ACT: Amend PSS policy on ‘highly qualified teachers’

The Association of Commonwealth Teachers is pushing for an amendment to the “highly qualified teachers” policy set by the Board of Education after finding the criteria to be among the “highest” in the region.

ACT president Betty Miller said yesterday that the BOE has yet to respond to their request.

“We’re waiting for a response or invitation from the BOE to discuss our proposed amendments,” she told Saipan Tribune, adding that they will follow up the matter in the board’s next special meeting.

Miller said the request to repeal the policy was a result of the study they conducted last year where they found that PSS has the highest qualified teacher standards not only in the Pacific but also compared to other schools in the United States.

BOE sets three requirements for a teacher to be classified as HQT—to have a degree, a valid teaching certificate, and passing the Praxis tests.

Upon implementation of this rule, those teachers who have yet to comply with the requirements received a pay cut, reducing their salaries to a first year teacher rate, which is $28,000 regardless of years of service, based on the compensation plan adopted by the board in 2006.

This concern has raised strong opposition from “veteran” teachers and colleagues who have been affected by the reduction.

ACT’s report indicates that Praxis exams are based on U.S. educational standards, yet many of the CNMI’s teachers did not receive their training or education in the mainland, which is deemed “disadvantageous” to local teachers.

According to the report, under the No Child Left Behind Act, all teachers must be highly qualified by the year 2010. However, the CNMI BOE has determined that all teachers, regardless of educational background or years of experience, must pass the Praxis exams in order to be deemed highly qualified.

It was also found that “there are no funding ramifications for violating requirements for highly qualified teachers.”

Current PSS records showed that 66 percent of its teachers are HQT.

The PSS’ passing score of 146 in elementary education was found to be higher than many U.S. schools. Of the 28 states reporting, 11 have lower scores than the CNMI at 135-145: two states have a 135 passing score; three have a 137 passing score; one state has 140; three have 143; and one has a 140.

Median for these scores is 144, which is still lower than the CNMI passing of 146 for elementary education.

For middle school math, the CNMI’s passing score is 150. Of the 27 states reporting, 16 have lower scores than the CNMI. These scores range from 139-149: two states have set 139 score for math in middle school; one state has 141; another state has 142; three states have 143; two have 145; six states have 148; and one state has 149 score. Median score is 144 or lower than the CNMI’s 150 passing grade for math in junior high schools.

For middle school language, the CNMI has set 158 as its passing score, while of the 27 states that report their results, 15 have lower scores than the CNMI and these range from 143-157.

Social studies, which also has a 150 passing score, was found higher than 10 other states which have 135-140 score.

Same results are anticipated in other content areas as cited by the report.

For Praxis 1, the study reveals that PSS chose to adopt 170 as the passing score for all three areas or a composite score of 510.