Section 1.720  Requirements for Teachers of Middle Grades

a)         The requirements of this Section apply to teachers employed in departmentalized grades 6-8 ("middle-grade teachers").  Teachers employed in non-departmentalized grades 6-8 and who hold a K-9 elementary education endorsement issued by September 1, 2019, are subject to the requirements of Section 1.710.

b)         Requirements for Assignability 

1)         The requirements of this subsection (b)(1) apply to teachers licensed prior to July 1, 1997.

A)        Teachers must hold a junior high endorsement in the content area of major teaching assignment (e.g., language arts, mathematics, general science, social science, or music);

B)        Teachers must have completed 16 semester hours of coursework in the content area taught; or

C)        Career and Technical Education educators must have met the requirements of Section 1.730(b).

2)         The requirements of this subsection (b)(2) apply to teachers licensed between July 1, 1997 and January 31, 2018.

A)        Teachers must hold a content-specific junior high endorsement issued pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A);

B)        Teachers must hold a content-specific middle school endorsement in the content area of major teaching assignment (e.g., language arts, mathematics, general science, social science, or music) and the following coursework:

i)          3 semester hours of coursework, approved by the college of education or other institutional unit governing teacher education, that includes middle-grade philosophy, middle-grade curriculum and instruction, and instructional methods for designing and teaching developmentally appropriate programs (i.e., addressing the cognitive, emotional, and physical development of each child) in the middle grades, including content area (e.g., science or social sciences) reading instruction; and

ii)         3 semester hours of coursework, approved by the college of education or other institutional unit governing teacher education, that includes educational psychology focusing on the developmental characteristics of early adolescents, the nature and needs of early adolescents, and the role of the middle-grade teacher in assessment, coordination, and referral of students to health and social services; or

C)        Career and Technical Education educators must have met the requirements of Section 1.730(b).

3)         When a middle-grade teacher is assigned to deliver instruction in two or more areas (e.g., language arts and social science or mathematics and science), the teacher shall meet the requirements of subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) for the major teaching assignment and shall have no fewer than 5 semester hours in each other subject taught. The "major teaching assignment" is the subject taught for more time than any other subject. When two subjects are taught for an equal amount of time, the district shall determine which assignment is considered the "major teaching assignment".

c)         The requirements of this subsection (c) apply to individuals licensed on or after February 1, 2018.  On or after February 1, 2018, any individual first assigned to teach in grade 7 or 8, whether departmentalized or self-contained, or in departmentalized grade 6 shall meet the requirements of 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.99 for the major teaching assignment and have no fewer than 5 semester hours in each other subject taught, subject to the exception stated in subsection (a) for assignment in self-contained grades 6 through 8.  The requirements of this subsection (c) do not apply to individuals who are first endorsed in agricultural education; business, marketing, and computer education; business, marketing, and computer education (computer programming); computer applications; computer science; family and consumer sciences; health science technology; and technology education on or after February 1, 2018.

1)         On or after February 1, 2018, no individual may be assigned to teach in departmentalized grades 6-8 unless that individual holds a professional educator license and:

A)        holds a middle-grades endorsement applicable to the content area;

B)        meets the relevant requirements of subsection (a), (b), or (c);

C)        has received an elementary endorsement issued pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.97 and has met the relevant requirements of this subsection (c) on or before January 31, 2018;

D)        is assigned pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.430; or

E)        meets the requirements of Section 1.737(a)(1) and (c).

2)         Beginning July 1, 2025, any teacher who is teaching by virtue of meeting the qualifications set forth in subsection (b)(1)(B) or (C) shall have a designation for the specific content area and grade range added to the teacher's ELIS account, prior to being assigned to the position, by the regional office of education.

3)         Previous qualifications can continue to be added after July 1, 2025 if educators are assigned to new positions by virtue of being previously qualified.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 8535, effective May 29, 2024)