(Washington, DC) On Wednesday, March 12th, the DC State Board of Education (SBOE) will hold a public hearing to gather the public’s views on educator quality and the District’s Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) definition.
The State Board of Education is responsible for approving the definition of and standards for “highly qualified teachers” as identified in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The SBOE and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education seek to more closely align the District’s HQT definition with the standards set forth in NCLB. Select the link below to view the presentation on Educator Quality:
In order to achieve HQT status under the proposed definition, a teacher would have to:
1. Obtain a Bachelor’s degree
2. Receive a full state certification that has not been waived on a temporary basis
3.a. Meet content specific standards, which include the following for elementary teachers:
i. Pass an elementary content exam, or
ii. Veteran teachers have the option to achieve HQT status via a HOUSSE process
3.b. Meet content specific standards, which include the following for secondary teachers:
iii. Pass the appropriate content area test, or
iv. Have a major or its equivalent in the content area, or
v. Obtain an advanced degree in the content area, or
vi. Receive National Board Certification in the content area, or
vii. Veteran teachers have the option to achieve HQT status via a HOUSSE process
The hearing starts promptly at 5:30 pm at 441 4th Street, NW, in the Old Council Chambers.
Constituents who wish to comment at the hearing are required to contact the State Board of Education prior to the meeting by calling State Board of Education Executive Director Beverley Wheeler at (202) 741-0884.
The hearing will air live on DSTV-Channel 99.