February 15, 2006February 15, 2006

Highly Qualified RequirementsHighly Qualified Requirementsforfor

Exceptional Student Education TeachersExceptional Student Education Teachers

What’s New?What’s New?

No Child Left BehindNo Child Left Behind NCLB is an act designed to close the NCLB is an act designed to close the

achievement gap with accountability, achievement gap with accountability, flexibility and choice so that no child is left flexibility and choice so that no child is left behindbehind

All children must have a fair, equal and All children must have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and meet proficiency on quality education and meet proficiency on state academic standards and state state academic standards and state academic assessmentsacademic assessments

Teacher quality is a key component of Teacher quality is a key component of student learning student learning

Law includes definition of Highly Qualified Law includes definition of Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT)Teacher (HQT)

Subject content knowledge emphasized Subject content knowledge emphasized

WHY? WHY?

Federal Title II monitoring visit indicated that Florida had not met the highly qualified requirement for some elementary ESE teachers.

WHEN?WHEN?

NCLB was enacted January 8, 2002

Beginning 2002-03 school year, Title I schools were required to hire teachers in core subject areas that are highly qualified

All other teachers must be HQ no later than June 30, 2006

WHO?WHO?

PreK ESE Teachers if teaching combination class of PreK and K or higher

NCLB is triggered and the teacher must meet the highly qualified requirements for elementary in addition to ESE

WHO?WHO?

ESE teachers who are the teacher of record and teach an elementary core academic subject.

NCLB Core Academic SubjectsNCLB Core Academic Subjects

English English

Civics Civics Reading Reading Government Government Language Arts Language Arts EconomicsEconomics MathMath

Arts Arts (Music, Drama & Art)(Music, Drama & Art)

Science Science History History Foreign Foreign

LanguagesLanguages Geography Geography

Elementary Elementary ESE Courses ESE Courses that trigger HQT…that trigger HQT…

7755010 – Academics: K-57755010 – Academics: K-5 7755030 – Academic Skills: K-57755030 – Academic Skills: K-5 7755040 – Advanced Academics: 7755040 – Advanced Academics:

K-5K-5 7755050 – Developmental Skills: 7755050 – Developmental Skills:

K-5K-5 7701010 – Art: K-57701010 – Art: K-5 7710010 – Language Arts: K-57710010 – Language Arts: K-5 7710020 – Reading: K-57710020 – Reading: K-5

ElementaryElementary ESE Courses ESE Courses that trigger HQT (cont …)that trigger HQT (cont …)

7710030 – Communications: K-57710030 – Communications: K-5 7710040 – Spelling: K-57710040 – Spelling: K-5 7710050 – Writing: K-57710050 – Writing: K-5 7712010 – Math: K-57712010 – Math: K-5 7713010 – Music: K-57713010 – Music: K-5 7720010 – Science: K-57720010 – Science: K-5 7721010 – Social Studies: K-57721010 – Social Studies: K-5

DefinitionsDefinitions

New Teachers - less than one year of teaching

experience (not tied to year of employment)

Experienced Teachers - one or more years of full-time

teaching experience

New ESE TeachersNew ESE Teachers Elementary (Grades K-6)

Requirement 1

A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution.

ANDRequirement 2

A valid Florida three-year Temporary or five-year Professional Certificate in an appropriate exceptional student education area(s) to match the ESE table in the Florida Course Code Directory.

ANDRequirement 3

Option 1: A passing score on the Florida K-6, 1-6, or PK-3 subject area exam (SAE) appropriate for the elementary grade level(s) assigned. orOption 2: A valid Florida Professional Certificate appropriate for the elementary grade levels assigned (requires a Florida SAE or reciprocity from another state). orOption 3:A valid American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) Passport Certificate in Elementary Education. (A passing SAE or valid ABCTE Certificate also establishes eligibility for certification in elementary education.)

Experienced ESE TeachersExperienced ESE Teachers Elementary (Grades K-6)

Requirement 1

A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution.

AND Requirement 2

A valid Florida three-year Temporary or five-year Professional Certificate in an appropriate exceptional student education area(s) to match the ESE table in the Florida Course Code Directory.

ANDRequirement 3Option 1: A passing score on the Florida K-6, 1-6, or PK-3 subject

area exam (SAE) appropriate for the elementary grade level(s) assigned.

orOption 2: Meet the requirements for a HOUSSE plan that is

appropriate for the elementary grade level(s) assigned. orOption 3: A valid ABCTE Passport Certificate in Elementary

Education or an Early (PreK-Primary) or Middle Childhood (Elementary Education) Generalist National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certificate.

