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Educator Certification

Authorization to Employ Teachers in Positions Otherwise Unfilled

Districts that find it impossible to fill a position that is not a special education position with a person meeting the requirements for assignment may assign an individual, provided the following requirements are met:

  1. Short-term authorization shall be issued only when the individual identified by the employing entity:
    1. holds an initial, standard, or master certificate that is valid for the grade level of the proposed assignment;
    2. has successfully completed at least nine semester hours of college coursework in the subject area to be taught; and
    3. has filed the statement of intent called for in (b)(7) below
  2. The employing entity shall file form ISBE 73-96 with the regional superintendent, including:
    1. a description of the vacant position, including the subject area and the grade level;
    2. evidence of inability to fill the position with a fully qualified individual, including a list of the candidates who applied, a list of those who were interviewed, and the reason each was not interviewed or was not selected, as applicable;
    3. a statement that the employing entity has not honorably discharged anyone in the past year who was fully qualified for the position;
    4. the name and Social Security Number of the individual the entity wishes to employ for the position, as well as a list of the certificate number(s) and type(s) held by that individual;
    5. a written assurance that the district will provide the teacher to be employed with mentoring and high-quality professional development each year in the subject area to be taught;
    6. A) a written assurance from an institution of higher education that operates an approved program that leads to certification in the subject area to be taught that the individual who will be employed is enrolled in courses that are designed to meet the standards applicable to that subject area; or
      B) a written assurance from the certification officer of another institution of higher education that offers one or more approved educator preparation programs that the individual is enrolled in courses that will enable him or her to qualify for the endorsement, or
      C) other evidence of enrollment in relevant coursework supplied by the individual who will be employed; or
      D) a written assurance signed by the individual who will be employed, indicating his or her intention to enroll in one or more identified courses at a specified institution of higher education in the next semester;
    7. a statement of intent, signed and dated by the individual who will be employed, stipulating that he or she will complete all requirements for an endorsement in the subject to be taught within three school years.
  3. When the requirements have been met, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue to the employing entity a letter granting short-term authorization for the named individual to teach in the specific position for which the application was made.
    1. Such a letter shall constitute an authorization to the employing entity and not a credential issued to the individual. As such, it shall not be transferable to any other individual, employing entity, or teaching assignment.
    2. Each employing entity that receives an authorization shall maintain the State Superintendent's letter on file and make it available for inspection by representatives of the State Board of Education upon request.
  4. Short-term teaching authorization shall be issued with respect to a specific school year and shall expire on June 30 of the third school year following the date of issuance.
  5. After the end of the validity of authorization received, the individual shall not be eligible to teach in the subject area for which approval was granted unless he or she has received an endorsement for that subject.

This request must be made on form ISBE 73-96, "Request for Authorization to Employ Teacher in Position Otherwise Unfilled" and must be filed with the responsible regional superintendent.