The Ohio Department of Education recently posted resources for intervention specialists working with students in grades 7-12 who are eligible for the Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disability (AASCD). A new Resource Guide and Professional Development Guidelines will help these teachers as they work to achieve highly qualified teacher status, which is required by the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.
Those grade 7-12 intervention specialists who do not have an academic undergraduate major or master’s degree in the content area they teach, or have not passed the related Ohio Assessment for Educators exam, may achieve highly qualified teacher status through 90 clock hours of professional development. Intervention specialists should each make a plan to participate in and verify clock hours to meet this requirement in conjunction with their principals, who must approve their plans.
The resource guide, which describes free and low-cost professional development options, is posted here along with the guidelines and other information Please direct any questions regarding the requirements to hqt@education.ohio.gov.
