Module 3: Cluster 1 Assignment: Qualified Teaching

According to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, a qualified teacher is someone who "holds a bachelor's degree or higher from a 4-year institution, has the content knowledge required to teach core academic subjects, and, usually based on a test of their content knowledge, a state teaching license" (Amrein-Beardsley). Basically, a teacher needs to be an expert in what they teaching and needs to be knowledgeable in how to teach it. To assess the qualifications of a teacher, according to the NCLB Act, test scores are used to evaluate "increases in academic achievement" (Amrein-Beardsley). Good teaching is a form of teaching where a teacher is confident and caring toward their students. Good teachers can adapt in different circumstances, but most importantly are reflective, meaning "they constantly think back over situations to analyze what they did and why, and to consider how they might improve learning for their students" (Woolfolk, 8). To measure good teaching, the teacher is also evaluated using test scores to assess student achievement, but more importantly the relationships he or she shares with each individual student.

Qualification in teaching makes a world of difference. Student achievement and success is mainly based off of how qualified a teacher is. An unqualified teacher may have experience, but does not obtained proper knowledge and expertise on the subject material that they teach. Also, a teacher that is not qualified doesn't possess a traditional certification, but rather has either an alternative or emergency certificate. The last thing and probably most important thing an unqualified teacher would not have is their bachelor's degree from a 4-year institution (which is why they would need a certificate). Highly qualified teachers usually have their bachelor's degree, masters degree, and several certificates.

School systems that may have a paucity of qualified teachers can meet the requirements of NCLB in two ways:

1. Schools in those areas could raise salaries for qualified teachers, which would then attract more qualified teachers to come in. While this seems like the most efficient way of doing things, there is simply not enough money to go around. It would be hard enough to raise the current teachers' salaries, but to make matters worse the school would have to pay all incoming teachers that same amount.
2. A more cost-friendly and efficient way of doing things would be to have teachers help one another. "These [qualified] teachers could share their experience with other, less-qualified teachers in professional development activities, training activities, structured coaching, mentoring relationships, and adding to professional capital of all teachers at these schools" (Amrein Beardsley). By helping each other out, there can be more amounts of qualified teachers while keeping things on a steady budget.