Teacher Education
The Council on Teacher Education formulates, modifies, implements, and monitors compliance with policies related to the preparation of future educators. The Council also facilitates communication and promotes collaboration among all participants involved in the preparation and continuing professional development of educators. The Council is the designated unit responsible for the coordination of teacher, school support personnel, and administrator education curricula at the Urbana campus and serves as the liaison between the campus and state educator licensure and program approval authorities.
Requirements
Licensure requirements are subject to change without notice as a result of new mandates from the Illinois State Board of Education or the Illinois General Assembly.
Admissions
Applicants to educator preparation programs must meet the admission requirements of the colleges and departments offering the chosen curricula.
Applicants are advised that certain felony convictions, enumerated in Articles 10-21.9 and 21B-80 of the School Code of Illinois, prohibit licensure or employment in public schools. Questions about this matter should be addressed to the Council.
Continuation in an Educator Preparation Program
To continue in a licensure program, undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (A = 4.0) or higher. The minimum cumulative grade point average for students in graduate programs is 3.0 (A = 4.0). The Council on Teacher Education reviews each student's academic progress after the fall and spring semesters. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA will receive a warning letter from the Council advising that continuation in the program, entry into student teaching or internship, and recommendation for licensure from the University are at risk. Students may be dropped from licensure programs by the Council if they fail to meet the minimum GPA in subsequent terms after the initial warning letter.
Teaching effectiveness is influenced not only by academic proficiency but also by the dispositions and professional behaviors of the student. Therefore, faculty members must take these characteristics into account as they evaluate student progress in the program and make recommendations for program continuation and licensure.
Teaching effectiveness can also be influenced by the candidate's health. For this reason, the University provides counseling and medical services for all students. Because it is essential that counseling and medical services be offered as soon as the need becomes apparent, educator preparation advisers and faculty members are asked to recommend for assistance or examination any student about whom they feel concerned. Students who are recommended to the Council for assistance or examination will receive a written request for a meeting. The Council on Teacher Education requires that students who receive a request must respond. Failure to do so may jeopardize continuation in the educator preparation program. During the meeting, the student will be informed of the counseling and medical services available at the university. The student's use of these services is usually optional. In exceptional cases, however, the Council may require a student to satisfactorily complete a mental health or physical examination with one of the campus services. Students who wish to continue in educator preparation must comply with such referrals.
Criminal Background Investigation
Illinois state law requires school districts to complete background checks of students completing field experiences in their schools. This means each educator preparation student will be required to authorize the school district to initiate a criminal background check, which may include a request for fingerprints. Candidates are responsible for all fees connected with this procedure. A school district may host a student only after a background check has been initiated and may not knowingly host a student who has been convicted of a felony or of attempting to commit certain offenses enumerated in The School Code of Illinois.
Student Teaching
State law mandates that students pursuing an initial teacher license pass the appropriate content area test before student teaching. Students who have not passed the appropriate content area test will not be permitted to student teach.
Students must be officially registered in teacher education curricula to be eligible for student teaching placements. The Council reserves the right to deny student teaching placement to students who have not met all academic and professional requirements. School districts have the right to not accept a student and therefore, the Council cannot guarantee a placement. However, programs will exhaust every effort to seek placements for each student.
Students are expected to complete all field experiences, including student teaching, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Students in teacher education should anticipate and plan for field experiences. Student teaching is a full-time commitment. Additional expenses may be incurred during the semester in which student teaching is scheduled.
Students who are admitted to an approved licensure program and complete successfully all required coursework, field experiences, and state licensure testing, are entitled to receive the recommendation of the University for licensure. All professional education and content-area coursework that forms part of an application for licensure, endorsement, or approval must have been passed with a grade no lower than C- or equivalent.
In some instances, students may be denied a recommendation for licensure but be granted a degree by their college. Students who believe that the recommendation for licensure has been withheld unjustly may seek redress through the grievance policy established by the Council on Teacher Education.
Students are advised that licensure requirements may be altered at any time by the Illinois State Board of Education or the legislature. In such cases, students may be compelled to satisfy the new requirements to qualify for the University's recommendation for licensure.
During their final term in the program, students should complete a licensure form in their Council on Teacher Education student portal. Students must claim their license through the Illinois State Board of Education's Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). Because licensure requirements are subject to change at any time as a result of new mandates, the University is unable to guarantee a recommendation for licensure to anyone who does not apply for and claim their license promptly upon completion of the program. Students who do not claim their license when entitled may be compelled to complete additional requirements to become licensed at a later date.
State Approved Licensure Programs
Undergraduate
College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
- Agricultural Education, Grades 5-12
College of Applied Health Sciences
- Physical Education, Grades PK-12
- Early Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 2 (Includes Early Childhood Special Education Approval)
- Elementary Education, Grades 1-6
- Learning Behavior Specialist I, Grade K - Age 22
- Middle Grades Education, Grades 5-8
- Options include English Language Arts, Math, Social Science, and Science
- Secondary Education Mathematics, Grades 9-12
- Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching, Grades 9-12
- Computer Science + Education, Grades 5-12
- Physics, Grades 9-12
College of Fine and Applied Arts
- Music Education, Grades PK-12
-
Visual Arts Education, Grades PK-12
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- English Language Arts, Grades 9-12
- World Language: French, Grades PK-12
- World Language: German, Grades PK-12
- World Language: Spanish, Grades PK-12
- Latin, Grades PK-12
- Mathematics, Grades 9-12
- Science: Biology, Grades 9-12
- Science: Chemistry, Grades 9-12
- Science: Earth and Space Science, Grades 9-12
- Social Science: History, Grades 9-12
Graduate
College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
- Agricultural Education, Grades 5-12
College of Applied Health Sciences
- Speech-Language Pathologist, Grades PK-22
- Early Childhood Education, Birth-Grade 2 (Includes Early Childhood Special Education Approval)
- Elementary Education, Grades 1-6
- Learning Behavior Specialist I, Grade K - Age 22
- Learning Behavior Specialist II, Multiple Disabilities, Grades PK - Age 22
- Middle Grades Education, Grades 5-8
- Options include English Language Arts, Math, Social Science, and Science
- Secondary Education, Grades 9-12
- Options include English Language Arts, Math, Social Science: History, and Science: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
- Principal, Grades PK-12
- Superintendent , Grades PK-12
College of Fine and Applied Arts
- Music Education, Grades PK-12
-
Visual Arts Education, Grades PK-12
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- World Language: French, Grades PK-12
- World Language: German, Grades PK-12
- World Language: Spanish, Grades PK-12
- Latin, Grades PK-12
School of Information Sciences
- Library Information Specialist, Grades PK-12
School of Social Work
- School Social Worker, Grades PK-12
The Illinois State Board of Education recognizes teaching fields not listed above. Information about available endorsements and qualifications can be found on the Council on Teacher Education website.