Parent/Guardian Documents

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act is our country's most important federal education law. In 2001 this law was reauthorized and is now called the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). NCLB was designed to make changes in teaching and learning that will help increase academic achievement in our schools.

The law requires that schools receiving Title I funds must inform parents of their right to ask schools about the qualifications of their child's teachers. We believe all parents have this right and we are happy to share this information with you at your request.

We believe that nothing is more important to your child's education at school than having a well-prepared and highly qualified teacher. The law requires that all teachers must meet a specific legal definition of "highly qualified". The legal definition of a "highly qualified teacher" has three parts. It states that the teacher must have the following:

1. A four-year college degree

2. A regular teaching certificate license

3. Proof of his/her knowledge in the subject he/she teaches

New Jersey has some of the most qualified teachers in the country, and we are extremely proud of the quality of the teaching staff in the East Windsor Regional School District . All of our teachers have college degrees and many have advanced degrees. The state of New Jersey has always required a teaching certificate license for all teachers. In addition, every teacher continues learning through professional development activities and our teachers are evaluated each year to make sure that their teaching skills remain at the highest possible level.

Most teachers already meet this legal definition of highly qualified. All teachers hired after the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year were required to meet this definition. According to NCLB, veteran teachers, hired before the 2002-2003 school year, who did not yet meet the legal definition of highly qualified, had until the end of the 2005-2006 school year to do so. The state of New Jersey has requested flexibility from the United States Department of Education to extend the deadline, especially for special education teachers who may teach multiple subjects.

To ensure that every child in every classroom has a highly qualified teacher, the state of New Jersey and our school district are working together to help teachers meet the requirements of the federal law by providing several options. Teachers will be able to take a new test, or they can demonstrate their expertise through a combination of college coursework, professional development activities, and experience.

Highly Qualified Teacher                                                                             

 A highly qualified teacher knows what to teach, how to teach, and has a full understanding of the subject matter being taught. We believe that every teacher in our schools is fully qualified and dedicated to teaching your child, and we will do everything possible to help our teachers who may not yet meet the legal definition required by the federal government.

You are encouraged to support your child's education and communicate with your child's teacher(s) on a regular basis. For more information on NCLB, and the role of parents, please visit the United States Department of Education Web site at www.ed.gov/nclb. By partnering, families and educators can provide your child with the best education possible.