Ensuring Highly Qualified Teachers

Under President Bush's No Child Left Behind Law, parents are promised that kids across the country "will get a highly qualified teacher in every core class this year". In the event that doesn't happen, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, in a letter to state school officials, has announced that states can have an extra year (to the end of school year 2006-07) to comply if they show they are making a serious effort to do so. If, however, their case can't be made to the Secretary, federal money may be withheld from the schools in question.

The law states that teachers in all major subjects are to be "highly qualified", which is defined as having a bachelor's degree, state certification and proven competence in every subject they teach. As an exception, teachers in isolated, rural areas have an extra year to qualify.

Learn more about the requirements and how they will be enforced in the article on the MSNBC Web site.