The Agency will continue to provide updated information on highly qualified through the NCLB Update listserv that disseminates NCLB updates to school districts each week via electronic mail.  To subscribe to the NCLB Update, go to http://www.tea.state.tx.us/list and select "No Child Left Behind" from the dropdown box and click on the "Join or Leave" button.  At the second screen, enter your email address and name and click on the "Join the List" button.  If you have questions concerning these highly qualified issues, please contact the Division of NCLB Program Coordination via electronic mail at nclb@tea.state.tx.us.

If you have questions regarding this information, please contact the Division of NCLB Program Coordination at nclb@tea.state.tx.us or (512) 463-9374.

Sincerely,

 

Gene Lenz
Deputy Associate Commissioner
   for Special Programs, Monitoring, and Interventions

GL/cg

 

Attachments

Attachment 1:   Campus Reporting of Highly Qualified Teacher Compliance Report
  (2006-2007 Highly Qualified Teacher Data)—Due Date July 16, 2007

The 2006-2007 Highly Qualified Teacher Compliance Report is now available for all campuses to complete and to submit electronically to the Agency through the eGrants system.  The report is to reflect the status of all core academic subject area teachers as of the end of the 2006-2007 school year. 

The report is due July 16, 2007.

The report may be accessed through the eGrants system through the following steps.

1. Log in to eGrants.
2. Enter your County-District Number in the "Search by County-District #" search option in the middle of the top text row of the page.  Click on the grey colored "Search" button.
3. Select "2006-2007 NCLB Consolidated Federal Grant Application" in the dropdown box labeled "Available Grant Programs in eGrants".  Click on the grey colored "Initiate" button.
4. Locate the "eGrants Special Collections" section at the top of the page.
5. Place your mouse pointer over the “2006-2007 Annual Survey of Highly Qualified (HQ) Teachers” Report, the title of the report will turn grey colored, and click on the selected report.
6. Select a campus from the dropdown menu and click on the “Select” button.

Please note that for the first time, the highly qualified data reported in the campus compliance reports will be aggregated and used as part of the NCLB program compliance component of the Performance Based Monitoring Analysis System (PBMAS) system for 2007-2008.  Failure to submit the Highly Qualified Teacher Compliance Report for each campus by the due date will have an adverse impact on the LEA’s Initial Compliance Review (ICR) score for the NCLB program area.  Missing or incomplete data on the date the Agency extracts the compliance report data will cause LEAs to receive a “Did Not Meet Standard” status on the applicable indicators.

Information regarding the finalized ICR indicators is posted on the Division of NCLB Program Coordination web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/complianceMonitoring.html.

For assistance in completing the compliance reports, contact the Texas State University System NCLB staff assigned to your Education Service Center region.  You may access this contact information by calling the Division of NCLB Program Coordination at (512) 463-9374, option 2 or on the web at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/contacts.html.

Attachment 2:   Campus Reporting of Highly Qualified Teacher Compliance Report
  (2007-2008 Highly Qualified Teacher Data)—Due Date October 15, 2007

Due to the NCLB statute requiring all core academic subject area teachers to have met the highly qualified teacher requirement by the end of the 2005-2006 school year, the 2006-2007 school year will be the last year that highly qualified teacher status will be reported as an “end of the school year” report.  Beginning with 2007-2008, the Highly Qualified Teacher Compliance Report will be submitted at the beginning of the school year reporting a current year status of highly qualified teachers. 

The 2007-2008 Highly Qualified Teacher Compliance Report will be available for all campuses to complete and submit electronically to the Agency through the eGrants system beginning August 15, 2007.  The report will be due October 15, 2007.  Campuses will be required to amend the highly qualified teacher compliance report throughout the school year as the status of any teacher changes.  This will allow the campus, the LEA, and the state to have more accurate up-to-date reporting of teacher status. 

From 2007-2008 school year forward, the highly qualified teacher compliance report will continue to be reported on the October deadline.

Additional information will be provided to LEAs in August.

Attachment 3:  Public Reporting of Progress in Meeting Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements
(2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Highly Qualified Teacher Data)—Due Date November 15, 2007

 

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires each local education agency (LEA) to publicly report progress of the LEA and its campuses toward meeting the highly qualified (HQ) teacher requirements.  The 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 LEA level Highly Qualified Teacher Reports for LEAs and individual campuses will be available on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) NCLB web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/hqreport.html after all the campus level reports are received by the Agency by the respective report due dates.  Please note that there will be three applicable reports for each LEA and one report per campus for each school year.

