Subject:  IDEA Requirements Related to Highly Qualified Special Educators

Source:  Melodie Friedebach, Assistant Commissioner

Intended Audience:  Superintendents, Directors of Special Education, Special Educators

Date:  March 30, 2005

 

On December 3, 2004, the President signed reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004).  IDEA requirements related to ensuring special educators are highly qualified by August 1, 2006, are included in the reauthorization.

 

Based on Missouri’s use of the C-BASE assessment as an entry requirement for teacher preparation programs, all teachers who graduated from a Missouri educator preparation program and hold Missouri K-12 special education certification in any area will be considered highly qualified for language arts, math, science, and social studies content area instruction when serving special education students in grades 1-12.  Teachers holding Missouri Early Childhood Special Education certification are highly qualified in elementary education through grade 3.

 

Special educators graduating from a Missouri teacher preparation program and holding these certifications do not have to meet any additional requirements under IDEA to be considered highly qualified.  Special educators graduating from teacher preparation programs outside Missouri are highly qualified if they have met Missouri’s certification requirements.