Teachers pressed to measure up

It's not only students who are working for good grades in June. By the end of the school year, teachers across Boston's western suburbs will be expected to meet federal standards showing that they know the subjects they teach.

The standards, part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, are in addition to the state's licensing process for teachers. Educators who meet the standards are considered ''highly qualified."

Many school districts say they are on their way toward the goal. According to early information from the state Department of Education, about 94 percent of teachers across the state have earned the highly qualified designation, and similar, if not higher, percentages have been registered in many districts across Boston's western suburbs.

But some local educators are questioning whether the federal designation is necessary, given the rigor of the state's licensing process, as well as the age-old debate over whether good teaching can be measured on paper.

''Just because they're not 'highly qualified'. . . that sounds like they're not qualified to teach," said John Brackett, superintendent of the Sudbury public schools. ''I think what resonates with parents is what they see in the classroom."

In Massachusetts, licensed teachers have several means of achieving the highly qualified designation, including taking courses and passing state tests. Nearly all teachers in Sudbury have met the standard, Brackett said, and the district has worked with those who haven't.

In Framingham, about 18 percent of teachers still have not met the federal standard. Many have not even earned their state licenses, which could eventually put their jobs at risk, said Superintendent Chris Martes.

Martes said finding qualified teachers can be especially difficult in areas such as bilingual and special education. While he said the schools ''certainly want someone who knows what they're teaching," he also questioned how important the highly qualified designation is.

Audrey Hall, president of Framingham's Townwide PTO, was unfamiliar with the new federal regulations, but said she believes parents generally want some assurance of teacher qualifications.

''Parents want to know that teachers have the proper credentials and are qualified to do the job," she said.

The highly qualified designation applies to teachers in core subject areas such as English or math. Teachers who were recently hired into some federally funded programs are expected to have met the standards, according to René Islas, senior adviser on teacher quality for the US Department of Education.

Preliminary data released last fall by the state showed that in 12 Globe West school districts, 100 percent of core subject teachers were highly qualified. At 82 percent, Framingham had the lowest percentage of teachers who had met the standard.

Wellesley and Sudbury showed percentages of 83 and 89, respectively, but administrators said those were clerical errors.

The US Department of Education recently said it could allow states some extra time to get their teachers over the bar as long as they show progress.

Bob Bickerton, an associate commissioner with the state Department of Education, said the state is still pushing for the June deadline, and he believes most schools are making progress.

''We've taken the standards seriously both because it's the law, but also because it's the right thing to do," said Bickerton.

Islas said it is possible that states whose teachers don't measure up and aren't making progress could lose federal funding.

In the King Philip regional school district, which serves Norfolk, Wrentham, and Plainville, about 96 percent of the core subject teachers have met the federal guidelines. As in other districts, those who haven't are receiving support, said Superintendent Richard Robbat.

Robbat said he believes the state's licensing process for teachers has generally improved teacher quality. ''We're pleased with the subject matter knowledge and the ability that teachers are coming to our school district" with, he said.

Cheryl Turgel, president of the Newton Teachers Association, said, ''When our members first heard about it, of course they were concerned," but added that many teachers soon realized they were able to achieve the standards easily.