Larry Pfeiffer, Regional Superintendent Interim Assistant Regional Superintendent

225 E. Nicholas St. Carlinville, IL 62626 Phone: (217) 854-4016 Fax: (217) 854-2032 303 W. Exchange St. Jerseyville, IL 62052 Phone: (618) 498-5541 Fax: (618) 498-5543

Professional Educator Licensing Changes

Effective July 1, 2013
Regional Office of Education #40 Special thanks to Regional Office of Education #45 in Monroe & Randolph Counties for compiling and sharing this information with us.

*** STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL LICENSING INFORMATION *** Keep your email address, mailing address and phone number up-to-date in ECS: www.isbe.net/ECS (My Profile, Personal Settings; for Email: My Profile, Account Settings). Visit our website at www.roe40.com/certification for current information and updates. Regional Office of Education #40 Serving Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin Counties www.roe40.com

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ALL EDUCATORS

Professional Educator Licensing Changes

What is happening? Changes to Illinois professional educator certification are scheduled to be implemented during the 2012-13 school year. July 1, 2013 is the target date for implementation of the new Illinois licensure system. Educator Certification System (ECS) is scheduled to be replaced by Educator License Information System (ELIS) on July 1, 2013. ELIS will not collect or display certificate renewal activities. Access to ECS is scheduled to cease when ELIS begins. What does that mean to me? We have been told that professional development activities that you have recorded in ECS will not transfer to ELIS. You will not have access to ECS to retrieve or print out those activities. What should I do now? Before June 30, 2013 1. Log on to ECS at www.isbe.net/ECS. 2. Update address and phone in My Profile, Personal Settings. 3. Update email address in My Profile, Account Settings. 4. Click on Professional Development, Activities and print your list of activities. Click on My Credentials, Current Credentials and print your credentials page. 5. If you are active in an Illinois public school and you have a 2013 renewal date, complete your renewal steps, including payment of registration fees on ECS by June 15, 2013, to ensure completion by June 30, 2013. 6. If you are a 2013 renewal, print your statement of assurance after it is approved and keep a copy in your file. What about renewal requirements for license renewal in 2014 and beyond? The State Board is rewriting renewal requirements for all educators, to be implemented for the 2013-14 school year. There are no details available at this time. Currently there are over 30 types of certificates issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. On July 1, 2013 all certificates will be converted to one of the following professional educator licenses: Professional Educator License (PEL) or Professional Educator License with Stipulations (PELS) or Substitute License (SUB)
Exchange Examples Current Certificates Type 03 Elementary with Middle School Language Arts Endorsement Type 03 Elementary Type 75 General Administrative Type 10 Reading Specialist Type 09 Certificate Social Science-Psychology Substitute Paraprofessional TASN Paraprofessional TA or TAS Become Licenses after June 30, 2013 Professional Educator License K-5 SCGE (self contained general education) Middle School Language Arts Professional Educator License K-5 SCGE General Administrative K-12 Reading Specialist Professional Educator License Grade 6-12 9-12 Social Science-Psychology Substitute License Grade Pre-K to 12 Professional Educator License with Stipulations Paraprofessional State Approval letter

Regional Office of Education #40 Serving Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin Counties

www.roe40.com

Larry Pfeiffer, Regional Superintendent Interim Assistant Regional Superintendent

225 E. Nicholas St. Carlinville, IL 62626 Phone: (217) 854-4016 Fax: (217) 854-2032 303 W. Exchange St. Jerseyville, IL 62052 Phone: (618) 498-5541 Fax: (618) 498-5543

GENERAL QUESTIONS FOR EDUCATORS

Are there any changes to the required registration fees for my licenses? Separate registration fees for each license will be required (PEL, PELS, Substitute), but there will be no additional fee to register the license in another region. What is the penalty if I decide not to register my certificates? Any license that has not been renewed within 6 months of the expiration of its last registration will become lapsed and will require either the payment of a $500 penalty fee or 9 semester hours of content area coursework. This will include those holding a Professional Educator License, Substitute License or a PELS-Paraprofessional. As of now, the only lapsed license that will preclude other licenses from being issued is a lapsed PEL. Will ISBE still be waiving the Basic Skills Test now known as the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) after June 30, 2013 for out of state applicants? Any educator applying after July 1, 2013 (the date of ELIS implementation) will need to meet any new requirements and Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) will not be waived. What is the timeframe for me to apply for entitlements? Illinois graduates will have until July 31, 2013 to apply for their licenses. Entitlements will be re-moved from the system on August 1st. Which licenses or endorsements on a license will require paying a registration fee after the ex-change? Those educators holding an Initial teaching certificate that will expire on June 30, 2013, a PELS-Paraprofessional, Provisional Career and Technical Educator or a SUB license will all be required to register their licenses after June 30, 2013 because the expiration dates will change to 2018.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS

