Section 25.147  Approval of Programs for World Language

a)         State reauthorization of programs for world language shall not be specific to individual languages.  That is, an institution with an approved program in any language shall be considered as having approval for any combination of languages, subject to the provisions of this Section.

1)         An institution with an approved world language program may add one or more languages to that program at the discretion of the EPP, provided that the institution shall notify the State Superintendent to this effect in writing no later than three months before instruction in that language is to begin, except when notification is required further in advance under subsection (a)(2). 

2)         An institution that intends to add one or more languages to its approved program for which no test is listed in Section 25.710 shall notify the State Superintendent no later than six months before instruction in that language is to begin, in order to allow time for the identification of an appropriate language proficiency test if needed.

3)         An institution that intends to delete one or more languages from its approved foreign language program shall be subject to the requirements of Section 25.165(a).

4)         An institution without an approved program in foreign language may apply for approval of a new program under Section 25.120.  The application for approval shall indicate which languages the program will initially offer.  After initial approval of the program, the institution may add or delete languages as provided in this Section.

b)         Each world language program shall, as a requirement for program completion , require its candidates for licensure, other than candidates in Latin and Classical Greek, to complete the Oral Proficiency Interview described in "ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 – Speaking" (2012), published by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 200, Alexandria VA  22314 and posted at http:// actflproficiencyguidelines2012.org/ (no later amendments to or editions of these standards are incorporated) and to attain a score at the "intermediate high" level.  As an alternative to the ACTFL interview, a program may administer another measure of oral proficiency, provided that approval for that measure is first obtained from the State Board based on evidence that it permits identification of proficiency equivalent to the "intermediate high" level on the ACTFL interview.

c)         Pursuant to the standards set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 27.340 (World Language), each approved preparation program in world language shall lead to candidates' eligibility for a special K-12 endorsement on a PEL. 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 7269, effective June 3, 2021)