ODE e-Learning Professional Development Series Highly Qualified Teachers Oregon Requirements Vickie Chamberlain TSPC Executive Director

The Law Federal No Child Left Behind Act 2001Federal No Child Left Behind Act 2001 Goal to close the achievement gapGoal to close the achievement gap Increased federal regulation of Title I and other dollars (ESEA)Increased federal regulation of Title I and other dollars (ESEA) “Highly Qualified Teacher” only one feature of making “adequate yearly progress”“Highly Qualified Teacher” only one feature of making “adequate yearly progress”

Role of TSPC & ODE ODE has primary responsibility for:ODE has primary responsibility for: –Annual reporting –Distributing money –Maintaining data and surveys –Implementing the goals of NCLB TSPC has responsibility for:TSPC has responsibility for: –Defining “highly qualified teacher” ODE/TSPC partnership successfulODE/TSPC partnership successful

What are the HQT laws & goals? Title I funded positions must hold HQT if hired after January 1, 2002Title I funded positions must hold HQT if hired after January 1, 2002 All teachers of “core academic subject” must meet definition of HQT by end of school yearAll teachers of “core academic subject” must meet definition of HQT by end of school year

Definition of HQT PRIMARY FEATURESPRIMARY FEATURES –Must have at least a bachelor’s degree Required for full licensure, won’t discussRequired for full licensure, won’t discuss –Must be “fully Oregon licensed” –Must be “subject-matter competent” Secondary FeaturesSecondary Features –Determine whether new to the profession –Determine grades & subjects teaching –Determine assignment (core academic subject)

Definition of HQT The previous slide is the most important slide in the presentation.

More important definitions New to the professionNew to the profession –Taught less than three full years Fully LicensedFully Licensed –Does not have a provisional or emergency license Elementary SchoolElementary School –Any K-8 configuration, identified as an elementary school with the ODE

More important definitions Core Academic SubjectsCore Academic Subjects –Language Arts/Reading, Math, Social Studies [history, geography, civic, economics], Science, Foreign Languages, the Arts Foreign Languages {endorsements only}Foreign Languages {endorsements only} –Spanish, French, German, Russian, Latin, Japanese ArtsArts –Visual Arts, Music, Drama

Subject-Matter Competence Key concept to understanding HQTKey concept to understanding HQT Differs for elementary and middle level/high schoolDiffers for elementary and middle level/high school Depends on whether the teacher is new to the professionDepends on whether the teacher is new to the profession Depends on teacher’s education and experienceDepends on teacher’s education and experience –But not on teacher’s pedagogical skills May be determined by: High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation -- HOUSSEMay be determined by: High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation -- HOUSSE

Being “fully” licensed Please remember: Only teachers holding the following teaching licenses may be considered highly qualified:Please remember: Only teachers holding the following teaching licenses may be considered highly qualified: –Basic –Standard –Initial –Continuing –Five-Year –Preliminary –Alternative Route

Elementary HQT New to the Profession {Note the title!}{Note the title!} New elementary teachers may meet the definition of HQT only if:New elementary teachers may meet the definition of HQT only if: –Fully licensed –Pass “rigorous state test” TSPC defines rigorous state test as licensure testTSPC defines rigorous state test as licensure test –Was MSAT –Will be MSE

Elementary Not New to the Profession Must pass rigorous state test; orMust pass rigorous state test; or Must meet HOUSSE set by state [ OAR (3)(b)]Must meet HOUSSE set by state [ OAR (3)(b)] –Basic elementary curriculum (60 diverse hours in coursework) –Standard elementary or master’s degree –National Boards (NBPTS)

Middle Level/High School Generally Fully licensedFully licensed Demonstrate subject-matter competence in each core academic subject taught byDemonstrate subject-matter competence in each core academic subject taught by –Passing test in subject-matter –Major in the subject-matter –Coursework equivalent to major –Graduate degree –Advanced certification (National Boards)

Middle Level/High School Specifically New to the Profession –New to the Profession – –See previous slide for subject-matter competency Not new to the profession –Not new to the profession – –All of previous slide AND –HOUSSE standards

How does all this work? ElementaryElementary –Any assignment pre-K through 6 –Appropriate elementary licensure

Elementary HQT Complexities What are the “nuances?”What are the “nuances?” –An elementary license MAY be legitimate in some 7 th & 8 th grade settings –Make sure ESOL and special education teachers in these grades have elementary credentials –Must be properly assigned in accordance with TSPC rules Basic teaching license with elementary endorsement can teach more courses than Initial teaching license with elementary authorizationBasic teaching license with elementary endorsement can teach more courses than Initial teaching license with elementary authorization

How does all this work? Middle-LevelMiddle-Level –Applies to all 7 & 8 grade classes that are in any middle school or junior high school –Does not apply to self-contained 7 & 8 grade classes in elementary schools registered as such with ODE

