Archived Report on State Certification Requirements for Teachers of Latin (2004)

updated 1 August 2004

This information is necessarily provisional because states frequently revise their requirements; in some cases precise details have been difficult to find. Corrections and updated information are welcome.

  1. Almost every state offers Latin as a teaching subject
    • exception, Delaware
    • the following states offer (ancient, apparently) Greek as a teaching subject: FL, GA, ID, MI (theoretical only for Greek), MN, NJ, VT
    • the following states use different terminology
    • Maryland "Foreign Language: Classical"
    • Massachusetts "Latin & Classical Humanities"
      Minnesota "Classical Languages & Cultures"
      NM, WY "Classical Languages"
  2. The grade level for which teachers of these subjects are certified differs; in most cases the level at which a teacher may teach reflects pedagogical preparation rather than preparation in Latin or classics courses.
    • N-12 MS, NJ (N = "nursery")
    • P-9 MA
    • P-12 AL, GA, KS, KY, M,T TN
    • K-6 NY (must have 7-12 certification)
    • K-8 MN
    • K-9 MO (must be certified in another area)
    • K-12: SD, FL, ID, ME, MN, MO, MT, NV, ND, WA
    • 1-12 LA
    • 6-9 NC
    • 5-12 MA
    • 6-12 IL (elementary language cert. proposed), UT, TX
    • 7-12 AZ, CT, DC, GA, MD, MS, NV, RI, TN, WY
    • 9-12 IN, NC
    • middle & high school: AK
    • "secondary" = AR, CA
    • "elementary to secondary" OK
  3. All states require at least an undergraduate degree.
    These states require a very specific general curriculum: AK, AR, IL, CA, DC, LA, MO, NV, NM, NY
  4. The specific subject matter required varies
    • Many states defer to preparing institution for major (or minor) requirements
      Major: AL, AK, FL plan 1, GA 1st option, KS, KY, ME choice A, MA (also, competencies), MT, ND, NJ alt; NV, NY
      Major or minor: IN, MI, NV
      Major and minor: MT
    • Verified by local university: CA
    • Specific number of semester hours
      18 ME (choices B & C, with 18 add. hours specified), MS (C average)
      21 FL plan 3 (some specifics)
      24 AZ, IA
      30 DC, NJ (alt.), FL plan 2 (some specifics), IA, MO (?), VA, RI (w/ specifics)
      36 LA, NY (alt)
      45 quarter hours GA (plan 2; some specifications)
      45 (sem) ID
    • Specific required courses
      CT (= 39 hrs: 6 basic Latin; 24 additional; 9 in related field), AR (= 27 hrs), LA (36 hrs = 12 basic, 12 literature in Latin; 12 electives)
    • Specified teacher competencies, based on standards: SD, MN, CO (=24 hours), MA (w/ bachelor's), NH, VT, DC (= 30 hrs)
      Competencies expressed as standards for preparatory programs: WA, ND, UT, MI
  5. Almost every state requires professional training in education, but also offers one or more alternative certification plans. As with the subject matter requirements, some states defer to the preparing institution, and some have specific requirements.
  6. States vary in their subject matter testing requirements. Many but not all states require basic competency exams, like Praxis I.
    • no testing required: AL, AZ, AR, IA, ME, MS, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NM, ND, OK
    • require Praxis II subject tests in some subjects but not Latin: AK, AR, CO, CT, DC, FL, HI, ID, IN, KS, LA, MD, MN, MS, MO, NC, NV, NH, NJ, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VT, VA
    • require Praxis II Latin: GA (not for Greek), KY, TN, WV
    • requires Praxis II FL pedagogy , but not Latin: PA
    • require state tests in Latin: MA, SC, TX, NY, FL, IL, MI
    • require state tests in some subjects but not Latin: CA

Links to state webpages and information on Latin certification

No Child Left Behind and Teacher Certification
The No Child Left Behind legislation requires that by 2005-06, all teachers must be highly qualified.To be deemed highly qualified, teachers must have:

  1. a bachelor's degree
  2. full state certification or licensure
  3. prove that they know each subject they teach

In order to increase the number of teachers who meet the second criterion, most states provide alternative routes to certification.

NCLB also offers six ways for middle and high school teachers to meet the third criterion, proof of their knowledge of their subject.

  1. a major in their subject
  2. credits equivalent to a major in the subject
  3. passage of a state-developed test
  4. High, Objective, Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE) (for current teachers only). States may "develop an additional way for current teachers to demonstrate subject-matter competency and meet highly qualified teacher requirements. Proof may consist of combination of teaching experience, professional development, and knowledge in the subject garnered over time in the profession."
  5. an advanced certification from the state
  6. a graduate degree

Source for this and other information:
http://www.ed.gov/nclb/methods/teachers/hqtflexibility.html