Highly Qualified Teachers
and the Oregon Diploma Options
HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHER OPTIONS FOR GRADES 9-12
Licensed Secondary Teacher/Core
Academic Class
Special Education Class/Students taking
standard statewide assessments
To be considered “highly qualified” in an
academic content area a teacher must
have all of the following:
 Hold full state licensure as defined by
Oregon Teacher Standards and
Practices Commission (TSPC)
 Hold a Bachelor’s degree
 Demonstrate subject matter competency
in each of the core academic subjects
the teacher teaches
o Hold an endorsement in the core
academic subject they are teaching
o Have a major or equivalent in the
core academic subject they are
teaching
o Pass the TSPC approved content
test for the core academic subject
(Praxis or NES)
o Meet Secondary HOUSSE (only
applies if the teacher has been
teaching core academic subject for 3
or more years)
If any student in the assigned class is taking
the standard assessment in that academic
content area, a special education teacher
must meet the following criteria to be
considered “highly qualified” in grades 9 -12:
 Must hold full state licensure and
special education endorsement
 Must demonstrate subject matter
competency in one of the following
ways:
o Hold an endorsement in the core
academic subject they are teaching
o Have a major or equivalent in the
core academic subject they are
teaching
o Pass the TSPC approved content
test for the core academic subject
(Praxis or NES)
o Meet Secondary HOUSSE (only
applies if the teacher has been
teaching core academic subject for 3
or more years)
Special Education Class/Students
taking alternate statewide assessment
If all students in the assigned class are
taking the extended assessment in that
academic content area, a special
education teacher must meet the following
criteria to be considered “highly qualified”
in grades 9-12:
 Must hold full state licensure and
special education endorsement
 Must demonstrate subject matter
competency in one of the following
ways:
o Hold an elementary multiple subjects
endorsement (e.g. Basic
Elementary, Standard Elementary,
Initial I ECE/ELE multiple subjects,
etc.)
o Pass the MSAT
o Pass the ORELA Multiple subjects
test subparts II and III
o Meet Elementary HOUSSE (only
applies if the teacher has been
teaching core academic subject for 3
or more years)
25
26
Oregon Diploma
Teacher
Status
Credits by Subject
English/Language Arts
Graduating Class Graduating Class Graduating Class
of 2012
of 2013
of 2014 & beyond
4
4
4
3
3
3 - Algebra 1 & above*
3 – Scientific Inquiry &
3 – Scientific Inquiry &
3 – Scientific Inquiry &
Lab Experiences**
Lab Experiences**
Lab Experiences**
History, Geography, Economics,
Government & Civics***
3
3
3
Physical Education
Health
Second Language
1
1
3
1
1
3
1
1
3
Units may be earned in
any one or a
combination of Second
Language/Arts/Career
& Tech Ed (CTE)
courses
Units may be earned in
any one or a
combination of Second
Language/Arts/Career
& Tech Ed (CTE)
courses
Units may be earned in
any one or a
combination of Second
Language/Arts/Career
& Tech Ed (CTE)
courses
6
24
6
24
Reading
Reading & Writing
6
24
Reading, Writing &
Math
Reading, Writing, Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Integrated Science, Biology,
Chemistry, Physics
Social Sciences
e.g. French, German, Japanese,
Spanish, Russian, Chinese
The Arts
Visual arts, Music & Drama
Career & Technical Ed
Electives
Total Credits
Essential Skills
*Applied and integrated courses aligned to standards can meet credit requirements
** Lab experiences (2 credits) can take place outside of the school in field-based experiences
*** Teachers who have passed the PRAXIS Social Studies test are highly qualified to teach all 4 areas of Social Studies
27
Teacher is highly qualified in the core academic subject area (The Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Sciences,
Language Arts & Reading, or World Languages)
28
Modified Diploma
Teacher Status
Credits by Subject
Beginning with the
Graduating Class of 2012 &
Beyond
English/Language Arts
3
Reading, Writing, Language Arts
or
Mathematics
2
Science**
2
or
Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
or
Social Sciences***
or
2
History, Geography, Economics, Government &
Civics, Personal Finance
Physical Education
Health
Second Language
or
e.g. French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Russian,
Chinese
The Arts
Visual arts, Music & Drama
Career & Technical Ed
Electives
Total Credits
Essential Skills
1
1
1
Credit may be earned in any one or a
combination of the Second
Languages/Arts/Career & Tech Ed
(CTE) courses
12
24
Reading (2012)
Reading & Writing (2013)
Reading, Writing & Math (2014)
= If ALL students in the assigned class period take the Extended Assessment in that academic subject area.
(See table on page 4 for HQT qualifying options)
29
Extended Diploma
Teacher Status
Credits by Subject
Beginning with the
Graduating Class of 2012 &
Beyond
English/Language Arts
or
or
2
Reading, Writing, Language Arts
Mathematics
2
Science
or
2
Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Social Sciences
or
3
History, Geography, Economics, or Civics
Physical Education
Health
Second Language
or
e.g. French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Russian,
Chinese
The Arts
or
Visual Arts, Music & Drama
1
1
1
Credit may be earned in either one or
a combination of Second Language
and the Arts.
Total Credits
Essential Skills
12*
Not required
* May not include more than six credits earned in a self-contained special education classroom
= If ALL students in the assigned class period take the Extended Assessment in that academic subject area. (See
table on page 4 for HQT qualifying options)
30