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Educator Certification

NOTICE TO HOLDERS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATES

Based on the Transition Rules resulting from the Corey H. lawsuit, effective July 1, 2001, individuals who had special education certificates endorsed in the following categorical areas, LD, S/ED, EMH, TMH or PH, will receive the Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I) endorsement, either upon exchange of their current certificates for Standard certificates or through reissuance. Designations on the Initial certificates will also change accordingly.

The LBS I endorsement will be either "limited" or "unlimited" depending on pre-existing endorsements and approvals. The LBS I will be issued to those who hold credentials in LD or S/ED and EMH, TMH or PH. (The equation is stated as follows: LBS I = LD or S/ED + EMH or TMH (MR) or PH.) The LBS I/Limited endorsement will be issued to individuals who do not meet that criterion. At least one of the two credentials must be an endorsement. Separate certificates will still be issued for teachers of students who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, or speech or language impaired.

The enclosed certificate indicates your current endorsement. There is no additional registration fee due at this time.

Persons with special education credentials who have Standard or Master certificates are advised that the requirements for continuing professional development have changed.

Assignability

Holders of the LBS I credential may be assigned to serve students with the following disabilities: learning disabilities, social/emotional disorders, mental retardation (EMH or TMH), physical handicaps, autism, or traumatic brain injury.

Holders of the LBS I/Limited credential may be assigned to teach only students for whom he or she holds a pre-existing credential (endorsement or approval), except that students with one additional disability may be taught at the same time. The limitations on the Standard LBS I/Limited credential remain in place for three years for persons who are teaching on that credential and then automatically expire. For individuals who are not teaching on their special education credentials, the limitations will automatically expire after seven years. The limitation on the Initial certificate will remain through the four year validity period. However, teachers may choose to remove the limitations earlier.

Removal of Limitations on LBS I/Limited

Teachers may remove the limitations on their LBS I/Limited certificates before they automatically expire through any one of the following methods:

  1. Completing the training sequence developed by ISBE;
  2. Completing college coursework necessary to qualify for an endorsement or approval in one of the areas from the other side of the LBS I equation (covering the "missing" characteristics and methods);
  3. Passing the test of subject matter knowledge for one of the areas from the other side of the LBS I equation (relevant to a "missing" disability);
  4. Presenting qualifications for additional endorsements or approvals that satisfy the LBS I equation;
  5. Passing the LBS I examination available beginning January 1, 2003;
  6. Submitting verification of three years' full-time teaching experience in an area for which the teacher does not hold an endorsement or approval (ISBE Form 73-83); or
  7. Submitting verification of three years' full-time experience teaching students with autism or traumatic brain injury (ISBE Form 73-83).

Teachers who wish to remove the limitations before they expire must submit the required evidence of meeting the above qualifications along with ISBE Form 73-85. This form is available through the regional offices of education or on-line.

Speech-Language Impaired (SLI) and Speech Correction (SC) Certificates

Effective July 1, 2001, all teachers who have exchanged their SLI or SC certificates will receive reissued Type 10 (or 03 and 09) certificates with the speech-language pathology designation.

Beginning July 1, 2001, holders of SLI or SC certificates may exchange or re-exchange their teaching certificate for a school service personnel certificate (Type 73) endorsed for non-teaching speech-language pathology. Persons may request the Type 73 certificate by submitting ISBE Form 73-84. This request must be made by June 30, 2002, and the certificates will be issued effective July 1, 2002.

There is no registration fee due at this time and no charge for this exchange. Persons who receive the Type 73 certificate are not currently subject to continuing professional development requirements.

Early Exchange Option

Teachers who hold special education credentials that expire on June 30, 2002 may exchange their certificates for new Standard certificates as of July 1, 2001. This early exchange allows special education teachers to begin receiving credit for professional development activities they choose to engage in before July 1, 2002. In order to claim credit for activities, teachers must exchange their certificates and submit a certificate renewal plan to their local professional development committee before completing the activity.

As part of the early exchange, special education teachers may choose to split their Type 10 special certificates and receive an elementary (Type 03) and a secondary (Type 09) certificate, or they may retain their special preschool-age 21 (Type 10) certificates.

A registration fee of $25 will be charged at the time of the certificate exchange. This fee covers all certificates held for a five-year period. In order to renew Standard or Master teaching certificates received in the exchange, persons must complete the required continuing professional development. Please consult the ISBE Certificate Renewal web site listed above for specific requirements applicable to special education teachers.