Questions for ISBE March 28, 2013 IACTE Certification Meeting

Transcription

1 Questions for ISBE March 28, 2013 IACTE Certification Meeting 1. Once we sign that we have met Special Education and Reading standards, what documentation should we maintain in case ISBE chooses to audit us? As with all approved programs, you would need to have syllabus and assessments that demonstrate standards are being addressed. 2. Will institutions have to report people who are getting subsequent endorsements in their annual reports? Will these teacher performances be used to evaluate our programs? Part 25 rules that were out for public comment are still being reviewed related to this question. Decisions about changes are still being considered. Check the State Board packet materials for the April 16 meeting for information on any changes being recommended in response to public comments received on this point. Board packet materials are generally posted about a week before the meeting and are accessible at 3. Have there been any changes to the proposed rules in and based on public comment? Can you explain the new rules related to requiring individuals to go to IHEs for subsequent endorsements? When will we be able to see all the changes based on public comment? Part 25 rules that were out for public comment are still being reviewed related to this question. Decisions about changes are still being considered. Check the April State Board packet materials for information on any changes being recommended in response to public comments received on this point. 4. Will institutions have the option of evaluating transcripts and offering coursework for subsequent endorsements? Part 25 rules that were out for public comment are still being reviewed related to this question. Decisions about changes are still being considered. Check the April State Board packet materials for information on any changes being recommended in response to public comments received on this point. 5. APT What is the timeline for converting to the new K- 12 APT? When will you offer the test for the first time? Will there be an overlap of time when the candidate can take either test? What is the last date when the old APT s will be available? Will an old APT test be valid for five years from the date of testing? The current grade level APT will be available until August, The new APT will start September, The current grade level APT will be valid for individuals seeking licensure within a five- year time limit from the date the test was taken to the date licensure is issued. 6. Is there any change in Highly Qualified requirements for teacher candidates entering the teaching profession? A change relative to individuals enrolled in alternative teacher licensure is being considered at this time. Decisions about changes are still being finalized. Check the April State Board packet materials for information on any changes being recommended in response to public comments received on this point. 7. SPECIAL EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT (four courses, for the four content areas, and pass the test, grade level specific added to another endorsement such as elementary) What does it

2 mean (Proposed Rules Public Comment concluded) that beginning 9/1/15, the current rules should also be reviewed for Section Special Provisions for LBS1 endorsement, Section Special Provisions for LBS1 Approval, and Section 25.48, Short- Term Emergency Certification in S.E.? Are you changing the LBS1 endorsement? If so, when? Will you give us enough time to adjust our programs to meet these requirements? Will you no longer issuing LBS1 approvals and short- term emergency Certificate beginning 9/1/15? We have not begun any discussions about changes to the LBS I endorsement. If changes are recommended in the future, as always, timelines for changes will be stated in the rules and programs will be given sufficient time to make the changes. Proposed amendments to Part 25 include provisions to eliminate the Short- Term Emergency Certification and LBS I Approval beginning September 1, These proposed changes were out for public comment and comments received are still being reviewed related to this question. Decisions about changes are being considered. Check the April State Board packet materials for information on any changes being recommended in response to public comments received on this point. 8. DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT Are you considering a change in requirements for the Director of Special Education endorsement in September, 2014, when the old Type 75 certificate expires? Will candidates be able to add this endorsement with the new Principal Endorsement or with the Teacher Leader Endorsement? If you are planning a change, when will certification officers be notified? We have candidates currently completing course work for this endorsement who may not be complete by this date. Please do not add requirements without giving institutions time to adjust their programs and notify their candidates. We will meet with stakeholders to determine what changes they consider important for the Director of Special Education. Currently, either have completed an approved program for the preparation of special education directors or submit evidence of holding an administration certificate (Type 75) and having completed 30 semester hours of coursework in specific categories, as listed in the rules. Once stakeholders have provided further information on what they believe should be the path for someone to become a Director of Special Education, proposed rules will be developed, which will include timelines for implementation, and those proposed rules will go out for public comment. 9. Will out- of- state teacher applicants be required to complete an edtpa before they can get an Illinois License? Proposed changes to Part 25 require completion of the edtpa by out- of- state applicants for an Illinois educator license. These proposed changes were out for public comment and comments received are still being reviewed. Decisions about changes are still being considered. Check the April State Board packet materials for information on any changes being recommended in response to public comments received on this point. 10. What happens to endorsements on a certificate when certificates become endorsements? i.e. ESL, LBS1, Middle School How will they be shown on the license? Will there be a difference between the endorsements earned by completing an approved program and those that met subsequent endorsement requirements? Endorsements for both content areas and grade levels will be placed on an individual's professional educator license. There will be no distinction placed on the license to indicate whether an endorsement was obtained through an approved program or by meeting minimum requirements.

