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Office of Higher Education
Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Education - P-16 for the Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education and Office of Higher Education
Joseph Frey, Associate Commissioner, Office of Higher Education

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No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 (NCLB)

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NCLB NYS
Field Memo
#01-2002

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Introduction
  3. Which teachers must meet the NCLB " requirement to be "highly qualified?"
  4. Which teachers are not "highly qualified" according to the NCLB?
  5. Which teachers are "highly qualified?"
  6. Which teachers must be "highly qualified" in special circumstances?
  7. Which paraprofessionals must meet the NCLB " requirements?
  8. What are the NCLB " requirements for paraprofessionals?
  9. What is the NCLB's accountability system for teachers and paraprofessionals?
  10. What are the NCLB's requirements for teachers and paraprofessionals in charter schools and nonpublic schools?
  11. What are the NCLB's requirements for notifying parents about teacher and paraprofessional qualifications?
  12. Which Web sites contain information about federal and New York State requirements for teachers and paraprofessionals?

  13. Attachment 1 - NYSTCE Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills Test Framework, October 2002 Preliminary Draft
For More Information: nclbnys@mail.nysed.gov

 

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Introduction


NCLB Requirements for Teachers and Paraprofessionals in New York State October 25, 2002


This document represents the New York State Education Department's interpretation of those provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that relate to the qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals, and is based upon guidance received to date from the United States Department of Education (USDOE) and upon proposed federal regulations. This document is subject to change in response to final USDOE regulations and guidance. Reference should be made to the NCLB for a complete understanding of the requirements of that Act. The NCLB, also known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, can be found at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA02/.

Introduction Some public school teachers in New York State must meet two standards.

  1. All public school teachers must be "certified" by the State. Certification standards are established by the Commissioner of Education and approved by the New York State Board of Regents. Information about the State's certification standards for teachers in the Commissioner's regulations can be found at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/part80.htm.

  2. A certified public school teacher who teaches a core academic subject must also be "highly qualified," as defined by the NCLB, by the deadlines in that law. The NCLB sets standards for being "highly qualified." A teacher who is certified by the State is not necessarily "highly qualified" as that term is defined by the NCLB.

Similarly, some paraprofessionals (also called supplementary school personnel) providing instructional support services in New York State must meet two standards.

  1. All paraprofessionals providing instructional support services must meet the State's certification standards for "teaching assistants." Information about these standards, in Section 80.5-6 of the Commissioner's regulations regarding supplementary support personnel, can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/part80.htm#5.6.

  2. Those who work in schools or programs funded by NCLB Title I funds must also meet the federal NCLB standards.
Items A through J of this guidance provide further information about the NCLB's requirements.

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http://www.highered.nysed.gov/nclb-intro.html