State Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) Plans
In July 2006, states were required to submit plans to the U.S. Department of Education that outlined how they plan to meet a variety of teacher quality goals. These plans were to focus on a variety of areas, including technical assistance for local education agencies (LEAs) and teacher equitable distribution. Many states consider these plans "living documents" and use them as tools to guide ongoing efforts for meeting HQT requirements of NCLB as well as long-term educator quality goals in the state. Below are several links to resources related to states' HQT plans:
Technical Assistance
Highly Qualified Teachers in the United States: Where Are We Now? (
Adobe® Reader® PDF 356 KB)
The U.S. Department of Education released the 2006–07 highly qualified teacher data in May. Read the TQ Center's summary of the data and their implications.
Adobe Reader PDF 156 KB)
This technical assistance response brief describes how seven states address the requirements for identification, documentation, and notification of highly qualified status for special education teachers as established through the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality reviewed reports from the first 18 visits in the second round of monitoring to identify Ten Early Lessons Learned From Highly Qualified Teacher Monitoring Reports ( Adobe® Reader® PDF 220 KB) for states that will undergo future monitoring visits. A key theme that emerged from our review of early monitoring reports is that HQT and equity plans are not static documents. As such, these plans need to be reviewed, updated, and implemented on an ongoing basis.
At the March 2008 National Issue Forum: "From Planning to Action: Effectively Using Your Professional Development Resources," the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality held an invitational session for states that will have their monitoring visits this spring. Following a presentation on "Lessons Learned" by Elizabeth Witt of the U.S. Department of Education, TQ Center staff provided a Sample Review of a State HQT plan ( Adobe Reader PDF 192 KB), highlighting HQT challenges and providing feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the plan in accordance with the monitoring protocols. These services are offered as technical assistance to the Regional Comprehensive Centers ( Adobe Reader PDF 188 KB) as they support states with preparations for monitoring visits.
Webcasts
Innovative Ideas and Practical Suggestions for Improving the State Highly Qualified Teacher Plans
To help states improve their state plans for highly qualified teachers in every classroom, the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality and the U.S. Department of Education teamed up to offer a webcast specifically for regional comprehensive centers and state Title II—Part A and highly qualified teacher representatives. During the one-hour webcast on September 7, 2006, panelists discussed the purpose of the state plans and the elements of a successful plan; provided overall impressions of the state plans submitted in July; and identified several resources, best practices, and innovative strategies for states to consider as they work toward improved state plans.
Supporting Progress in Meeting the HQT Requirements of NCLB
The National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality hosted a webcast titled Supporting Progress in Meeting the Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) Requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act on April 30, 2008. This live, interactive webcast will support regional comprehensive centers and state education agencies in their efforts to move from planning to action through the implementation of their state highly qualified teacher (HQT) plans.
Events
Third Annual What Works Conference: "Building Capacity for a Systems Approach to Improving Educator Quality"
At the Third Annual What Works Conference, the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality hosted an invitational-only session focused on the U.S. Department of Education's Title II, Part A monitoring process. Following a presentation on lessons learned from the TQ Center's review of the current HQT monitoring reports, three states shared their experiences preparing for their monitoring visit and provided lessons learned for states. In addition to the session on monitoring, the TQ Center provided a technical assistance workshop aimed to help states shift the focus of their Highly Qualified Teacher state plans from technical compliance to policy levers for change. Presenters discussed several issues including how they worked with regional comprehensive centers to implement their state plans, collaborating with and monitoring of LEAs, and provisions of Section 2141 of NCLB.
National Issue Forum: "From Planning to Action: Implementation of the Highly Qualified Teacher Plans
On March 28–29, 2007, the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality hosted a national issue forum to help states and regional comprehensive centers move another step forward with the implementation of their state plans to ensure that highly qualified teachers are available for all students—regardless of where they live or the school they attend.
U.S. Department of Education Resources
The U.S. Department of Education posts the 2007–2010 Highly Qualified Teachers and Improving Teacher Quality State Grants (ESEA Title II, Part A) Monitoring Reports for the states. These reports review the progress states are making in two key areas of the law:
- Meeting the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act highly qualified teacher (HQT) requirements (having 100 percent of students taught by a teacher who holds at least a bachelor's degree, has obtained full state certification, and has demonstrated knowledge in the core academic subject he or she teaches)
- Using the NCLB Title II, Part A, funds to prepare, retain, and recruit quality teachers and principals so that all students will achieve high academic standards and reach their full potential
In addition, the department has posted the Monitoring Protocols for the 2007–2008 Monitoring Cycle.
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