Elementary Education Licensure talk

1. Elementary Education Licensure talk Nov 6, 2014, 6:30 p.m. 114 David Kinley Hall

2. COTE introduction • Oversee all things related to licensure • Past – Things like CBC and Blood borne Pathogen training • Here tonight to talk about process of actually getting licensed. • Obtain license as soon as you can!!!!-Regardless of other plans (grad school, Peace Corp, etc). • Only protected against program changes for 1 year • Not protected at all against ISBE changes (Ex: C or better) • Other state certification will likely hinge on Illinois licensure first

3. Applying for license: www.cote.illinois.edu • Log onto your student portal • Example: ed-blutarsky (Bluto) • Click on “Licensure Application” • Will ask if your are registered for or previously done student teaching. • If you answer no, You should not proceed. • Click on “Click here to fill out your application request.” • Email address-You use your most used/most reliable- email account. Do not use your UIUC account.

4. Phone number • Degree period • Major • License • Endorsements • May choose as many as you wish to be considered for (but please use some common sense) • You will allbe endorsed in Elementary Ed (Kindergarten – 9th grade-self contained)

5. (Endorsements continued) • All middle grade endorsements require the middle grade courses • (UIUC-EPS 427, CI 410, and EPSY 430) • If courses taken at another school, be sure they are sent and received/entered. • Smaller number of K-4 endorsements • Bilingual and ESL- be sure all documentation is sent to our office. Retain copies for yourself • All foreign Language endorsements have been changed to 24 hours of coursework AND passing the ILTS content test in the respective foreign language.

6. Comments • Allows you to convey information that application does not otherwise allow for. • Example: “I am taking a course at Parkland (SPAN 207) to complete the requirements for the Spanish endorsement ”

7. Signature (must “sign” stating you understand) • Must submit • Once you sign, you can’t go back. Don’t try to submit a second application. Contact us for changes/corrections.

8. The next day, you should receive an email which says the COTE has received your application. • Can submit application even if you haven’t yet passed all tests (just need to be registered for student teaching). • I will complete an audit based on DARS report or grad audit completed earlier. • Problems? Will either contact you or records officer. If contacted, it’s important you respond.

9. Nothing missing? Will put application in pending file until end of spring or summer term • Endorsements? Will send Endorsement email • If you expect endorsements but don’t receive email, contact me. • End of final semester processing. • EFE hours (at least 80). (Should check Student portal for accuracy) • Student Teaching Time Report • Be accurate and fairly descriptive. This is only record we will have of your Student teaching (directions on student portal).

10. Safety Training • Approved portfolio • Departmental Recommendation • Should come automatically from Jay Mann if you meet all responsibilities • Tests • Content test • Assessment of Professional Teaching • EdTPA • Degree (must appear on transcripts!!!) • Spring graduates – May or June 2014 • Summer grads – Late summer 2014 • Contact Lori Fuller if you need to be licensed immediately

11. Claiming your license with ISBE • We will send you an email at the address you provided. • Will provide a link to the ISBE website with instructions which include directing you toward a link • Click on this link. • May need to create a new user name/password • Follow steps. • Be prepared to pay by credit card

12. After you claim your license, you will need to register your license with a district • If you have a job lined up, use that district • Be sure to register your license somewhere. If you do not, after 6 months it will become “lapsed.” • Lapsed licenses will require that you take additional coursework or pay ISBE $$$

13. TESTING (more information) • Two required tests: • Elementary/Middle Grades (110) • MUST pass before student teaching (State Law) • Every semester at least one student has to be pulled from student teaching. Don’t let it be you! • Assessment of Professional Teaching: Grades K-9 (102) or Pre K-Grades 12 (188) (either is acceptable) • Must pass before licensure • Be sure you request test scores be sent to Illinois

14. Be sure your SSN is accurate • Errors may delay licensure • Much wailing and gnashing of teeth) • Can check your tests on Student portal to ensure tests have been received • Keep test scores forever (or longer) • May need them for out for grad school • May need them for Out-of-State certification.

15. Changes • You are going to receive a “Professional Educator License” (PEL) • “Types” (example: type 03, 04, 10) have gone away • “Initial” “Standard” and “National Board Certified” have also gone away • Effective Sept 2014 the “formal” EdTPA goes into effect so be sure to be licensed before then.

16. ISBE is no longer mailing paper copies of license • Can print a screen shot of your license information (or) • Any school district or agency with your first and last name can do a “public search” in the ELIS/Educator Credentials site • License “validity”will change from 4 fiscal years to 5 fiscal years. • Be sure to renew your license in 5 years or it will become “lapsed.” • Can renew license on the same website (ELIS/Educator credentials) where you claimed it. • They should contact you at the email you provide them so keep checking that email (or change email addresses on ELIS/Educator Credentials

17. Certification in other states • Likely will require Licensure in Illinois first • Other states may have program verification form. • Send form to COTE to fill out. • “U.S. Teacher Certification Offices” under “Links” in www.cote.illinois.edu • If you ask us how to get certified in another state, we’ll likely only refer you to this link for information on contacting the respective states. • Certification Map (also under “Links”) • Talks about out-of-state certification • Addresses topic of “reciprocity”

18. Highly Qualified • “Highly Qualified” is a federal No Child Left Behind definition. • You will be “highly qualified” in the core academic subjects (Science, Arts, Reading, English Language Arts, History, Civics & Government, Economics, Geography, Math) by virtue of taking/passing the Content test in Elementary Middle Grades • More info on Highly qualified is in COTE website under Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

19. Summary • Location: 505 E. Green Street, Suite 202 • Upstairs from PNC Bank and Coldstone Creamery • Website: www.cote.illinois.edu • Email • (jbuck@illinois.edu or bmclvngr@illinois.edu • Pick one of us. • Include UIN • Urgent timely matters? Don’t use email. • No appointments scheduled by email. Call office.

20. COTE websitewww.cote.illinois.edu Under “Links”: • Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) • Other Certification Tests (for certification in other states) • Take Us To School – Resources for student teachers • Certification Map • U.S. Teacher Certification Offices • Illinois Education Job Bank