NCLB: Is this progress?

<FONT FACE="Verdana">&#8220;Highly qualified&#8221; seemed like it was going to be a major retraining challenge BUT sounds like one extra observation and everyone will be highly qualified...<BR> <BR> -------------------------------<BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;<BR> This was an e-mail message from the President of NSEA:<BR> <BR> <BR> </FONT><UL><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><B>Change in the &#8220;No Child Left Behind&#8221; Legislation:</B> As your building starts to look at re-assignment and shuffling people around, please be aware that there is NO requirement for you to do anything different in order to be considered &#8220;highly qualified&#8221; in a subject area. &nbsp;You don&#8217;t need to pursue a degree, earn a certificate, or earn a minor. &nbsp;NCLB legislation should NEVER be justification for a change of assignment or transfer of a teacher. &nbsp;Here is who the new legislation affects:<BR> </FONT></UL><FONT FACE="Verdana"><BR> </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">a. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You were certified PRIOR to 1987 AND&#8230;</FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana"> <BR> </FONT><UL><UL><UL><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">b. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana"> </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">You are teaching a subject area where you do not have a major OR&#8230;</FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana"> <BR> </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">c. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You are teaching in a subject area where you have not earned 45 credits&#8230;</FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana"> <BR> </FONT></UL><FONT FACE="Verdana"><BR> </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><B>NEW REQUIREMENT:</B> You will need to have an observation done within the first four weeks of school (fall 0f 2005) in your subject area to prove that you are teaching in that area satisfactorily and thus, can be considered &#8220;highly qualified&#8221;. &nbsp;Principals are aware of who will need to have this observation done early this fall.<BR> </FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana"><BR> </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><B>Please note:</B> this observation has NOTHING to do with your annual teacher evaluation process. &nbsp;It is simply a bureaucratic hoop that the federal government is requiring of administrators. &nbsp;You cannot be disciplined for the results of the NCLB evaluation nor can the contents of this evaluation be used in your annual evaluation. &nbsp;Keep in mind, your teacher evaluation process is bargained in your contract and cannot be changed without mutual consent by the district and the association. &nbsp;If you were certified after 1987 and you are teaching in an area that you have previously been marked &#8220;satisfactory&#8221; for teaching in, you are considered &#8220;highly qualified&#8221;. &nbsp;There are no new requirements for folks certificated after 1987.<BR> </FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana"><BR> </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">If you have questions please call Laurie Ferwerda, Executive Director of Human Resources at the Northshore School District, 425-489-6011 or <FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><U>lferwerda@nsd.org</U></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana"> &lt;<FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><U>mailto:lferwerda@nsd.org</U></FONT>&gt; </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"> </FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana"><BR> </FONT></UL></UL>