Section 25.464  Short-Term Authorization for Positions Otherwise Unfilled

Subject to the provisions of this Section, an entity that is required to employ certified teachers may receive short-term approval to employ an individual who does not hold the qualifications required for a vacant teaching position, other than a special education teaching position, when the employing entity has been unable to recruit a fully qualified candidate for that position. Short-term authorization as described in this Section shall be available not only with respect to individuals who lack full qualifications in a subject area, but also with respect to individuals who have not completed the six semester hours of coursework specified at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.720 for teachers of middle grades (see Section 1.720(a)(2)(A) and (B)).

a)         The employing entity shall file with the regional superintendent:

1)         a description of the vacant position, including the subject area and the grade level;

2)         evidence of inability to fill the position with a fully qualified individual, including a list of the candidates who applied, a list of those who were interviewed, and the reason each was not interviewed or was not selected, as applicable;

3)         a statement that the employing entity has not honorably discharged anyone in the past year who was fully qualified for the position;

4)         the name and Social Security number of the individual the entity wishes to employ for the position, as well as a list of the certificate numbers and types held by that individual;

5)         a written assurance that the district will provide the teacher to be employed with mentoring and high-quality professional development each year in the subject area to be taught;

6)         one of the following:

A)        a written assurance from an institution of higher education that operates a program approved pursuant to Subpart C of this Part that leads to certification in the subject area to be taught that the individual who will be employed is enrolled in coursework that is designed to meet the standards applicable to that subject area, or

B)        a written assurance from the certification officer of another institution of higher education that offers one or more approved educator preparation programs that the individual is enrolled in courses that will enable him or her to qualify for the endorsement, or

C)        other evidence of enrollment in relevant coursework supplied by the individual who will be employed, or

D)        a written assurance signed by the individual who will be employed, indicating his or her intention to enroll in one or more identified courses at a specified institution of higher education in the next semester; and

7)         a statement of intent, signed and dated by the individual who will be employed, stipulating that he or she will complete all requirements for an endorsement in the subject to be taught (see Section 25.100 of this Part or 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.720, as applicable) within three school years after the issuance of authorization under this Section.

b)         Short-term authorization pursuant to this Section shall be issued only when the individual identified by the employing entity:

1)         holds an initial, standard, or master certificate that is valid for the grade level of the proposed assignment;

2)         has successfully completed at least nine semester hours of college coursework in the subject area to be taught; and

3)         has filed the statement of intent called for in subsection (a)(7) of this Section.

c)         When the requirements of this Section have been met, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue to the employing entity a letter granting short-term authorization for the named individual to teach in the specific position for which the application was made.

1)         Such a letter shall constitute an authorization to the employing entity and not a credential issued to the individual.  As such it shall not be transferable to any other individual, employing entity, or teaching assignment.

2)         Each employing entity that receives an authorization pursuant to this Section shall maintain the State Superintendent's letter on file and make it available for inspection by representatives of the State Board of Education upon request.

d)        Short-term teaching authorization issued pursuant to this Section shall be issued with respect to a specific school year and shall expire on June 30 of the third school year following the date of issuance.

e)         After the end of the validity of authorization received under this Section, the individual shall not be eligible to teach in the subject area for which approval was granted unless he or she has received an endorsement for that subject.

(Source:  Amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 12374, effective July 28, 2005)