Teachers in approved bilingual education programs may possess either a Transitional Bilingual Certificate or a valid Illinois teaching certificate and a statement of approval issued by the State Board of Education. Since the bilingual certificate is valid for only six years and may only be renewed for a single two-year period, it is anticipated that current holders will seek to qualify for approval as a bilingual teacher or teacher of English as a Second Language. Approvals will only be issued to applicants who already possess a regular teaching certificate and will be limited to the grade levels or subjects for which the teaching certificate is valid.
A complete application should include the following:
Bilingual Approval
Complete form ISBE 73-49 Approval as a Bilingual or ESL Teacher.
A statement of approval will be issued to individuals meeting the following requirements:
- A valid Illinois teacher certificate.
- Bilingual clinical experience totaling 100 clock hours or three months teaching experience in bilingual programs.
- Successful completion of a language examination in the non-English language to be taught.
- Credits totaling 18 semester hours distributed among the following course areas:
- Foundations of Bilingual Education
- Assessment of Bilingual Students
- Methods and Materials for Teaching Limited-English-Proficient Students in Bilingual Programs
- Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching Limited-English-Proficient Students
- Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language.
English as a Second Language
Approval to teach ESL in the context of state-approved bilingual education program may be obtained by making application through a Regional Office of Education on ISBE form 73-49 Request for Approval as a Bilingual or ESL Teacher. The requirements for obtaining this approval are as follows:
- A valid Illinois teaching certificate.
- ESL clinical experience equal to 100 clock hours or three months teaching experience with ESL students.
- Credits totaling 18 semester hours distributed among the following course areas.
- Linguistics
- Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL
- Assessment of the Bilingual Student
- Methods and Materials for Teaching ESL
- Cross-Cultural Studies for teaching Limited-English-Proficient Students
Submit your application to ROE #40.
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