(A passing SAE, valid ABCTE, or valid NBPTS Certificate also establishes eligibility for certification in the subject.)

WHO?WHO?

K-12 ESE teachers who teach core academic subjects exclusively to students who are assessed against alternate achievement standards (students with significant cognitive impairments)

WHAT?WHAT?

Are required to meet the highly qualified requirement for elementary teachers or

core academic subject areas appropriate for the level of instruction provided and

the appropriate certification in ESE to match the ESE table in the Course Code Directory

WHEN?WHEN?

New ESE teachers 2 years after their date of employment to demonstrate subject matter competency, in the other subjects taught if they teach multiple core academic subjects exclusively to ESE students, and if those teachers have already met the requirements in math, language arts, or science.

Middle Grades (6-8)Middle Grades (6-8) ESE courses ESE courses that trigger HQT …that trigger HQT …

7855010 – Academics: 6-87855010 – Academics: 6-8 7855030 – Academic Skills: 6-87855030 – Academic Skills: 6-8 7855040 – Advanced Academics: 7855040 – Advanced Academics:

6-8 6-8 7855050 – Developmental Skills: 7855050 – Developmental Skills:

6-86-8 7810010 – Language Arts: 6-87810010 – Language Arts: 6-8 7810020 – Reading: 6-87810020 – Reading: 6-8

Middle Grades (6-8) Middle Grades (6-8) ESE courses ESE courses that trigger HQT (cont…)that trigger HQT (cont…)

7810030 – Communications: 6-87810030 – Communications: 6-8 7812010 – Mathematics: 6-87812010 – Mathematics: 6-8 7820010 – Science: 6-87820010 – Science: 6-8 7821010 – Social Studies: 6-87821010 – Social Studies: 6-8 7801010 – Visual and Performing 7801010 – Visual and Performing

Arts: 6-8Arts: 6-8 7813010 – Music: 6-87813010 – Music: 6-8

High School (9-12) High School (9-12) ESE courses ESE courses that trigger HQT …that trigger HQT …

7910100 – Reading: 9-127910100 – Reading: 9-12 7910110 – English: 9-127910110 – English: 9-12 7910390 – Communications: 9-127910390 – Communications: 9-12 7910400 – Life Skills Reading: 9-7910400 – Life Skills Reading: 9-

1212 7912050 – Math: 9-127912050 – Math: 9-12 7912340 – Life Skills Math: 9-127912340 – Life Skills Math: 9-12

High School (9-12) High School (9-12) ESE courses ESE courses that trigger HQT (cont…)that trigger HQT (cont…)

7920010 – Science: 9-127920010 – Science: 9-12 7921010 – Social Studies: 9-127921010 – Social Studies: 9-12 7961010 – Academic Skills for 7961010 – Academic Skills for

Functional LivingFunctional Living 7961020 – Communication Skills 7961020 – Communication Skills

for Functional Livingfor Functional Living 7962010 – Cognitive and 7962010 – Cognitive and

Linguistic SkillsLinguistic Skills 7967010 – Visual and Performing 7967010 – Visual and Performing

ArtsArts

ESE Academic CoursesESE Academic Courses

Students with disabilities who are participating in the FCAT and are on a standard diploma track should only be enrolled in ESE academic courses when those courses are used to provide remediation, not primary instruction.

Ways To Determine Level of Ways To Determine Level of Instruction for Instruction for

Secondary StudentsSecondary Students

IEPs Course descriptions Classroom curriculum Instructional materials used in

classroom

Case-by-case, class-by-class

New ESE TeachersNew ESE Teachers Secondary (Grades 7-12)

Requirement 1

A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution.

ANDRequirement 2

A valid Florida three-year Temporary or five-year Professional Certificate in an appropriate exceptional student education area(s) to match the ESE table in the Course Code Directory.

ANDRequirement 3Option 1: A passing score on the Florida K-6 or 1-6 subject area exam if appropriate for the level of instruction in the subject matter knowledge being provided. orOption 2:A valid Florida Professional Certificate in elementary education if appropriate for the level of instruction in the subject matter knowledge being provided (requires a Florida SAE or reciprocity from another state). orOption 3: A valid American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) Passport Certificate in Elementary Education if appropriate for the level of instruction in the subject matter knowledge being provided. (A passing SAE or valid ABCTE Certificate also establishes eligibility for certification in elementary education.) orOption 4:Certification appropriate for the middle/secondary core academic subject(s) assigned.

