Office of Educational Services & Support

Parents Right to Know

NCLB Statute (Section 1111(h)(6) 

PARENTS RIGHT-TO-KNOW-

(A) QUALIFICATIONS- At the beginning of each school year, a local educational agency that receives funds under this part shall notify the parents of each student attending any school receiving funds under this part that the parents may request, and the agency will provide the parents on request (and in a timely manner), information regarding the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers, including, at a minimum, the following:

1. Whether the teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.
2. Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.
3. The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.

(B) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION- In addition to the information that parents may request under subparagraph (A), a school that receives funds under this part shall provide to each individual parent--

1. information on the level of achievement of the parent's child in each of the State academic assessments as required under this part; and
2. timely notice that the parent's child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who is not highly qualified.

NCLB Newsletter excerpt

1. Do parents have the right to know the qualifications of the educational staff working with their child?

Yes. Title I Part A, Section 1111 (h)(6) specifies the following requirement.  At the beginning of each school year, any district that receives Title I funds must notify the parents of each student attending a Title I school that the parents may request information regarding the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers.  The district will provide a response to the parents’ request in a timely manner. 

The information must include, at a minimum, the following:

1. Whether the teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.

2. Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.

3. The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.

4. Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

Districts must also provide information on the level of achievement of the their child in each of the State academic assessments and timely notice that their child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who is not highly qualified. 

The notice and information provided to parents must be in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that the parents can understand.

Sample Notification 

What do I know about my child's teacher?  The federal education law put in place by President Bush called "No Child Left Behind, requires that all parents in aTitle I school be notified and given the opportunity to request information about the professional qualifications of classroom teachers instructing their child.  If you are interested in this information, you may send your request to the building principal who will provide a response.