Elementary level / elementary certified teachers

1.  Within which core academic content areas must elementary teachers be NCLB

"highly qualified"?

Elementary subject areas include language arts/reading, mathematics, science and social studies; elementary teachers must demonstrate HQ in any or all of these subjects, if they teach them.

2. Which exams are acceptable for demonstrating HQ status?

The Praxis II exam and the earlier CONNECT exam tested subject-matter knowledge in each of these four areas. Therefore, individuals who have passed these exams are NCLB ?highly qualified.?

3. What if a teacher became certified prior to testing being required in CT?

For those teachers, an elementary education major (not a degree) received either at the undergraduate or graduate level will suffice to be NCLB "highly" qualified.? A concentration or emphasis in elementary education does not equate with a major.

4. What if the teacher didn't have a major or graduate degree in elementary

education, or there was no testing required?

Those teachers will rely on the district HOUSSE process to demonstrate competency.

5. What if a teacher holds an elementary certification but teaches only 1 or 2

subjects in grades housed in an elementary school, or teaches in a middle school? What requirements apply then?

In such cases, the question is whether or not the teacher is in a predominantly self-contained (traditional) elementary setting. If the teacher is in such a setting, the requirements for demonstrating elementary teacher HQ apply. If the teacher is in a setting that is more departmentalized, the requirements for demonstrating middle or secondary teacher HQ apply. It is up to the district to determine which setting they consider the teacher to be in. 

6. What if a teacher holds more than one endorsement on his/her certificate (e.g.,

K-6 and math 7-12), but teaches under only one of them? 

In such cases, the teacher must demonstrate HQ for the content area s/he currently teaches. If the teacher?s assignment changes, then s/he must also demonstrate HQ for the other content area(s) being taught.