Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology

Fall 2008 NCLB Supplement to the Administration Manual for the BEDS Personnel Data Form for Teachers

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as reauthorized in 2004 require virtually all public school teachers of core academic subjects to meet the federal definition of highly qualified.   The only exceptions are teachers who are eligible for extended deadlines, as explained in Item A5 of NCLB NYS Field Memo #03-2008, which is available at www.highered.nysed.gov/nclbhome.htm.  Teachers who are not highly qualified in fall 2008 must be making progress toward becoming highly qualified as soon as possible pursuant to their local educational agency’s (LEA’s) plan to ensure that 100 percent of core classes are taught by highly qualified teachers. 

The Department uses the Basic Educational Data System (BEDS) Personnel Data Form for Teachers to obtain data and report on progress towards meeting NCLB and IDEA teacher quality goals.  Before BEDS Day in October 2008, general instructions for the BEDS Personnel Data Form will be posted online at www.emsc.nysed.gov/irts/home.html and BEDS Personnel Data Forms will be mailed to districts, BOCES and charter schools.  The fall 2008 NCLB Supplement to the general instructions is attached.  It refers to NCLB NYS Field Memo #03-2008 for definitions of all terms.  The memo is available online at www.highered.nysed.gov/
nclbhome.htm.

It is important to prepare for BEDS reporting in fall 2008 by reviewing each teacher’s qualifications for classes in core academic subjects in light of the attached supplement and NCLB NYS Field Memo #03-2008 and to develop procedures for responding accurately and completely to:

Laverne Mitchell
Program Coordinator,
Professional Development
Nassau BOCES
Phone: 516-608-6678
Fax: 516-396-2059