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Standard Teaching Certificate Renewal and RegistrationOn This Page:Requirements for Renewal Requirements for RenewalIn order to renew their certificates, public school teachers in Illinois are required to continue their education with professional development activities. For each 5-year renewal period, teachers may choose one of the following methods of filling this requirement. You will be required to maintain evidence of completion for each activity and be able to produce this documentation if selected for an audit. Option 1: Required Unique Professional Development Activity - You may meet your professional
Option 2: Required Coursework Professional Development Activities - This is the option you want to Option 3: Required CPDU Professional Development Activities - Use this option to use a variety of activities (including workshops and college courses) to acquire the professional development hours. This is the most common option. The standard requirement for CPDU’s is 120 for a 5-year period. Your amount may be less if you have exemptions or if you have a graduate degree. See a full list of qualifying CPDU activities below. Regular Education teachers are required to earn 20% of their CPDU’s in activities pertaining to serving students in the least restrictive environment. Special Education teachers are required to earn 50% of their CPDU’s with such activities. Teachers are NO LONGER REQUIRED to submit a professional development plan, to complete activities associated with old plans, or to submit paperwork to their district or co-op. No CPDU credit may be earned for activities that are designed for entertainment purposes, that are promotional or commercial in nature, or that are solely inspirational or motivational. Your ROE, STCB, or ISBE may disapprove any activity they deem inappropriate for CPDU purposes. Special Cases and Notes
FOR THOSE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE CERTIFICATES:
Using the ECS System to Renew and RegisterThe ECS database system is the system in which the Illinois State Board of Education maintains records of all of its certified education professionals. One of the benefits of this system, which was implemented in 2006, is the access that it gives educators to maintaining the accuracy of their own records. In ECS, you can:
The following guide will walk you through these procedures. Renewing Your Certificate Online for Teachers Already Holding a Standard Certificate (Downloadable To view this document, you will need a program that can read PDF files, such as Acrobat Reader (free download) or Preview. Qualifying CPDU Professional Development ActivitiesClick on an activity to view a full description and required documentation. 1. Collaborative planning and professional improvement teams.Description:Attendance at and participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the meetings of a group whose function is planning for professional development activities that will benefit groups of teachers and/or the school. Required Documentation: a) Written description of the purpose and intended product of the team or committee; 2. Peer Review and Peer CoachingDescription:A process of one-on-one assistance between pairs of teachers that is formally established by agreement between a school district and its teachers or their exclusive representative, in which the participants establish specific goals for the teacher being reviewed and conduct a program of intervention to assist that teacher with particular aspects of his or her teaching that includes observation and assessment of the teacher's performance in sessions lasting at least 20 minutes each, discussion of the observations made by the reviewing teacher, and preparation of a written summary by the reviewing teacher. Peer coaching: A process of one-on-one assistance between pairs of teachers, whether by formal arrangement under the auspices of the employing district or by mutual agreement, in which the participants observe each other's teaching and discuss the observations made. Required Documentation:a) The school's, district's, or representative's written description or policy; 3. Mentor, Consulting Teacher, Recipient, or Remediating TeacherDescription:Mentor: Consulting teacher: Recipient or remediating teacher: Required Documentation: For a mentor, recipient or remediating teacher: For a consulting teacher: Notes:"Meetings" refer only to those meetings not connected to observations by the consulting teacher; "observations" refer only to those observations conducted by the consulting teacher.) 4. Site-based management or decision-making teams, boards, or task forcesDescription:Attendance at and participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the meetings of a group whose function is formulating recommendations or plans related to budgeting or resource allocation, textbook choice, curriculum modification, scheduling, or other aspects of school operations related to issues noted in the school improvement plan. Required Documentation: a) Written description of the purpose and intended product of the team or committee; 5. Coordinating Community ResourcesDescription:Working with representatives of community agencies to structure or facilitate their interaction with the school's or district's staff or students for the purpose of meeting one or more needs identified in the school improvement plan; must include more than the class(es) directly taught by the certificate-holder. Required Documentation: a) Excerpt from school improvement plan highlighting the need(s) being met; 6. Facilitating parent education programsDescription:Arranging for or coordinating presentations in the context of a formally established program consisting of two or more sessions designed to serve parents of the students in a particular school or district by informing or training them in one or more areas related either to their children's achievement or to another need identified in a school improvement plan. Delivering presentations in the context of a formally established program, consisting of two or more sessions, designed to serve parents of the students in a particular school or district by informing or training them in one or more areas related either to their children's achievement or to another need identified in a