Hiring Standards
Kritsonis (2002) states, “Teaching is a noble profession; it requires an ability to impart
knowledge, provide leadership, instill values, and help prepare young individuals for the future”
(p. 282). Some characteristics of teachers are the following:
• Good teachers love children;
• Good teachers set proper examples;
• Good teachers provide knowledge;
• Good teachers have community acceptable morals;
• Good teachers motivate children to learn;
• Good teachers know they are not in the profession for financial rewards;
• Good teachers work well with parents;
• Good teachers keep children under control.
It is the responsibility of Human Resource Management to recruit and select “good” teachers.
Human Resource Management must be knowledgeable of state regulations regarding the hiring
of teachers. Although most federal dollars in the No Child Left Behind Act are directed to highpoverty local schools through Title I, part of the school improvement plan will focus on
enhancing the quality of teachers and administrators (Trahan, 2002). The language in the bill
state that all Title I schools are expected to hire only “highly qualified” teachers, ensure that all
teachers are assigned to teach in their field, are fully licensed, and meet other criteria outlined in
the law. According to No Child Left Behind, a highly qualified teacher must have full state
certification and/or pass the state’s licensing examination.
Based on the law, states receiving Title I aid must develop yearly report cards documenting
the success of their students in meeting the achievement goals outlined in No Child Left Behind.
In this progress report, states must advise the federal government of the number of teachers who
are not fully licensed, who are teaching under an emergency waiver, and who are not teaching in
the field in which they were prepared and have demonstrated competence.
At the beginning of each new school year, school districts must provide to parents of students
attending Title I schools, information regarding the professional qualifications of the students
classroom teacher. Parents are entitled to know whether the teacher is teaching under emergency
waivers. With teacher shortages, states have chosen to implement other methods to certify
teachers other than through traditional college programs. Several states have implemented
alternative certification provisions.