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3 percent of teachers don't meet standards
Of the more than 2,600 teachers in the Douglas County School District, 88, or 3 percent, are not in compliance with the government's requirement that teachers either be endorsed or have a minimum of 24 credit hours of instruction in the subjects they teach.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
Of the more than 2,600 teachers in the Douglas County School District, 88, or 3 percent, are not in compliance with the government's requirement that teachers either be endorsed or have a minimum of 24 credit hours of instruction in the subjects they teach.
The district has less than three years to come into compliance, said Bill Hodges, assistant superintendent for human resources.
"We have until July 2006 to help teachers meet the high-quality teacher requirements or hire ones to take their place," Hodges said.
The requirements are specific, Hodges said. Elementary teachers must have a kindergarten through sixth-grade endorsement, he said. Middle and high school teachers need a secondary endorsement, or 24 semester hours of course work in each area in which they teach.
"A teacher could have a teaching endorsement in math and also be teaching a class in science," Hodges said. "In order to continue to teach the science class, the teacher would need to be endorsed in science or have 24 semester hours of work semester science."
The district was aware that this requirement, which is part of the federal government's No Child Left Behind Act, was coming, and last year hired only teachers who already met the guidelines, Hodges said.
The No Child Left Behind Act places requirements on school districts to have highly qualified teachers and for its students to reach certain goals for test scores.
The act, administered by the Colorado Department of Education, is designed to ensure that all American students receive an adequate education.
Failure to comply would mean a decrease or loss of federal funding for education, Hodges said.
There is some concern on the teachers' part about complying, said Pat McGraw, president of the Douglas County Federation of Teachers.
"Middle school teachers are the ones who are most concerned," McGraw said.
A middle school teacher must have a kindergarten through eighth-grade endorsement, McGraw said. However, the Colorado Department of Education, which regulates the federal mandate, considers that an elementary endorsement.
"This is a concern across the nation," Hodges said.
Another concern is Montessori certification, Hodges said.
"To teach in a Montessori school requires that certification," Hodges said. "Montessori schools don't always require endorsement."
The state department of education has determined that Montessori endorsements don't qualify, Hodges said.
The district, through its staff development office, is contacting the teachers who need to work toward compliance, Hodges said.
"Once we know what their needs are, we can begin to develop some courses that will help them come into compliance," Hodges said.
The teachers' bargaining agent supports the district's work toward compliance, McGraw said.
"The American Federation of Teachers has said this isn't a perfect solution, but it has positive parts, and we need to work with the system," McGraw said. "It speaks well of the district that have [so few] teachers that need to come into compliance. Imagine a district that doesn't have the resources we do. Sure, the mandate will impact us, but it will hit others much harder."
The district has less than three years to come into compliance, said Bill Hodges, assistant superintendent for human resources.
"We have until July 2006 to help teachers meet the high-quality teacher requirements or hire ones to take their place," Hodges said.
The requirements are specific, Hodges said. Elementary teachers must have a kindergarten through sixth-grade endorsement, he said. Middle and high school teachers need a secondary endorsement, or 24 semester hours of course work in each area in which they teach.
"A teacher could have a teaching endorsement in math and also be teaching a class in science," Hodges said. "In order to continue to teach the science class, the teacher would need to be endorsed in science or have 24 semester hours of work semester science."
The district was aware that this requirement, which is part of the federal government's No Child Left Behind Act, was coming, and last year hired only teachers who already met the guidelines, Hodges said.
The No Child Left Behind Act places requirements on school districts to have highly qualified teachers and for its students to reach certain goals for test scores.
The act, administered by the Colorado Department of Education, is designed to ensure that all American students receive an adequate education.
Failure to comply would mean a decrease or loss of federal funding for education, Hodges said.
There is some concern on the teachers' part about complying, said Pat McGraw, president of the Douglas County Federation of Teachers.
"Middle school teachers are the ones who are most concerned," McGraw said.
A middle school teacher must have a kindergarten through eighth-grade endorsement, McGraw said. However, the Colorado Department of Education, which regulates the federal mandate, considers that an elementary endorsement.
"This is a concern across the nation," Hodges said.
Another concern is Montessori certification, Hodges said.
"To teach in a Montessori school requires that certification," Hodges said. "Montessori schools don't always require endorsement."
The state department of education has determined that Montessori endorsements don't qualify, Hodges said.
The district, through its staff development office, is contacting the teachers who need to work toward compliance, Hodges said.
"Once we know what their needs are, we can begin to develop some courses that will help them come into compliance," Hodges said.
The teachers' bargaining agent supports the district's work toward compliance, McGraw said.
"The American Federation of Teachers has said this isn't a perfect solution, but it has positive parts, and we need to work with the system," McGraw said. "It speaks well of the district that have [so few] teachers that need to come into compliance. Imagine a district that doesn't have the resources we do. Sure, the mandate will impact us, but it will hit others much harder."
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