FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Contact Person
November 28, 2005
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Name: Pam Stewart
Phone: 850/245-0509
Suncom: 205-0509
Email:
pamela.stewart@fldoe.org
MEMORANDUM
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K12: 2005-162
TO:
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District School Superintendents
FROM:
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John L. Winn
SUBJECT:
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Criteria for a One-Year Extension for Highly Qualified Teachers in No Child Left
Behind
This memorandum is sent to share with you information from the U.S. Department of Education
(USDOE) relating to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and specifically Highly Qualified Teachers
(HQTs). As you know, NCLB requires that all teachers of core academic subject areas be highly
qualified by June 30, 2006. We in Florida have been making progress toward our goal of
ensuring that all students are taught by a “highly qualified teacher.” The USDOE recognizes that
there is still work to be done in achieving that goal, yet the question that remains is what will
happen if districts cannot meet this requirement in every class. We have recently received
communication regarding this issue.
The USDOE mandates that only those teachers who have met the highly qualified requirements
be allowed to teach core academic subjects. However, USDOE has recently provided flexibility
to those states making legitimate efforts to meet the HQT requirements of NCLB. This recent
guidance outlines what is necessary for a one-year extension through June 30, 2007, to avoid
losing federal funds. It is vital that the following four conditions be met at the district and state
levels in order to ensure that Florida does not lose federal funds awarded to the state for not
meeting NCLB requirements:
The first condition the state must meet is to have a definition of a “highly qualified teacher” that
is consistent with the federal law. Florida has met this requirement in every area except with
regard to some of our ESE elementary teachers. In order to meet the highly qualified
requirements at the elementary level, ESE teachers who are the teacher of record for elementary
qualified requirements for regular elementary
teachers in addition to the appropriate certification in ESE to match the ESE table in the Course
Code Directory. Additional guidance for compliance in this area will be forthcoming.
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
Memorandum
November 28, 2005
Page Two
The second condition requires that the state and districts provide parents and the public with
accurate, complete reports on the number and percentage of core academic classes taught by
HQTs. Public reports that include data on classes taught (and/or not taught) by highly qualified
teachers are affected by the first condition noted above. The USDOE is very specific as to the
requirement regarding reporting to the public and to parents in those schools receiving Title I
funds. In order to avoid loss of federal funds, it is imperative that districts accurately comply
with this portion of NCLB. Please complete the attached form and return to Deputy Chancellor
Pam Stewart by December 19, 2005.
The third condition under this recent guidance is that the state must accurately report the HQT
data to the USDOE. In order for the state to accurately report the HQT data to the USDOE, the
school districts must first accurately report the data to the Florida Department of Education
(FLDOE). Therefore, it is crucial for districts to ensure that all data are reported completely and
correctly. To ensure that Florida’s HQT data for 2004-05 conforms to federal requirements, the
FLDOE has created a special file for each school district to download. This file contains all
Teacher Course records from the 2004-05 Survey 3 for core academic courses in which the
Primary Instructor Indicator is coded “Y” for “Yes.” Appropriate district personnel are to review
the HQT data in the special file and submit corrections to the FLDOE by December 19, 2005.
Procedures for reviewing and correcting the data are included in the attachment entitled
“Procedures for Downloading, Reviewing, and Updating HQT Data Submitted for Survey 3,
2004-05.” In reviewing these data, please review data for all schools including charter schools,
Department of Juvenile Justice programs, and Exceptional Student Education specialized
schools.
The fourth condition requires that the districts take action to make certain that there is not a
higher percentage of unqualified teachers teaching poor and minority students than are teaching
other students. A district must be sure that this disparity does not exist in its schools. Attached
you will find the percentage of classes not taught by HQTs at high poverty schools and at low
poverty schools by district, according to currently available HQT data. These data will be
revised pending your resubmission of the updated files by December 19, 2005.
In order to be eligible for the flexibility being offered by the USDOE, all four conditions must be
met. It is now evident that if a state does not meet the conditions set by the USDOE its federal
funds are at risk of being withheld.
We will not receive information from USDOE regarding an extension until the Spring of 2006.
While it is necessary to ensure that Florida is doing everything it can to meet these requirements,
it is equally important to make appropriate personnel decisions which lead to improved student
achievement. As stated in my memo dated October 21, 2005, please continue to encourage
teachers who are currently enrolled in our rigorous programs for highly qualified status to
continue on that path. Again, thank you for all you do for the children and educators of Florida.
JLW/psl
Attachments
