Opinion ID: 3064937
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: NCLB’s Definition of “Highly Qualified”

Text: In addition to requiring that all HQTs have a B.A. and competence in their subject matter, Congress defined “highly qualified” to mean that: (i) the teacher has obtained full State certification as a teacher (including certification obtained through alternative routes to certification) or passed the State teacher licensing examination, and holds a license to teach in such State, except that when used with respect to any teacher teaching in a public charter school, the term means that the teacher meets the requirements set forth in the State’s public charter school law; and (ii) the teacher has not had certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis. 20 U.S.C. § 7801(23)(A) (emphasis added). NCLB does not define the term “full State certification.”