COST Temporary & Emergency Teaching Permits 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which scenario best illustrates the appropriate use of an emergency teaching permit under NCLB/ESSA 'highly qualified' provisions?
- Placing an uncertified aide in front of a class permanently
- Hiring a subject-matter expert on a temporary basis while actively recruiting a certified teacher (Correct answer)
- Allowing a retired teacher to teach indefinitely without renewal
- Assigning a counselor to teach core academic subjects as a long-term solution
Correct answer: Hiring a subject-matter expert on a temporary basis while actively recruiting a certified teacher
ESSA allows temporary flexibility to hire subject-matter experts on emergency permits only when the district is actively working to fill the position with a fully certified teacher.
Question 2: A district in a rural community consistently cannot recruit certified science teachers. Which permit mechanism is specifically designed to address chronic shortage areas?
- Substitute certificate
- Critical shortage permit or designated subject credential (Correct answer)
- Provisional out-of-state license
- Day-to-day emergency permit
Correct answer: Critical shortage permit or designated subject credential
Critical shortage or designated subject credentials allow qualified individuals to teach in identified shortage fields while completing credential requirements.
Question 3: What distinguishes a one-year emergency permit from a multi-year provisional license for an out-of-state teacher?
- Emergency permits require more coursework
- Provisional licenses typically require fewer background checks
- Provisional licenses usually reflect partial satisfaction of full certification requirements, while emergency permits address immediate staffing gaps (Correct answer)
- Emergency permits are only available to teachers with no prior experience
Correct answer: Provisional licenses usually reflect partial satisfaction of full certification requirements, while emergency permits address immediate staffing gaps
Provisional licenses are issued when a teacher meets most but not all certification requirements, whereas emergency permits primarily address immediate vacancies regardless of credential status.
Question 4: If an out-of-state teacher's home-state license is under disciplinary review, how does this typically affect an emergency permit application in the receiving state?
- It has no effect because states cannot share disciplinary information
- The receiving state will automatically grant the permit pending resolution
- The receiving state may deny or defer the permit until the disciplinary matter is resolved (Correct answer)
- Federal law requires the receiving state to issue the permit regardless
Correct answer: The receiving state may deny or defer the permit until the disciplinary matter is resolved
Most states participate in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which includes sharing disciplinary records, and will defer or deny permits when discipline is pending.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT typically a condition placed on an emergency teaching permit?
- Enrollment in an approved teacher preparation program
- Regular evaluations by a supervising administrator
- Payment of a fee to the state education agency
- Completion of a graduate degree within one year (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Completion of a graduate degree within one year
While coursework completion is often required, emergency permits do not typically mandate earning a full graduate degree within a single year.
Question 6: A teacher who entered the classroom on an emergency permit successfully completes all required coursework and tests. What is the logical next step?
- Continue teaching indefinitely on the same emergency permit
- Apply for a standard or professional teaching license (Correct answer)
- Reapply for another emergency permit
- Request a waiver from additional requirements
Correct answer: Apply for a standard or professional teaching license
Once all requirements are fulfilled, the teacher should transition to a standard or professional license, which provides full, renewable certification.
Question 7: Under what circumstance might a state grant a second consecutive emergency permit to the same teacher?
- Never — emergency permits cannot be renewed under any circumstances
- When the teacher has made documented progress toward full certification but has not yet completed all requirements (Correct answer)
- When the district prefers not to pay for a fully certified teacher
- Only if the teacher agrees to forfeit tenure rights
Correct answer: When the teacher has made documented progress toward full certification but has not yet completed all requirements
Many states allow emergency permit renewal when the teacher demonstrates good-faith progress toward full licensure, ensuring the process is not stalled indefinitely.
COST Temporary & Emergency Teaching Permits 5
Which scenario best illustrates the appropriate use of an emergency teaching permit under NCLB/ESSA 'highly qualified' provisions?