A teacher who has primary responsibility for teaching content in core academic subjects will be considered “highly qualified” if he or she holds a special preschool-age 21 certificate endorsed for the student population served, or holds an elementary, secondary, or special K-12 certificate that is valid for the grade levels of the assignment and the subjects taught and endorsed for the student population served; and, for each core subject area taught:
a) has passed either the Elementary/Middle Grades test or the content-area
test
specific to the subject taught; or
b) has completed a major or coursework equivalent to a major; or
c) holds a master’s or higher degree in a field directly related to
the area of
assignment; or
d) holds NBPTS certification or an Illinois master certificate; or
e) qualifies with 100 points under the Illinois HOUSSE, if applicable.
Middle-Grades Teachers Providing Instruction at the Primary Level
A teacher who provides instruction at the primary level to students of middle-grade age whose performance is assessed against alternate achievement standards will be considered “highly qualified” if he or she meets the criteria for either new or veteran special education teachers at either the primary or the middle-grade level, whether the teacher is a veteran or new to the profession.