Nobody changed the definition or made it more stringent. In fact, just the opposite is the case. The usage of the term highly qualified leads the layman to think it means more than it does.
Yeah they did... In Georgia it used be OK to have a BS in Biology teach physical science for example. It is obvious to anyone in the field of Biology that pysical science (a 9th grade requirement in our system) is fundamental to Biology. A BS in Bio probably had to take several college course and pass more than one "certification" test indicating subject competency.
Now, it has changed so that individuals with a degree in biology who teach physical science have suddenly, overnight, become "not higly qualified". This is the case even for a teacher with 27 yrs experience with Exxon. Similar is true of a mth teacher with 12 yrs experience in banking.
Do you think a principal would've hired these folks had they not a)had the requisite certifications and b)shown competence ?
Yes, they did change certification definitions.
Beyond that, we still have the problem of having DC making decisions in North Hall County, Georgia that folks from Hall County should be making. We know more about our canidates than some politician. We don't hire idiots here. Our community is vehemently opposed to the federal control. It's been nothing but bad for students... and it's not teachers' fault....it's DC's fault.