Professional Qualifications & ESSA In-Field Reporting

​Under the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, Highly Qualified (HiQ) is no longer required or reported to the United States Department of Education (USDE). Instead, ESSA, under Title I, Part A, says that state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) must ensure teachers meet applicable state certification requirements. In Georgia, under the  Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), state certification requirements are established by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). However, Georgia law also allows LEAs to waive certification requirements in Title 20 if the LEA has an approved Charter or Strategic Waiver Application. LEAs that waive state certification must establish professional qualifications (PQ) for their teachers and report the requirements in their annual ESSA application - the Consolidated LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP). In Georgia, professional qualification requirements apply to all teachers in all local education agencies.

In addition, ESSA requires SEAs to report information on the qualifications of teachers including out-of-field. In Georgia, this is done at the close of each school year and is based on data submitted by LEAs (CPI, Teacher Course, Student Record) as cross-referenced with GaPSC certification records. In Georgia, out-of-field is determined using the GaPSC's in-field requirements as listed in the Certification/ Curriculum Assignment Policies System (CAPS). If certification is waived, teachers may meet in-field requirements using equivalent qualifications (degree, coursework, or content area assessment).

For more detailed information about professional qualifications and reporting requirements, please use the resources below.

Overview Documents

Guidance Documents

Sample Notification Documents

In-Field Portal

Questions?

• Teacher and Leader Certification Questions should be directed to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). 

• Special Education Questions should be directed to Special Education Staff.

• Charter District and Strategic Waiver Questions should be directed to the GaDOE Charter Division or Policy Office respectively.

• PQ and In-Field Reporting under ESSA Questions may be directed to GaDOE Program Staff at professionalqualifications@doe.k12.ga.us​.​

• In-Field Portal Questions may be directed to GaPSC infield@gapsc.com.