The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in December of 2015. This law was designed to ensure that all children have an opportunity to obtain a quality education. Under this law, as a parent or guardian of a student in the School District of Oconee County, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers and instructional assistants who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for certain information about your child’s classroom teachers and requires us to give you this information in a timely manner.
The following information must be provided to parents upon request:
(i) Whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.
(ii) Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.
(iii) The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
(iv) Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
You may obtain teacher qualification information at the State Department of Education website:
Educator Qualifications Search Tool