FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2002
State Board to Seek Comments on Proposed Criteria for Earning Standard Certificate
Teachers who hold
the state's Initial Teaching Certificate would have two avenues to obtain
a Standard Certificate under a proposal presented today by State Superintendent
of Education Respicio F. Vazquez.
Vazquez presented the proposal to the
State Board for discussion and said he would be seeking input from
education partners before recommending action. The
proposal was discussed by the State Teacher Certification Board Monday.
In either avenue, teachers would be
required to verify four years of teaching within a 12-year period,
as required by state statutes. Additionally,
one option would require successful completion a state-approved graduate-level
course after the second year of teaching in self-assessment of teaching
performance aligned to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.
The course would need to be the equivalent
of four graduate-level credits and might include components such
as the following: formal
instruction documenting evidence of teaching proficiency based on
the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards; formal instruction
in documenting professional reflection on teaching performance; production
of evidence of and reflection on one's teaching performance, including
a prescribed video-taped lesson and other components as the State
Board requires.
Under the proposed plan being
discussed, a college or university in Illinois could
offer the course, or it could be developed by either of two entities
in partnership with a college or university: Illinois professional
teaching associations or the State Board of Education through Regional
Offices of Education. To
assist in the development of such courses, Vazquez's proposal suggests
that the state provide financial support to higher education institutions,
teacher associations and regional offices to convert existing instructional
and assessment capacity to provide standards-based instruction and
performance assessment to third- and fourth-year teachers.
The second option for earning a Standard
Certificate under Vazquez's plan would be for a teacher to show evidence
of enrollment and at least four month's good standing in the process
of completing the rigorous certification requirements of the National
Board of Professional Teaching Standards or documentation of completion
of a graduate course preparing for National Board certification.
"The
Board remains fully committed to induction and mentoring for teachers," Vazquez
said." However,
in the absence of financial support for statewide implementation,
this proposal provides a viable plan worthy of further discussion."
Illinois established
a three-tier teacher certification system in 1997 with Initial, Standard
and Master Certificates. Initial
Certificates are granted to candidates who complete approved programs
and pass Basic and Subject Matter tests. Initial
Certificates are good for four years of teaching within 12 years
and are not renewable. Standard
Certificates cover five years and are renewable through completion
of professional development requirements. Master
Certificates are given to teachers who complete National Board Certification.
They are good for ten years and are renewable by completing professional
development requirements.
The law establishing the three-tier
certification system provides that Initial Certificate holders shall
receive the Standard Certificate when they have completed four years
of teaching, as well as examinations and "all other criteria
established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Teacher Certification Board." |
