Prairie State Wire

Should 'D' students be teaching your students?

Illinois teachers unions think so. They are pushing a new rule that would suspend ordinary requirements for the Professional Educator License.

The rule would allow teacher candidate with inferior grades to pass and become eligible to be licensed educators. 

“If the Governor declares a disaster due to a public health emergency under Section 3477 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act[20 ILCS 3305], Illinois educator preparation providers shall be exempt from the"C-" or higher provision when entitling candidates for licensure if the candidates are already enrolled in an educator preparation course,” the proposed rule reads. 

The rule would allow teacher candidate with inferior grades to pass and become eligible to be licensed educators. 

JCAR is a bipartisan legislative oversight committee that oversees state agency administrative rules. 

The rule would make make it easier for student teachers to begin teaching practicums without first passing a “required content test."

“Notwithstanding any other requirements under this Part, a teaching candidate is not required to complete the teacher performance assessment required under Section 21B-30(f) of the Code and this Part,” the proposed language reads. 

In addition, students teachers would be allowed to complete all training remotely including, contact hours, clock hours, clock hours of supervised school-based professional experience, practicum hours and direct service work.