IASPA Tenth Annual Conference Licensure Update Shirley Bloom

IASPA Tenth Annual Conference Licensure Update Shirley Bloom North Cook ISC / ROE 5 January 26, 2017

Overview • Recent Changes • Upcoming Changes • Where to Find Stuff – The Nut’s and Bolt’s • FAQ’s and ROE/ISC Processes • Miscellaneous Info • Questions / Answers

Recent Changes • NCLB replaced with ESSA – Most implementation 2017 – No more Highly Qualified – ELS PARA still required for Paraprofessionals in Title 1 • Anyone who holds any type of license and who holds a Bachelor’s Degree can be employed as a substitute teacher. – Includes Paraprofessionals and Career and Technical Educators • ed. TPA versus APT – Illinois students need to take the ed. TPA during student teaching. (9/1/15) – New Out-of-State applicants – Option for either test – ed. TPA can be waived with one year of teaching experience and acceptable performance evaluation (form 80 -01)

• Paraprofessionals – No longer need a copy of a HS diploma if they have 60 semester hours – Need HS diploma/transcript if using Work. Keys or ETS Para. Pro – Most ACT Work. Keys Tests are $60 to $65 – Triton College in River Grove offers ACT Work. Keys test free though a State Grant. • 5 th Grade teachers do not need the Middle School Endorsement – Departmentalized or Self-Contained • Middle School teachers teaching two subjects – Must be fully qualified in major area of assignment – Can teach a minor area with 6 semester hours of coursework

Upcoming Changes • Middle Grade Endorsements effective February 1, 2018 – Junior High or Middle School endorsed teachers will still be qualified!!! • Senate Bill 2912 / Public Act 99 -0920 (Effective 1/6/17) – CTE’s and CTEP’s can take the ACT Work. Keys test (Basic Skills) – Removes Requirement for Substitutes to take a test of Basic Skills for license renewal – Waives content tests as well as basic skills test – No expiration date for any test

– Adds language that allows for out-of-state teachers or SSP’s to apply ONLY if they hold a valid and comparable out-of-state license. – Changed Application fee to $50 for Substitute Teaching License – Adds language clarifying that retired educators complete a pro-rated amount of PD if they retired in the midst of a renewal cycle – Adds language through December 31, 2017 regarding a retired educator to reinstate a lapsed license.

Where to Find Stuff – Nuts and Bolts • ISBE – www. isbe. net • Educator Licensure – Redesigned Web Page December, 2016 – How-to Videos – License and Endorsement Requirements – Forms – Webinars – Directory of Illinois State Approved Educator Prep Programs – FAQ’s

• School Code – Licensure – Section 21 B – Qualifications – Fees – Types of licenses – How many days can a substitute work during a school year – Endorsements – Testing – Fees – License Renewal – Suspensions and Revocations

• Illinois Administrative Rules – Rules Currently in Effect – Part 1 – Public School Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision – Qualifications for Assignability – Part 25 – Educator Licensure – Qualifications for Endorsements – Part 226 – Special Education – Requirements for licensed and non-licensed educators – Non licensed examples include license through IDFPR – Part 228 – Transitional Bilingual Education – Part 50 – Evaluation of Educator Licensed Employees (Article 24 A)

• Proposed Rules and Amendments – Can be amended by ISBE internally as long as there is no conflict to State Statute (School Code) – Must post proposed rules when new las is passed – Example – SB 2912 – Passed 11/16/2016 – Once signed by the Governor, it becomes law (PA 99 -0920 - 1/6/17) – Proposed rules to implement the law will be posted for public comment for 60 days. – All comments reviewed and responded to at State Board Meeting – Adopted by State Board – JCAR review – Rules implemented

FAQ’s and ROE / ISC Processes • Transcripts – ISBE can take up to a month to upload transcripts so it is much faster to send official transcripts to your ROE / ISC – Transcripts do not need to be resent once they are on file – Only official sealed transcripts or electronic transcripts sent directly from the university are acceptable – Educators can confirm their transcripts have been uploaded by viewing their images section in ELIS

• Name or Gender Change – Only ROEs, ISCs and ISBE can change a name or gender – We need an official document such as a drivers license, SS card or marriage certificate, plus an IEIN • Information about my license – – Educators can print their credentials page as proof of licensure and endorsements There are no License Numbers Once a License application has been evaluated, ISBE will not issue a refund Out-of-State educators can apply for multiple endorsements by sending additional requests to licensure@isbe. net – Educators can access a deficiency letter in ELIS the day after the evaluation has been completed

• License Renewal – Check to make sure that the PD / Employment Status is correct – Check to see how much PD is owed – Varied depending on type of endorsement employed on – Enter required PD for current renewal cycle – No required timeline for entering PD – Can renew anytime beginning April 1 st – No reductions in required PD for advanced degrees (2019) – Beginning with renewals in 2017 – Can begin to accumulate PD for next renewal cycle once license is renewed – Teachers or SSP’s holding an administrative endorsement but not working on it will need one administrative academy for renewal beginning in 2019 (first full 5 year renewal cycle after July 1, 2014) – Semester hours counted as 1 SH equals 15 hours of PD – Out-of-State coursework can only be used if school district approves it

Miscellaneous Info • ISBE is currently taking up to 3 weeks on substitute and paraprofessional applications • ISBE is currently taking about 1 1/2 months on PEL and endorsement applications • School districts can request an expedited review on any application IF all documents are on file, including the application • Encourage Educators to use a personal e-mail address when setting up their ELIS account • ESL / Bilingual Approvals didn’t all transfer to Endorsements • Reinstatement Coursework currently September 1, 2011

Questions and Answers