Experienced ESE TeachersExperienced ESE Teachers (Grades 7-12)

Requirement 1

A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution.

ANDRequirement 2

A valid Florida three-year Temporary or five-year Professional Certificate in an appropriate exceptional student education area(s) to match the ESE table in the Course Code Directory.

ANDRequirement 3

Option 1: A passing score on the Florida K-6 or 1-6 subject

area exam if appropriate for the level of instruction in the subject matter knowledge being provided.

orOption 2: Certification appropriate for the middle/secondary

core academic subject(s) assigned. orOption 3:Meet the requirements for a HOUSSE plan

appropriate for ESE certified teachers of Core Academic Elementary Education or Core Academic Middle/Secondary Education Courses.

The general education teacher who is certified in the core academic subject area is considered the content expert and must be HQ

The special education teacher is the provider of strategies and methods to assist students and is considered highly qualified if they meet the requirements for certification on the ESE table in the Course Code Directory

Consultation, Co-teaching, Consultation, Co-teaching, and Support Facilitationand Support Facilitation

HOUSSEHOUSSE Option Option RequirementsRequirements

Experienced teacher Total 100 points or more Signed by teacher and district

official Copy in personnel file Supporting documentation at

district office

Components of HOUSSEComponents of HOUSSE Full-time teaching experience in

elementary education or the core content areas

Successful performance evaluation College credit in the core academic

courses Professional development in the core

content area Awards/Recognition for core content

area Student learning GAINS – Math or

English-Language Arts for grades 4 - 10

Florida In-field DesignationFlorida In-field Designation

A revision has been made to Rule 6A-1.0503, FAC, that adds documentation of meeting requirements for the NCLB highly qualified designation via the HOUSSE plan as a method for being defined as a qualified, infield teacher.

What help is available?What help is available?

Professional Development Professional Development OpportunitiesOpportunities

Dual Certification Pilot Dual Certification Pilot Programs at UniversitiesPrograms at Universities Two universities developed dual

certification pilot programs funded with State Improvement Grant dollars

Graduates will be eligible for certification in ESE and a secondary subject area

University sites are:UCF and USF-St. Pete

Virtual ESE Distance Learning Virtual ESE Distance Learning ProgramProgram

Collaborative effort among universities in Florida

Provides graduate courses in special education

On-Line delivery system

PDA – ESEPDA – ESE

Professional Development Alternatives for Exceptional Student Educators (PDA-ESE) is a DOE initiative developed to deliver specialized training for teachers of students with disabilities. PDA-ESE utilizes online modules and local facilitators to provide statewide accessible professional development.

Middle Grades Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum Integrated Curriculum On-Line Study ModuleOn-Line Study Module

This module is designed to assist educators who are preparing to take the certification exam for Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum.

There are no facilitators – this is a self-paced study module.

New Elementary Education New Elementary Education On-Line Study Module PlannedOn-Line Study Module Planned

Self-paced study module for elementary K-6 subject area exam being developed.

Plan to roll out in fall 2006.

For additional information on PDA-ESE and other MGIC, contact

Content questions: Mary Ann Ahearn-

ahearnm@nefec.org or Sue Kupchunas-

kupchunasa@nefec.org Phone: 386-312-2265

www.pda-ese.org http://FDLRSHRD.NEFEC.org/IC/

Technical Assistance Technical Assistance

December 8, 2005, John Winn memo and December 8, 2005, John Winn memo and attachmentsattachments: : Update on Highly Update on Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements for Qualified Teacher Requirements for Exceptional Student Education Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teachers(ESE) Teachers - -

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dswebhttp://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-3409/ese_memo.pdf/Get/Document-3409/ese_memo.pdf

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dswebhttp://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-3410/ese_att1.pdf/Get/Document-3410/ese_att1.pdf

http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dswebhttp://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-3411/ese_att2.pdf/Get/Document-3411/ese_att2.pdf

For Additional Information on For Additional Information on ESE HQT, contactESE HQT, contact Evy Friend, AdministratorEvy Friend, Administrator

evy.friend@fldoe.orgevy.friend@fldoe.org

Lezlie Cline, Program DirectorLezlie Cline, Program Director lezlie.cline@fldoe.orglezlie.cline@fldoe.org

Phone: (850) 245-0478 Phone: (850) 245-0478 Fax: (850) 245-0955Fax: (850) 245-0955

Florida Department of EducationBureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services

325 W Gaines St. Suite 601 TurlingtonTallahassee, Florida 32399