3 11. What kind of training will you give to institutions that are willing to do evaluations for subsequent endorsements? Depending on the proposed changes to Part 25 in this regard, if institutions will be conducting evaluations, the training will be provided. 12. When does the Cooperating Teacher rule (5 years of teaching, evaluation) go into effect?? How will institutions be expected to monitor these requirements? Since we are still reviewing comments received in response to proposed amendments to Part 25 and decisions about changes are still being considered, we cannot say that this requirement will remain as originally proposed or be changed. Check the April State Board packet materials for information on any changes being recommended in response to public comments received on this point. If this requirement remains, districts will need to let institutions know if someone can serve as a cooperating teacher. 13. How will the conversion to the new Licensure System be accomplished? The exchange of an individual's currently held certificates, endorsements, approvals or designations will be done automatically in the Educator Licensing Information System (ELIS). No further action must be taken by holders of these credentials. 14. Will there really be two principal content tests? When does this begin, and why is this necessary. When will the test frameworks be available? If the question is asking whether the new Principal Test will have two parts, then the answer is yes. This assessment is not just multiple- choice test but rather a combination of multiple- choice and performance- based questions. Due to the length of this assessment, it will be given in two different test settings. Administration of this assessment will begin in Will there be a delay in implementing the reading and special education requirements for programs to reflect the 2 year notification for requiring program changes? This requirement for completion of this coursework in order to obtain a professional educator license is in law and takes effect when we move to the new licensure system on July 1, The July 1, 2013 date is also in state law. 16. Why have the technology specialist endorsement requirements changed? Was the intent to make this to be only an approved program? Why was there no advanced warning on this change? Part 25 rules that were out for public comment are still being reviewed related to this question. Decisions about changes are still being considered. Check the April State Board packet for information on any changes being recommended in response to public comments received on this point. 17. Are there any plans to make changes to the Early Childhood Special Education Letter of Approval? Requirements for receipt of the approval for early childhood special education can be found in Section of rules governing Special Education rather than Part 25. No changes to this approval have been proposed in the current rulemaking. 18. Would it be possible to provide a tentative timeline that would reflect all the upcoming changes? You could put asterisks by changes that are only proposed at this time. See related question 26. YES, as soon as proposed amendments to Part 25 are in effect, we will distribute and post a timeline for implementation of changes stated in the law and rules.

