Changes in Data from Year to Year

• The federal government required changes in how each state counts highly qualified teachers this year. In 2004-05, an elementary teacher was counted once for all classes taught. In 2005-06, each of the 5 or so classes taught by each elementary teacher counted separately.

• To the extent that elementary teachers are often more highly qualified, that additional weighting this year could affect some overall district totals.

• Therefore, the best comparison is within subjects (English, math, etc.) and within categories (elementary, middle/high school), where there was NO relative change in the federal rules for counting highly qualified teachers.