Early Childhood Education Licensure talk

1. Early Childhood Education Licensure talk Nov 3, 7:00 p.m. 242 Education

2. COTE introduction • Oversee all things related to licensure • Past – Things like CBC and Blood borne Pathogen training • Here tonight to talk about process of actually getting licensed. • Obtain license as soon as you can!!!!-Regardless of other plans (grad school, Peace Corp, etc). • Not protected against ISBE changes (Ex: C or better rule) • Other state licensure will likely hinge on Illinois licensure first

3. Applying for license: • Can apply even IF you haven’t yet passed all tests • Log onto your student portal • Click on “Licensure Application” in left column • App will ask if your are registered for or previously done student teaching. • If you have to answer no, You should not proceed. • Click on “Click here to fill out your application request.” • Email address-Use your most used, most reliable email account. Do not use your UIUC account.

4. Phone number • Degree period • Major • License • Endorsements • Will be confined to those endorsements available to Early Childhood grade range. • May choose as many of those as you wish to be considered for (but please use some common sense) • You will allbe endorsed in Early Childhood Education (Pre K – grade 3 self contained)

5. All qualify for Early Childhood Special Education Approval (Pre K) • If you want to teach Special Education Kindergarten-grade 3, will need to meet requirements for Learning Behavior Specialist I endorsement (6 additional courses-available only to grad students) • Comments • Allows you to convey information that application does not otherwise allow. • Example: “I am taking a course at Parkland (SPAN 207) to complete the requirements for the Spanish endorsement ”

6. Signature (must “sign” stating you understand) • Must submit • Once you sign, you can’t go back. Don’t try to submit a second application. Contact us for changes/corrections

7. The next day, you should receive an email which says the COTE has received your application. • I will complete an audit based on either your DARS report or graduate audit completed earlier. • Problems? Will either contact you or records officer. If contacted, it’s important you respond.

8. Nothing missing? Will put application in pending file until end of spring or summer term • Endorsements? Will send Endorsement email It should have the ECSE approval and any other endorsements you qualify for. Contact us if something is inaccurate or missing. • End of final semester processing. • EFE hours (at least 80). (Should check Student portal for accuracy) • Student Teaching Time Report • Be accurate and fairly descriptive. This is only record we will have of your Student teaching

9. Safety Training • Departmental Recommendation • Should come automatically from Jay Mann if you meet all responsibilities. • Tests • Content test • EdTPA (Assessment of Professional Teaching is no longer required) • Degree (must appear on transcripts!!!) • Spring graduates – May or June 2016 • Summer grads – Late summer 2016 • If you need to be licensed immediately, talk to your records officer (Lori Fuller) to ensure your degree is posted on the first “cycle.”

10. Claiming” your license • We will contact you at email address you provided. • Will provide a link to the ELIS/Educator credentials website with instructions • Click on this link. • Follow steps. • Be prepared to pay by credit card • After you claim your license, you will need to register your license with a district • ISBE should send you an email with instructions for registration!

11. Be sure to register your license somewhere. If you do not, after 6 months it will become lapsed and you’ll have to take classes or pay $$$ to get it back. • ISBE is no longer mailing paper copies of license • Copy and past credentials onto a word document and print • Any school district or agency with your first and last name can do a “public search” in the ELIS/Educator Credentials site

12. More information on tests: • Be sure you request test scores be sent to Illinois • Be sure your SSN is accurate (errors may delay licensure). Can check your tests on Student portal. • Keep test scores forever (or longer)- May need them for out for grad school or Out-of-State certification.

13. Changes • You are going to receive a “Professional Educator License” (PEL) • “Types” (example: type 03, 04, 10) have gone away • “Initial” “Standard” and “National Board Certified” have also gone away • Endorsements will still appear on the license

14. License “validity”will change from 4 fiscal years to 5 fiscal years. • Be sure to renew your license within 5 years or it will become “lapsed.” • Can renew license on the same website (ELIS/Educator credentials) where you claimed it. • They should contact you at the email you provide them so keep checking that email (or change email addresses on ELIS/Educator Credentials

15. Certification in other states • Likely will require Licensure in Illinois first • Other states may have program verification form. • Send form to COTE to fill out. • “U.S. Teacher Certification Offices” under “Links” in www.cote.illinois.edu • If you ask us how to get certified in another state, we’ll likely only refer you to this link for information on contacting the respective states. • Certification Map (also under “Links”) • Talks about out-of-state certification • Addresses topic of “reciprocity”

16. Highly Qualified • “Highly Qualified” is a federal No Child Left Behind definition. • You will be “highly qualified” in the core academic subjects by virtue of taking/passing the Content test in Early Childhood Education • More info on Highly qualified is in COTE website under Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

17. Summary • Location: 505 E. Green Street, Suite 202 • Upstairs from PNC Bank and Coldstone Creamery • Website: www.cote.illinois.edu • Email (for me and Brenda Clevenger) • (jbuck@illinois.edu or bmclvngr@illinois.edu • Pick one of us. • Include UIN • Urgent timely matters? Don’t use email. • No appointments scheduled by email. Call office.

18. COTE websitewww.cote.illinois.edu Links • Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) • Other Certification Tests (for certification in other states) • Take Us To School – Resources for student teachers • Certification Map • U.S. Teacher Certification Offices • Illinois Education Job Bank