requirements. Additionally, parents of Title I students must be notified of their right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their
child’s teachers and paraprofessionals. These requirements only apply to Title I
schools.
Back to top
Where can I get more NCLB highly qualified teacher information?
ASD highly qualified teacher support information is available through Zareena Clendaniel at 742-7819 or Clendaniel_Zareena@asdk12.org. There is No Child Left Behind (and HQT) information on the district’s website at www.asdk12.org/nclb. The Alaska State Department of Education and Early Development has a site at www.eed.state.ak.us/nclb. The federal Department of Education website is www.ed.gov/nclb.
Back to top |
 |
|
