What does the term “highly qualified” mean in relation to NCLB?
The term “highly qualified,” as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act, means that teachers must be fully certified by the State in the grade or subject area that they are teaching. Any teacher who posses less than a professional certificate by the first day of employment is not considered highly qualified. Less than a regular certificate includes substandard certificates such as Transitional, Warrant, Temporary, Special Subject, Out-of-Field, Permit Proviso, Graded, or Interim (previously called Critical Needs).
