State of New Jersey Department of Education

The New Jersey Model for Highly Qualified Teachers
Teachers: Secondary

Title I Schools and Programs

New and Newly Hired Middle and Secondary Teachers:
To satisfy the federal definition of a Highly Qualified Teacher, middle and secondary teachers who are new to the profession in their first year of teaching and newly hired middle and secondary teachers from outside the district must, as of September 2003 do as follows:
Hold at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
Hold a valid New Jersey teaching certificate for which no requirements have been waived (i.e., no emergency certification);
Pass a rigorous state test in each core academic subject in which the teacher teaches (may have been a state certification test such as the Praxis II Content Knowledge Test for the appropriate subject and level); or
Successfully complete either an undergraduate major, a graduate degree, coursework equivalent to an undergraduate major, or advanced certification or credentialing (i.e., National Board Certification) for each core academic subject teaching assignment.

NOTE: Experienced teachers who are newly hired may use the NJ HOUSE Standard, if needed. New teachers may not use the NJ HOUSE Standard.

Veteran Middle and Secondary Teachers:
Veteran middle and secondary teachers who have been working in schools supported with Title I funds prior to the 2002-2003 school year and middle and secondary teachers who are transferring to Title I within their districts have until the end of the 2005-2006 school year to satisfy the definition of a Highly Qualified Teacher using the criteria listed above or by fulfilling the NJ HOUSE Standard in each content area teaching assignment in lieu of passing a state test or having a major, advanced degree, coursework equivalent to a major, or an advanced credential (i.e., National Board certification) for each content area teaching assignment. Experienced teachers who are newly hired may also use the NJ HOUSE Standard to satisfy the definition of a Highly Qualified Teacher.

Non - Title I Schools and Programs

New, Newly Hired and Veteran Middle and Secondary Teachers:
To satisfy the federal definition of a Highly Qualified Teacher, middle and secondary teachers teachers who are new to the profession, those in their first year of teaching, newly hired from in or out of district and veteran teachers all must, by the end of the 2005-2006 school year do as follows:
Hold at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
Hold a valid New Jersey teaching certificate for which no requirements have been waived (i.e., no emergency certification); AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
    Pass a rigorous state test in each core academic subject in which the teacher teaches (may have been a state certification test such as the NTE or Praxis II Content Knowledge Test for the appropriate subject and level); OR
    Hold an undergraduate major, a graduate degree or 30 credits of coursework equivalent to an undergraduate major for each core academic subject teaching assignment; OR
    Hold National Board Certification in the content area(s) of the teaching assignment; OR
    Document 10 points on the New Jersey HOUSE Standard for each core academic subject teaching assignment.

Related Resources

ETS - Praxis II Test List and Fees. See also Study Guides and Kits

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