4 19. Is ISBE working towards aligning all the pending changes, and developing timelines to be created so that changes are implemented at least two years after rules are finalized? IHE's cannot effectively allocate resources to continuously make changes to programs in a piecemeal fashion, or changes that are to become effective only a matter of months after rules are finalized, but need adequate time to thoughtfully create programs and curricula, including time for changes to be approved within the IHE structure. ISBE does try to have at least a two- year timeline. Some timelines are even longer. For example the new IPTS placed in rules since 2010, yet those new standards do not take effect until July 1, Also, we have given longer timelines for both elementary and middle grades changes. Often legislators imposed timelines through legislation without consultation with ISBE; for example, the current proposed legislation which adds courses for ELL certification. Whenever feasible, ISBE allows for a minimum of two years for changes to take effect. 20. It is important that changes be implemented for candidates beginning programs, not in the middle of, or completing programs, as has happened for the past couple of years. Is ISBE taking this into consideration? Please see the above answer. We do make every effort not to have requirements affect candidates in the last year or two of their programs. 21. Can ISBE include IHEs in discussions of proposed changes that impact our approved programs and candidates at the beginning of the process, and in the creation of timelines for implementation? We do have higher education faculty and administrators involved in our decisions about program changes. In fact, most stakeholders on program advisory groups are from higher education. We have stakeholders from all organizations represented when we are meeting. 22. What will be required for elementary education majors to add endorsements in content areas? Endorsements can be added with 24 semester hours of content in specific areas. These additional endorsements are not required. 23. Proposed Section 25.97, Endorsement for Elementary Education (grades 1-6), subsection (b) indicates that "the program shall include: coursework that addresses at least four areas of the sciences (i.e. physical, life, earth and space, and engineering, technology and applications of science)." The question: What about a physical science course that addresses physics and chemistry (physical sciences)? Does that course count for 2 of the 4 areas? No, physics and chemistry are both physical sciences. Does both "earth and space" need to be covered in one course or is this two of the four areas? Earth and space is considered one of the four areas. What courses might "technology" include? (perhaps, Educational Technology?) No, Educational Technology is not considered one of the areas. Please review the frameworks for the proposed common core science standards at : Specifically, Standard Two addresses technological design and the application of science. Lastly what type of course would "applications of science" include? (would this be a science methods course?)- No, see the framework at address provided above. 24. Must K- 12 candidates serve as student teachers in two different grade levels? No, although they should have had clinical experiences at other levels. For example, if someone is a K- 12

5 music teacher and student teaches at the elementary level, then the person should have had other experiences in his or her program at the high school level. 25. Will there be recommendation for changes to the proposed rule changes that had been out for public comment when they are brought to the State Board of Education? Each of the comments received will be analyzed, and as appropriate, recommendations for changes in the proposed amendments to Part 25 may be presented to the State Board of Education for its consideration. Check the April State Board packet materials for information on any changes being recommended in response to the public comment received. 26. When will the proposed rules and amendments pertaining to elementary education, middle grades and gifted endorsements, which were presented to the State Board for its initial review on March 20, go out for public comment? It is anticipated that the proposals will be published in the Illinois Register on Friday, April 12. The 45- day public comment period will begin on the day the proposals are published. Please see to review the Illinois Register. 27. We need a timeline from ISBE with most recent due dates for all aspects of Program Redesign, new rules, etc. This timeline should come with a "last updated" date with it so as changes are made the timeline can be revised and referenced by this date. Some examples: a. It appears that language requires new el. ed. freshmen in to complete the program by Jan. 31, This would be 2.5 years? b. Date(s) for implementation of new APT. c. edtpa dates Once proposed changes to Part 25 rules are in effect, we will develop a timeline and post. Please note that the changes relative to the elementary education endorsement are contained in a different rulemaking than that addressing licensure change, so those will take effect at a later date. 28. Have IAI panels been made aware of the ISBE program changes regarding syllabus review to insure any approved IAI course meet all ISBE requirements? (Currently under IAI, colleges must accept D s on a transcript for IAI transfer courses.). How do Teacher Ed programs/colleges respond with one or more D s on transfer transcripts for IAI students in the professional ed sequence or program area requirements? We do have ICCB and IBHE as part of our stakeholder groups. ICCB works with IAI, not ISBE. As we have indicated previously, if course work is a part of a program, it requires a grade of C or above. 29. What does partnership(s) mean regarding 4 year institutions and 2- year community colleges for elementary and middle level programs? Is this a formally written agreement or something else? The partnership should include an agreement and evidence that the partner(s) have been at the table with the institution while the program was being designed, planned, and finalized for submission. The partnership should develop an

