The State Board of Education has released additional details of plans to bring California into line with No Child Left Behind requirements. As readers may remember, different guidelines apply for teachers new to the profession and those designated "not new."

For the present, teachers do not meet NCLB requirements for the grade or subject taught if:

• They are teaching with an Emergency Permit, OR

• They are teaching with a supplemental authorization (except where the supplemental authorization is based on a major in the subject taught) or a local authorization for the subject taught, OR

• They are teaching with state or local waivers for the grade or subject taught, OR

• They are teaching as pre-interns

Additionally, the Federal Department of Education has forced other changes in the California plan. According to School Services:

The California Department of Education was informed that local districts can determine, based on curriculum taught, whether a teacher is hired to teach elementary, middle, or high school. This is significant because it may change the subject matter competency requirements for 6^th through 8^th grade teachers who, under the secondary level requirements, would have to "pass a subject matter competency exam for every core subject assigned."

The Feds also decided there is "no authority in the law for a transition period" for teachers new to the profession. Teachers hired after July 1, 2002, who received credentials through the coursework option instead of through a "rigorous state exam", must "come into compliance immediately instead of by June 30, 2004."

More information will become available as we move through the summer.