ATA Banner

The No Child Left Behind Act mandates that by the end of the 2005–2006 school year, teachers teaching core academic subjects must be considered highly qualified in the areas of their teaching assignment. As a result, specific federal and state requirements must be met.

What is Illinois HOUSSE?

FAQs

ECS - Educator Certification System

Quick Links

AHSD25 Website

IEA Region 64 Website

IEA Website

NEA Website

IEA Benefits

NEA Benefits

NEA Click & Save

 

The following are excerpts taken from the
Illinois Register - State Board of Education -
Notice of Adoption Amendments
January 2006

Criteria for Identification of Teachers as "Highly Qualified" in Various Circumstances

Elementary Teachers

Middle School Teachers

Introduction and General Principles

  • Pursuant to the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), teachers with primary responsibility for instructing students in the core academic subject areas (science, the arts, reading or language arts, English, history, civics and government, economics, geography, foreign language, and mathematics) are required to be "highly qualified" for those assignments.
  • A teacher's qualifications do not make him or her "highly qualified" in the absolute sense. Rather, the question is whether a teacher is "highly qualified" with respect to his or her areas of assignment. A teacher who collaborates or consults with another teacher does not have "primary responsibility" and is not required to be "highly qualified" in the core academic subject area; each teacher who does have "primary responsibility" for a core academic subject area must be.
  • In establishing requirements for being considered "highly qualified", NCLB and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act distinguish between "veteran teachers" and those who are new to the profession. In addition to the specific requirements set forth for being considered "highly qualified" for particular assignments, veteran teachers can be considered "highly qualified" based on an additional set of criteria, the High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE). For the purposes of this Appendix D, each individual shall become a "veteran teacher" when he or she has accrued at least one full year's teaching experience. The HOUSSE criteria may then be applied in determining whether the individual can be considered "highly qualified" for assignments in core subjects.
  • An "elementary" certificate is a "Type 03" certificate. An "early childhood" certificate is a "Type 04" certificate. A "secondary" certificate is a "Type 09" certificate. Either a "special K-12" (subject-specific) certificate or a "special preschool–age 21" certificate is a "Type 10" certificate. A "transitional bilingual" certificate is a "Type 29" certificate. A "short-term emergency" certificate in special education is a "Type 12" certificate.
  • The term "primary grades" or "primary level" refers to kindergarten and Grades 1-5. The "middle grades" are Grades 6-8. The "secondary" level consists of Grades 9-12. Further, references to a particular type of certificate (e.g., elementary) should be understood to mean a certificate of that type that is also valid for the subjects taught by virtue of the certificate-holder's subject-specific qualifications. These references include provisional, initial, standard, and master certificates of each type where applicable.
  • A master certificate that is endorsed for the subject area of assignment is, in and of itself, a basis for the holder's being considered "highly qualified" for that assignment, other than at the primary level, where passage of a test is required of teachers who are new to the profession. That is (except in the case of assignments at the primary level), an individual who holds a relevant master certificate shall be considered "highly qualified" without reference to any additional requirements stated for the assignment to which the master certificate applies.
  • A special education teacher who is new to the profession, who is considered "highly qualified" in language arts, mathematics, or science, and who teaches two or more subjects shall be considered "highly qualified" in all subjects taught for two years after the date of first employment. Once this two-year period has elapsed, the teacher shall be required to meet the criteria for being considered "highly qualified" in the core subject area of assignment. However, it should be noted that a teacher in this situation will be treated as a veteran teacher after attaining one year's teaching experience, as is the case for any other teacher. That is, the teacher has two years before he or she will be required to meet the criteria in every subject taught but will have access to points under the Illinois HOUSSE after one year's experience. A special education teacher who has completed an Illinois approved preparation program in special education after June 30, 2002, and has also passed the assessment of professional teaching shall be considered "highly qualified" in language arts, by virtue of the subject-area competence cumulatively evidenced by the individual's:
 
  • completion of coursework addressing the General Curricular Standards for Special Education teachers, as well as the Common Core of Standards for All Special Educators
  • passage of the test of basic skills covering reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics; and
  • passage of the assessment of professional teaching, one of whose major components is the Language Arts Standards for All Illinois Teachers
spacer

Kindergarten and Grades 1-5

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching content in core academic subjects will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she:

 

a) holds an elementary or a special K-12 certificate with an endorsement for self-contained general     elementary education and has passed the Elementary/Middle Grades test; or

b) holds an elementary or a special K-12 certificate valid for the subjects taught and has passed the
    content-area test applicable to that endorsement; or

c) holds an early childhood certificate that is valid for the primary grades and has passed the Early
    Childhood test (applicable only through Grade 3); or

d) holds an elementary, an early childhood, or a special K-12 certificate valid for the subjects taught
    and qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable.

Bilingual Education (K-5)

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching content in core academic subjects, other than ESL or ENL, in a program of bilingual education will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she:

 

a) holds an endorsement or approval for bilingual education or a transitional bilingual
certificate and:

     1) holds an elementary or special K-12 certificate with an endorsement for self-contained general           elementary education and has passed the Elementary/Middle Grades test, or

     2) holds an elementary or a special K-12 certificate valid for the subject taught and has passed
         the content-area test applicable to that subject, or

     3) through Grade 3 only, holds an early childhood certificate that is valid for the primary grades
         and has passed the Early Childhood test, or

     4) holds an elementary or special K-12 certificate with an endorsement for self-contained general          elementary education, or an elementary or a special K-12 certificate valid for the subjects
         taught, or, through Grade 3 only, an early childhood certificate valid for the primary grades
         and qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable; or

b) holds a transitional bilingual certificate and:

     1) has passed the content-area test applicable to the subject taught, and

     2) is continuously enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program applicable to the grade
         levels served, and

     3) is participating in an induction/mentoring program that conforms to the definition found in the          regulations implementing the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and

     4) has not exhausted the three-year period permitted under NCLB for attaining full certification.

