October 6, 2003 (Includes clarifications received recently from discussions with CDE)

1. Which teachers must meet NCLB “highly qualified” requirements?

All elementary and secondary teachers of “core” subjects. This includes Special Education and ESL teachers (see further clarification in sections 9 and 10 below) and teachers in charter schools. The NCLB core subjects are Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Art, Music, and Drama.
Note that Preschool teachers and teachers of Health, Physical Education, Computer Technology and Vocational courses do not have to meet “highly qualified” requirements.

2. How does a teacher meet the “highly qualified” designation?

First a teacher must possess a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have completed a teacher preparation program. Then there are two options for teachers to show content expertise: 1) Pass the state content area test (PLACE or PRAXIS II) for the content area; or 2) earn 24-credit hours in the content area outside their endorsement area. The 24-credits can be earned through university courses, approved staff development classes, and/or a combination of the two.
Note that all elementary teachers (grades K-6 in DCSD) need an elementary endorsement (have passed the state's K-8 elementary content test). This includes elementary teachers of music, art, drama, language arts and ESL, and elementary teachers who might teach only one or two subjects. That is, at the elementary level, there is no NCLB need for teachers to have anything other than an elementary endorsement. However, secondary teachers (grades 7-12 in DCSD) must have passed the state content area test or have 24-credit hours in every core content subject they teach.

3. What happens if a current District teacher is not “highly qualified” by the end of the 2005-06 school year?

Answer: Attorneys have advised the District that teachers who do not meet the “highly qualified” status requirements at the end of the 2005-06 school year can be dismissed. The District will expect teachers to demonstrate compliance with requirements of NCLB by January 1, 2006 to support the hiring timelines.

4. What do teachers who are not “highly qualified” need to do?

Building administrators will meet with all teachers whose Human Resources files indicate that they may not meet “highly qualified” requirements. If, after review of all coursework taken, it is determined that the teacher is out of compliance with NCLB, the teacher and building administrator will develop an NCLB Compliance Plan by October 15th, 2003. The plan will outline how the teacher will become compliant with NCLB requirements by January 1, 2006, and could include plans for PLACE or PRAXIS II testing, additional coursework, or transferring to a position for which the teacher is “highly qualified.”

5. Will previous coursework count toward the 24-credit NCLB threshold?

Yes. Human Resources may not have transcripts or records for all the previous coursework a teacher may have already completed. Teachers who believe they have the necessary coursework already completed, should submit the evidence of completion to Human Resources ASAP.
Professional development activities that a district may approve towards meeting the 24-credit hour requirements must be: content-rich; have documented evidence of applicability of the content to the subject area; and include demonstration of content knowledge gained (e.g., wrote a paper, passed a test, was observed teaching). Staff Development will start labeling District course offerings that can be used to meet NCLB requirements.

6. Will the District pay for the necessary testing or course work for a teacher to become “highly qualified”?

Some of the District’s grant funds have been budgeted for partial payment of tuition/registration fees for district teachers not compliant with NCLB requirements. During the 2003-04 school year, $3,900 is available to teachers in Title I schools through a Title I grant, and $20,000 is available to any District teacher through a Title II grant. These monies will be distributed through Cathie Hill, Director of Staff Development. No general operating funds will be used to pay for needed coursework or content exams.
Teachers may apply for Tuition Reimbursement from the Douglas County Federation of Teachers (DCFT) office. $100,000 annually is placed in this account to reimburse teachers for tuition expenses.
Teachers may also apply for an interest-free loan from the District’s Low Cost Loan Program, which is administered by the DCFT. Over $200,000 is available through this program to assist teachers to pay for college courses and/or professional growth.

7. When is it advisable for a teacher in question to just take the state exam in a content area versus taking additional coursework?

The easiest way to become compliant with NCLB requirements is to pass the content exam. For a teacher to gain a CDE endorsement in a content area they will need to pass the content exam, have the necessary coursework, and have successfully taught that content area for one year.

8. If a teacher would rather transfer to a position for which he/she holds a current endorsement and thus is “highly qualified” to teach, will the District honor that request?

As long as a teacher is rated “satisfactory” on the evaluation process and notifies the District of his/her intention to transfer, the District will work with the teacher and make reasonable attempts to find a teaching assignment for which the teacher is compliant with NCLB requirements.

