Illinois Teaching Certificate Programs

(found programs from 21 schools)

IL Dept of Education:

http://www.isbe.state.il.us/

Teacher Certification in IL:

Illinois Teacher Certification Info

An add-on or advanced certificate in special education or bilingual education can help you fulfill Illinois' greatest teacher shortage areas. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Illinois' teacher shortage areas for the 2011-2012 school year included both bilingual education and special education. The Illinois Department of Education notes that over 180,000 ESL students were served by the state's public schools in 2010. However, few schools offered family programs to help them succeed. A little more than half of the schools offered family literacy programs, but only about 42 percent offered ESL classes for parents. Where special education is concerned, the U.S. Department of Education notes that Illinois needs teachers with the Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS) I certification. In May 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the state hired over 8,000 special education teachers. Teachers looking for additional certifications may want to consider add-on programs in these areas.

At the University of Illinois, teachers can earn either an advanced certificate in special education or a short-term emergency certificate if they area already licensed in another area. The short-term certificate leads to the LBS-1 certification. The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) prepares teachers to become special education directors. At River Forest's Dominican University, students can earn add-on certificates, which can prepare them to teach English language learners in a number of contexts. Teachers can earn an ESL or reading certificate. If they can speak another language, they can also earn a certificate in bilingual education. Finally, National-Louis University allows teachers to earn add-on certificates in additional content areas through completing coursework and a portfolio. The university's certificate programs are based on Illinois teaching standards.