Who can answer specific questions about credential requirements or about subject matter exams?
How does a Local Educational Agency (LEA) determine NCLB compliance for Middle School Teachers?
Do the NCLB teacher requirements apply to Nonpublic Schools (NPS) that receive funds through a contract for education services identified on an Individualized Education Program for students with disabilities?
YES. Passage of Assembly Bill 1858 changed California Education Code 56366.l(n)(1) to require non public school staff to hold the same credentials equivalent to what is required by public school teachers.
If a “not new” elementary multiple subject credentialed teacher has not taken a subject matter exam, but has completed a liberal studies waiver program or liberal studies major or other course work pattern that led to a multiple subject or elementary credential, can the teacher be awarded 50 points on the High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE) for course work (Part 1A)?
YES. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) issues a multiple subject credential based either on examination or course work. If the credential was issued based on examination, there is no need to complete the HOUSSE process, since the examination verifies subject matter competence for NCLB. If the credential was issued based on course work, the credential itself is documentation of the course work, since CCTC would not issue the credential unless the course work (or examination) had already been verified. This is true even with older elementary credentials, such as the standard elementary or the general elementary. This course work, which is usually based on an average of 72-84 units in the core academic subject areas or 18 semester units each in English, mathematics, science and social science, is given a value of 50 points on the HOUSSE.
Do special education teachers have to meet the NCLB requirements? What is a highly qualified special education teacher?
The recent reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), December 2004, changes some of the options for special education teachers. It does require that special education teachers who teach core academic subjects meet the NCLB requirements. All special education teachers must have a special education credential. Approved on November 15, 2005, Title 5 regulations say that a “new” special education teacher who teaches multiple subjects at the middle or high school level and is already “highly qualified” in language arts, mathematics, or science can use the HOUSSE option for the other subjects assigned and has from two years of date of hire to complete that verification process. We do not yet have proposed regulations on other provisions for “highly qualified” special education teachers.
Who can answer specific questions about credential requirements or about subject matter exams?
If the question is not about NCLB per se, it should be referred to the CCTC. The CDE staff can only respond to questions related to the NCLB requirements and will refer other questions to the CCTC. E-mails can be sent to credentials@ctc.ca.gov. Information regarding the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET), Multiple Subject Assessment for Teachers (MSAT), or other subject matter examinations can be found on the CCTC Web site at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/.
How does a local educational agency (LEA) determine NCLB compliance for middle school teachers?
According to the flexibility in Title 5 regulations (Section 6100), the LEA shall determine, based on curriculum taught, by each grade or by each course, if appropriate, whether a course is elementary, middle, or secondary. The designation of "elementary" or "middle/secondary" is only for the purposes of addressing the NCLB teacher requirements. However, the designation is based on the curriculum, not the credential of the current teacher(s) assigned to the course or grade level. Also, the California credentialing options for middle schools that were in effect prior to NCLB continue to be available to LEAs, so both the single subject and the multiple subject credential could be the appropriate certification. If a “new” middle school teacher is teaching core academic courses designated as “elementary,” the only option for meeting the NCLB requirements is the subject matter exam (currently, CSET: Multiple Subject). A “not new” middle school teacher teaching core academic courses designated as elementary has two options—the CSET: Multiple Subject exam or the HOUSSE. If a “new” middle school teacher is teaching core academic courses designated as middle/secondary, the options for verifying NCLB compliance are the same as for other secondary teachers, which include CSET single subject exams or course work in each of the subject areas. “Not new” middle school teachers teaching core academic courses designated as middle/secondary have the exam and course work options and can also use the HOUSSE process for each of the subject areas.
