Section 25.145  Approval of New Programs Within Recognized Institutions

The procedures set forth in this Section shall apply to the initial approval of additional teacher preparation programs established by institutions that are already recognized, as well as to the approval of programs proposed by consortia.  A consortium is a partnership involving two or more teacher education institutions with accredited educational units, or one or more such institutions and one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State which support excellence in teaching and/or one or more school districts.  Each consortium shall designate from among its members a recognized institution of higher education whose schedule for Accreditation Reviews shall apply to the consortium's programs also.

a)         The institution shall submit to the State Superintendent of Education a program report meeting the requirements of Section 25.127(a) of this Part, showing how each proposed program meets the applicable professional education and content-area standards established by the State Board of Education.

b)         No later than 30 days after the State Superintendent receives a program report, staff shall notify the affected institution as to whether the report is complete and identify any required component not adequately addressed.  An institution may provide additional material to complete a program report within 30 days after receiving a notification to the effect that it is incomplete.

c)         At the institution's request, staff of the State Board of Education shall convey the report to the State Teacher Certification Board.

d)         After consideration of the report, the State Teacher Certification Board shall convey to the State Superintendent its recommendation that the State Board of Education:

1)         Provisionally approve the proposed new teacher education programs, thereby authorizing the educational unit to conduct the programs and to recommend candidates for certification by entitlement until the time of the institution's next scheduled Accreditation Review; or

2)         Deny approval of the proposed programs, thereby prohibiting the conduct of the affected programs.

e)         Actions following upon the recommendation of the State Teacher Certification Board shall be as described in Section 25.160 of this Part.

f)          When a unit submits a proposal for an alternative program under any of Sections 21-5b, 21-5c, and 21-5d of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/21-5b, 21-5c, and 21-5d], that proposal shall not be considered a new program subject to this Section.  The review of such a proposal shall be as delineated in Section 25.65, 25.67, or 25.313 of this Part, as applicable.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 8494, effective April 21, 2006)