NCLB Recommendation #44
SUBJECT
Highly Qualified Teacher Determinations: Social Studies Teachers
P.L. 107-110 PROVISIONS
TITLE IX PART A SEC. 9101(23)(B)(ii)
NSBA RECOMMENDATIONS
#44: Streamline existing Highly Qualified Teacher requirements for social studies teachers so that teachers receiving a “broad field” state certification in social studies are considered highly qualified without needing an academic major or certification in multiple, specific social studies subjects such as geography, history, civics and government, and economics.
RATIONALE
NCLB’s Highly Qualified Teacher requirements break out social studies into five specific subjects: geography, history, civics and government, and economics. This differs from other major subjects such as mathematics and science, in which the law does not break those subjects into more specific groups. As a result, social studies teachers unnecessarily have extra hurdles to leap in order to meet the highly qualified requirements.
PROPOSED BILL LANGUAGE
Section 9101(23)(B)(ii) is amended –
In subclause (I), by striking “or” after the semicolon;
In subclause (II), by striking “and” after the semicolon and inserting “or”;
By adding at the end the following:
“(III) obtaining a State social studies certificate that qualifies the teacher to teach geography, history, civics and government, and economics in middle or secondary schools, respectively, in the State; and”.
IMPACT OF CURRENT LAW
Under current law, social studies teachers are treated differently than teachers of other core academic subjects, such as mathematics, because the highly qualified requirements separate social studies into five distinct subjects. This results in social studies teachers having to demonstrate their subject matter qualifications to a greater degree than other teachers in their school and district. This inconsistency in NCLB undermines the credibility of the Highly Qualified Teacher requirements that public school teachers around the country are attempting to fulfill.
NSBA CONTACT
Marc Egan, director of federal affairs, 703-838-6707 or megan@nsba.org.