APPLICATION SUBMISSION WILL BE ELECTRONIC ONLY After July 1, 2013, ISBE will no longer accept paper applications. ELIS will replace ECS and will be the one-stop location for processing applications for licenses and related transactions. The Regional Office of Education will no longer process payments or applications. All payments will require the use of a credit card. However, our office is still available to help with any questions you might have about licensure. PAPER CERTIFICATES Paper certificates will no longer be issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. SUBSEQUENT ENDORSEMENT OF DIFFERENT GRADE LEVEL Until May 1, 2013 those holding a valid secondary teaching certificate may receive a K-12 certificate, endorsed in the area in which the applicant has completed a major area of specialization, by submit-ting an application and fee and evidence of having passed the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP), content area test and the Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) Test. TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST ENDORSEMENT CHANGES After June 30, 2013 an educator applying for a Technology Specialist Endorsement will be required to complete an approved program. Transcript evaluations will no longer be used in issuance of this designation.

Regional Office of Education #40 Serving Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin Counties

www.roe40.com

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TEACHERS HOLDING INITIAL CERTIFICATES

Professional Educator Licensing Changes

Conversion from Initial Teaching Certificate to Illinois Professional Educator License How will my Initial Teaching Certificate be affected during the conversion? All Initial certificates will be exchanged for a 5-year license on July 1, 2013. The registration will only be valid for the balance of the registration period remaining on the current certificate. There are no professional development requirements for moving from the initial certificate to the Professional Educator License. However, professional development requirements for renewal of this license will be in effect. All teachers certificates, regardless of level, will be exchanged for a Professional Educator Teacher License (PEL-Teacher), with no levels such as initial, standard or master. All licenses will still need to be registered to be valid. What should I do if I have an initial certificate that expires on June 30, 2013 AND I have NOT achieved 4 years of teaching experience? Wait until June 30 and renew the new license for 5 years at a cost of $50.00. You will want to make sure you complete the process before school starts in August, 2013. What should I do if I have an initial certificate that expires on June 30, 2013 AND I HAVE achieved 4 years of teaching experience? On July 1, 2013, all Initial Certificates will be exchanged for a new 5-year license for which there is no application fee. It is strongly recommended that you do not apply for your Standard certificate (unless it is needed for current employment) to avoid paying the $75 application fee. All teachers certificates, regardless of level, will be exchanged for a Professional Educator Teacher License (PEL-Teacher), with no levels such as initial, standard or master. All licenses will still need to be registered to be valid. What should I do if I have an initial certificate AND I HAVE achieved 4 years of teaching experience PRIOR to this school year? Educators in this situation should IMMEDIATELY, apply to move from initial to standard. Your initial certificate is invalid once you have completed four years of teaching experience. As always, all licenses need to be registered to be valid. The applicants moving from an Initial to Standard Certificate may have to make a paper application. What if there is a delay in the implementation of TEACHER LICENSURE beyond June 30, 2013 and I have completed my fourth year of teaching during the 2012-2013 school year? You must be sure you have a Standard Teaching Certificate or a PEL-Teacher License before school starts in the fall of 2013 and that the license or certificate is registered in the region you are teaching. FOR THOSE HOLDING INITIAL CERTIFICATES THAT EXPIRE IN 2014 AND BEYOND. Your teaching license renewal year will remain the same as the initial certificate renewal date. Future license renewal requirements are expected to be adjusted according to new school code, which is being written for legislative action in spring of 2013. CURRENT ADVICE FOR INITIAL CERTIFICATE HOLDERS. Keep every piece of evidence of completion of professional development activities you have already completed until further notice. Do not enter new professional development activities in ECS; that information will not be retained after June 20, 2013. Watch for more to information released from our office in the spring/summer 2013.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATORS

