A story in the Aug. 7, 2002, issue of Education Week misstated two key provisions of draft regulations on teacher quality that the Department of Education released Aug. 1 as part of the implementation of the new federal education act.
The story, first of all, should have said that new requirements on teacher qualifications apply immediately to any teacher hired after the first day of the 2002-03 school year to teach a core academic subject in a program, either targeted assistance or schoolwide, supported with Title I money. Teachers hired on or before the first day of school this academic year in such programs, meanwhile, have until the 2005-06 school year to meet those requirements under the “No Child Left Behind” Act of 2001.
The story also should have said that if a teacher has had certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis, the teacher would not meet the law’s new qualification requirements. In general, the law requires that a teacher hold a bachelor’s degree and either have obtained full state teacher certification or have passed the state licensing exam and hold a license to teach. The rules also include more specific requirements for elementary teachers and for middle and high school teachers.
