Paper Number K-12: 2006-43

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March 2006

Technical Assistance Paper NCLB Highly Qualified Teachers

Teachers of Courses in History, Economics, Geography, and Civics/Government

(Political Science)

NCLB does not identify social studies as a core academic area but rather identifies four specific

social science areas: history, economics, geography, and civics/government. The latest USDE

guidance document now requires teachers who have composite social science certification to be

deemed highly qualified in the specific social science area(s) they are teaching. This new

information was confirmed in a Title II monitoring report for Florida in which Florida was cited for

failure to appropriately implement the highly qualified requirements for social science teachers.

Effective July 1, 2003, certification in the separate areas of social science for grades 6-12 is no

longer offered in Florida. Social Science 6-12, Middle Grades Social Science 5-9, or Middle

Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9 are the comprehensive social science certification subject areas

which are appropriate for teaching the social science areas respective of the course and grade

level as shown in the sections of the

Course Code Directory

for grades 6-12. The comprehensive

Social Science 6-12, Middle Grades Social Science 5-9, and the Integrated Middle Grades

Curriculum 5-9 certification areas are not new and have been available for several years. The

separate areas of social science certification previously issued will continue to be shown on valid

Florida educator certificates as long as the certificates are maintained. Therefore in Florida, some

teachers will have certification in one or more of the separate social science areas and/or in the

comprehensive social science 6-12 or 5-9 certification areas. Please see the information for the

categories of social science teachers as follows:

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Teachers with Valid Certificates in a Separate Social Science Area:

Teachers who hold a valid certificate in one or more of the separate 6-12 social science areas

are deemed highly qualified for teaching courses in that specific social science area(s).

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Teachers with Valid Certificates in Social Science 6-12, Middle Grades Social Science 5-

9, or Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9:

The subject area examinations (SAE) for the Social Science 6-12, Middle Grades Social

Science 5-9, and Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9 subject areas are comprehensive

tests that include demonstration of competence in the areas of history, economics, geography,

and political science (civics and government). Thus, anyone who has passed the appropriate

Social Science 6-12, Middle Grades Social Science 5-9, and Middle Grades Integrated

Curriculum 5-9 subject area examination for the courses taught in combination with a valid

appropriate social science Temporary or Professional Certificate has demonstrated subject

competence for highly qualified status for the four separate social science areas identified in

NCLB.

For teachers who have not passed the appropriate level comprehensive Social Science SAE,

including many veteran “not-new” teachers, it will be necessary to document a passing SAE

score on the appropriate Social Science 6-12, Middle Grades Social Science 5-9, or Middle

Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9 exam

or

complete a HOUSSE plan for each of the separate

social science subject areas taught for either history, economics, geography, and/or

civics/government (political science).