school improvement plan (to the extent that such presentations are not part of the instruction routinely delivered as a function of the certificate-holder's assignment). Required Documentation:For Coordinating: For making presentations: 7. Business, School, or Community PartnershipsDescription:Formal or informal exchange of information and resources between a teacher and a business, educational institution, or other entity for the purpose of improving student achievement or responding to a need identified in the school improvement plan. Required Documentation:a) A written description of the partnership that states its goal(s), identifies the need(s) it is designed to meet, and describes the activities conducted by the certificate-holder; and 8. Supervising a Student TeacherDescription:Student teacher or teacher education candidate in clinical supervision: Service (as determined by the teacher preparation institution in conformance with Section 25.620) as a supervising teacher for a student teacher or teaching candidate in clinical supervision who is enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program. Teacher education candidate in pre-service teaching clinical experience: Provision of at least 40 hours of supervisory service connected with the prestudent- teaching practicum to one or more candidates enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program. Limitation: each may be counted only once in any five-year renewal cycle, with one exception. In the case of a student whose receipt of supervision is split between two supervising teachers, each such teacher may count one-half a period of service and may count service to two such candidates. Required Documentation:a) The written agreement between the school district and teacher preparation institution naming the certificate holder as a supervising teacher for candidates of that institution; 9. College CourseworkDescription:Successful completion of college or university coursework that is related to the individual's certificate(s) and addresses the professional standards set forth in Subpart B of this Part relative to the certificate-holder's field(s) of teaching or assignment. Required Documentation:Grade report or official transcript showing that the certificate-holder has passed the course and indicating the credit received. 10. Teaching College CoursesDescription:Teaching a college-level course in a field related to an individual's certificate(s) and results in the granting of college credit to those enrolled. Limitation: The same course may be counted only once in any five-year renewal cycle. A course shall be considered "the same" if its description is the same in different course catalogues issued by the same institution or, for a course offered at more than one institution, if the syllabus for the course is substantially the same. A course shall not be considered the same as another course if a student may receive credit for successfully completing both. In cases where two courses appear similar, the certificate-holder wishing to claim CPDU's for both shall be required to demonstrate how the two differ. Required Documentation:Grade report or official transcript showing that the certificate-holder has passed the course. 11. [Invalid] This is a code that is no longer used.12. Workshops, Seminars, Conferences, Institutes, SymposiaDescription:Attending and paricipating in a conference, workshop, institute, seminar, symposium, or other similar training event that addresses educational concerns and is organized by an approved provider. Required Documentation:ISBE 77-21 issued by the provider at the conclusion of the session or event; program prepared by the entity sponsoring or conducting the event that indicates the topics covered and the length of time devoted to each. If you attend an out-of-state training activity that does not target Illinois teachers, you may count one CPDU for each hour of participation. Keep a program or agenda marked with the sessions you attended as evidence of completion. 13. Presenting at workshops, seminars, conferences, institutes, symposiumsDescription:Making a presentation at a conference, workshop, institute, seminar, symposium, or other similar event whose goal is the improvement of teaching skills and knowledge. Required Documentation:The program prepared by the entity sponsoring or conducting the event, identifying the certificate-holder as a presenter in a topic area relevant to his or her certification or teaching assignment. 14. External reviewers for Quality AssuranceDescription:Participation in a complete training sequence regarding the quality assurance process used by ISBE pursuant to the rules for Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision (23 Ill. Adm. Code 1). Required Documentation:Certificate of completion issued by ISBE. 15. Review team for accreditation of institution of higher educationDescription:Participating in a complete training sequence regarding the process used by the State Board in approving teacher preparation programs or accrediting teacher preparation institutions. Evidence:Certificate supplied by ISBE. 16. Action research and inquiry projectsDescription:Conducting a teacher-developed study at least one quarter of the school year in length that is based upon a written protocol identifying the aspect of education that will be investigated, the approach to be used, and the desired or expected outcome of the project. Evidence:a) The written protocol; and 17. Observing programs or teaching in schools, business or industryDescription:Observing programs or teaching in schools, related businesses, or industry that is systematic, purposeful, and relevant to certificate renewal. Engaging in a series of observations, either of teaching performed by others or of work activity directly related to the certificate-holder's area(s) of certification. Evidence:A description of the observations prepared by the certificate-holder, including work to be observed, the purpose for which the observations were to be conducted, the frequency and length of the periods of observation, what was learned, and how the information will be used in the individual's future teaching. 