CAT Tracks for October 25, 2003 A HURDLE REMOVED FOR NEWBIES?

ISBE ACCEPTS IEA PROPOSAL ON TEACHER CERTIFICATES

October 23, 2003 - Springfield, IL - The largest organization of education employees in Illinois today congratulated the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for agreeing that thousands of Illinois teachers should receive their standard teaching certificates without jumping through additional bureaucratic hoops.

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) had called on the State Board to seek legislation that would allow teachers holding initial certificates, who have successfully completed four years of teaching by June 30, 2004, to be issued standard certificates without meeting requirements they get special training and participate in mentoring programs prior to receiving a standard certificate.

ISBE was required by law to set up the training and mentoring programs but failed to do so, endangering the careers of thousands of teachers.

"We were very clear in our conversations with the State Board that this was the only fair action to take. These thousands of teachers had their careers in limbo through no fault of their own," said IEA president Anne Davis.

"You can't attend trainings and participate in mentoring programs that don't exist." IEA is working with ISBE to see what needs to be done for teachers whose initial certificates will expire beginning in 2005.

"We are very interested in seeing that teachers get what they need to be successful in the classroom. If teachers have access to relevant training and well-devised mentoring programs, the educational experience for students will be greatly enhanced," Davis added.