Highly Qualified
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB)
Certification/Highly Qualified Status Requirements
Public Law 107-110, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), created new requirements and time lines designed to ensure that all public elementary, middle, and secondary teachers of core academic subjects meet the federal definition of a highly qualified teacher.
Under NCLB, core academic subjects are defined as:
English Civics
Reading Government
Language Arts Economics
Mathematics History
Science Geography
Foreign Languages Arts
Reading Certification in Sixth Grade:
It has been determined that a teacher who holds a certification in Elementary Education (Grades K-6 or 1-6) and is teaching reading in grades 1-6, or in a Kindergarten classroom are not required to have the Reading Endorsement or Reading Certification. This includes sixth grade in an elementary or middle school.
Reading Certification Requirements for Exceptional Student Education Teachers:
It has been determined that a teacher who has certification in an appropriate ESE area to match the ESE table in the Course Code Directory and is teaching Reading to ESE students in grades K-6 is not required to have the Reading Endorsement or Reading Certification. This includes sixth grade in an elementary or middle school.
Core Academic Courses in Middle School Sixth Grade:
A teacher who has certification in Elementary Education (Grades K-6 or 1-6) and is teaching a core academic course in Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and/or English/Language Arts in sixth grade in an elementary, or middle school is not required to have a separate subject area content certification, or the middle grades integrated curriculum certification.
Core Academic Courses in Grades 7-12:
Must hold a Florida Educator’s Certificate appropriate for the subject(s) and grade level(s) assigned.
Elementary Education Certified Teachers Considered Highly Qualified:
To be considered “Highly Qualified” with Elementary Education certification, a teacher must have passed the Subject Area Examination for Elementary Education or meet the requirements for a HOUSSE Plan.
Teachers with Certificates in a Separate Social Science Area:
Teachers who hold a valid certificate in one or more of the separate 6-12 Social Science areas are deemed Highly Qualified for teaching courses in that specific Social Science area(s). Separate areas: History, Economics, Geography, and Political Science.
Teachers with certificates in Social Science 6-12, Middle Grades Social Science 5-9, or Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9:
Teachers who hold a valid certificate in the areas listed above are deemed highly qualified for teaching History, Economics, Geography, and Civics/Government by passing the appropriate subject area exam or by using the HOUSSE Plan for the appropriate area.
ESE Teachers of Core Areas:
ESE teachers of core areas are required to pass the ESE subject area exam and the subject area exam for the core area taught to be considered “Highly Qualified.”
Out of State/County New Hires: Teachers hired from another district or state will need to provide proof of their highly qualified status on a Subject Area Exam verification form or HOUSSE verification form Sample #11 and Sample #12.
Infield vs No Child Left Behind:
A distinction must be made between the highly qualified designation of NCLB and the designation of teachers as infield, out-of-field, or qualified by Florida Statutes, State Board of Education Rules, or the Florida Course Code Directory. A teacher may be considered infield based on the requirements in the Course Code Directory but not meet the NCLB requirements to be designated as “Highly Qualified.”
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND QUALIFICATIONS
Elementary K-6 (Includes 6th grade Middle School)
Elementary Core Subject Areas:
Elementary K-6
Must pass the Elementary Subject Area Exam
OR
HOUSSE Plan
OR
National Board Certification
Exceptional Student Education:
Elementary K-6 ESE and
Elementary K-6 ESE Reading
Must pass the Exceptional Student Education Exam
OR
HOUSSE Plan
OR
National Board Certification
AND
Must pass the subject area exam for content area taught
OR
HOUSSE Plan
OR
National Board Certification
Reading/Not ESE:
Elementary K-6 Reading (includes 6th grade middle school)
Must pass Elementary Education Exam
OR
HOUSSE Plan for Elementary Education
OR
National Board Certification for Elementary Education
OR
Reading Certification
OR
Reading Endorsement
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND QUALIFICATIONS
SECONDARY GRADES 6-12
Exceptional Student Education Reading:
Secondary Grades 7-12, ESE Reading
(Grade 6/ESE Reading, See Elementary Qualifications)
Must pass ESE Exam
OR
HOUSSE Plan for ESE
OR
National Board Certification
AND
Reading Endorsement
OR
Reading Certification
Social Science Option A and/or B:
A. Secondary Grades 6-12, Social Science
Certification in Elementary Education K-6 (Grade 6 only) OR
Certification in Social Science (Grades 6-12) OR
Certification in Middle Grades Social Science (Grades 5-9) OR
Certification in Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (Grades 5-9)
Teachers who hold a valid certificate in any of the above must use the plan below in order to be deemed highly qualified in History, Economics, Geography, or Civics/Government.
Certification in the appropriate subject area
AND
Must pass the appropriate subject area exam
OR
HOUSSE Plan for the appropriate area
B. Secondary Grades 6-12, Social Science
Certification in History (Grades 6-12), OR
Certification in Economics (Grades 6-12), OR
Certification in Geography (Grades 6-12), OR
Certification in Political Science (Grades 6-12)
Teachers who hold a valid certificate in one or more of the above certification areas are deemed highly qualified for teaching History, Economics, Geography, and Civics/Government.