9. How do Special Education teachers meet “highly qualified” requirements?

Special Education teachers working with moderate needs students, do not have to meet NCLB requirements if they collaborate with “highly qualified” core content teachers on a regular basis. For example, if the Special Education teacher works as part of an IEP team that contains “highly qualified” content teachers and that meets monthly, then the content teachers are the "teachers of record" and the Special Education teacher does not need to meet NCLB requirements.
However, Special Education teachers (except SSN teachers) in self-contained classrooms who do not work with content "teachers of record," do need to be “highly qualified” in each content area that they teach.

10. How do ESL teachers and Literacy Specialists meet NCLB “highly qualified” requirements?

At the elementary level, ESL teachers and Literacy Specialists need to have an elementary endorsement to be NCLB compliant. At the secondary level, they need to be endorsed in Language Arts or have passed the state language arts test or have 24-credit hours in language arts. CDE (not NCLB) also requires ESL Teachers to have an ESL endorsement.

11. How do secondary teachers of multiple subjects in alternative schools, such as the Star Lab, meet NCLB “highly qualified” requirements?

Alternative education teachers who teach multiple subjects need to work with a “teacher of record" or meet “highly qualified’ credentials in each subject they teach.

12. Do summer school teachers and substitute teachers have to meet NCLB “highly qualified” requirements?

All teachers who work with students for more than 4 consecutive weeks, including summer school teachers and long-term substitute teachers, must be compliant with NCLB requirements.

13. Do Early Childhood and Montessori endorsements count?

The Early Childhood endorsement is an acceptable alternative to an elementary endorsement for NCLB compliance. However, the District will not allow a teacher with only an Early Childhood endorsement to teach beyond 3rd grade.
CDE will find out from the US Department of Education if the Montessori endorsement is also an acceptable alternative to an elementary endorsement for NCLB compliance.

14. Is it OK for a teacher with a major in Biology to teach Physics? Or for a teacher with a major in Earth Science to teach Chemistry?

Yes. Any science degree enables a teacher to teach any of the sciences under CDE’s interpretation of NCLB requirements.

15. Is it OK for a teacher with a generalist Social Studies endorsement to teach any of the Social Studies content areas?

Yes. A generalist Social Studies endorsement will satisfy NCLB compliance in Colorado for all the Social Studies content areas (Civics, Government, History, Geography, Economics, Psychology).
NCLB “highly qualified” criteria do not distinguish among the Science and Social Studies sub-content areas in Colorado. However, the District will review how wise it may be to allow a teacher with little or no preparation in a specific science or social studies area to be teaching students in that content area. If a teacher is a chemistry major and is asked to teach biology the students may not be receiving the most qualified instruction available. Likewise, if a social studies teacher is a psychology major and has had little or no coursework in history, it may not be the best idea to have the teacher teaching history.

16. Can a teacher who is endorsed in English, teach Drama?

We will review the teacher’s coursework and look for 24 semester hours related to Drama. We believe that CDE will allow us to count course work in classic literature areas such as Shakespeare, American Literature, etc. toward Drama NCLB compliance.

17. Do arts teachers need to be certified in specific content areas (e.g. band, orchestra, drama, painting, sculpture, etc.), and or do these areas require 24 credit hours in each specific area?

CDE has defined only three NCLB arts areas: Art, Music, and Drama. A teacher with an “art” endorsement can teach any of the mediums of visual art. A teacher with a “music” endorsement can teach any of the vocal or instrumental music courses. Douglas County is currently allowing Drama teachers to count classic literature courses towards NCLB compliance in Drama.

18. What about a 6th grade team where all teachers on the team teach math and language arts but 2 teachers teach all the social studies and 2 teachers teach all the science?

At the elementary level (grades K-6 in DCSD), all teachers need to have an elementary endorsement, even if they teach only one or two subjects.

19. Do Title I-funded paraprofessionals need to meet NCLB requirements?

Yes. All Title I-funded paraprofessionals must have:
· Completed at least 2 years of study at an institution of higher education;
· Obtained an associate’s (or higher) degree; or
· Met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal assessment their knowledge of instructing, reading, writing and math.
All current Douglas County Title I paraprofessionals serving children in Title I schools meet these requirements.

20. Do paraprofessionals who are NOT paid out of Title I monies need to be “highly qualified” in Title I or other schools?

No.

21. What should an accomplished guitar player who does not have an endorsement in music do to become compliant with NCLB?

An accomplished guitar player would qualify for an Adjunct Authorization. We don't have a guitar endorsement. A licensed special education teacher that is teaching music would be required to have 24 semester hours across the "music education" standard to be considered highly qualified.

22. Who does a teacher contact with questions regarding “highly qualified” status or the eligibility of a course towards meeting NCLB requirements?

Jack Kronser, Director of Recruitment, 303-387-0555.