No Educator Left Behind is a series providing answers from the U.S. Department of Education to questions about the federal No Child Left Behind Act and how it will affect educators. If you have a question about No Child Left Behind, send an e-mail to Ellen Delisio, and we will submit your question to the Department of Education.

Question:

How can new teachers meet the "highly qualified teacher" requirements?

U.S. Department of Education:

To be considered "highly qualified," teachers must be well versed in the subject area(s) they teach. The law requires that new teachers hold a bachelor's degree and full state certification, and demonstrate subject-matter competence. Teachers can demonstrate subject-matter competence by passing a rigorous subject test in each academic subject they teach. New middle and high school teachers also can demonstrate subject area competence by successfully completing -- in each core academic subject he or she teaches -- an academic major, course work equivalent to an undergraduate academic major, a graduate degree, or advanced certification or credentialing. New elementary school teachers can demonstrate the required competency only by passing the state test.

Read previous questions and answers in our No Educator Left Behind archive.