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
R
OBERTO MARTÍNEZ
P
HOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
Contact Person
:
L
INDA K. TAYLOR
Beverly Gregory
850/245-0431
MEMORANDUM
beverly.gregory@fldoe.org
K12: 2006-43
TO:
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School District Superintendents
School District Certification Contacts
FROM:
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Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.
DATE:
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March 23, 2006
SUBJECT:
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Update on Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements of No Child Left Behind
This memorandum is sent in support of Strategic Imperative One, that each Florida classroom is
staffed by a highly effective teacher. The purpose is to clarify Florida’s plan for teachers to meet
the highly qualified requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and to advise you of
changes in requirements provided in a Florida Title II monitoring visit report issued by the USDE.
There are a few changes that impact the earlier technical assistance information issued by the
Florida Department of Education relating to highly qualified teachers (HQT). In addition to a
revised middle/secondary HQT chart showing new social science HQT requirements, a revised
HQT chart for regular elementary teachers that includes an American Board for Certification of
Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
certificate as an option for some teachers to meet the HQT subject testing requirement are
included. The latest guidance document issued by the USDE relating to highly qualified teacher
requirements that supersedes all prior guidance is available at
http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherqual/guidance.pdf.
Please see the attached technical assistance pages for more detailed information related to the
highly qualified requirements of NCLB. These changes will require a passing score on the
appropriate social science subject area exam or a HOUSSE plan(s) for the specific social science
content area of the course(s) either history, economics, geography, or civics/ government (political
science) rather than a HOUSSE plan for comprehensive social science. If you have questions
regarding this memorandum or the technical assistance information, you may contact Beverly
Gregory.
CPY/b
CHERI PIERSON YECKE, PH. D.
CHANCELLOR K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org