Extension approved for teacher rule
11/08/2005 — The U.S. Education Department has given states a one-year extension to meet the requirements for “highly qualified” teachers if they can demonstrate progress toward meeting that goal.
The No Child Left Behind Act requires states to reach a goal of having 100 percent of their teachers “highly qualified” by the end of the current school year.
To be considered “highly qualified,” teachers must hold a standard license and demonstrate knowledge of the subjects they teach. Each state is responsible for deciding what constitutes knowledge of the subject, but it should be at least equivalent to passing a college-level test or attaining a college minor in the subject.
Many school districts are having a hard time finding enough qualified teachers, particularly those in rural areas.
The NCLB requirement also is difficult for special education teachers and secondary school teachers who teach more than one subject.
In a letter sent to chief state school officers Oct. 21, U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings says, “States that do not quite reach the 100 percent goal by the end of the 2005-06 school year will not lose federal funds if they are implementing the law and making a good-faith effort to reach the HQT [highly qualified teacher] goal in NCLB as soon as possible.”
To be considered for the one-year extension:
• States must have a definition of HQTs that is consistent with the law and must use this definition to determine the status of all teachers.
• States and school districts must provide parents and the public with accurate, complete reports on the number and percentage of classes in core academic subjects taught by HQTs.
• States must submit complete and accurate data to the U.S. Education Department on their implementation of the HQT requirements.
• States “must take action to ensure that inexperienced, unqualified, or out-of-field teachers do not teach poor or minority children at higher rates than other children.”
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