Professional Educator License with Stipulations with a Provisional Career and Technical Educator Endorsement replaces the Temporary Provisional Vocational Certificate and may be issued to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill for which the applicant is seeking the endorsement. Each employing school board and regional office must provide written verification that no qualified teacher holding a Professional License or an Educator License with Stipulations with a career and technical educator endorsement is available, and circumstances require such issuance.
Regional Office of Education #40 Serving Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin Counties www.roe40.com

Larry Pfeiffer, Regional Superintendent Interim Assistant Regional Superintendent

225 E. Nicholas St. Carlinville, IL 62626 Phone: (217) 854-4016 Fax: (217) 854-2032 303 W. Exchange St. Jerseyville, IL 62052 Phone: (618) 498-5541 Fax: (618) 498-5543

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATORS (CONTINUED) This endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed only one time for 5 years if the person passes the Basic Skills Test now known as the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) and has completed a minimum of 20 semester hours from a regionally accredited institution. This new endorsement may be renewed only one time (which would give the holder a total of 10 years) if they pass a Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) and complete 20 semester hours of college coursework. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATOR ENDORSEMENT CHANGES A Career and Technical Educator Endorsement will replace a Provisional Vocational Certificate and will require 60 semester hours of college coursework and 2,000 hours of work experience. This endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued. Professional development is required and future applicants will need to pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) test.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Conversion from Substitute Teaching Certificates to Substitute License (SUB) Will my Substitute Certificate automatically change to a Substitute License? Valid Type 39 Illinois Substitute Certificates will automatically become renewable Illinois Substitute Licenses with a fiveyear validity period. How will this affect my Substitute Certificate renewal? All Type 39 Substitute Certificates that are valid on the date of conversion will become Substitute Licenses that expire on 6/30/2018. The holder will pay additional registration fees from the current expiration year to 2018. Registration will be completed in Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) formerly known as the Educator Certification System (ECS). So, even though my Substitute Certificate would normally expire prior to 2018, the new expiration will be on June 30, 2018 and how do I calculate the additional registration fees that are due? Anticipated additional registration fee calculation: the difference between current expiration date and 2018 times $10 per year. TYPE 39 EXPIRES 2013 2014 2015 2016 YEARS REMAINING 2018-2013 = 5 2018-2014 = 4 2018-2015 = 3 2018-2016 = 2 PAYMENT ON ELIS $50 BY 01/01/14 $40 BY 06/30/14 $30 BY 06/30/15 $20 BY 06/30/16 REGISTRATION WILL LAPSE IF NOT PAID BY: JANUARY 1, 2014 JANUARY 1, 2015 JANUARY 1, 2016 JANUARY 1, 2017

What if I do not register my Substitute License (SUB)? Our understanding as of this time is that an unregistered Substitute License will lapse if not registered in the required timeframe and you will have to pay $500 or take 9 semester hours of college credit in content area coursework to reinstate the lapsed license. Will I be required to pay additional registration fees in each county in which I would like to substitute teach? A registration fee is paid to the Regional Office of Education in the first county in which the license is registered. A Substitute License holder will no longer be required to pay a registration fee in each region.

Regional Office of Education #40 Serving Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin Counties

www.roe40.com

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SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS (CONTINUED)

Professional Educator Licensing Changes

Will there be additional requirements that will need to be met at my first renewal? For the first renewal of a Substitute License, the holder of the license will have to take and pass the Test of Academic Proficiency #400, Reading, Writing, English, and Mathematics. For information on the test, log in to the Illinois Licensure Testing System at www.il.nesinc.com. The first year the test will be required for renewal is 2018. Additional registration fees can be paid any time prior to 2016. If I have a lapsed Teaching Certificate will I be able to apply for a Substitute License (SUB)? If an educator has a teaching, school service or administrative certificate or license that has lapsed, a Substitute Certificate can be issued until June 30, 2013. After July 1, 2013 a Substitute License (SUB) will not be issued after licensure begins, the existing Substitute License will be renewable in 2018. If I have both a Teaching Certificate and a Substitute Teaching Certificate do I need to keep my Substitute Certificate registered and valid? If an educator holds a valid PEL registered with the region in which he/she teaches, a Substitute License is not needed to substitute teach in that region.

