Teacher Qualifications

Unlike traditional DC schools, you do NOT need to hold a DC teaching license to teach at public charter schools like Chávez. However, there are federal requirements for teacher qualifications under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulations that all DC public schools (traditional and charter) must follow.

1. You must hold a Bachelor’s degree.
2. If you wish to teach English, Reading, English as a Second Language, or Language Arts; Mathematics; Science; Foreign Languages; Civics and Government; Economics; the Arts (visual, theater, dance, and music); or, History and Geography you must also:
   1. Hold an undergraduate or graduate degree in the subject area;
   2. Have completed coursework equivalent to an undergraduate degree in the subject area (33 credits, 18 of which must be upper division);
   3. Passed the appropriate Praxis II test (if available-see below) in the subject area; or,
   4. Hold a DC teaching credential in the subject area.
3. Praxis II tests are recognized in DC in the following subjects Biology, Chemistry, English, English as a Second Language, French, General Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Spanish.
   • Please note that while there are many more Praxis II subject tests, DC recognizes only those listed above for determining qualifications.
   • Many subjects have both content and pedagogy Praxis II tests. You do not need to take the pedagogy tests. For example, if you are asked to take the Praxis for mathematics, you will NOT have to take test 30065 (Mathematics Pedagogy).
   • A few subjects may have more than one content knowledge test. For example, in mathematics, you must take test 10061 (Mathematics Content Knowledge) and 20063 (Mathematics Proofs, Models, and Problems Part 1).
   • Human resources will help you resolve any Praxis II questions.
4. If you wish to teach Special Education you must also have one of the following:
   • Be currently enrolled in an accredited program that will result in a DC teacher credential for Special Education AND have passed the Praxis I Test
   • Have a master’s degree in Special Education AND have passed the Praxis I Test
   • Hold a current DC teaching credential in Special Education

More information

1. The DC Public Charter School Board (our authorizer) has published an NCLB fact sheet that details these requirements.
2. More information about DC state teaching licensure .
3. The DC pages for the Praxis II test which includes dates, tests, and qualifying scores are available from the Educational Testing Service website.

Determinations

Chavez Human Resources will examine candidate licenses, transcripts, and undergraduate and graduate degrees to determine if they fulfill subject or credit requirements. If necessary, HR will ask the candidate to sign-up for the appropriate Praxis II subject test with sufficient time for scores to be received before the start of school.

Any questions may be directed to recruitment@chavezschools.org.

© 2009 Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy. All rights reserved.