Are You Highly Qualified? What Is Your License Status?

With No Child Left Behind looming over teachers' heads, there is understandable anxiety about the validity of teachers' licenses and highly qualified status. The HTSB and DOE have agreed that unless HTSB informs the DOE that a teacher's license has been suspended or revoked, the teacher's license status is intact. With this in mind, to be deemed "highly qualified", a teacher of core subjects must be teaching in his/her license field and must demonstrate subject matter expertise through the avenues allowed by the DOE.

Currently, teachers who have not yet registered to extend their license are not penalized for NCLB purposes, but they must complete and submit the Application for Extended Hawaii Teaching License found on the HTSB Web site. After the applications are reviewed and approved, applicants will receive their updated license. This application process applies to any teacher whose license expires through September 2009.

Click here to find the appropriate clerk to contact if you have questions.

Download the Application for Extended Hawaii Teaching License (no longer available)

 

License Renewal Procedures Soon To Move Forward

License renewal procedures will be one step closer to finalization when the pilot project ends late this fall. Teachers applied to be in the pilot and were selected to reflect the broad spectrum of teachers by: license fields, grade levels, geographic location, years of teaching experience, and gender.

Pilot project participants are currently testing forms and procedures to provide feedback so the HTSB can make needed revisions prior to rollout to all teachers. If rule changes are needed, the board is required to hold public hearings prior to submitting the changes to
the Governor for approval. This is the last step before license renewal
procedures are set for all teachers. The Board has taken deliberate measures to ensure that all forms and requirements are understandable and do-able before the procedures are rolled out.

Any teacher whose license expires up through September 2009 should complete the Application for Extended Teaching License. Teachers whose licenses expire June 2009 and later will likely be among the first to complete the new relicensing procedure.
Forms, instructions and deadlines will be sent to teachers at their school as well as made available on the HTSB Web site so teachers know what to expect. Additionally, meetings will be scheduled statewide to share and explain the forms and requirements.

Download the Application for Extended Hawaii Teaching License (no longer available)

 

Expediting the License Application Process

The HTSB issues at least 1,000 new licenses each year. On average, the licensing staff processes seven different documents for each license issued. Often, an application is incomplete or incorrect and is resubmitted several times before acceptance so the total number of documents received easily doubles and triples. The office receives an average of 700 phone calls and e-mails every month. So your license application is competing with 7,000 to 14,000 other pieces of paper. Here are some tips to expedite the processing of your license application:

1.  Carefully read the instructions on our Web site and the application instruction sheet to get a firm grasp of what is required and what you must do before a license can be issued to you.

2.  If, after reading the instructions, you still have questions, send an e-mail or call the staff member assigned to your last name alpha group. (Provide this information for a quicker response):

• Your first and last name

• Your home and work contact number and the best time to call on any day

• Your school or work site

• Last 4 digits of your social security number

• Type of application you are inquiring about (standard license, out-of-state application, replacement license, adding a field to a license, etc.)

• Specific question you have (cite the item number on the application form)

Sending multiple inquiries to various staff members does not result in faster responses. If the phone is busy, as will frequently happen, leave a message. Calls are returned in the order received.

3.  Fill out all required forms completely and accurately. Missing and/or incorrect information will delay processing your application and can result in incorrect conclusions being made about your teacher preparation program, license field, and level.

4.  Print or type your application so it is legible and less likely to be misunderstood. Proofread
your application.

5.  Use the checklist provided with the instruction sheet to ensure all important documents or information are included.

6.  Once you are certain you want a Hawaii teaching license, submit an application. This prompts the creation of a folder for you. Without an application, the staff cannot answer any questions you may have about your specific situation.

7.  Once an application is received, expect to receive two important e-mail messages from HTSB:

• one telling you that your application was received and what remains to be submitted before you can be licensed.

• The other is sent after all requirements are met to inform you that a license is being recommended to the Board and that pending the Board's approval, the DOE will be informed of your license status. The DOE accepts the latter e-mail as evidence of active pursuit of licensure and completion of licensing requirements.

8.  Always keep the HTSB Office informed of changes in your name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, and employment status. The HTSB and DOE are separate agencies so informing one does not always mean the other has been informed.