EDUCATORS WITH OUT OF STATE TEACHING CERTIFICATES

Educators prepared by an out-of-state institution who hold a valid, comparable out-of-state certificate or license will need to have completed the Illinois Basic Skills Test now known as the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) and content test as a requirement to receive a PELS. After July 1, 2013 the Basic Skills Test now known as the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) will no longer be waived. PEL
3 semester hours Methods of Instruction of the exceptional child in Cross-Categorical Special Education 6 semester hours in reading methods and reading content 3 semester hours in instructional strategies for ELL Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) Test Content Area Test(s)

PELS
Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) Test Content Area Test, LBS1 Endorsement requires 2 tests Minimum 15 hours of coursework in content area A PELS endorsed as a provisional educator is valid until June 30 immediately following 2 full school years of the license being issued, during which any remaining testing and course-work deficiencies must be met.

What if I apply for the PEL and do not meet the requirements? Unlike the current application process where a provisional certificate would have been issued; after June 30, 2013 applicants will need to submit a separate application for a PELS. Application fees will not transfer as they did previously.

PARAPROFESSIONALS
What is a Professional Educator License with Stipulations (PELS-Paraprofessional)? It is the license you need to be a teachers aide/teaching assistant/paraprofessional in an Illinois public school. Illinois is replacing its certification system with a licensure system. If you hold a TAS-N (Highly Qualified) teacher aide/paraprofessional (federal) approval, you will automatically receive the Professional Educator License with Stipulations (PELS-Paraprofessional) on 6/30/2013. Do I have to take classes or earn CPDUs like teachers do to renew my license? There are no professional development requirements for renewal for holders of PELS-Paraprofessional.

Regional Office of Education #40 Serving Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin Counties

www.roe40.com

Larry Pfeiffer, Regional Superintendent Interim Assistant Regional Superintendent

225 E. Nicholas St. Carlinville, IL 62626 Phone: (217) 854-4016 Fax: (217) 854-2032 303 W. Exchange St. Jerseyville, IL 62052 Phone: (618) 498-5541 Fax: (618) 498-5543

PARAPROFESSIONALS (CONTINUED)
Do I have to pay anything for this license? You will not pay an application fee if you hold a TAS-N approval on 6/30/2013. You will pay a $50.00 registration fee plus a $1.75 credit card processing fee to cover 7/1/2013 through 6/30/2018. When is my registration fee due? Your registration fee of $50.00 must be paid before the PELS-Paraprofessional license will be valid, so you should pay between July 1, 2013 and the start of the school year. You must register your PELS-Paraprofessional within 6 months or it will lapse. In 2018 what will I have to do to renew my Professional Educator License with Stipulations (PELS Paraprofessional)? You will pay the registration fee for the next 5 years ($50.00) on ELIS at www.isbe.net; then your next renewal will be 2023. What happens if I have TA or TAS (state), but not TAS-N? You will receive a TAS approval and will be able to work in non-Title I positions or a non Title I school district. This approval will not expire and does not need to be registered. TAS approvals will still be issued after 6/30/2013. How do I qualify for a TAS-N (federal) approval? The most common avenues to earn a TAS-N approval are having completed 60 semester hours of college credit or an Associates Degree at a regionally accredited institution of higher education or providing evidence of earning the ACT WorkKeys "Proficiency Certificate for Teacher Assistants". Please refer to the following link for complete information on paraprofessional requirements. http://www.isbe.net/certification/pdf/paraprofessionalrequirements.pdf. What happens if I hold a PEL, SUB and a PELS-Paraprofessional, will I have to register them all? The only license you will want to register is the PEL. As of right now, the Illinois State Board of Education is investigating how to manage the other lapsed licenses should they not be registered after the transition.

Regional Office of Education #40 Serving Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin Counties

www.roe40.com

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Professional Educator Licensing Changes

We know that the changes required will take some time to work through. Please do not hesitate to contact us at Regional Office of Education #40 with any questions or concerns that you may have. We will do our best to assist you and find answers to questions that you may have.

Need additional information? ROE Website www.roe40.com/certification Carlinville (217) 854-4016 or Jerseyville (618) 498-5541 ISBE Website

www.isbe.net/certification/default.htm

Regional Office of Education #40 Serving Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin Counties

www.roe40.com