No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires that teachers teach in Title
1 schools after July 1, 2002 and all teachers by July 1, 2006 be
"highly qualified" or NCLB compliant in NCLB core academic
subject areas (English, reading/language arts, math, science, foreign
language, civics/government, economics, arts, history and geography).
NCLB compliance requires that teachers hold a bachelor's degree,
state certification and achieve subject matter competence in the
subject area(s) being taught.
Most middle school teachers hold a Single Subject Teaching Credential
in order to be NCLB compliant. However, an individual who holds
a Multiple Subject Teaching credential may also teach through 9th
grade level by obtaining an Introductory Subject Matter Authorization.
An Introductory Subject Matter Authorization (ISMA) may be issued
to holders of Multiple Subject or Single Subject Teaching Credentials.
ISMA requires an individual to complete 32 semester units of non-remedial
course work or a collegiate major in the subject. The introductory
subjects authorize the holder to teach the subject matter content
typically included in curriculum guidelines and textbooks approved
for study in grades 9 and below.
