College students normally obtain their Bachelor's degree after 4 years, and if they want to be a teacher must select both a teachable major and minor. That takes care of two requirements.
To become a teacher they have to pass a state certification test -- which I have taken in Michigan, and I can tell you this: my cat could have passed it.
"A Highly Qualified Teacher has obtained full state certification or licensure"
"A Highly Qualified Teacher has demonstrated subject area competence in each of the academic subjects in which the teacher teaches What on earth is so tough about these requirements?"
The basic problem is point 2. There are many well-educated professionals (particularly with a math/science/engineering background) who would LOVE to teach--but the state certification requirements mean jumping through so many ridiculous hoops as to render them being able to get a teaching job virtually nil.
Being able to teach is NOT rocket science, but the "education professionals" set up the requirements as though it were.
Thanks for the tip. Now I can put my cat to work and have her earn her keep instead of free-loading. Granted, she'll have to work on her attitude a bit before next semester ;-)