Section 1.745  Requirements for Reading Teachers and Reading Specialists at all Levels as of July 1, 2004

a)         The "reading teacher" endorsement is valid only for teaching reading to students, while the "reading specialist" endorsement is valid not only for teaching reading to students but also for providing technical assistance and/or professional development to other teachers.  Separate sets of standards and requirements govern the issuance of these two endorsements (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 27.110 and 27.120, as well as 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.100(i)).

b)         Beginning July 1, 2004, no individual may be assigned to teach reading, other than reading as part of general classroom instruction provided by that individual, or to serve as a reading specialist unless he or she holds a certificate valid for the grade level or levels of the assignment and:

1)         holds the endorsement appropriate to the assignment; or

2)         met the requirements of Section 1.720 or Section 1.740 of this Part, as applicable to the grade level served, 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)         presents evidence of having completed 24 semester hours of college coursework in reading on or after July 1, 2006, and has not exhausted the three-year period of eligibility available pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.100(l); or

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

(Source:  Amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 12351, effective July 28, 2005)