February 15, 2006 Highly Qualified Requirements for Exceptional Student Education Teachers What’s New?

No Child Left Behind NCLB is an act designed to close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility and choice so that no child is left behind NCLB is an act designed to close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility and choice so that no child is left behind All children must have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high- quality education and meet proficiency on state academic standards and state academic assessments All children must have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high- quality education and meet proficiency on state academic standards and state academic assessments Teacher quality is a key component of student learning Teacher quality is a key component of student learning Law includes definition of Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) Law includes definition of Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) Subject content knowledge emphasized Subject content knowledge emphasized

WHY? Federal Title II monitoring visit indicated that Florida had not met the highly qualified requirement for some elementary ESE teachers.

WHEN? NCLB was enacted January 8, 2002 Beginning school year, Title I schools were required to hire teachers in core subject areas that are highly qualified All other teachers must be HQ no later than June 30, 2006

WHO? PreK ESE Teachers if teaching combination class of PreK and K or higher NCLB is triggered and the teacher must meet the highly qualified requirements for elementary in addition to ESE

WHO? ESE teachers who are the teacher of record and teach an elementary core academic subject.

NCLB Core Academic Subjects English English Civics Civics Reading Reading Government Government Language Arts Language Arts Economics Economics Math Math Arts (Music, Drama & Art) Arts (Music, Drama & Art) Science Science History History Foreign Languages Foreign Languages Geography Geography

Elementary ESE Courses that trigger HQT… – Academics: K – Academics: K – Academic Skills: K – Academic Skills: K – Advanced Academics: K – Advanced Academics: K – Developmental Skills: K – Developmental Skills: K – Art: K – Art: K – Language Arts: K – Language Arts: K – Reading: K – Reading: K-5

Elementary ESE Courses that trigger HQT (cont …) – Communications: K – Communications: K – Spelling: K – Spelling: K – Writing: K – Writing: K – Math: K – Math: K – Music: K – Music: K – Science: K – Science: K – Social Studies: K – Social Studies: K-5

Definitions New Teachers - less than one year of teaching experience (not tied to year of employment) Experienced Teachers - one or more years of full-time teaching experience

New ESE Teachers Elementary (Grades K-6) Requirement 1 A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution. AND Requirement 2 A valid Florida three-year Temporary or five-year Professional Certificate in an appropriate exceptional student education area(s) to match the ESE table in the Florida Course Code Directory.

AND Requirement 3 Option 1: A passing score on the Florida K-6, 1-6, or PK-3 subject area exam (SAE) appropriate for the elementary grade level(s) assigned. or Option 2: A valid Florida Professional Certificate appropriate for the elementary grade levels assigned (requires a Florida SAE or reciprocity from another state). or Option 3: A valid American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) Passport Certificate in Elementary Education. (A passing SAE or valid ABCTE Certificate also establishes eligibility for certification in elementary education.)

Experienced ESE Teachers Elementary (Grades K-6) Requirement 1 A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution. AND Requirement 2 A valid Florida three-year Temporary or five-year Professional Certificate in an appropriate exceptional student education area(s) to match the ESE table in the Florida Course Code Directory.

AND Requirement 3 Option 1: A passing score on the Florida K-6, 1-6, or PK-3 subject area exam (SAE) appropriate for the elementary grade level(s) assigned. or Option 2: Meet the requirements for a HOUSSE plan that is appropriate for the elementary grade level(s) assigned. or Option 3: A valid ABCTE Passport Certificate in Elementary Education or an Early (PreK-Primary) or Middle Childhood (Elementary Education) Generalist National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certificate. (A passing SAE, valid ABCTE, or valid NBPTS Certificate also establishes eligibility for certification in the subject.)

WHO? K-12 ESE teachers who teach core academic subjects exclusively to students who are assessed against alternate achievement standards (students with significant cognitive impairments)

WHAT? Are required to meet the highly qualified requirement for elementary teachers or core academic subject areas appropriate for the level of instruction provided and the appropriate certification in ESE to match the ESE table in the Course Code Directory

WHEN? New ESE teachers 2 years after their date of employment to demonstrate subject matter competency, in the other subjects taught if they teach multiple core academic subjects exclusively to ESE students, and if those teachers have already met the requirements in math, language arts, or science.

Middle Grades (6-8) ESE courses that trigger HQT … – Academics: – Academics: – Academic Skills: – Academic Skills: – Advanced Academics: – Advanced Academics: – Developmental Skills: – Developmental Skills: – Language Arts: – Language Arts: – Reading: – Reading: 6-8

Middle Grades (6-8) ESE courses that trigger HQT (cont…) – Communications: – Communications: – Mathematics: – Mathematics: – Science: – Science: – Social Studies: – Social Studies: – Visual and Performing Arts: – Visual and Performing Arts: – Music: – Music: 6-8

High School (9-12) ESE courses that trigger HQT … – Reading: – Reading: – English: – English: – Communications: – Communications: – Life Skills Reading: – Life Skills Reading: – Math: – Math: – Life Skills Math: – Life Skills Math: 9-12

High School (9-12) ESE courses that trigger HQT (cont…) – Science: – Science: – Social Studies: – Social Studies: – Academic Skills for Functional Living – Academic Skills for Functional Living – Communication Skills for Functional Living – Communication Skills for Functional Living – Cognitive and Linguistic Skills – Cognitive and Linguistic Skills – Visual and Performing Arts – Visual and Performing Arts

ESE Academic Courses Students with disabilities who are participating in the FCAT and are on a standard diploma track should only be enrolled in ESE academic courses when those courses are used to provide remediation, not primary instruction.

