Section 25.30  Endorsement in Teacher Leadership

Beginning July 1, 2007, endorsement as a teacher leader shall be available to persons who fulfill the requirements of this Section.  The teacher leader endorsement shall be an optional, advanced credential and shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 25.100 of this Part, except that payment of the fee specified in Section 21-12 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/21-12] shall be required.

a)         The teacher leader endorsement shall include a designation identifying the area of the individual's master's degree in teacher leadership, if any, or reflecting the content area in which the individual holds certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), holds a master's degree, or has completed a major field of specialization and demonstrates the leadership experience called for in subsection (d) of this Section.  Additional subject-specific designations may be added to a teacher leader endorsement in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of this Section.

b)         Eligibility of Teachers

Each applicant for endorsement as a teacher leader shall hold a standard or master early childhood, elementary, secondary, special K-12, or special preschool-age 21 certificate, including an alternative certificate of one of these types, or an administrative certificate that is valid for teaching.

c)         Strand of Coursework

Only Illinois institutions of higher education that conduct approved teacher preparation programs shall be eligible to offer the "specially designed strand of teacher leadership courses" discussed in Section 21-7.5 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/21-7.5].

1)         Each institution's strand of coursework shall include a range of graduate-level courses addressing subject-specific content knowledge and pedagogy, as well as professional development and curriculum design and implementation.  In order to avoid duplicating an individual's prior preparation or experience in these areas, the institution shall select the specific courses from the approved strand that will make up the required program for that individual.

2)         In order to receive approval for its proposed strand of coursework, an institution shall submit to the State Superintendent of Education, in a format required by the State Superintendent, a program description that:

A)        identifies the group of courses that will make up the strand;

B)        describes the institution's method for selecting coursework and experiences from the approved strand for particular individuals in light of those individuals' prior preparation and achievements, in order to ensure that recipients of the teacher leader endorsement are prepared to understand and interpret research in their individual fields, exercise leadership in curriculum development and implementation, and provide professional development to other teachers to assist them in strengthening their teaching practice; and

C)        indicates how the institution will determine that individuals who complete the teacher leader endorsement program have demonstrated the dispositions necessary to become effective instructional leaders.

3)         The institution may be asked to clarify or revise aspects of its proposal as necessary.  The State Superintendent of Education shall seek a recommendation from the State Teacher Certification Board regarding approval of the proposal, shall present the recommendation to the State Board of Education, and shall provide a response to the institution within 90 days after receipt of the proposal or the last revisions to it.  If the State Board of Education disapproves the proposal, the State Superintendent's response shall identify the specific deficiencies upon which disapproval is based.  When the State Board has approved a proposal, the institution shall be authorized to recommend individuals who complete its teacher leadership program for the teacher leader endorsement with the individuals' original subject-area designations, as well as any additional subject-area designations for which individuals qualify under subsection (g) of this Section.

d)         Proven Teacher Leader

To be considered a "proven teacher leader" for purposes of this Section, an individual shall provide letters signed by the chief administrators or other designated officials of the employing school districts or nonpublic schools documenting that the individual has no fewer than four semesters' experience in service in any of the following capacities, in any combination:

1)         department or grade-level chair;

2)         mentor or peer coach;

3)         member of a school improvement team; or

4)         leader of a curriculum development team.

e)         When an institution recommends an individual for the teacher leader endorsement based on his or her completion of an approved strand of coursework, the recommendation shall signify that the institutional representative has also verified either:

1)         that the applicant's name appears on the composite list of teachers who hold certification from the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) that is posted by the NBPTS; or

2)         that an official transcript or, in the case of an individual prepared at an institution outside the United States, a statement from an evaluation service approved under Section 25.425 of this Part, shows that the applicant holds a master's degree in any field and that the individual has presented evidence that he or she qualifies as a "proven teacher leader" under subsection (d) of this Section.

f)          Master's Degree in Teacher Leadership

An individual seeking the teacher leader endorsement based on completion of a master's degree program in teacher leadership shall submit an application accompanied by the required fee and an official transcript showing that he or she holds an advanced degree in teacher leadership from an Illinois teacher preparation institution or a comparable degree granted by an out-of-state institution that prepares teachers.

g)         Additional Designations

            An individual who earns a teacher leader endorsement in one subject area by meeting the applicable requirements of this Section may add further designations denoting those additional subject areas in which he or she is considered "highly qualified" pursuant to Appendix D to this Part.  For additional designations sought by application to the State Superintendent of Education after issuance of the original teacher leader endorsement, the fee required by Section 21-12 of the School Code shall apply.

(Source:  Section repealed at 29 Ill. Reg. 15831, effective October 3, 2005; new Section adopted at 31 Ill. Reg. 10645, effective July 16, 2007)