A Highly Qualified Teacher

No Child Left Behind Legislation Requires Teachers To Be “Highly Qualified”

In addition to meeting teacher certification requirements, you, as a beginning teacher, will need to meet the federal government’s definition of a “highly qualified” teacher, as mandated in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. The federal government’s definition of a "highly qualified" teacher is a person who

• possesses at least a bachelor's degree,

• is fully state certified, and

• has demonstrated subject area competence in each of the academic subjects in which the teacher teaches.

By the end of the 2005-2006 all teachers must meet this “highly qualified” definition if teaching in one of these core academic subject areas:

• English, reading, language arts

• Mathematics

• Science

• Foreign language

• Civics, government, history, geography, economics

• Arts

Federal government definitions:

For a new elementary teacher (including special education and ESL teachers at this level), this will mean demonstrating competency in subject knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the basic elementary school curriculum by passing a rigorous test designated by each state.

To be considered highly qualified, a new middle school and secondary school teacher (including special education and ESL teachers at this level) must complete an academic major or coursework equivalent to a major or pass an academic subject test in the area/s in which he/she wishes to teach.

Individual states have established guidelines and testing requirements to meet the federal governments definitions of highly qualified. Informational meetings on what it means to be considered highly qualified are held every semester. For this semester’s schedule of meetings, go to http://www.udel.edu/teachered/testreq.html#meetings.