Dr. Mary M. Jones
Consultant
California Dept. of Education,
Educational Options Office
1430 N Street, Ste. 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-323-5034 Fax: 916-323-2039
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NCLB TEACHER REQUIREMENTS

The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires all teachers to be "highly qualified" by the end of the 2005-06 school year. The California Department of Education’s "NCLB Teacher Requirements Resource Guide” at http://www.cde.ca.gov/nclb/sr/tq/ provides detailed information about the NCLB teacher requirements.

The main challenge for independent study has been the NCLB requirement that teachers must demonstrate subject matter competence in all the core academic subjects they teach. This has especially been a challenge for high schools (and some middle schools) where independent study teachers taught most, if not all, academic subjects. The core academic subjects are defined as: English, Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Civics/Government, Economics, Arts, History, and Geography.

As outlined in the "NCLB Teacher Requirements Resource Guide,” there are different options available for demonstrating subject matter competence depending on whether or not a teacher is "new to the profession" and whether a teacher teaches at the elementary level or the middle school/high school level. Of particular interest to teachers who are "not new" to the profession is the HOUSSE (High Objective Uniform State Standard or Evaluation) option for demonstrating subject matter competence.

Please see Approaches to Satisfying NCLB Teacher Requirements for Secondary Schools – this document summarizes new ways to offer independent study which are being piloted in districts around the state.

INDEPENDENT STUDY OPERATIONS MANUAL

CDE’s Independent Study Operations Manual, 2000 is available through the CDE Press. It can be ordered on-line at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/is/ or by calling the CDE Press at 800-995-4099 (it is ITEM #1500).

AUDIT GUIDE ISSUED FOR 2008-2009

The California Education Audit Appeals Panel (EAAP) has issued the K-12 Audit Guide for 2008-09 as administrative regulations. These regulations serve as the basis for the 2008-09 annual audits of K-12 local educational agencies, and are posted on the EAAP's Web site at http://www.eaap.ca.gov/NewWebSite0804/NPRM%202008-09/2008-09%20AdtGdeBklt.doc. The provisions related to independent study are in Section 19819, on pages 22 - 28. Note that these regulations replace the K-12 Audit Guide formerly published by the State Controller's Office.

California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Bylaws

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rules governing "Independent Study Programs/Schools" are available in Section 306 at http://www.cifstate.org/governance/constitution_bylaws/pdf/300%20Series.pdf.

Also see CCIS Legislative Advocate - Birdsall Wasco and Associates