2013 Legislative Update
2013 Legislative Update
The Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) is now working. School Credentials should have been converted to an Educator License. Speech-language pathologists are encouraged to review their credentials as well as the renewal dates. ELIS can be accessed at www.isbe.state.il.us/ELIS/default.htm.
The Governor has signed into law two bills (HB 490 and SB2199) that ISHA was monitoring during the Spring Legislative Session.
House Bill 490
This bill impacts speech-language pathology training programs within Illinois. This bill amended the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. It removed the language stating that candidates would not be fully admitted to an educator preparation program at any recognized Illinois institution until passing a basic skills test. Additionally, it stated that individuals seeking a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations are required to pass the State of Board of Education’s recognized test of basic skills prior to student teaching, with exceptions. The successful passing of the test of basic skills is no longer a prerequisite for admission into a graduate program for speech-language pathology. Individuals admitted into a graduate program for speech-language pathology must pass a test of basic skills prior to commencement the full-time school internship.
What does this mean to you?
This bill greatly impacts the admission process for graduate programs at Illinois training institutions. Without this bill, all graduate school applicants would be required to pass a test of basic skills as a part of the application process. This requirement was not practical for any out-of-state applicants.
Senate Bill 2199
There are two parts to this bill; the first of which also impacts speech-language pathology training programs. This bill amended the Educator License Article of the School Code. The provision that prohibits candidates for licensure from beginning an internship/residency required for licensure until successfully passing the applicable content area test was removed. This provision goes into effect immediately.
The second portion of the bill impacts out-of-state candidates as it further amended the Educator License Article of the School Code. The minimum requirements for out-of-state candidates is addressed. Out-of-state school service personnel are required to meet the same coursework requirements as in-state school service personnel concerning instructional methods of the exceptional child, reading methodology, reading content areas, and English language learner instructional strategies as defined by rules. It requires out-of-state school service personnel to complete a minimum of one course in instructional methods of the exceptional child, a minimum of six semester hours in reading methodology and reading in the content areas, and a minimum of one course in English language learner instructional strategies.
What does this mean to you?
The first portion of the bill relating to when candidates take the content area test is excellent news for graduate students in speech-language pathology. This allows graduate students start their school internship and gain school experience prior to taking the #154 Content Area Speech-Language Pathologist Nonteaching Test.
The second portion of the bill relating to out-of-state candidates for an Educator License is impacting those individuals’ ability to obtain the Educator License. Speech-language pathologists moving into the state of Illinois seeking an Educator License have been told they are ineligible until completion of coursework relating to instructional strategies for the English language learner. Currently, there are no provisions relating to English language learner instructional strategies for in-state candidates seeking an Educator License.
