COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 49

March 14, 2003

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	No Child Left Behind: Highly Qualified Teachers and Paraprofessionals

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 places major emphasis on teacher quality as a factor in improving student achievement. All teachers of core academic subjects hired after the first day of the 20022003 school year and teaching in a program supported with Title I, Part A, funds must be "highly qualified." States are required to develop plans with annual measurable objectives that will ensure that all teachers of core academic subjects are highly qualified by the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

Paraprofessionals with instructional duties hired before January 8, 2002, and working in a program supported with funds under Title I, Part A, must meet these requirements by January 8, 2006. All paraprofessionals with instructional duties hired after the date of enactment (January 8, 2002) of the No Child Left Behind legislation and working in a program supported with funds under

Title I, Part A, must have met the federal definition of a "highly qualified" paraprofessional.

In response to the No Child Left Behind Act, the Department of Education developed a document entitled Questions and Answers regarding the implementation of the requirements for highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals. This document has been revised, and you may access the information on the following website:

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/nclb/NCLB_QA-hqteachrs.pdf

The United States Department of Education has issued several non-regulatory documents on the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. However, you should use the Question and Answer document as the official response of the Virginia Department of Education. This document outlines how Virginia is addressing the requirements for highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals under the Act.

I encourage you to share this important information with central office personnel, school principals, teachers, and paraprofessionals in your division. Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, assistant superintendent for teacher education and licensure, at (804) 371-2522 (mailto:telliott@pen.k12.va.us)if you have any questions.

JLD/TAE/psp