18. TravelDescription:Traveling related to one's teaching assignment, directly related to student achievement or school improvement plans. Travel lasting no less than three consecutive, full days (not including travel to and from the destination) that the LPDC, if applicable, or regional superintendent has approved. The written request for approval must relate to one of the Purposes (A, B, C, D or E), identify the activities or aspects of the travel that will contribute to his or her professional development, and describe what is to be accomplished through the travel experience. Evidence:a) The travel itinerary; and 19. Study groupsDescription:Attendance at and participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the meetings of a group that investigates one or more aspects of education in a series of regular, structured, collaborative interactions with a view to improving the members' practice or related outcomes among their students. Evidence:a) A written statement of purpose for the group; 20. Statewide education-related committeeDescription:Serving on a statewide education-related committee, including but not limited to the State Teacher Certification Board, State Board of Education strategic agenda teams, or the State Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities Attendance at and participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the meetings. Evidence:Minutes of the group demonstrating the individual's attendance during the period for which CPDUs are claimed. If submission of minutes would breach confidentiality, a record of attendance shall be sufficient. 21. Work/learn programs or internshipsDescription:Participation in a structured program that pairs the certificate-holder with an employer or other entity under whose auspices the certificate-holder can acquire knowledge or skills for use in his or her future teaching or position. Evidence:Signed letter from the employer or other entity verifying the nature of the program or internship and stating the length and frequency of the certificate-holder's direct contact with other individuals from whose knowledge or experience he or she was to benefit. 22. Curriculum development or assessment activitiesDescription:Participating in curriculum development or assessment activities at the school, school district, regional office of education, State, or national level. Assisting in the planning, development, or refinement of curriculum or assessments, or in their alignment with applicable standards; the activity must be one sanctioned or structured either by the employing school or district or by a statewide, national, or international educational agency or organization. Requires participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the working sessions of any group for which CPDUs are claimed. Evidence:a) Membership list and meeting summaries showing the certificate-holder's presence and participation; and 23. Team or department leadershipDescription:Service in a position of leadership established by a school or district as part of its formal structure and lasting no less than one semester; limited to those activities that relate to instruction in the area of assignment; shall not include tasks unrelated to teaching knowledge, skills, performance, or competence. Evidence:Job description or other document created by the district or the administrator responsible for assigning a leadership role to the incumbent that is specific in terms of responsibilities to be carried out within particular periods of time relative to the instructional goals of the department, school, or district. 24. External or internal school or district review teamDescription:Participating on external or internal school or school district review teams. Participating as an external or internal reviewer in a complete cycle of the quality assurance process used by the State Board pursuant to the Board's rules for Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision (23 Ill. Adm. Code 1). Participating on a curriculum review panel convened pursuant to Section 25.125 (c) with respect to approval of a teacher preparation program. Participating on a review team convened pursuant to Section 25.125 (e) with respect to the accreditation of an institution of higher education and its approval to provide teacher preparation programs. Evidence:a) Documentation of the individual's assignment by State Board staff (for an external review team, curriculum review panel, or institution review team) or by a school district administrator (for an internal review team); and 25. Publishing education articles, columns or booksDescription:Publishing educational articles, columns, or books relevant to the certificate area being renewed. Writing about educational research, experiences, issues, approaches, systems, or another topic that is related to the effective practice of teaching. In cases of multiple authorship, the CPDUs earned will be divided among the authors as they agree, provided that no more than 100% of the available CPDU's will be awarded for any publication. Evidence:a) Copy of each item published, showing the date, publication, and publisher. 26. Non-strike related professional association or union service (LPDC/RPDRC)Description:Participating in non-strike related professional association or labor organization service or activities related to professional development. Service on local professional development committees, regional professional development review committees (including service by certificateholders in districts without exclusive representatives) or other bodies constituted by professional associations or labor organizations for specified purposes related to the profession of teaching. Requires formal selection by the organization. Examples include positions on committees planning for or formulating educational or professional policies, standards, and structures. Activities related to the operations or functioning of the professional association or labor organization shall not be eligible. Evidence:a) Written description of the position or activity; and 27. Portfolio of student and teacher workDescription:Portfolio of student and teacher work. Preparation of at least five portfolio "artifacts" or "entries," each of which relates to a different assignment Evidence:a) Samples of at least three students' work that responds to the specified assignment and LinksISBE Recertification Page for Teachers |
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