Teachers in rural areas who are highly qualified in one subject have 3 years from their hiring date to become highly qualified in additional subjects they teach

Paragraph (23) of section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(23)) is amended by striking and at the end of subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting ; and, and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(D)when used with respect to an elementary or secondary school teacher who is employed by a local educational agency in which— (i)the total number of students in average daily attendance at all schools served by the agency is fewer than 600 or all schools served by the agency are located in counties with a population density of fewer than 10 persons per square mile; and (ii)all schools served by the local educational agency have a school locale code of 42 or 43, as determined by the Secretary, or the local educational agency is located in an area of the State that was defined as rural by the State educational agency or another governmental agency of the State,

means that the teacher holds at least a bachelor’s degree and has met the applicable standard in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (B) for at least one core academic subject the teacher teaches, and will meet such applicable standard for all core academic subjects the teacher teaches not later than the date that is the third anniversary of the date of hire by such local educational agency, if such local educational agency demonstrates that it is providing each such teacher high-quality professional development that increases such teacher’s content knowledge in the additional subjects the teacher teaches, and a program of intensive supervision that consists of structured guidance and regular ongoing support to ensure that such teacher meets such applicable standard.