Section 28.10  Purpose and Effective Dates

This Part establishes the standards that, together with the standards set forth in initial approval of Educator Preparation Programs by the State Board of Education (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.120), shall apply to the issuance of various endorsements in the field of special education pursuant to Article 21B of the School Code [105 ILCS 5].  The standards set forth in this Part shall apply both to candidates for the respective endorsements and to the programs that prepare them.

a)         Transition to New Standards (Beginning October 1, 2025)

1)         Beginning on the date identified as applicable, approval of any teacher preparation program or course of study pursuant to the State Board's rules for Educator Licensure (23 Ill. Adm. Code 25, Subpart C) shall be based on the congruence of that program's or course's content with the relevant standards identified in this Part.

2)         This Part also includes the standards that will continue to apply until national standards are required.

3)         Beginning October 1, 2021, no candidate shall be admitted into a program that has not been approved under this Part.  Any candidate who is enrolled in a program not approved under this Part shall complete the program and be entitled (i.e., receive verification by the candidate's institution of higher education that he/she has completed an approved preparation program and has met the testing and experience requirements for licensure in the specific content area sought) by October 1, 2025.

b)         The examinations required for issuance of that endorsement shall be based on the relevant standards identified in this Part.

c)         Programs approved under previous standards shall align to updated standards by June 30 of the following fiscal year.

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 8984, effective May 12, 2020)