NCLB Highly-Qualified Teachers

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a federal law that requires states to increase their standards of student academic achievement. The state has defined Highly Qualified Teacher Objectives for teachers and paraprofessionals who work in the classroom with students in the core academic areas of English, Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Civics and Government, Economics, Arts, History, and Geography. The goal and intent of the district is to employ highly qualified teachers and staff to provide the best education for our students. The district has met and maintained the state standards for the Highly Qualified Teacher Objectives 100% since the 2007 – 2008 school year .

Links to the annual reports for Tomball ISD for Highly Qualified Teacher status are listed below.

TERMS TO KNOW

Highly Qualified Teachers
To be deemed highly qualified, teachers must have: 1) a bachelor’s degree, 2) full state certification or licensure, and 3) prove that they know each subject they teach.

State Requirements
NCLB requires states to 1) measure the extent to which all students have highly qualified teachers, particularly minority and disadvantaged students, 2) adopt goals and plans to ensure all teachers are highly qualified and, 3) publicly report plans and progress in meeting teacher quality goals.

Demonstration of Competency
Teachers (in middle and high school) must prove that they know the subject they teach with: 1) a major in the subject they teach, 2) credits equivalent to a major in the subject, 3) passage of a state-developed test, 4) HOUSSE (for current teachers only, see below), 5) an advanced certification from the state, or 6) a graduate degree.

High, Objective, Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE)
NCLB allows states to develop an additional way for current teachers to demonstrate subject-matter competency and meet highly qualified teacher requirements. Proof may consist of a combination of teaching experience, professional development, and knowledge in the subject garnered over time in the profession.