Posted: 8/12/19
PARENT'S RIGHT TO KNOW TEACHERS QUALIFICATIONS
Under ESSA, parents/guardians have the right to obtain information regarding the qualifications of their child's teachers.
Specifically, parents/guardians have the right to know:
· what type of certificate the teacher holds;
· what subjects the teacher is certified to teach;
· whether a teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
· whether a teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
· the baccalaureate degree major of a teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
· whether the student is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications.
Most of this information is accessible through the South Carolina Department of Education's (SCDE) Division of Quality Website, www.scteachers.org/titleii/parents.cfm You may search for this information by entering the teacher's name directly or by accessing a listing of all teachers by district or school name. Only teachers currently employed in South Carolina's school districts are included in this listing. Information obtained through the Teacher Qualification Search Website is intended for informational use only and is not an official record.
Parent Notification Teachers Who Do Not Meet State Licensing Requirements
In addition to the information that parents may request, a school that receives Title I funds must provide each parent a timely notice that the parent's child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet the SCDE’s criteria for teacher licensure.
If a child attends a Title I school and is taught four consecutive weeks by a teacher not meeting the criteria for state licensure, the school will send a letter home explaining the teacher’s qualifications. The notice and information provided to parents must be in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that the parents can understand. This applies to all teachers teaching core academic subjects in a Title I school, regardless if the school has a schoolwide or targeted assistance program.
If parents do not have access to the Internet or wish to receive additional information, please send a letter of request addressed to the child's school principal giving the name of the teacher and the grade or subject the person teaches, as well as the specific information you are requesting. The information will be provided to you within a reasonable period of time, normally within 10 working days of receiving your request.
Please contact Selina Blue, Office of Federal Programs, at 843-479-5705, or sblue@marlboro.k12.sc.us if you have questions, feedback or concerns.