No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)

What are the extended deadlines for teachers of multiple core academic subjects who are employed by an "eligible rural LEA?"

The following extended deadlines apply to teachers of multiple core academic subjects employed by an "eligible rural LEA" that has submitted an acceptable Notice of Intent.

• Teachers of multiple core academic subjects hired on or before March 31, 2004 who are "highly qualified" for at least one core academic subject they teach have until the end of school year 2006-2007 to become "highly qualified" in every core academic subject they teach. This is one year later than the regular deadline, which occurs at the end of school year 2005-2006. Definitions of "highly qualified" are in Part C of NCLB NYS Field Memo #09-2003.
   
• Teachers of multiple core academic subjects hired after March 31, 2004 who are "highly qualified" for at least one core academic subject they teach have three years from their date of hire to become "highly qualified" in every core academic subject they teach. This extended deadline enables newly hired teachers who are new to the profession to use the high objective uniform State standard of evaluation (HOUSSE) to demonstrate their subject matter competency, as needed, after their first year of certification. The HOUSSE is explained in NCLB NYS Field Memo #05-2003 (revised).

Do the extended deadlines change other NCLB requirements for teachers?

Only one change occurs. "Eligible rural LEAs" using the extended deadlines will no longer be expected to have 100 percent of their classes in core academic subjects taught by "highly qualified" teachers by the regular deadline at the end of school year 2005-2006 in order to meet their NCLB Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) for teacher quality.

All other NCLB requirements remain the same.

• COMMON BRANCH SUBJECTS AT THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL OF GRADES K THROUGH 6. Teachers with assignments to teach common branch subjects at the instructional level of grades K through 6 should continue to meet the definition of "highly qualified" for "elementary" teachers. They are not considered teachers of multiple core academic subjects when they teach multiple common branch subjects at these grade levels.
   
• ACADEMIC SUBJECTS AT THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL OF GRADES 7 THROUGH 12 AND SPECIAL SUBJECTS AT THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL OF GRADES K THROUGH 12. Teachers with assignments to teach academic subjects at the instructional level of grades 7 through 12 or special subjects at the instructional level of grades K through 12 must continue to meet the "middle/secondary" definition of "highly qualified."
   
• HOUSSE. For teachers of multiple core academic subjects at the instructional level of grades 7 through 12 who use the HOUSSE rubric in Appendix D, Part 2 of NCLB NYS Field Memo #05-2003 (as revised in January 2004) to demonstrate subject matter competency in each core academic subject they teach, a single HOUSSE evaluation process that uses a separate form for each core academic subject is still permitted.
   
• PARENTAL NOTIFICATION. "Eligible rural LEAs" using the extended deadlines must continue to provide parental notification when teachers of multiple core academic subjects are not yet "highly qualified" in one or more of the core academic subjects they teach.
   
• ATTESTATIONS. In their annual "attestations" concerning their teachers’ qualifications, these LEAs must indicate that fewer than 100 percent of their teachers are "highly qualified" for each core academic subject they teach until all of their teachers of multiple core academic subjects are actually "highly qualified" for all such subjects they teach.
   
• REPORTS. In submitting their BEDS Personnel Data Forms for Teachers, these LEAs must continue to submit reports showing that their teachers using the extended deadlines are not yet "highly qualified" for one or more of the core academic subjects they teach until such teachers are actually "highly qualified" in each core academic subject they teach.

For more information about the requirements described in this item, please refer to NCLB NYS Field Memos #05-2003 (as revised) and #09-2003.