English as a Second Language or English as a New Language (K-5)

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching ESL or ENL will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she:

 

a) holds an elementary or a special K-12 certificate with approval for bilingual education, ESL, or
    ENL or a special K-12 certificate endorsed for bilingual education, ESL, or ENL and:

     1) has passed the Elementary/Middle Grades test or the content-area test for ENL or English Language          Arts, or

     2) qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable; or

b) through Grade 3 only, holds an early childhood certificate valid for the primary grades with
    approval for bilingual education, ESL, or ENL, and:

     1) has passed the Early Childhood test, or

     2) qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable; or

c) holds a transitional bilingual certificate and:

     1) has passed the content-area test applicable to the subject taught, and

     2) is continuously enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program applicable to the grade
         levels served, and

     3) is participating in an induction/mentoring program that conforms to the definition found in the          regulations implementing the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and

     4) has not exhausted the three-year period permitted under NCLB for attaining full certification.

Special Education (K-5)

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching content in core academic subjects will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she:

 

a) holds either an elementary or a special preschool-age 21 certificate endorsed for the student population     served and has passed the Elementary/Middle Grades test; or

b) holds either an elementary or a special K-12 certificate valid for the subject taught and endorsed
    for the student population served, and has passed the content-area test applicable to the subject
    taught; or

c) through Grade 3 only, holds an early childhood certificate that is valid for the primary grades
    and for early childhood special education, or holds a special preschool-age 21 certificate
    endorsed for the student population served, and has passed the Early Childhood test or the
    Early Childhood Special Education test; or

d) holds an elementary or a special preschool-age 21 certificate endorsed for the student population served,     or an early childhood certificate that is valid for the primary grades, and qualifies with 100 points under the     Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable.

Top
  spacer

Middle Grades (6-8)

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching content in core academic subjects, whether in a self-contained or a departmentalized setting, will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she holds an elementary, a special K-12, or a secondary certificate valid for the subjects taught and:

 

a) has passed the Elementary/Middle Grades test; or

b) for each core subject area of teaching responsibility:

     1) has passed the content-area test specific to the subject taught, or

     2) has completed a major or coursework equivalent to a major, or

     3) holds a master's or higher degree in a field directly related to the area of assignment, or

     4) holds certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
         or an Illinois master certificate, or

     5) qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable.

Bilingual Education (6-8)

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching content in core academic subjects, other than ESL or ENL, whether in a self-contained or a departmentalized setting, will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she:

 

a) holds an endorsement or approval for bilingual education or a transitional bilingual
    certificate and:

     1) holds an elementary or a special K-12, or a secondary certificate valid for the subjects taught; and

     2) for each core subject area of teaching responsibility:

          A) has passed either the Elementary/Middle Grades test or the content-area test specific tothe subject                taught, or

          B) has completed a major or coursework equivalent to a major, or

          C) holds a master's or higher degree in a field directly related to the area of assignment, or

          D) holds NBPTS certification or an Illinois master certificate, or

          E) qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable; or

b) holds a transitional bilingual certificate and:

     1) has passed the content-area test applicable to the subject taught, and

     2) is continuously enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program applicable to the grade
         levels served, and

     3) is participating in an induction/mentoring program that conforms to the definition found in the          regulations implementing the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and

     4) has not exhausted the three-year period permitted under NCLB for attaining full certification.

English as a Second Language or English as a New Language (6-8)

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching ESL or ENL will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she:

 

a) holds an elementary, a special K-12, or a secondary certificate with approval for ESL or ENL (or, for Grades     5 and 6 only, with approval for bilingual education), or holds a special K-12 certificate endorsed for ESL or     ENL, and:

     1) has passed the Elementary/Middle Grades test or the content-area test for either ENL or
         English Language Arts, or

     2) has completed a major or coursework equivalent to a major in English language arts or the teaching of          English as a new language, or

     3) holds a master's or higher degree in English language arts or the teaching of English as a new language,          or

     4) holds NBPTS certification or an Illinois master certificate in English language arts or the
         teaching of English as a new language, or

     5) qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable; or

b) for Grade 6 only, holds a transitional bilingual certificate and:

     1) has passed the content-area test applicable to the subject taught, and

     2) is continuously enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program applicable to the grade
        levels served, and

     3) is participating in an induction/mentoring program that conforms to the definition found in the          regulations implementing the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and

     4) has not exhausted the three-year period permitted under NCLB for attaining full certification.

Special Education (6-8)

A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching content in core academic subjects will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she holds a special preschool-age 21 certificate endorsed for the student population served, or holds an elementary, secondary, or special K-12 certificate that is valid for the grade levels of the assignment and the subjects taught and endorsed for the student population served; and, for each core subject area taught:

 

a) has passed either the Elementary/Middle Grades test or the content-area test specific to the
    subject taught; or

b) has completed a major or coursework equivalent to a major; or

c) holds a master's or higher degree in a field directly related to the area of assignment; or

d) holds NBPTS certification or an Illinois master certificate; or

e) qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable.

Middle-Grades Teachers Providing Instruction at the Primary Level

A teacher who provides instruction at the primary level to students of middle-grade age whose performance is assessed against alternate achievement standards will be considered "highly qualified" if he or she meets the criteria for either new or veteran special education teachers at either the primary or the middle-grade level, whether the teacher is a veteran or new to the profession.

Top

spacer
Spacer