“HQT” Requirements: Temporary Use of the HOUSSE Rubric

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 56
POLICY CODE: GCFC/GDA

TO:                  Superintendents of Schools, NCLB Coordinators,”HQT" Officials, and School Principals
FROM:             Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE:              December 7, 2009
RE:                   “HQT” Requirements: Temporary Use of the HOUSSE Rubric

In light of Maine’s ongoing efforts to deal with the impact of the national recession, and the resulting need for education budget “curtailments” in Maine, restrictions on the use of the HOUSSE Rubric are being temporarily waived. This temporary allowance of the use of the HOUSSE Rubric is meant to aid SAUs in the event that reassignments are necessary for any reason.

At present, in order to be considered Highly Qualified, a veteran teacher must demonstrate content area competency by:

Holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher; and

Holding full Maine State Teaching Certification (Provisional, Professional, or Master); and

Having a major, or coursework equivalent to a major (24 semester hours), from an accredited four-year college(s) or university in the assigned core content area; or holding an advanced degree in that content area; or holding National Board Certification in that content area; or having passed the PRAXIS II in that content area; or having achieved 100 points in at least 3 columns on Maine’s HOUSSE Rubric in that content area if eligible for its use.

As of the date of this letter, all teachers assigned to teach core content subjects may use the HOUSSE Rubric to demonstrate Highly Qualified status in additional subjects during the 2009-2010, 2010–2011, and 2011-2012 school years (no later than August 1, 2012). SAUs may want to apply the HOUSSE Rubric to all veteran teachers who are anticipated to transfer teaching assignment into another content area in which they do not meet the other criteria listed in # 3 above. Note that Maine State Certification Regulations still require that all newly certified teachers, as well as those seeking additional endorsements (i.e., those transitionally certified) must pass the appropriate content specific PRAXIS II Exam. These passing scores constitute demonstration of Highly Qualified status.

For example, a certified high school science teacher seeking an additional endorsement in mathematics must apply for and meet the requirements for that endorsement, including passing the PRAXIS II for secondary mathematics teachers. All those teachers certified K-8 General Elementary may use the HOUSSE Rubric to demonstrate in additional content areas within this endorsement’s grade span (e.g., an eighth grade teacher Highly Qualified in science may use the HOUSSE Rubric to demonstrate Highly Qualified status as an elementary generalist instead of taking the PRAXIS II for elementary teachers).

Teachers currently qualified under HOUSSE procedures (i.e., having demonstrated content competency through use of the HOUSSE prior to this) should continue to be counted as Highly Qualified for that content area. Teachers operating under a “Teacher Action Statement” working toward Highly Qualified status may continue to do so, and their classes will be reported as being taught by a teacher who is not Highly Qualified. At present, as has been the case in the past, there are no legally required employment consequences for not being Highly Qualified; there are only reporting requirements to parents, and to the State, in the yearly Highly Qualified teacher data collection process.

Title I Schools and Programs: According to federal requirements, teachers of core academic subjects who were hired after the first day of the 2002-2003 school year and who are teaching in programs supported with Title I funds (school-wide or targeted assistance) must be Highly Qualified at the time of hire.

If you have questions, or if we can assist you further, please contact Dan Conley, at 207-624-6639, or by e-mail to dan.conley@maine.gov .