Highly Qualified Teacher Information for Pennsylvanias Teachers

1

• Highly Qualified Teacher Information for
  Pennsylvanias Teachers

Edward G. Rendell Gerald L.
Zahorchak, D.Ed. Governor
Secretary
2
No Child Left Behind in the Commonwealth

• NCLBs Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements
• All public school teachers with primary
  responsibility for direct instruction in one or
  more of NCLBs core academic subjects are
  required to demonstrate that they satisfy the
  definition of a Highly Qualified Teacher. This
  requirement includes
• Elementary level teachers who teach all subjects
  to a particular grade
• Middle- and secondary-level core academic subject
  instructors
• Special education teachers who provide direct
  instruction in one or more core academic
  subjects
• English as a second language (ESL) teachers who
  provide direct instruction in one or more core
  academic subjects and
• Alternative education teachers who provide direct
  instruction in one or more core academic
  subjects.

3
NCLB Federal Definition of Core Academic Subjects
4
Pennsylvanias Definition of Highly Qualified

• To satisfy the definition of a Highly Qualified
  Teacher, teachers must
• Hold at least a bachelors degree
• Hold a valid Pennsylvania teaching certificate
  (i.e., Instructional I, Instructional II or
  Intern certificate but not an emergency permit)
  and
• Demonstrate subject matter competency for the
  core academic subjects they teach.

5
NCLBs HQT Formula

• BACHELORS DEGREE
• VALID TEACHING CERTIFICATE
• DEMONSTRATED SUBJECT MATTER COMPETENCY
• -----------------------------------------------
• Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT)

6
The Tricky Part Demonstration of Subject Matter
Competency

• Demonstrate subject matter competency for the
  core academic subjects they teach.
• In PA, subject area competency is traditionally
  demonstrated through the successful completion of
  the appropriate Praxis exams.
• Thus, the FASTEST way to achieve HQT status is
  to TAKE THE TEST!

7
In Pennsylvania, who is HQT?

• ALL Elementary Certified Teachers who received
  Instructional certification and who currently
  teach ELEMENTARY students (see Note for State
  HOUSSE plan that enables EL ED teachers certified
  PRIOR to 1988 to be HQT)
• ALL Middle Secondary Core Content Teachers who
  currently teach IN THEIR CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT
  and instruct students in GRADES 7-12
• ALL ESL teachers who hold an Instructional I in
  the CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT they are instructing
  and who teach ESL populations

8
In Pennsylvania, who is HQT?, cont.

• 4. ALL ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION teachers who hold
  an Instructional I in the CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT
  they are instructing and who teach ALT ED
  populations
• 5. ALL Special Education Certified Teachers who
  are teaching ELEMENTARY LEVEL Special Education
  Students or students taking an Alternative
  Assessment and who took and passed the Praxis
  Fundamental Subjects or its predecessor (thus
  proving subject matter competency)

9
If you are in one of these five categories

• CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE Highly Qualified under
  the standards set forth by the United States
  Department of Education and the Pennsylvania
  Department of Education.
• If you have further questions, please consult
  your school districts Human Resource office.

10
If you are NOT Highly Qualified

• There are three basic ways to demonstrate
  subject matter competency
• Pass the Praxis! (ALL teachers)
• Complete a graduate degree or subject area major
  (Middle and Secondary teachers)
• National Board for Professional Teaching
  Standards Certification (NOT New to the
  Profession, 3 years experience)

11
If you are NOT Highly Qualified

• There are two additional ways to achieve HQT
  designation
• The Bridge (now closed for new participants)
• The HOUSSE

12
The Bridge Program for

• The Bridge is now closed for new participants.
• Unless you are ALREADY on the Bridge, you may
  not use the PA Bridge to pursue HQT Designation.
  The Bridge closed in July, 2006.
• If already on the bridge, you must be making
  progress. You have three years from the time you
  started the Bridge program to complete the
  program, and achieve Instructional I
  certification.

13
The HOUSSE What is it?

• Much like building a real house, the
  Pennsylvania Highly Objective Uniform State
  Standard of Evaluation, or HOUSSE, is a program
  through which core content teachers who do NOT
  have the appropriate Instructional Certificate in
  the CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT they teach can build
  points towards HQT Designation.
• THIS IS NOT A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, RATHER AN
  HQT DESIGNATION.

14
HOUSSE Core Academic Subjects

• Pennsylvania is now able to offer the new HOUSSE
  program (a High Objective Uniform State Standard
  of Evaluation) for those teachers who still need
  to meet Highly Qualified requirements for the
  core academic subject in which they instruct.
  The core academic subject areas, taught at the
  elementary, middle, or secondary level are
• English
• Mathematics
• Reading/ Language Arts
• Science
• Foreign Languages
• Arts (Art and Music)
• Social Studies (Economics, History
  Civics/Government and Geography

15
HOUSSE 100 Point System

• Under Pennsylvanias Highly Qualified Teacher
  (HQT) HOUSSE program, experienced Pennsylvania
  teachers may demonstrate subject matter
  competency through the documentation of a total
  of 100 points.
• See Note for Flexibility under IDEA for NEW
  Special Education Teachers

16
Teachers obtain 100 points by documenting
achievements in the following areas

• Years of satisfactory teaching experience in the
  core academic subject (5 points per year, minimum
  of 5 points required, maximum of 45 points)
• College and graduate coursework in the core
  academic subject, verified by a transcript from a
  regionally accredited college/university with
  each course passed at a 2.0 level or above (5
  points for every 1 semester credit in core
  academic subject, maximum of 95 points)
• Professional education courses in core academic
  subject and/or in related teaching and curriculum
  instruction or assessment courses related to the
  core academic subject (5 points for every 30
  professional development hours)
• Advanced degree in teaching, curriculum
  instruction or assessment related to the core
  academic subject (25 points)
• Academic scholarship and awards related to core
  academic subject, examples include teacher
  awards, authored journal articles or textbooks,
  instructor of college course. (5 to 50 points)
• Pennsylvania Instructional II, Special Education
  Certificate (25 points).

17
College and Graduate Coursework in the Core
Academic Subject Area

• Note Courses for credit MUST be directly
  related to the core content subject area, and
  they MUST be CONTENT focused, as opposed to
  PEDAGOGICALLY focused.

18
Examples of College and Graduate Coursework in
the Core Academic Subject Area

• Math
• Calculus
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Elements of Math 1 and 2
• Finite Math
• Intro. to Modern Math 1 and 2
• Probability and Statistics
• Survey of College Math 1 and 2

• Science
• Anatomy
• Astronomy
• Biology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Earth Science
• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Evolution
• Geology
• Meteorology
• Oceanography
• Physical Science
• Physics
• Zoology

• Social Studies
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• Government
• Political Science

19
Examples of College and Graduate Coursework in
the Core Academic Subject Area

• Arts
• Printmaking
• Two-dimensional Design
• Non-Western Art History
• Life Drawing
• Music
• Music Technology
• Form and Analysis
• Arranging
• Conducting

• English/ Language Arts
• Adolescent Literature
• English 1 and 2
• Literature by Minorities in America
• Literature electives
• Nature and History of Language
• Non-Western Literature
• Poetry
• Oral Communication (Speech)
• Survey of American Literature
• Survey of British Literature
• Traditional or modern grammar
• Written Composition

20
HQT Status Designation

• HQT status is designated immediately upon
  verification of the 100-point documentation by
  the teachers school district superintendent.
• The Chief School Officer, her/his designee, or
  the LEA Human Resources office can assist in
  answering questions and providing guidance.

21
HOW TO BEGIN THE HOUSSE PROCESS

• Teachers submit their applications and
  appropriate documentation to the chief school
  officer (or designee) or human resources office
  immediately.
• School district staff designee will work with
  teachers to complete the application form and
  review the teachers current assignment(s),
  certificate status, existing transcripted
  academic course content, professional development
  experiences, etc. An application is needed for
  each subject area one is teaching, other than
  elementary.
• NOTE Elementary teachers must submit one
  application for all core content while
  middle/secondary must submit one for each
  assignment area.

22
HOW TO BEGIN THE HOUSSE PROCESS, cont.

• If the required 100 points is achieved, the
  teacher is eligible to receive the HOUSSE HQT
  designation through use of the PDE website at
  www.teaching.state.pa.us.
• Teachers become Highly Qualified at the time the
  application is accepted and verified by the
  district/IU and logged into the Departments
  HOUSSE database. A central listing of HOUSSE
  Highly Qualified Teachers will be maintained.
• Note No certificate action is involved in this
  process. Consult your Teacher Education Record on
  the Teacher Certification System (TCS) of the PDE
  website for verification of HQT Designation.

23
HQT Individualized Professional Development Plan
(IPDP)

• Any teacher who is not Highly Qualified and has
  not demonstrated subject matter competency by
  June 30, 2007 (e.g., has not accumulated 100
  points in HOUSSE), must develop, in consultation
  with his/her school district, an Individualized
  Professional Development Plan (IPDP) to attain
  Highly Qualified Teacher status by December 31,
  2008.

24
HQT Individualized Professional Development Plan

• The teacher and the district must create the
  HQT Individualized Professional Development Plan
  (IPDP) before June 30, 2007.
• The teacher must complete the HQT Individualized
  Professional Development Plan (IPDP) on or before
  December 31, 2008.

25
HQT and IPDP

• Teachers who are neither Highly Qualified nor
  engaged in an Individual Professional Development
  Plan should not be assigned as the primary
  instructor of any core content area class.

26
Potential Challenges Assignments of Concern

• Special Education (particularly on the Secondary
  level)
• ESL (all levels due to demonstration of subject
  matter competency)
• Alternative Education (all levels due to
  demonstration of subject matter competency)
• Elementary Education certified teachers teaching
  Middle Secondary core content areas (This is
  NOT permitted in PA and is a violation of both PA
  and HQT requirements).
• Charter Schools

27
Highly Qualified Teachers
28

• For more information on No Child Left Behinds
  Highly Qualified Teacher initiative, please
  contact
• Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Bureau of Teacher Certification Preparation
• Virginia Montgomery, Bureau Director
• 333 Market Street
• Harrisburg, PA  17126-0333
• CALL CENTER HOURS M-F, 830 a.m.- 430 p.m.
• Telephone  [phone]