Section 25.127  Requirements for Annual Reporting, Program Reauthorization, and Entitlement Audits

a)         Annual Program Reporting

Each EPP shall submit to the State Board the data and information set forth in this subsection (a) annually. The data and information shall be used by the State Board as part of its review of an EPP and its programs for State reauthorization. 

1)         No later than April 30 annually, each State-reauthorized EPP shall submit data and other information relative to the domain and indicators of the EPP Continuous Improvement and Accountability System listed in subsections (a)(1)(A) through (E) for the prior reporting year (i.e., September 1 through August 31).

A)        Candidate Selection and Completion

i)          Academic Strength − Candidate and completer grade point average (GPA)

ii)         Candidate and Completer Diversity and Demographics − Proportion of diverse candidates and completers

iii)        Teaching Promise − Candidate score on disposition assessment (assessment is to be determined and data not yet collected)

B)        Knowledge and Skills for Teaching

i)          Mastery of Teaching Subjects − Candidate performance on Illinois Content Area Tests described in Section 25.720

ii)         General Teaching Skill − If applicable, candidate performance on Teacher Performance Assessment described in Section 25.720

iii)        Preparedness − Completer, Novice Teacher, and Supervisor perception of preparation for role as an educator

C)        Performance as Classroom Teachers

Demonstrated Teaching Skill − Aggregate data on completer effectiveness from the performance evaluations conducted under Article 24A of the Code

D)        Contribution to State Needs

i)          Completers in High Needs Subjects − Completers who received an initial license in State identified high needs subjects

ii)         Placement − Completers who received an initial license who are employed in an Illinois public school

iii)        Persistence − Completers who persist in being employed in an Illinois public school

E)        Other domains and indicators as deemed necessary by the State Board

2)         Each institution shall make program completers' pass rates on tests required for receipt of professional educator licensure pursuant to this Part and other information required by Title II of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1027) readily available to the public on an annual basis and shall include it in or with publications routinely sent to potential applicants, school counselors, and prospective employers of the institution's program completers.

3)         Each EPP shall include in its annual report to the State Board its policy on Teacher Performance Assessment plagiarism and cheating, including the EPP's options for disciplinary action.

4)         State Board staff may visit a recognized institution at any time, with one day's advance notice, and may ask to speak with faculty, candidates, or administrators. All records shall be made available to State Board staff upon request. 

b)         The State Board shall annually notify programs of ratings received in the Continuous Improvement Accountability System and of the status of their reauthorization. Programs shall receive an overall rating of Exemplary (Reauthorized with Distinction), Commendable (Reauthorized), Developing (Conditional Reauthorization), and Needs Improvement (Probationary Reauthorization). Programs that receive an overall rating lower than commendable shall submit action plans to be reviewed by State Board staff and SEPLB for feedback.

c)         Changes to Approved Programs

1)         Using a format identified by the State Superintendent, an EPP may request changes to one or more currently approved programs by submitting documentation of the proposed changes no later than 60 days prior to the date the changes will take effect. 

2)         State Board staff shall review the proposed changes and, within 30 days, approve or deny the changes.

d)         Audit of Licensure Entitlements

1)         Pursuant to Section 21B-25 of the Code, the State Board shall conduct audits of recognized institution licensure entitlements. 

2)         An audit of each institution shall be conducted at least once every five years in accordance with Section 21B-25 of the Code. Data and information from the audits shall be used to determine if the EPP has met the requirements of Section 21B-100 of the Code and this Subpart.

A)        Institutions undergoing an entitlement audit must submit requested documentation to the State Board staff within six weeks after the request is made.

B)        State Board staff must review evidence submitted by the institution and, no later 60 days after receipt of the report, must either:

i)          Find the evidence submitted to be adequate and notify the institution that no further action is required; or

ii)         Find the evidence submitted to be inadequate and submit to the institution a report of initial inadequacies.

C)        No later than 30 days after receipt of the report, institutions with initial inadequacies shall supply State Board staff with additional evidence addressing the deficiencies identified in the report.

D)        State Board staff must review the additional evidence submitted by the institution and, no later than 30 days after receipt of the submittal, must either:

i)          Find the evidence submitted to be adequate and notify the institution that no further action is required; or

ii)         Find the evidence submitted to be inadequate.

E)        In the event that a determination is made that the requirements set forth in Section 21B-100 of the Code or this Part have not been met, the provisions of Section 25.130 shall apply.

F)         State Board staff may visit a recognized institution at any time with one day's advance notice and may ask to speak with licensure officers, candidates, or administrators if they find a deficiency or any other problem during the audit that needs to be addressed. All records shall be made available to State Board staff upon request.

G)        Institutions identified as in violation of Section 21B-100 of the Code must submit a remediation plan no later than June 30 of the audit year.

i)          The plan shall include remedies identified by State Board staff and SEPLB, as well as internal procedures for improvement;

ii)         The plan shall include a timeline for implementation; and

iii)        The plan and timeline shall be approved by State Board staff prior to implementation.

H)        When subsection (d)(2)(D)(ii) is applicable, an institution shall not enter any additional entitlements until evidence that remedies issues identified by State Board staff have been implemented.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 7729, effective May 9, 2024)