Middle School Endorsement Information
The Board of Educational Examiners has adopted the new middle school endorsements which will allow the holder to teach in two concentration or core subjects in grades five through eight. The middle school endorsements do not authorize the teaching of art, music, industrial arts, physical education, reading and special education in the middle school.
REQUIREMENTS 14.140(15) Middle school endorsement.
a. Authorization. The holder of this endorsement is authorized to teach in the two concentration areas in which the specific requirements have been completed as well as in other subject areas in grades five through eight which are not the core content areas. The holder is not authorized to teach art, industrial arts, music, reading, physical education and special education.
b. Program requirements
(1) Be the holder of a currently valid Iowa teacher’s license with either the general elementary endorsement or one of the subject matter secondary level endorsements set out in rule 14.141(272C), or 282—subrules 16.1(1) to 16.1(3).c. Concentration areas. To obtain this endorsement, the applicant must complete the coursework requirements in two of the following content areas:
(2) A minimum of nine semester hours of required coursework in the following:1. Coursework in the growth and development of the middle school age child, specifically addressing the social, emotional, physical and cognitive characteristics and needs of middle school age children in addition to related studies completed as part of the professional education core in 14.123(4).
2. Coursework in middle school design, curriculum, instruction, and assessment including, but not limited to, interdisciplinary instruction, teaming, and differentiated instruction in addition to related studies completed as part of the professional education core in 14.123(4).
3. Coursework to prepare middle school teachers in literacy (reading, writing, listening and speaking) strategies for students in grades five through eight and in methods to include these strategies throughout the curriculum.
4. Thirty hours of middle school field experiences included in the coursework requirements listed in 14.140(15)“b”(2)“1” to “3.”
(1) Social studies concentration. The social studies concentration requires 12 semester hours of coursework in social studies to include coursework in United States history, world history, government and geography.IAC 11/7/07 Following are some commonly asked questions (and their answers) about the middle school endorsement.
(2) Mathematics concentration. The mathematics concentration requires 12 semester hours in mathematics to include coursework in algebra.
(3) Science concentration. The science concentration requires 12 semester hours in science to include coursework in life science, earth science, and physical science.
(4) Language arts concentration. The language arts concentration requires 12 semester hours in language arts to include coursework in composition, language usage, speech, young adult literature, and literature across cultures..
1. Who may teach in a Middle School?
Answer: An elementary teacher licensed before October 1, 1988, is authorized to teach in grades K-8 except in the subject areas of art, music, industrial arts, physical education, special education and reading. An elementary teacher licensed after October 1, 1988, is authorized to teach in grades K-6 except in the above mentioned specialty areas. In grades 7 and 8, the elementary teacher must hold the specific content endorsement. For example, if the teacher holds the K-8 math endorsement, he/she can teach 7 & 8th grade math. However, that teacher could not teach 7 & 8th grade English because he/she does not hold the K-8 English endorsement. The secondary level teacher licensed before October 1, 1988, is authorized to teach in grades 7 & 8 all subjects except the specialty ones noted above. In grades 5 and 6, the teacher must hold the specific content endorsement. For example, if the teacher holds the 5-12 math endorsement, he/she can teach 5 & 6th grade math. However, that teacher could not teach 5th and 6th grade English because he/she does not hold the 5-12 English endorsement. The secondary level teacher licensed after October 1, 1988, is authorized to teach only in the content areas listed on the license. Thus this teacher can only teach math in grades 7 & 8 if he/she only holds the 5-12 math endorsement. The person licensed with the 5-8 middle school endorsement may teach all subjects grades 5-8 except art, music, physical education, industrial arts, special education and reading.2. Where are the courses that I need being offered?
Answer: A link to the websites of colleges offering this endorsement may be found by clicking here3. If I have not met all of the requirements, may I apply for a conditional license?
Answer: Yes, you may apply for a class B conditional license if you hold elementary classroom or regular education content area endorsement or a secondary regular education content area endorsement on a current Iowa teaching license. The conditional license is issued at the request of a school district in situations in which the individual will be teaching middle school core subjects not listed on his or her license. If the individual will be teaching in his or her endorsement areas only, the district should not apply for a conditional license.4. If I obtain a middle school science and middle school math endorsement, can I also add the middle school language arts endorsement?
Answer: Yes, if you have already completed the requirements for these endorsements, you can add the middle school English endorsement by completing the language arts concentration of 12 hours in language arts which includes course work in composition, language usage, speech, young adult literature and literature across cultures.5. If I have a 5-12 math endorsement, can I just add the middle school science endorsement?
Answer: Yes, if you have already completed the requirements for the secondary math endorsement, you can add the middle school science endorsement by completing nine semester hours of middle school education course work, 30 hours of field experience and the science concentration course work of 12 hours in science which includes course work in life science, earth science and physical science.6. If I have been teaching math in a middle school with a 5-12 math endorsement, can any of the course work such as the field experience be waived if I wish to add the middle school science endorsement?
Answer: The Board of Educational Examiners does have a waiver provision in its rules. You would have to submit the waiver documentation and receive a decision at the Board’ monthly meeting. That waiver can be obtained from the Board office by calling the Board Secretary at 515.281.5849.7. I have been completing the requirements for the middle school generalist endorsement. Can I still complete those requirements or do I need to complete the new requirements?
Answer: Iowa colleges and universities may recommend applicants who are currently in the middle school generalist program for the middle school generalist endorsement until July 1, 2010. After that time, the applicant must complete the new requirements. An applicant from out of state may not be recommended for the middle school generalist endorsement. An applicant may not request a review of transcripts from the Board of Educational Examiners staff to add the middle school generalist endorsement.