MEA - NCLB - High Qualified Teachers

Highly Qualified Teachers

MEA continues to monitor federal ruling on No Child’s highly qualified requirement

On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, which is a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). This federal law required all teachers of core academic subjects be “highly qualified” by the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

To be highly qualified a teacher must meet three requirements:

— Holds at least a bachelor’s degree,
— Has full state teacher certification*, and
— Has demonstrated competence in each core academic subject in which the teacher instructs.

(*This means having a valid Michigan initial or advanced teaching certificate and assigned to teach within the validity/designation on the certificate.)

In December, 2006, the Michigan Revised Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) State Plan was approved by US Secretary of Education, Margaret Spelling. The revised plan includes the following:

All HOUSSE options continue through June, 2007.
The reinforcement of the use of Title I and Title II federal funds to assist teachers in achieving highly qualified status.
Michigan’s HQT Corrective Action Plan Timeline for 2006-2007, which notes that in August, 2007, the Michigan Department of Education will withhold Title I and Title II funds from a district which fails to meet the required 100 percent HQT, until such time as the district comes into compliance.
A monitoring timeline, using MDE Field Service Regional Consultants, will be implemented throughout 2006-2007, as the MDE works with local districts which did not attain 100% HQT by the June 30, 2006 deadline.

The Michigan Revised Highly Qualified Teacher Plan is available at: www.ed.gov/programs/teacherqaul/hqtplans/index.html

The following information is to assist teachers in determining and/or demonstrating their highly qualified status.

Michigan’s Definition for Identifying Highly Qualified Teachers (PDF) – On April 24, 2003, the Michigan State Board of Education approved Michigan’s Definition for Identifying Highly Qualified Teachers which enumerates the options by which teachers may demonstrate competence in core academic subjects.

MDE Letter to School Districts (PDF)
The August 9, 2004 letter from MDE states that all options of the highly qualified definition are to be available to all teachers and that it is the teacher’s choice as to which option(s) he/she will complete.

Teacher Content Area Portfolio Guidelines

Use of Master’s Degree in a Supporting Field to Demonstrate Highly Qualified
A master’s degree in an appropriate supporting program may be used as a demonstration of highly qualified for all of the core academic subjects (for which the teacher is authorized by the state) in which the teacher was instructing at the time the master’s was earned.

Reminder Regarding Teacher Assignments and the Highly Qualified Requirement (PDF)

Highly Qualified Teachers Questions and Answers (PDF) – This is a compilation of questions asked by Michigan teachers regarding their highly qualified status. These are shared with the hope that the information will be beneficial to others. (Link to MEA document-HQT Question and Answer Sheet)

Clarification on Staffing Alternative Education Programs -
October 25, 2005 - (PDF) See the following link for additional current clarification.

Additional Clarification on Staffing Alternative Education Programs - January 12, 2006 - (PDF) Please pay special attention to this correspondence because it might greatly impact some alternative education teachers' ability to meet the NCLB "Highly Qualified" requirement.

Meeting Highly Qualified Requirements for Alternative Education Teachers - February 7, 2007

Official Michigan Highly Qualified Teacher Reports

Michigan’s official documents certifying that a teacher meets Michigan’s definition of “highly qualified.”

Official Michigan Highly Qualified Teacher Report - Elementary

Official Michigan Highly Qualified Teacher Report - Middle School

Official Michigan Highly Qualified Teacher Report - Secondary

New Hire Definition
“New hire” as used in the highly qualified requirement means individuals new to the profession, not employed as a teacher prior to the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year. It is not the intent of this phrase to refer to being new to a district. A teacher employed in any district, prior to the 2002-2003 school year, is a leader not new to the profession and would not be designated as a new hire.

Additional Information/Resources Regarding Highly Qualified Teachers

MDE Teacher Certification Verification Information

Michigan Department of Education Endorsement Areas and Codes
(PDF)

Information on the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC)

USDOE March 15, 2004 Flexibility Statement (Word)