DATE: July 8, 2003

TO: System Superintendents

FROM: Fran Watkins, Director
Educator Preparation

SUBJECT: Criteria for "Highly Qualified" Teachers - Title II-A

Title II, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act requires that all core academic subject teachers be "highly qualified" by the end of the 2005-2006 school year. All teachers hired after the first day of the 2002-2003 school year in Title I programs must be "highly qualified." Qualifications for new teachers who are in their first three years of teaching are different from the requirements for veteran teachers who are not new to the profession.

Two draft documents have been developed to assist you as you work toward the goal of obtaining 100 percent "highly qualified" teachers in your school system by 2006. Attached are:

• Georgia Implementation Guidelines, Criteria for Highly Qualified Teachers, July 1, 2003
• Georgia Content Area Rubric, High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE) and Instructions for Veteran Teachers, July 3, 2003

You and your staff are encouraged to visit the Title II-A Web site located at www.gapsc.com/nclb/home.html to access these documents as well as other information related to improving teacher quality.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your Title II-A consultant. You may also contact me at fran.watkins@gapsc.com, or Gerri Heard at gerri.heard@gapsc.com at the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

cc: Title II-A Consultants