Professional Qualifications of Classroom Teachers/Paraprofessionals

On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law “The No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB), the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  A provision of this new Title I law requires all districts to notify parents of all children in all Title I schools that they have the right to request and receive timely  information on the professional qualifications of their children’s classroom teachers/paraprofessionals.  This requirement applies to all of Montebello Unified School District’s K-8 schools.

As a parent, you may request any or all of the following:

(i) Whether the teacher has met state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.

 (ii)  Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualifications orlicensing criteria have been waived.

 (iii) The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.

 (iv)  Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.