Section 1.780  Standards for Teachers in Bilingual Education Programs

a)         No individual shall be assigned as a bilingual education teacher in prekindergarten, kindergarten or any of grades 1-12 unless that individual:

1)         holds a valid professional educator license endorsed in a content area for the grade levels of the students to be served and an endorsement for bilingual education that is specific to the language of instruction, issued pursuant to Section 1.781;

2)         holds a valid educator license with stipulations endorsed for transitional bilingual educator specific to the language of instruction, issued pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.90 (Endorsement for Transitional Bilingual Educator);

3)         holds a valid educator license with stipulations endorsed for visiting international educator and the grade levels of the students to be served and meets the requirements set forth at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.92(i) (Endorsement for Visiting International Educator; or

4)         was employed in a State-approved bilingual education program prior to September 1, 1985 and continues to hold a valid professional educator license endorsed for the grade level or levels of the students to be served.

b)         No individual shall be assigned as a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) in prekindergarten, kindergarten or any of grades 1-6 unless that individual:

1)         holds a valid professional educator license endorsed for the grade levels of the students to be served and an endorsement for ESL or English as a New Language (ENL), issued pursuant to Section 1.782;

2)         holds a valid professional educator license endorsed for the grade levels of the students to be served and an endorsement for bilingual education or ENL with a language designation;

3)         holds a valid educator license with stipulations endorsed for transitional bilingual educator issued pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.90;

4)         holds a valid educator license with stipulations endorsed for visiting international educator and the grade levels of the students to be served and meets the requirements set forth at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.92(i); or

5)         was employed in an approved bilingual education program prior to September 1, 1985 and continues to hold a valid professional educator license endorsed for the grade level or levels of the students to be served.

c)         No individual shall be assigned as a teacher of English as a Second Language in any of grades 7-12 unless that individual:

1)         holds a valid professional educator license endorsed for the grade levels of the students to be served and an endorsement for ESL or ENL, issued pursuant to Section 1.782; or

2)         holds a valid educator license with stipulations endorsed for visiting international educator and the grade levels of the students to be served and meets the requirements set forth at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.92(i).

d)         Additional requirements for teachers in grades 5-8 serving students with home languages other than English shall be as set forth in Section 1.720.

e)         Additional requirements for teachers in State-supported early childhood programs serving students with home languages other than English shall be as set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 228.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 5744, effective April 21, 2021)