• Highly Qualified Teachers Report (by District and Campus)
• Highly Qualified Teachers Report by District—High Poverty Quartile Campuses
• Highly Qualified Teachers Report by District—Low Poverty Quartile Campuses

This public reporting process (for both years of data) is to occur no later than November 15, 2007, and may occur simultaneously.

NCLB requires that the LEA publicly report the annual progress of the LEA and each campus served by the LEA in meeting the State’s measurable highly qualified teacher objectives.  The annual targets of these objectives are as follows:

Annual Targets	Percentage of Classes Taught by HQ Teachers (State Aggregate)	Percentage of Classes Taught by HQ Teachers (High-Poverty Schools)	Percentage of HQ Teachers (State Aggregate)	Percentage of Teachers receiving high-quality professional development (State Aggregate)
2006-2007 and beyond Target	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

The LEA should compare the data reported by the LEA to these state annual targets to determine the LEA’s progress in these areas.  The LEA must report both campus and LEA data in comparison to targets for both the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years.  The data for calculating the percentage of teachers receiving high-quality professional development are found in Part B of the LEA’s 2006-2007 Title I, Part A Compliance Report. 

If the LEA has failed to meet one or more of the targets for two consecutive years, the Agency is required by statute to provide technical assistance in the development of an improvement plan that will enable the LEA to meet these objectives and that specifically addresses the issues that prevented the LEA from meeting the objectives.  TEA will identify those LEAs not making progress toward the 100% highly qualified teacher target based on the data reported through the campus highly qualified teacher compliance reports.  Districts will be contacted when an improvement plan is required to be submitted to TEA.  Technical assistance from the regional education service center will also be available to identified districts.

Attachment 4:   Principal’s Attestation of Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements
                           (2007-08 Highly Qualified Teacher Data)—Due Date November 15, 2007

 

The principal of each Title I, Part A campus must annually attest in writing whether the campus is in compliance with NCLB, Section 1119 [Teacher and Paraprofessional Qualifications].  Copies of these attestations must be maintained at each Title I, Part A campus and at the central office of the LEA and must be available to any member of the general public on request. 

 

A sample of this attestation is available on the Agency’s NCLB web site at:  http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/sampleprincipal.doc.

 

In the past, it was the LEA’s discretion as to whether the principal attestation provided the campus highly qualified status as of the beginning of the year or as of the end of the year.  However, beginning with school year 2007-2008, in order to align with the beginning-of-the-year Highly Qualified Compliance Report submission timeline, the Principal Attestation must provide the status of Section 1119 as of the beginning of the school year and coincide with the data reported to TEA. 

The attestation must be on file by November 15, 2007, and may be written in a way that also covers prospective hiring.

Attachment 5:   Highly Qualified Teacher Plans Required of LEAs
  (2007-2008 Highly Qualified Teacher Data)—Due Date December 15, 2007

 

The following is an excerpt from the Highly Qualified Guidance Document Updated June 12, 2007, available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/hqteachers.html.

 

LEA (District) Highly Qualified Recruitment and Retention Plans:
Any LEA that receives Title I, Part A funds and does have all (100%) core academic subject area classes taught by teachers meeting the highly qualified requirements on all campuses (whether Title I served or not) must continue to maintain a district-level Highly Qualified Recruitment and Retention plan that specifies:

• the strategies the LEA will implement on campuses to ensure the LEA and all campuses remain with 100% of core academic subject area classes taught by highly qualified teachers. 

It is recommended that the LEA’s Recruitment and Retention Plan be incorporated as part of the District Improvement Plan.  If it is incorporated into the District Improvement Plan, it should be clearly identified as the LEA’s Highly Qualified Recruitment and Retention plan strategies.  However, the recruitment and retention plan may be a separate plan, at the LEA’s discretion.

LEAs that receive Title I, Part A funds must also include the following statutory Title I, Part A requirements in their LEA (District) plan.

• providing staff development (coordinated with Title II, Part A professional development) to teachers, principals, and other appropriate staff to meet the Teacher Quality Annual Measurable Objectives (TQAMO) under NCLB, Section 1119 [§1112(b)(1)(D)];
• Describing how the LEA will meet the highly qualified teacher requirements under NCLB, Section 1119 [§1112(b)(1)(N)];
• Working in consultation with campuses as they develop and implement their campus plans/activities under NCLB, Section 1119 [§1112(c)(1)(H)];
• Describing how the LEA will comply with the requirements of NCLB, Section 1119 regarding the qualifications of teachers and professional development [§1112(c)(1)(I)]; and
• Describing how the LEA will, through incentives for voluntary transfers, the provision of professional development, recruitment programs, or other effective strategies, that low-income students and minority students are not taught at higher rates than other students by unqualified, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers [§1112(c)(1)(L)].

