‘Amending HQT rules faces uphill battle’

Amending the requirements for highly qualified teachers faces an uphill battle as any grandfathering on the standards will mean a dual system for public schools in the CNMI, according to Board of Education vice chair Herman T. Guerrero.

Changes in the requirements were sought by the Association of Commonwealth Teachers, which criticized the benchmarks as higher than the standards set in many U.S. states, based on its research.

Guerrero, also chairman of the board’s fiscal and personnel affairs committee, is firm in his view that lowering the standards will also result in lowering the academic progress PSS desires for its students.

He said that based on SAT-10 results, there seems to be a correlation between non-HQT percentage versus high performance of kids.

“Results show that students who have teachers more knowledgeable on content areas, or have passed the rigorous test, are learning better and performing better academically,” he said.

Guerrero said the board has required PSS management to submit yearly progress reports based on SAT-10 results to establish findings.

There are over 500 teachers in PSS, of which 66 percent are highly qualified. HQT means teachers have obtained a degree, have valid teaching certificates, and have passed both Praxis 1 and 2.

The CNMI, as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, is required to have all its classrooms manned by HQT personnel by 2011, which is the reason why BOE set its three basic requirements, tied to the teacher’s compensation plan as approved in 2006.

Guerrero said his committee is awaiting the recommendations of PSS if there’s a need to favor the ACT proposal.

“If we’re telling the kids to pursue excellence, why are they asking us to lower the standards or requirements set for teachers to become more effective in the class?” he asked.

The vice chairman said the proposal would also mean discouraging professionalism in the field of education.

Saipan Tribune learned that once a non-HQ teacher passes Praxis and the other requirements to become certified, their contracts are amended to reflect a new salary scale at the certification level.

ACT is recommending that PSS lower the passing score for Praxis 2, provide additional time for non-English native teachers, and consider alternative measure for non-HQT veteran teachers. The association also requested the reinstatement of salaries of teachers who are yet to complete the requirements.

Last year, PSS renewed the one-year teaching contract of over 130 non-HQT personnel in the classrooms with the condition they show efforts in passing the tests during the one-year contract period.

In order not to compound the teacher shortage problem and the anticipated impact of federalization, Guerrero yesterday said these contracts would likely be renewed.

“If principals are pursuing these [non-HQT] teachers, the commissioner will look into it for the board’s approval. The board set the standards not to penalize or get rid of the teachers but we’re asking schools and management how we can retain these teachers and bring them to a competitive level,” Guerrero said.

He admitted that a non-HQT status may affect the ability of CNMI schools to use some federal funds, which restricts its use to highly qualified personnel.

Even some portions of the stimulus economic fund eyed for CNMI education, Guerrero said, are restricted to highly qualified employees.