Middle Level Complexities Middle Level “nuances”Middle Level “nuances” –Must be properly assigned according to license Beware Basic license with single subject endorsementBeware Basic license with single subject endorsement –Must be HQT in all subjects even if integrated e.g. Language Arts/Social Studies (HQT in both)e.g. Language Arts/Social Studies (HQT in both) Science/Math (HQT in both)Science/Math (HQT in both) –Any high school science endorsement (integrated, biology, chemistry, physics) acceptable to teach any science in grades 7 & 8 if properly licensed for the assignment –Language Arts endorsed teachers may not teach specialized reading without reading endorsement

How does all this work? High SchoolHigh School –Must be course for which student receiving graduation credit in the subject –Must generally hold an endorsement in the subject

High School Complexities High School “nuances”High School “nuances” –Conditional assignments (misassignments) may be legal under state law, but not HQT –HOUSSE gives limited grace period (approved CAP period) to acquire endorsement and be considered HQT –Interns need not be HQT because considered student teachers –Special education teachers must be HQT if sole teacher of the subject –Science endorsements must still be appropriately assigned in order to be highly qualified, e.g., biology, chemistry, physics, etc.

Special Education Must have subject-matter competency AND the special education licenseMust have subject-matter competency AND the special education license May need to take a test if do not have an underlying teaching licenseMay need to take a test if do not have an underlying teaching license –Example: Elementary special education may have to take the MSAT to be HQT If resource room activities are related to other teachers delivering the subject, do not have to be HQTIf resource room activities are related to other teachers delivering the subject, do not have to be HQT

Alternative Education In Oregon, any regular license allowed to teach in alternative education programs or schoolsIn Oregon, any regular license allowed to teach in alternative education programs or schools NCLB requires that alternative education teachers be highly qualifiedNCLB requires that alternative education teachers be highly qualified Elementary teachers may not ever be highly qualified to teach in alternative education high school without adding to credentials to teach secondary subjects, including appropriate subject-matter endorsementsElementary teachers may not ever be highly qualified to teach in alternative education high school without adding to credentials to teach secondary subjects, including appropriate subject-matter endorsements

Scenarios It is January 2005 and you need to hire a new 7 th grade math teacher at your middle-school.It is January 2005 and you need to hire a new 7 th grade math teacher at your middle-school. –Does the teacher have to be HQT when you hire them? –Can you hire a teacher without a math endorsement? –Can you hire a teacher with a Basic elementary license? –Can you hire a restricted transitional teacher?

Scenarios You are an ESD and you need to hire new ESOL and Special Education teachers in September 2005:You are an ESD and you need to hire new ESOL and Special Education teachers in September 2005: –Do you need to worry about the HQT rules? –Do the teachers need to be highly qualified when you hire them? –What if you cannot find an instate teacher? Can you hire a teacher on a transitional license?

Scenarios You have a teacher assigned to teach three periods of math in the 5 th, 6 th and 7 th grades. He holds an Initial teaching license with elementary and middle level authorization.You have a teacher assigned to teach three periods of math in the 5 th, 6 th and 7 th grades. He holds an Initial teaching license with elementary and middle level authorization. –What do you need to check to determine whether he is highly qualified? –Does the analysis differ based on the grades he is teaching? –Do you need to worry about who the home room teacher is?

Scenarios You currently have several teacher “legally” conditionally assigned to teach “out-of-field” at your high school. What are the issues?You currently have several teacher “legally” conditionally assigned to teach “out-of-field” at your high school. What are the issues? –The math teacher is also teaching one period of physics. –The biology teacher is teaching two periods of physical education. –The ESOL teacher is teaching English, math and social studies half a day.

TSPC HQT Procedures HQT evaluations cost $10 per fileHQT evaluations cost $10 per file HQT evaluations are second priority to renewals and new license requestsHQT evaluations are second priority to renewals and new license requests We no longer issue stickersWe no longer issue stickers We issue letters confirming HQT statusWe issue letters confirming HQT status HQT in any subject is permanentHQT in any subject is permanent Administrative rules are in Division 100 of Chapter 584 (See TSPC home Web page)Administrative rules are in Division 100 of Chapter 584 (See TSPC home Web page)

Resources TSPC Web page: Web page: HQT assistance: Pam LaFreniere, Coordinator of Teacher Licensure (503) HQT assistance: Pam LaFreniere, Coordinator of Teacher Licensure (503) Federal Government Web:Federal Government Web: –Desk top reference: dex.html?src=mr dex.html?src=mr dex.html?src=mr –Federal regulations: 4/120202a.pdf 4/120202a.pdf 4/120202a.pdf

Resources ODE Web page:ODE Web page: – TSPC administrative rules for HQT:TSPC administrative rules for HQT: – 84_100.html 84_100.htmlhttp://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_500/OAR_584/5 84_100.html Oregon School Personnel Association (OSPA):Oregon School Personnel Association (OSPA): – Oregon Education Association (OEA):Oregon Education Association (OEA): –