The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires that all teachers who teach core academic subjects be compliant with the federal legislation by the end of the 2005-06 school year. To be NCLB compliant teachers must possess a bachelor’s degree, hold state certification, and demonstrate subject matter competency in each core academic subject taught.

Core academic subjects are defined in Section 9101 of the federal statute as Elementary, English, reading/language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, arts, and social studies (civics, government, economics, history and geography)

NCLB guidelines establish how a teacher must demonstrate subject matter competency based on their classification as a “New” or “Not New” teacher. “New” Elementary teachers, including special education teachers, must pass the California Subjects Examination for Teachers (CSET). “Not New” Elementary Teachers may become NCLB compliant through the High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE) process.

“New” Secondary teachers have the option of passing the CSET in each subject taught or complete coursework in each core area taught. The coursework includes:

· CCTC approved subject matter program, or
· Major, or
· Major equivalent, (32 semester units or the equivalent) or
· Graduate degree

“Not New” Secondary teachers have the option of taking the CSET, or coursework (same as above), or go through the HOUSSE process, or have a National Board Certification in the core academic subject taught.