Section 1.710  Requirements for Elementary Teachers

a)         Each elementary teacher shall hold a valid certificate for the grade level or levels to be taught.

b)         Each elementary teacher first assigned to an elementary position on or after September 1, 1978, shall have formal training in each basic instructional area to be taught. 

c)         The endorsement for self-contained general education shall be issued when an individual whose application is received on or before June 30, 2005, demonstrates that he or she has completed the coursework listed in this subsection (c) and passed the test of subject matter knowledge or content-area test and, if he or she has not already passed the test of basic skills and received a certificate based on it, that test as well.  For applications received on or after July 1, 2005, the requirements of 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.100(g) shall apply.

1)         Language Arts

2)         Mathematics

3)         Science

4)         Social Science

5)         Physical Education

6)         Health

7)         Fine Arts

8)         General Elementary Teaching Methods

9)         Elementary Reading Teaching Methods

d)         Beginning July 1, 2004, no teacher may be assigned to teach self-contained general education at the elementary level unless he or she holds a certificate valid for the grade level or levels to be taught and:

1)         holds the applicable endorsement; or

2)         met the requirements of this Section or their predecessor requirements at a time when they were applicable, as confirmed by the employing district's verification of the individual's qualifications; or

3)         is assigned pursuant to authorization received under 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.464 (Short-Term Authorization for Positions Otherwise Unfilled).

e)         Assignments in reading at the elementary level shall be subject to the provisions of Section 1.745 of this Part.

f)          Additional requirements may apply to holders of elementary certificates who teach in grades 5 through 8; see Section 1.720 of this Part.

(Source:  Amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 8486, effective June 1, 2004)