FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
SALLY BRADSHAW
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
CONTACT PERSONS
Name:
Michael Lisle
Evy Friend
Phone:
(850) 245-0481
(850) 245-0478
Suncom:
205-0481
205-0478
Email:
Michael.Lisle@fldoe.org
Evy.Friend@fldoe.org
DPS:
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04-027
MEMORANDUM
To:
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District School Superintendents
From:
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Jim Warford
Date:
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September 5, 2003
Subject:
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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPER—HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS UNDER NO CHILD
LEFT BEHIND
Public Law 107-110, the
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
(NCLB), creates new
requirements and timelines designed to ensure that all public elementary, middle, and
secondary teachers of core academic subjects meet the federal definition of a “highly
qualified” teacher no later than June 30, 2006. This emphasis on the qualifications of
personnel is consistent with the intent of NCLB that all students meet the state’s proficiency
level in reading and mathematics—defined in Florida as scoring at Level 3 or above on the
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test—by 2013-2014.
JIM WARFORD
K – 12 Chancellor
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
September 5, 2003
Page Two
The attached technical assistance paper is designed to address how the highly qualified
teacher requirements will be implemented in special programs such as exceptional student
education, dropout prevention, teenage parent, juvenile justice education, and preschool
programs. The paper identifies the requirements for both highly qualified teachers and
paraprofessionals, provides guidance in the implementation of these requirements, and
describes how teachers can become highly qualified.
One of the most critical timelines established in the law relates to the teacher’s date of hire.
Under NCLB, teachers are categorized as either “not new” (hired on or before the first day
of the 2002-2003 school year) or “new” (hired after the first day of the 2002-2003 school
year). Teachers categorized as “new” must meet the highly qualified requirements at the
time of hire, while teachers considered “not new” must meet the highly qualified
requirements by June 30, 2006. In addition, it is important that districts distinguish between
the “highly qualified” federal designation under NCLB and the state designation of a teacher
as “in field” or “out of field” based on the
Florida Course Code Directory and Instructional
Personnel Assignments
(CCD). A teacher may be considered “in field” based on the
qualifications included in the CCD without meeting the requirements to be designated as
highly qualified under NCLB.
The Department of Education is developing additional resources to assist schools and
districts regarding the implementation of this section of the Act. If you need additional
information regarding the programs addressed in this technical assistance paper, please
contact Evy Friend at (850) 245-0478 (email Evy.Friend@fldoe.org) or Michael Lisle at
(850) 245-0481 (email Michael.Lisle@fldoe.org). For additional information regarding
teacher certification, please contact the Bureau of Teacher Certification at (800) 445-6739.
JW/mlf
Attachment
cc:
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Assistant Superintendents for Curriculum and Instruction
Personnel Directors
Staff Development Coordinators
Dropout Prevention Coordinators
Exceptional Student Education Directors
Early Childhood Education Contacts
Elementary Education Coordinators
Secondary Education Coordinators
Principals
Juvenile Justice Contacts
Jane McElroy
Charles Chervanik
Chuck Sanders
Mark Fontaine
