Secondary Teacher Preparation Policy
Commendably, the District of Columbia does not offer a K-8 generalist license. The District offers a grades 4-8 middle grades license.
The District of Columbia indicated that OSSE issues the middle school general license if someone completes a middle school program and applies for that particular license; however, most applicants apply for a license in a specific content area (e.g., MS English, MS Science).
3B: Middle School Licensure Requirements
Middle school grades are critical years of schooling. It is in these years that far too many students fall through the cracks. However, requirements for the preparation and licensure of middle school teachers can be especially problematic. States need to distinguish the knowledge and skills needed by middle school teachers from those needed by an elementary teacher. Whether teaching a single subject in a departmentalized setting or teaching multiple subjects in a self-contained setting, middle school teachers must be able to teach significantly more advanced content than elementary teachers. In order to do so, middle school teachers must be deeply knowledgeable about every subject they will be licensed to teach, and able to pass a licensing test in every core subject to demonstrate this knowledge.[1] The notion that someone should be identically prepared to teach first grade or eighth grade mathematics seems ridiculous, but states that license teachers on a K-8 generalist certificate essentially endorse this idea.