"Two years ago, I had to assist one of my members in my capacity as building representative . She had been successfully teaching replacement English to special education students at the high school for the past 15 years. She came to me very confused and frustrated with the 40-plus pages of paper which had to be read and completed to prove she was highly qualified in English because she taught her students under her Teacher of the Handicapped certificate.

"I had her bring in all relevant documentation: college transcripts, past teaching schedules, etc. She fulfilled the highly qualified definition in New Jersey by amassing 16 points on the state's HOUSSE standard, which is used by veteran teachers. (By the way, New Jersey only requires 10 points to be considered highly qualified by this standard.) The paperwork was duly submitted and received by the central administration. The next year, the teacher was transferred to an elementary special education position because, according to the school superintendent, she was not highly qualified to teach any secondary subject.

"She has continued to teach, but not with the same enthusiasm. We made copies of all her paperwork and sent a set to every member of the Board of Education and asked them to reconsider the transfer decision. It has been two years and she has still not been put back at the high school where she had enjoyed so much success and personal fulfillment.

"All her colleagues ask: 'What's the point of doing a great job if you can prove you're highly qualified, yet the administration and Board will not recognize your credentials?'"

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