SCTA Newsletter

What's happening on July 1, 2002?

President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" reauthorization act states that effective July 1, 2002, all newly hired public school teachers must be "highly qualified" teachers, which means each teacher is required to obtain full certification, or pass the state licensing exam, and hold a license to teach in the state (except for teaching in public charter schools, where the teacher must meet the requirements set forth in the charter school law).

A "highly qualified" teacher must not have had any certification or licensure requirements waived by emergency, temporary, or provisional basis. In other words, teachers are not supposed to be hired by way of the emergency permit process.

By 2006, all teachers across the country must hold a bachelorís degree, must demonstrate competency in the subject matter she/he teaches, and must demonstrate her/his skills in teaching ability.

This is all being enacted to change the public's perception of teachers from "baby-sitter" quality to "highly qualified, professional." A teaching position is no longer supposed to be viewed as a job that one takes to fall back on in case something else doesn't work out. Instead, because of these reforms, the teaching position is supposed to be viewed as a professional commitment to quality education for students.

Looking for Financial Assistance?
Check out these links! Here is some money available to future teachers.

• http://www.cta.org/inside_cta/scholarships_workshops/index.shtml
  CTA and SCTA scholarships. You should be applying for these!
• http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=111
  APLE (Assumption Program of Loans for Education) assumes up to $19,000 in outstanding educational loan balances in return for 4 consecutive years of teaching service.
• http://teacher-fellowship.calstate.edu/index.shtml
  Governor's Teaching Fellowship Program gives $20,000 for 4 consecutive years of work in low-performing schools
• http://www.calteach.com/future/f1.shtml
  This site provides information on the types of money available and gives links to them
• http://www.recruitingteachers.org/become/finaid.shtml
  This one gives general information and specifically for people of color
• http://www.teachforamerica.org/tfa/how/index.shtml
  Teach for America offers student loans and loan forbearance in return for 2 years of service
• http://www.edfund.org/schools/services/resources/teachforgive/index.shtml
  Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. Eligible persons receive reimbursement of up to $5000 for subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans.