Content Area Competency

In the past, it has been somewhat common for teachers who were trained in one academic area, such as social studies, to teach other courses for which shortages of qualified teachers existed, such as middle grades math. One aspect of NCLB tries to end this practice. The legislation requires that teachers in core academic areas have the knowledge and skill to teach the specific academic subject area(s) to which they are assigned. Teachers must now prove they are "competent," or capable of instructing, each academic subject they teach. The law provides states with significant flexibility to design ways to do this, especially for teachers with experience. SREB states are asking teachers to demonstrate content area competency in various ways.

Veteran elementary school teachers may demonstrate competency by:

• passing a rigorous state test on subject knowledge and teaching skills in reading/language arts, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the basic elementary school curriculum, or
• meeting the state's High, Objective, Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE).

At the middle and high school levels, SREB states are asking teachers to demonstrate content area competency in various ways, including:

• passing a rigorous state test in each core subject they teach,
• holding an academic major (or course work equivalent to an academic major) in the content area
• having an advanced degree in the content area, or
• holding advanced certification such as National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the content area, or
• meeting the state's High, Objective, Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE).

US Department of Education Update: Highly Qualified Teachers: Revised Title II Part A Non-Regulatory Guidance (October 5, 2006)

Link to SREB for State Specific Information

SREB State Information on Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements