Early Bird Session: Highly Qualified 2006 Annual Conference Special Education Friday, March 10, 2006

Frequently Asked Questions… 1. Federal Guidance for Spec. Ed. HQ? IDEA passed in 2004… all we know so far:IDEA passed in 2004… all we know so far: General Educ. HQ requirements apply to Spec. Ed. Teachers in core content areasGeneral Educ. HQ requirements apply to Spec. Ed. Teachers in core content areas A Spec. Ed. Teacher of Record in math must be HQ in MATHA Spec. Ed. Teacher of Record in math must be HQ in MATH

2. Three key pieces to being Highly Qualified… Each Teacher of Record must: Hold a Bachelors degree (or higher) Hold a Bachelors degree (or higher) Hold a full, valid license Hold a full, valid license Document content competence in core subject classes taught Document content competence in core subject classes taught

3. What is a Teacher of Record? The teacher who plans & delivers instruction, assesses student comprehension, and assigns grades or reports student content mastery to parents. The teacher who plans & delivers instruction, assesses student comprehension, and assigns grades or reports student content mastery to parents. In a collaborative team setting, one teacher can be HQ in a content area and cover other team members who may not be HQ. In a collaborative team setting, one teacher can be HQ in a content area and cover other team members who may not be HQ.

4. How can we ease the HQ burden on our Spec. Education staff? One way is to develop inclusion arrangements with collaborative team models wherever possible. One way is to develop inclusion arrangements with collaborative team models wherever possible. Inclusion has been encouraged at both the state and Federal level. Inclusion has been encouraged at both the state and Federal level.

5. How do Special Education Teachers of Record document HQ status… Praxis tests that provide the greatest coverage: Praxis tests that provide the greatest coverage: –Middle Grades – Praxis Exam 0146 = Middle School: Content Knowledge… covers four content areas up through grade 8. –K-6 – Praxis Exam 0014 = Elementary School: Content Knowledge… covers all content up through grade 6. –HOUSSE options are available to all existing teachers (more than one year teaching experience) (both Gen. Ed. And Special Ed.) (both Gen. Ed. And Special Ed.)

6. Self-Contained (CDC) Teachers of Record Determine the level of instruction… Determine the level of instruction… –No higher than grade 6… HQ status for K-6 –No higher than grade 8… HQ status as applied through middle grades –9-12 instructional level… HQ status (Consider HOUSSE options) (Consider HOUSSE options)

7. What about teachers of Life Skills classes? The Special Educators teaching Life Skills or Functional Academy classes do NOT have to document HQ status. The Special Educators teaching Life Skills or Functional Academy classes do NOT have to document HQ status.

8. Reporting the status of Special Education Teachers? In the Course Code Book… there are Special Education course options for cases where the teacher is the Teacher of Record and separate course codes when they are not. In the Course Code Book… there are Special Education course options for cases where the teacher is the Teacher of Record and separate course codes when they are not. Your patience and cooperation are appreciated!! Your patience and cooperation are appreciated!!

Has the deadline for HQ compliance been extended? Not Yet… Not Yet… We can apply for an additional year this summer… if we can document a Good Faith Effort to Comply. We can apply for an additional year this summer… if we can document a Good Faith Effort to Comply. It is likely we will never reach 100 % HQ as a state. It is likely we will never reach 100 % HQ as a state.

Can I lose my job over the HQ issue? That is not the intent of the US Department of Education. That is not the intent of the US Department of Education. That is not the intent of the State of Tennessee. That is not the intent of the State of Tennessee. HQ is not a State of Tennessee employment standard. HQ is not a State of Tennessee employment standard. Termination for non-compliance with NCLB will ultimately be a local decision. Termination for non-compliance with NCLB will ultimately be a local decision.

What is the current expectation? …that teachers and LEAs make a good faith effort to comply. …that teachers and LEAs make a good faith effort to comply. Good, effective teachers should have nothing to fear. Good, effective teachers should have nothing to fear.