ISBE approves Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards

The Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards were approved on February 17, 2021.  These standards will have a direct impact on university training programs for all educators and School Support Personnel, which includes SLPs, SLPAs, and Audiologists.  It should be noted the new standards do not pose any substantial changes to the requirements when compared to those currently in place.  The new standards can be viewed here.

On February 1st, 2021, State Superintendent Dr. Carmen Ayala, posted a statement of explanation about the purpose of the new standards.  The complete statement is available here.  You may find the following excerpts from the statement helpful, copied here for your convenience. 
    •    “Implementation of the proposed Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards will consist only of approved Illinois educator preparation programs incorporating the standards into their coursework in the best way they see fit.

    •    ISBE also will offer optional professional development on the standards to current educators. Educators and school districts maintain local control over what professional development they choose.

    •    The Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards apply to teacher preparation programs, not to K-12 school curricula.
 (This is refferring to the college/university educational training programs in Illinois.)
    •    ISBE updated the draft standards in response to public comment to provide further clarity on the intended goal and removed language perceived as political.

    •    The standards will take effect in October 2025, giving educator preparation programs ample time to incorporate the standards.

    •    The standards support multiple viewpoints, experiences, and perspectives; promote inclusiveness; and encourage critical thinking.

    •    The standards were developed by a diverse group of educators from around the state.”


For more information on the history and development of the new standards, see the weekly report dated 2/2/2021.