The much-maligned No Child Left Behind Act places numerous demands on states that will be very difficult to fulfill. Though the "highly qualified" concept of the act is not one of the politically-charged demands the education profession finds fault with, it will be one of the most difficult requirements to achieve.

The reason that this requirement will be so challenging is the current status of the teaching profession. Around the country, numerous school districts cannot find qualified applicants now. Moreover, upcoming retirements will make future demands to find such applicants even more problematic.

Consider the current educational force in the state of Maine. Statistics taken from 2000-2001 indicate that 34 percent of Maine teachers are age 50 and older. Seventy percent of the current teaching force is age 40 and over. In addition, statistics from 1999-2000 indicate that nearly 50 percent of Maine's administrators were over the age of 50 and 87 percent over the age of 40.

Just as our teaching force ages, we too are currently experiencing the shortages that other states see. It is now extremely difficult to find qualified teachers in special education, science, math and foreign languages. In addition school districts struggle to find school counselors and administrators. So now, as we face a period when numerous educators will be retiring, the NCLB Act steps in and insists that schools hire only "highly qualified" replacements.

One possibility for reducing the shortage issue in Maine might lie with Governor Baldacci's review of school districts for the purpose of potential school consolidation. Combining smaller schools might lessen the potential teacher and administrator shortages upcoming, but Baldacci's move is aimed at cutting future educational costs, not at reducing personnel shortages.

Given the requirements of NCLB, reducing educational costs is highly unlikely. The requirements of NCLB demand even greater accountability standards than those already in place, hence creating even more stress on those working in the teaching profession.

It is extremely likely that the increased expectations placed on schools will make teaching an even less desired career choice than it is currently. Without significant investment in teacher salaries in the near future, the shortage of qualified applicants will grow significantly as the current teaching force elects to retire.

Research today clearly indicates that the greatest impact on studentachievement is directly related to the quality of the teacher working with those students. Therefore the goal to have highly qualified and competent teachers in every classroom is a goal that all educators can support. The NCLB Act is on the right track by setting such goals.

However, without a serious reconsideration of the job expectations and the corresponding pay for teachers, that goal will not be fulfilled. Given the current status of the profession, when the NCLB requirements take effect in 2006, school districts will find it even more difficult to find certified candidates than it does now.

Unless our federal and state governments make greater investments in education, specifically by increasing teacher salaries, the profession will become even less enticing than it is currently.

The "highly qualified" teacher requirement is sound in theory. However, it might just be the most challenging aspect of NCLB to implement.

Tom Hanson is Superintendent of Monmouth Schools and Principal of Monmouth Academy.