Ways To Determine Level of Instruction for Secondary Students IEPs Course descriptions Classroom curriculum Instructional materials used in classroom Case-by-case, class-by-class

New ESE Teachers Secondary (Grades 7-12) Requirement 1 A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution. AND Requirement 2 A valid Florida three-year Temporary or five-year Professional Certificate in an appropriate exceptional student education area(s) to match the ESE table in the Course Code Directory.

AND Requirement 3 Option 1: A passing score on the Florida K-6 or 1-6 subject area exam if appropriate for the level of instruction in the subject matter knowledge being provided. or Option 2: A valid Florida Professional Certificate in elementary education if appropriate for the level of instruction in the subject matter knowledge being provided (requires a Florida SAE or reciprocity from another state). or Option 3: A valid American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) Passport Certificate in Elementary Education if appropriate for the level of instruction in the subject matter knowledge being provided. (A passing SAE or valid ABCTE Certificate also establishes eligibility for certification in elementary education.) or Option 4: Certification appropriate for the middle/secondary core academic subject(s) assigned.

Experienced ESE Teachers (Grades 7-12) Requirement 1 A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution. AND Requirement 2 A valid Florida three-year Temporary or five-year Professional Certificate in an appropriate exceptional student education area(s) to match the ESE table in the Course Code Directory.

AND Requirement 3 Option 1: A passing score on the Florida K-6 or 1-6 subject area exam if appropriate for the level of instruction in the subject matter knowledge being provided. or Option 2: Certification appropriate for the middle/secondary core academic subject(s) assigned. or Option 3: Meet the requirements for a HOUSSE plan appropriate for ESE certified teachers of Core Academic Elementary Education or Core Academic Middle/Secondary Education Courses.

The general education teacher who is certified in the core academic subject area is considered the content expert and must be HQ The special education teacher is the provider of strategies and methods to assist students and is considered highly qualified if they meet the requirements for certification on the ESE table in the Course Code Directory Consultation, Co-teaching, and Support Facilitation

HOUSSE Option Requirements Experienced teacher Total 100 points or more Signed by teacher and district official Copy in personnel file Supporting documentation at district office

Components of HOUSSE Full-time teaching experience in elementary education or the core content areas Successful performance evaluation College credit in the core academic courses Professional development in the core content area Awards/Recognition for core content area Student learning GAINS – Math or English-Language Arts for grades

Florida In-field Designation A revision has been made to Rule 6A , FAC, that adds documentation of meeting requirements for the NCLB highly qualified designation via the HOUSSE plan as a method for being defined as a qualified, infield teacher.

What help is available? Professional Development Opportunities Professional Development Opportunities

Dual Certification Pilot Programs at Universities Two universities developed dual certification pilot programs funded with State Improvement Grant dollars Graduates will be eligible for certification in ESE and a secondary subject area University sites are: UCF and USF-St. Pete

Virtual ESE Distance Learning Program Collaborative effort among universities in Florida Provides graduate courses in special education On-Line delivery system

PDA – ESE Professional Development Alternatives for Exceptional Student Educators (PDA-ESE) is a DOE initiative developed to deliver specialized training for teachers of students with disabilities. PDA-ESE utilizes online modules and local facilitators to provide statewide accessible professional development.

Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum On-Line Study Module This module is designed to assist educators who are preparing to take the certification exam for Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum. There are no facilitators – this is a self-paced study module.

New Elementary Education On-Line Study Module Planned Self-paced study module for elementary K-6 subject area exam being developed. Plan to roll out in fall 2006.

For additional information on PDA-ESE and other MGIC, contact Content questions: Mary Ann Ahearn- or Sue Kupchunas- Phone:

Technical Assistance December 8, 2005, John Winn memo and attachments : Update on Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teachers - December 8, 2005, John Winn memo and attachments : Update on Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teachers - /Get/Document-3409/ese_memo.pdf /Get/Document-3409/ese_memo.pdf /Get/Document-3409/ese_memo.pdf /Get/Document-3409/ese_memo.pdf /Get/Document-3410/ese_att1.pdf /Get/Document-3410/ese_att1.pdf /Get/Document-3410/ese_att1.pdf /Get/Document-3410/ese_att1.pdf /Get/Document-3411/ese_att2.pdf /Get/Document-3411/ese_att2.pdf /Get/Document-3411/ese_att2.pdf /Get/Document-3411/ese_att2.pdf

For Additional Information on ESE HQT, contact Evy Friend, Administrator Evy Friend, Administrator Lezlie Cline, Program Director Lezlie Cline, Program Director Phone: (850) Phone: (850) Fax: (850) Fax: (850) Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services 325 W Gaines St. Suite 601 Turlington Tallahassee, Florida 32399