Avery County Schools Policy Policy Code: 7130R
LICENSURE REGULATION
A. HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS DEFINED
1. Elementary School Teachers
To be a “highly qualified teacher” at the elementary school level, a teacher
must have an appropriate license for the core academic subjects taught. A
teacher must also demonstrate subject knowledge and teaching skills in
reading/language arts, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the basic
elementary school curriculum by passing the Praxis II exams required for
the license.
2. Middle and High School Teachers
To be a “highly qualified teacher” at the middle and high school levels, a
teacher must have a middle school or secondary license in the teaching
area required for each teaching assignment. A teacher must also
demonstrate a high level of competency by:
a. Passing the required PRAXIS II test(s) in each academic subject in
which he or she teaches; or
b. Successfully completing in each academic subject in which he or
she teaches any of the following:
1) An undergraduate major;
2) Coursework equivalent to an undergraduate major;
3) A graduate degree in the core teaching subject area(s);
4) Master’s level licensure or above in the appropriate subject
area; or
5) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
certification in the related subject area(s).
3. Exceptional Children’s and English as a Second Language (ESL) Teachers
To be a “highly qualified teacher” in an exceptional children’s class or
ESL class, a teacher must have the exceptional children’s and/or ESL
license required for the teaching assignment. The teacher must also
demonstrate the subject knowledge and teaching skills in the content areas
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7130R Page 1 of 3 taught by passing the PRAXIS II exams required for the license. This paragraph applies to exceptional children’s teachers and ESL teachers who are the teachers of record for core academic areas.
4. Out-of-State Teachers
An out-of-state teacher who submits documentation that she or he has
been deemed “highly qualified” in another state shall be designated
“highly qualified” in North Carolina provided that he or she has at least a
bachelors degree from an accredited college or university. This
documentation may include satisfactory test scores from the originating
state, verification of satisfactory completion of the High Objective
Uniform State Standard for Evaluation (HOUSSE) for the originating
state, or verification of National Board Certification, as authorized by
NCLB.
5. Veteran Teachers
A veteran teacher may use the NC HOUSSE to establish that he or she is
“highly qualified,” provided that he or she has taught full time with a
reciprocal state license for not less than six successive calendar months in
one school system, charter school, or non-public institution. To utilize NC
HOUSSE to be deemed “highly qualified” in a content area, the teacher
must satisfy the relevant requirements of State Board of Education (SBE)
Policy QP-A-001, Sec. 1.01.
B. BEGINNING TEACHER SUPPORT
The plan for beginning teacher support must:
1. Describe adequate provisions for efficient management of the program.
2. Designate an official to verify eligibility of beginning teachers for a
continuing license.
3. Provide for a formal orientation for beginning teachers that includes a
description of available services, training opportunities, the teacher
evaluation process and the process for achieving a continuing license.
4. Address compliance with the optimum working conditions for beginning
teachers identified by the SBE.
5. Address compliance with the mentor selection, assignment and training
guidelines identified by the SBE.
6. Provide for the involvement of the principal or designee in supporting the
beginning teacher.
7. Provide for a minimum of four observations per year in accordance with
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7130R Page 2 of 3 G.S. 115C-333, using the instruments adopted by the SBE for such purposes or other instruments that have been validated according to the SBE’s standards. The plan must also address the appropriate spacing of observations throughout the year and specify a date by which the annual summative evaluation is to be completed.
8. Provide for the preparation of an Individualized Growth Plan (IGP) by
each beginning teacher in collaboration with the principal or designee and
the mentor teacher.
9. Provide for a formal means of identifying and delivering services and
technical assistance needed by beginning teachers.
10. Provide for the maintenance of a cumulative beginning teacher file that
contains the IGP and evaluation of report(s).
11. Provide for the timely transfer of the cumulative beginning teacher file to
successive employing LEAs, charter schools, or non-public institutions
within the state upon the authorization of the beginning teacher.
12. Describe a plan for the systematic evaluation of the Beginning Teacher
Support Program to assure program quality, effectiveness and efficient
management.
13. Document that the board has adopted the plan.
Legal References: G.S. 115C-296, -296.2, -325(e)(1)(m), -333, -333.1; State Board of Education Policies LICN-001, -004, NCAC-6C.0102, NCAC-6C.0307
Cross References:
Adopted: 8/4/08; 4/28/17
Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7130R Page 3 of 3