UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY

June 16, 2006

Mr. William J. Moloney

Commissioner of Education
Colorado Department of Education
201 East Colfax Avenue
Room 500
Denver, CO 80203

Dear Commissioner Moloney:

On May 12, 2006, the U.S. Department of Education released the results of a review of each
State’s implementation of the highly qualified teacher (HQT) provisions of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act, as amended by No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Because your State
was among the last to be monitored for progress in meeting the HQT provisions of NCLB, the
monitoring process had not been completed as of May 12, and Colorado was not given a final
rating.

Since then, the Department has gathered additional information from officials at the Colorado
Department of Education (CDE) on HQT issues. Our completed review shows that, in general,
Colorado is implementing the HQT provisions in NCLB and making an effort to reach the goal
of 100 percent HQT by the end of the 2005-06 school year. It appears, however, that you will
not reach this goal in all districts and schools. Therefore, the Department looks forward to
reviewing the revised State plan you will submit in July that details the specific steps you will
take to reach the HQT goal in the 2006-07 school year and beyond.

Sincerely,

/s/

Henry L. Johnson

www.ed.gov

400 MARYLAND AVE., SW, WASHINGTON, DC 20202

Our mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation