No Child Left Behind

Human Resources

In January 2002, the Federal reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), commonly referred to as NCLB, became effective. This law requires all teachers to have certain professional qualifications by the end of the 2005-2006 school year in order to be considered “highly qualified”, or No Child Left Behind compliant.

 

Which Teachers Need To Meet The Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements?

K-12 teachers of Core Subjects

English, Reading , Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Language, Civics, Government, Economics, Arts, History, Geography

As an applicant for employment with Alameda Unified District, you must meet the following requirements:

Two Categories of Teachers

1. Elementary - This includes all schools with the typical self contained classroom configuration. Therefore, teachers at all of our K-5 schools or Paden are included in this group.
2. Secondary - This includes all Middle and High School Teachers, who must become highly qualified in each subject they teach.

 

Three Basic Requirements for NCLB Compliance

1. A bachelor’s degree
2. The appropriate state credential for the grade span you teach
3. Demonstrated core academic subject matter competence

We know that most teachers already meet requirements number 1 and 2 above. Requirement number 3 is to be met differently for “New” and “Not New” teachers. Please read the chart below to see if you are a “New” or “Not New” teacher.

 

“New” and “Not New” Teachers

NCLB recognizes two classifications of teachers “new” and “not new”:

• “New” is defined as “new to the profession”, a teacher who holds a credential or an intern credential/certificate issued on or after July 1, 2002.
• “Not New” is defined as a teacher who holds a credential or intern credential/certificate issued on or before June 30, 2002.
• Interns qualify only if they have been in the intern program less than three years.

 

“New” Teachers

• Elementary - Pass a multiple subjects exam approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (NTE, MSAT or CSET)
• Secondary - Pass a single subject matter examination approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in each core area taught (SSAT and PRAXIS or CSET)
• OR… Coursework · CCTC approved subject matter program · Major · Major equivalent (32 semester hours) · Graduate degree

 

Elementary “Not New” Teachers

• Pass a multiple subjects exam approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
• OR… Complete California ’s High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE)

 

Secondary “Not New” Teachers

Pass a single subject matter exam approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in each core area taught (SSAT and PRAXIS or CSET)

• OR… Coursework in each core area taught:
  • CCTC approved subject matter program
  • Major
  • Major equivalent (32 semester hours)
  • Graduate degree

• OR… National Board Certification in the core area taught
• OR… Complete California ’s High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE)

 

If you do not meet the following requirements, you will need to qualify under the Highly Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE). Enclosed with this letter is a copy of Part I of the California HOUSSE. Please notice that teachers need to earn 100 points on the HOUSSE in each core subject area taught. Elementary teachers will need to complete one HOUSSE form, and Secondary teachers will need to complete one HOUSSE form for each core subject area taught.

We are providing you with the NCLB Teacher Requirements: Certificate of Compliance form and the HOUSSE form (if applicable) to be filled out in full, to be submitted with your employment application. As indicated on each form, please be sure to check all appropriate boxes, answer all questions, provide all documentation and back-up evidence (credential, BA degree, Masters degree, transcripts, certificates, verification letters, etc).