Copyright © 2003 School Services of California, Inc.

Volume 23                    For Publication Date: October 3, 2003                  No. 20

State Board of Education Approves Revised Regulations
for Highly Qualified Teachers

At the September 10-11, 2003 , meeting of the State Board of Education (SBE), Board members voted unanimously to send out the amended highly qualified teacher regulations for a 15-day public review. The amendments the SBE made to the regulations largely addressed changes to the process of a High Objective Uniform State Standard Evaluation (HOUSSE) as a means for teachers “not new” to the profession to demonstrate subject matter competence.  

The previous description of the HOUSSE process under the initial regulations simply stated that HOUSSE must include some combination of classroom observation, demonstration of knowledge of applicable Content Standards, and a portfolio review. This vague description left many in the field confused over how to administer a HOUSSE. But CDE staff promised more explanation to come, and they delivered with amended regulations that provide needed elements to the HOUSSE process.

The amended regulations clarify that the HOUSSE will offer two parts. Part One will involve a compilation of the all of the following:

1.                  Years of experience teaching in the grade span or subject-the regulations state that this component must not account for more than half of the total necessary to demonstrate subject matter competency.

2.                  Core academic coursework in the assigned grade span or subject.

3.                  In-depth standards aligned professional development.

4.                  Service to the profession in the relevant core academic content area. Examples of this include mentor teachers, curriculum coaches, BTSA support providers, and department chairs-some area in which a teacher plays a leadership role due to their expertise in the subject matter.

Part Two will consist of direct observation and portfolio assessment in the grade span or subject taught, and will only be conducted if Part One does not identify sufficient teacher experience, coursework, professional development, or service to demonstrate subject matter competence. Part Two will involve one or more of the components that were listed in the first draft of the regulations-classroom observation, demonstration of knowledge of applicable Content Standards, and/or a portfolio review.

Also new to the regulations is the clarification that the HOUSSE must be conducted by the teacher's supervising administrator with consultation, if necessary, from a person knowledgeable in the Content Standards for the appropriate grade span or subject. Further, the teacher needs only to demonstrate subject matter competency once for each grade span or subject taught, even if the teacher moves to another school district. And finally, the regulations state that out-of-state teachers who have met the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) highly qualified teacher requirements outside of California will be considered highly qualified in California .

These regulations are now posted for a 15-day comment period. If no objections to the amendments are received during the 15-day public review, the regulations will be sent to the Office of Administrative Law for approval. If objections to the amendments are received during the 15-day public review, the matter will be placed on the next State Board agenda (to be heard in November 2003) for consideration.

Remember that CDE staff are developing a Resource Guide for the NCLB teacher requirements that will be released shortly after these regulations are finalized. You may monitor the CDE website at http://www.cde.ca.gov/pr/nclb for the latest information on meeting the NCLB teacher requirements. (For more information on the proposed requirements for highly qualified teachers, see "State Board of Education Approves Highly Qualified Teacher Plan" in the June 27, 2003, Fiscal Report, page 248.)

-Karen Storm