In addition, Title I, Part A campuses must also include the following statutory Title I, Part A requirements in their Campus Plans.

Schoolwide campuses must include in their Campus Improvement Plan strategies for:

• providing instruction by highly qualified teachers [§1114(b)(1)(C)];
• providing high-quality, on-going staff development to maintain (retain) 100% of classes taught by highly qualified teachers in the core academic subject areas to enable all children to meet the state’s academic achievement standards [§1114(b)(1)(D)]; and
• attracting high-quality highly qualified teachers to high need schools [§1114(b)(1)(E)].

Targeted assistance campuses must include in their Campus Improvement Plan strategies for:

• providing instruction by highly qualified teachers [§1115(c)(1)(E)]; and
• providing high-quality, on-going staff development to maintain (retain) 100% of classes taught by highly qualified teachers in the core academic subject areas [§1115(c)(1)(F)].

 

LEA (District) and Campus Highly Qualified Continuous Improvement Plans (HQTCIP):

Beginning with the highly qualified teacher data reported as of the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year and beyond, any LEA that receives Title I funds and does not have 100% of all core academic subject area classes taught by teachers meeting the highly qualified requirements is required to:

1. conduct a focused data analysis (FDA) process; and
2. maintain and implement a Highly Qualified Teacher Continuous Improvement planning process.

The LEA Highly Qualified Teacher Continuous Improvement Plan (HQTCIP) must include strategies and activities to meet the measurable achievement objectives for teacher quality under NCLB, to—

1. Increase the percentage of highly qualified core academic subject area teachers on each campus to meet 100% in a reasonable timeframe;
2. Increase the percentage of core academic subject area classes taught by highly qualified teachers on each campus to meet 100% in a reasonable timeframe;
3. Increase the percentage of core academic subject area classes taught by highly qualified teachers on high poverty campuses to meet 100% in a reasonable timeframe;
4. Increase the percentage of teachers receiving high-quality professional development on each campus to meet 100% in a reasonable timeframe;
5. Ensure low-income students and minority students are not taught at higher rates than other student groups by inexperienced, out-of-field, or non-highly qualified teachers;
6. Attract and retain highly qualified teachers; and
7. Assist specific teachers not currently highly qualified to meet the highly qualified requirements in a timely manner.

LEAs that receive Title I, Part A funds must also include the following statutory Title I, Part A requirements in their LEA (District) plan.

• providing staff development (coordinated with Title II, Part A professional development) to teachers, principals, and other appropriate staff to meet the Teacher Quality Annual Measurable Objectives (TQAMO) under NCLB, Section 1119 [§1112(b)(1)(D)];
• describing how the LEA will meet the highly qualified teacher requirements under NCLB, Section 1119
  [ §1112(b)(1)(N)];
• working in consultation with campuses as they develop and implement their campus plans/activities under NCLB, Section 1119 [§1112(c)(1)(H)];
• describing how the LEA will comply with the requirements of NCLB, Section 1119 regarding the qualifications of teachers and professional development [§1112(c)(1)(I)]; and
• describing how the LEA will, through incentives for voluntary transfers, the provision of professional development, recruitment programs, or other effective strategies, that low-income students and minority students are not taught at higher rates than other students by unqualified, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers [§1112(c)(1)(L)].

Additionally, each campus that is not at 100% (regardless of whether that campus is served with Title I funds or not) must have a Campus Highly Qualified Continuous Improvement Plan on file with the LEA central office.  The campus plan must include:

• the individual activities or strategies to assist the specific teachers not currently highly qualified to meet the highly qualified requirements in a timely manner.

At a minimum, the plan must identify each non-highly qualified teacher by subject of assignment and grade level.

In addition, Schoolwide campuses must include in their Campus Improvement Plan strategies for:

• providing instruction by highly qualified teachers [§1114(b)(1)(C)];
• providing high-quality, on-going staff development to reach 100% of classes taught by highly qualified teachers in the core academic subject areas to enable all children to meet the state’s academic achievement standards [§1114(b)(1)(D)]; and
• attracting high-quality highly qualified teachers to high need schools [§1114(b)(1)(E)].

Also, Targeted Assistance campuses must include in their Campus Improvement Plan strategies for:

• providing instruction by highly qualified teachers [§1115(c)(1)(E)]; and
• providing high-quality, on-going staff development to reach 100% of classes taught by highly qualified teachers in the core academic subject areas [§1115(c)(1)(F)].

See Appendix D, Charts 7 and 8 in the Highly Qualified Teacher Guidance Document on the NCLB web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/hqteachers.html for graphics illustrating the NCLB Teacher Quality Plan Requirements.

