Information for Maine Educators and Administrators

NEW! NEW! Maine 2004-2008 HQT Content Data Comparison in rtf

Maine HQT statistical data for 2005-2006 can be viewed by clicking here.

Maine's "Teacher Quality, and Equity Action Plans" 2006 - 2007

Maine's State Equity Action Plan 2006-2007 Revised March 1, 2007 in PDF

Maine State Teacher Quality Action Plan 2006-2007 Revised March 1, 2007 in PDF

 

WELCOME

Here on the Maine Department of Education's "HQTP" Web pages, you will find access to general information about the the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as well as specifics about its implementation in Maine.

OVERVIEW

All HQTP documentation is completed and stored at the local District level. Please do not send individual documentation of "highly qualified" status to the Maine Department of Education (MDOE).  Teachers and Paraprofessionals should always maintain copies of all HQTP documents in their own records.

Districts report their HQTP data to MDOE on a yearly basis via the web-based MEDMS system. In every school district, there is someone designated as the “HQTP Official.” In many cases this is the Building Principal, or someone at the Superintendent’s Office. If you are not presently employed, any school official can verify and sign your documentation. Always keep a copy so that you can present it in the event of employment in a public school.

CURRENT GUIDANCE

According to new guidance from the United States Department of Education, after August 31, 2006, the allowed uses of "High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation" (HOUSSE) for teachers hired after the end of the 2005-06 school year will be as described below.   Note: Commissioner Susan Gendron discussed the revised requirements in Informational Letter #152.  To read the letter, click here.

• secondary school teachers teaching multiple subjects in eligible rural schools (who, if highly qualified in at least one subject at the time of hire, may use the Maine HOUSSE to demonstrate competence in additional subjects within three years). Rural schools will be deemed eligible if they qualify for Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) flexibility provisions under the No Child Left Behind Act.
  The list of these schools in Maine can be found at http://www.maine.gov/education/nclb/reap/small_rural/srshome.htm

• those special education teachers teaching multiple subjects (who, if they are new to the profession and highly qualified in language arts, mathematics, or science at the time of hire, may use HOUSSE (in the Form to demonstrate competence in additional subjects within two years); and

• teachers who come to the United States from other countries to teach on a temporary basis will also be eligible to use HOUSSE.

All other new hires are required to demonstrate competency by meeting the following criteria:

• Holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher; and

• Holding full Maine State Teaching Certification (Provisional, Professional, or Master); and

• Having a major, or coursework equivalent to a major (24 semester hours), from an accredited four-year college(s) or university in the assigned core content area; or holding an advanced degree in that content area; or holding National Board Certification in that content area; or having passed the PRAXIS II in that content area.

Other documents may be required in particular situations. Please consult the “Maine Model for Identifying Highly Qualified Teachers" for more information about the documents you will need. Complete them as required, and please be sure to have them signed by the school official.

FORMS AND RESOURCES

The Forms and Resources section of this website contains many publications that offer detailed guidance for both teachers and administrators. In addition to the “Maine Model for Identifying Highly Qualified Teachers," you will find downloadable versions of all the other forms and information that Maine teachers and paraprofessionals will need to establish their "Highly Qualified" status. Please see the menu on the left side of this page.

MAINE HQT STATISTICAL DATA

• A Comparison: Percentage of Classes Taught by "Highly Qualified Teachers" in High & Low Poverty Schools (PDF file)
• Percentages Of Highly Qualified Teachers -By Content Area (PDF file)

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