Section 25.86  Special Provisions for Endorsement in Foreign Language for Individuals Prepared as Teachers But Not Currently Certified

a)         The provisions of this Section shall apply when an individual who does not hold an Illinois initial, standard, or master certificate:

1)         has completed a teacher preparation program, whether for the specified language or not, in another state or country,

2)         holds a degree that is at least the equivalent of a bachelor's degree issued in the United States (see Section 25.90 of this Part), and

3)         passes the test of basic skills, the applicable language proficiency test required under subsection (d) of this Section, and, beginning October 1, 2003, the assessment of professional teaching relevant to the certificate sought.

b)         An individual to whom subsection (a) of this Section applies and who meets the requirements of Section 21-1 of the School Code may obtain certification valid for teaching a specified language to which either of the following applies:

1)         no test relative to the language is listed in Section 25.710 of this Part; or

2)         a test relative to the language is listed only under "Transitional Bilingual Education" in Section 25.710 of this Part.

c)         The individual shall receive an Illinois certificate valid for the grade levels applicable to the program completed (see Section 25.425 of this Part) and shall receive either an initial or a standard certificate, as applicable to the individual's years of teaching experience (see Section 25.11 of this Part).

d)         Applicable language proficiency test(s)

1)         If English was the language of instruction at the institution the individual attended, he or she shall be required to pass the relevant test of language proficiency listed under "Transitional Bilingual Education" in Section 25.710 of this Part or, if the language is not listed, another test of language proficiency administered by the State Board of Education.

2)         If the language to be taught was the language of instruction at the institution the individual attended, he or she shall be required to pass the test of English language proficiency identified in Section 25.710 of this Part.

3)         If neither English nor the language to be taught was the language of instruction at the institution the individual attended, he or she shall be required to pass both the tests identified in subsections (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this Section.

(Source:  Added at 26 Ill. Reg. 11867, effective July 19, 2002)