Highly Qualified Teachers

The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) defines highly qualified teachers. A highly qualified teacher must meet three essential requirements:

1. Hold at least a bachelor's degree.
2. Hold full state certification or a full state license. This includes teachers in alternative routes to teaching.
3. Demonstrate subject matter competence in each of the core academic subjects in which the teacher teaches.

The Indiana definitions for a highly qualified teacher are as follows:

Charter School Teachers

In Indiana, teachers in public charter schools are required to meet the same certification requirements as teachers in other public schools, as described below.

Teachers with Bulletin 400 Licenses

Individuals with an instructional license issued prior September 1, 1985 were required to obtain a Master's degree prior to December 31, 1990. These individuals have full state certification as defined in Sec 200.55(a) and the Master's degree meets the definition of Sec 200.56 (b)(3)(B), as highly qualified teacher.

Teachers with Rules 46-47 Licenses

Individuals with licenses issued after July 1, 1986 are required to pass state licensing tests as described in Sec 200.56(b)(2) prior to the issuance of their first standard license. These individuals are required to engage in professional development consistent with the principles outlined in ESEA section 9101(34) in order to renew the license every five years. These teachers have full state certification as defined in Sec 200.55(a) and meet the definition of highly qualified for all content areas listed on the license.

Teachers New to the Profession, including Transition to Teaching Candidates

All individuals receiving an initial standard license are required to pass rigorous state testing as described in Sec 200.56(b)(2) after completion of the undergraduate or graduate degree in the academic area in which the individual is prepared to teach. It is anticipated that the first licenses under the performance-based preparation rules will be issued in July 2003. This licensing system is aligned with the Indiana academic standards, so that these individuals also meet the definition of highly qualified as described in Sec 200.55(c)(2)(C). Teachers new to the profession holding a standard license meet the definition of highly qualified for content areas appearing on the license.

Teachers holding a Limited License

As a minimum, any teacher who has credentials waived on a temporary basis in Indiana MUST hold an undergraduate degree and have at least 15 undergraduate or graduate hours in the content area for which the limited license is issued. Limited licenses are issued for individuals holding a teaching license who are teaching out of field or individuals with an undergraduate degree, but not in education. These individuals must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward full certification (Sec 200.56(a)(ii)(4)) by completing at least 6 credit hours of coursework annually. Satisfactory progress must be documented by the license advisor at the teacher preparation institution where the candidate is enrolled. Under the new licensing rules, the limited license can be renewed annually for a period not to exceed three years, if the candidate provides documentation of satisfactory progress toward full certification. Individuals with a limited license meet the definition of highly qualified teacher.

Driver and Traffic Safety Education

At their meeting of March 19, 2003, the Board approved the addition of Driver and Traffic Safety Education to the Licensure Framework. The Standards Committee will determine the next steps in the development of standards for this new licensing area. The driver education section of the Licensure Framework will read as follows:

DRIVER AND TRAFFIC SAFETY EDUCATION

Content: Based on the content Standards for Teachers of Driver and Traffic Safety Education, to be developed in 2003, the license will state the following:

Driver and Traffic Safety Education

Comment: This license will be available with a high school setting.

The updated Licensure Framework should be on the website next week.

Assignment Code

The Assignment Code aligns the course titles and codes from the Department of Education with the licensing frameworks from the Professional Standards Board. At the March 19 meeting, the IPSB approved the 2003 Assignment Code. This edition of the code includes the Rules 2002 licensing framework. The updated Assignment Code should be on the website next week.

School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA)

Beginning February 1, 2003, the School Leaders Licensure Assessment became a requirement for administrative licensing in Indiana. Who has to take the SLLA?

The following people WILL NEED TO TAKE the SLLA:

• As of February 1, 2003, any individual who has never held an administrative license in Indiana or any other state and is applying for an initial (the first) Indiana administrative license. This initial license could be elementary or secondary administration, superintendent, or directors license.
• An individual will be required to take the SLLA only once for licensing.

The following people WILL NOT need to take the SLLA:

• As of February 1, 2003, any individual who holds any valid Indiana administrative license and is adding another administrative area. This could be a person who holds a valid elementary administration license and is getting a superintendent's license, etc.
• Any individual who holds a valid out-of-state administrative license and has three years of experience in the licensing area and is applying for an original Indiana administrative license.
• Any individual who is renewing a currently valid administrative license.
• Any individual who is renewing an expired Indiana administrative license issued prior to February 1, 2003.

We know that some institutions require the SLLA for program completion regardless of the licenses already held or the additional area for the administrative license. That is the prerogative of the program. When we get calls, we tell people what is required for licensing and that they may be required by their institution to take the SLLA for program completion.

Did you know? A Nation at Risk was published 20 years ago this month. See the April 2003 issue of Phi Delta Kappan for Gerald Bracey's reflection on this anniversary.