Highly Qualified Special Education Teacher
Definition
"Highly qualified" has the meaning given in ESEA; except that the term also means, for public elementary and secondary special education teachers, that the teacher has
at least a BA degree; and
full State certification as a special education teacher with no waivers on an emergency, temporary or provisional basis.
Exceptions to be deemed highly qualified for:
special education teachers teaching to alternate achievement standards; and
special education teachers teaching 2 or more subjects
Speaker Notes:
Section 602 (10)
Highly qualified requirements became effective December 3, 2004. Special education teachers who teach core academic subjects must meet the NCLB definition of highly qualified. IDEA adds to the NCLB requirements of highly qualified that the teachers must have a BA degree and be special education certified with no temporary waivers.
IDEA does not require special education teachers who do not provide instruction in core academic subjects, such as consultant teachers and resource room providers, to demonstrate subject matter competency, but these teachers must have a BA degree and be special education certified. These teachers may not have temporary waivers.
IDEA offers two exceptions to NCLB on routes for certain special education teacher to become highly qualified.