6 alignment between coursework completed at the community college with the course work completed at the 4 year institution. 30. What is the recommended time frame for completion of the video(s) during the student teaching experience? What is the recommended time frame for teacher candidates to submit the e- portfolio to Pearson for evaluation, so they will be back in time for resubmission and/or graduation? Does failing edtpa mean failing student teaching? Is edtpa being treated as a licensure test for licensing purposes? (Meaning, edtpa would affect the licensure of a teacher candidate but not graduation from the college/university - fail edtpa yet pass student teaching.) How will incomplete edtpa results - either failing or not evaluated - be addressed with "program completers" on annual reports? We are working with Stanford and other partners on timelines for submission. We understand the importance of individuals being in a classroom long enough before doing the edtpa so that they have experience and are ready for the assessment. Also, we understand the importance of having time to redo parts of the assessment if necessary before the end of student teaching. Decisions will be made soon on this. Remember that the edtpa is only being piloted and candidates are not held to passing the edtpa until Under Section 21B- 30(f) of the School Code, the edtpa will be required in order to complete a teacher preparation program. We do understand the need for clarification on this as well as other policy decisions and we will work to develop guidelines for institutions to have for resources. 31. Why have rules eliminated the special education population caps (in numbers and %- ages) in general education classrooms? The question relates to proposed amendments to Part 226 (Special Education), which are currently out for public comment. ISBE has received evidence that suggests that these caps on number of students are actually contributing, in some cases, to student placements in more restrictive environments. Also, we support that class size decisions should be made at the local level versus the state level. We have a great diversity of school districts and having a one size fits all model for class limits has not always led to best placement decisions. 32. Fall 2013 freshmen in teacher education will be held to new program requirements with new/revised courses required that will not have ISBE approval, officially, until July How will this transition be handled by colleges/universities? We are unsure to what, specifically, you are referring. If this addresses elementary and middle grade programs, standards will be finalized this year (September 2013) and programs can be approved as soon as rules are in effect. Additional questions asked at meeting: 1. Will there be a test for teacher leader endorsement. Yes it is being developed.

7 2. We have heard in various settings by various individuals, that the rule of supply and demand will apply when institutions bring programs forward for approval and re- approval. Is this true? This appears to put institutions in competition with each other a Race to the Board scenario. Currently in rules, when new programs come before the Board, they must show need. See, Section e, 3 and Section , a, Why did you change the wording from the exceptional child course content? To align to the new Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. The emphasis is on individualized, differentiated instruction. 4. Please confirm the cost of applying for the new Professional Educator Licensure, $50 for 5 years? Are there also registration fees? A new license will cost the same as the current certificate which is $75. The Registration fee continues to be $10 per year or a total of $50 for the five year registration. 5. How will CPDU s be monitored for newly licensed teachers? We are currently working with stakeholders on renewal requirements. The new ELIS system will track required professional development. 6. Does the school code specifically state that teacher candidates completing a clinical experience other than student teaching can t use a paid experience? School code does not prohibit payment for field experiences. Someone could be paid during the student teaching, but remember that you must have a fully certified teacher in the classroom where student teaching is being completed to supervise the student teacher. Student teaching is a continuous experience and someone may NOT count experiences substitutin in various schools or classrooms to meet this requirement. Note that Section (f) is not being changed: An individual may receive credit for student teaching or pre- student teaching clinical experiences that are completed during the time for which the individual is paid as a teacher, unless the individual: a. Holds no license certificate issued pursuant to the School Code [105 ILCS 5], performs the student teaching or pre- student teaching clinical experiences in a school district, and is not subject to the authorization for payment stated in Section 25(g) of the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Act [110 ILCS 48/25(g)] or Section of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/21-2.1]; or b. Holds only a substitute teaching license certificate and is subject to the limitations of Section 21B- 20(3) 21-9 of the School Code. For further information contact: Linda Tomlinson, Assistant Superintendent Illinois State Board of Education Call: or to: ltomlins@isbe.net