Parent notice of non-certified/inappropriately certified teachers

State law requires that a school district that assigns an inappropriately certified or uncertified teacher to the same classroom for more than 30 consecutive instructional days provide written notice of the assignment to the parent/guardian of each student in that classroom. The statute defines “inappropriately certified or uncertified teacher” as an individual serving on an emergency permit or one who does not hold any certificate or permit. It does not include someone serving on a school district teaching permit or for whom a waiver of certification has been granted by the commissioner, or to non-certified people hired by DOIs that claim exemption from certification requirements. The statute also exempts certified teachers who are teaching a class/classes outside their area of certification from the parent notice requirement.

Additionally, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires that school districts provide timely notice to a student’s parents if a student has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who does not meet applicable state certification or licensure requirements for the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned. State law provides that school districts that provide the notice required by ESSA are not required to provide the notice required by state law.

ESSA also requires that, upon request, parents of students receive timely information about whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications, and whether their child’s teacher:

• has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
• is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
• is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.