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 an elementary, secondary, or special K-12 certificate, as applicable to the grade levels of the assignment and endorsed for the student population served; and, for each core subject area taught:
a) has passed 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.
Secondary Teachers Providing Instruction at the Primary or Middle-Grades Level
A teacher who provides instruction at the primary level or the middle-grades level to students of secondary school 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 secondary level or the level at which instruction is provided, whether the teacher is a veteran or new to the profession.