 

LEA (District) Consequences for Not Reaching 100% Highly Qualified Teachers: 
The focused data analysis (FDA) and Highly Qualified Teacher Continuous Improvement Plan (HQTCIP) must be submitted to the Texas Education Agency for review by December 15th of the following school year. 

Any LEA who has not met the 100% highly qualified teacher requirement and subsequently subject to the Section 2141 interventions, solely due to teachers who are eligible for the multi-subject new special education teacher or multi-subject rural teacher flexibility, will not be required to submit the interventions to the Agency by the December deadline for review.  The interventions will be maintained locally and made available to the Agency upon request.

For example, if an LEA does not meet the 100% requirement by the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year as reported in the Highly Qualified Teacher Compliance Report (due October 15, 2007), the HQTCIP must be submitted to TEA by December 15, 2007, and implemented during the 2007-2008 school year.

The Highly Qualified Teacher Continuous Improvement Plan will be submitted to TEA using a prescribed format.  The strategies and activities identified in the HQTCIP plan must also be incorporated into the LEA’s District Improvement Plan.  LEAs that are required to develop and implement a Highly Qualified Teacher Continuous Improvement plan will receive training on the process and format of the plan from the regional ESCs beginning in September 2007.

Also, beginning in school year 2007-2008, for LEAs that have not reached 100% highly qualified and also have not met AYP for three consecutive years, the TEA will implement the following corrective actions required by Section 2141 statute:

1. LEAs will be required to implement an Accountability Agreement with TEA and jointly develop a professional development program;
2. TEA will require professional development to meet the needs of the campuses;
3. TEA will provide Title II, Part A funds directly to campuses to meet identified needs; and
4. TEA will prohibit LEAs from hiring additional paraprofessional FTEs.

Campus Consequences for Not Reaching 100% Highly Qualified Teachers: 
In addition to the campus level participation in the LEA consequences above, campuses in School Improvement will be required to implement the following specific consequences.

1. Stage 1 School Improvement Program (SIP) campuses have a TEA-required administrative mentor as part of the state’s school support program to schools identified for needing improvement.  These mentors are required to review the campus’ Highly Qualified Teacher Continuous Improvement Plan and provide any necessary technical assistance in revising the plan as needed.
2. Stage 2 and above Title I SIP campuses will be required to submit their campus Highly Qualified Teacher Continuous Improvement Plan to TEA for review in order to receive a Notice of Grant Award (NOGA) for the Title I School Improvement funding.  TEA will conduct a review of the plans and provide technical assistance to the campuses and LEAs as needed.

Attachment 6:   Validation of Highly Qualified Data Submitted by LEA Campuses
  (2006-2007 and 2007-2008 Highly Qualified Teacher Data)

 

As part of the PBMAS data process and in compliance with the USDE peer review of the state’s revised highly qualified teacher plan, the Agency will be conducting a validation process of the highly qualified teacher data submitted by campuses. 

The 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 data validation processes to be implemented by the Division of NCLB Program Coordination will be conducted concurrently from the same random sample of LEAs stratified by ESC region and size of LEA. 

Highly qualified data validation will include the following three processes with a separate random sample generated for each process.

I.  Data Validation Checks—The Agency will require a sample of LEAs to conduct and certify a comprehensive desk audit of the highly qualified teacher data submitted by campuses.  Any campus report not meeting the standards below will be contacted by the Agency and required to amend the data, as deemed necessary.

• All elementary campuses report elementary classes, but no secondary classes, unless 7th grade or above is on the elementary campus.
• All elementary campuses report a number of classes equal to the number of general education and self-contained special education elementary teachers on the campus.
• All secondary campuses report only secondary classes, unless the secondary campus has sixth grade or below on the secondary campus.
• All secondary campuses report a number of classes in the core academic subject areas equal to the number of classes assigned a section number of the master schedule.
• All secondary middle school campuses report classes in the core subject areas required to be taught at the middle school grade levels.
• All secondary high school campuses report classes in the core subject areas required to be taught at the high school grade level.

TEA will provide the districts with a checklist and certification statement to be completed and submitted back to the Agency.

II.  Random Validation Checks—The Agency will require the submission of the highly qualified teacher documentation for a number of teachers on a selected campus from a sample of LEAs.  Agency staff will verify the highly qualified teacher determinations of the LEA and require amendments to the campus data as deemed necessary.

III.  Principal’s Attestation—The Agency will require a sample of LEAs to certify and submit the Principal’s Attestation documents for a number of Title I campuses within the LEA.

Additional information will be mailed to LEAs randomly selected for the three processes in August.