University-Wide Teacher Education

Chair, Council for Teacher Education: Dean, College of Education

Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center

Performance-Based Assessment System

Effective Fall 2002, the Council for Teacher Education implemented the Teacher Education Performance-Based Assessment System (PBA). This system meets accreditation standards, as stipulated by the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (ISEPLB) and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The Performance Based Assessment system (PBA) establishes critical points at which candidates for teacher licensure will be assessed through two gateways:

Gateway 1: Pre-Student Teaching 

  • Teacher Education Orientation PBA Workshop
  • National Criminal Background Check (NCBC)- All teacher candidates will be required to complete a one-time, online NCBC. The NCBC reviews criminal histories to ensure the protection of preK-12 students by verifying the teacher candidate has not been convicted of illegal activity nationally.  Results of the NCBC must be reported to the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center before students may begin any clinical experience.  Additionally, the schools in which the teacher candidate will complete their clinical experiences and student teaching assignment(s) will require their own criminal background check be completed.
  • Clear Illinois Sexual Offender Registry
  • Clear Violence Against Youth Registry
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher (determined by major)
  • Communication 110 with a grade of C or better
  • ENG 101 with a grade of C or better
  • 30 hours of coursework at ISU
  • Safety Education Assessment
  • Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse Training
  • Pre-Student Teaching Disposition Concerns Assessment
  • Department approval—given by advisors
  • Passage of ISBE State Content Test(s)
  • TB Test
  • Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI-for World Languages only) 

Gateway 2: Student Teaching

  • 100 Clinical experience hours
  • 50 Diverse clinical hours
  • Pass Student Teaching (with a grade of C or better)
  • Student Teaching Disposition Concerns Assessments
  • Successful completion of a teacher performace assessment as determined by the Illinois State Board of Education, except when waived or eliminated by state legislation. 

The PBA system ensures that candidates possess the knowledge, skills, performances, and dispositions requisite for successful teaching careers. When Illinois State University recommends a candidate for teacher licensure, the entire university has participated in the preparation of that teacher.

Teacher candidates will be required to attend the PBA workshop early in their education program. At this workshop, students will be provided with the information necessary to understand the requirements and how to monitor their progress. Failure to complete certain indicators at required times could delay progress in the intended major. Details regarding the performance-based system can be found on the Teacher Education (PBA) Orientation Workshop website.

The Council for Teacher Education reserves the right to modify performance assessment indicators in response to state and national accreditation mandates to reflect current practice in the teaching profession. Teacher candidates should consult with their program advisors for specific requirements for their major on a regular basis.

Teacher Education Programs Approved by the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board (ISEPLB)

The following is a list of education programs offered by Illinois State University which may lead to licensure. For specific courses and program details, please consult the University's Majors website.

  • Agriculture
  • Art
  • Business Education
  • Dance Education
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Elementary Education
  • English Language Arts
  • French
  • Family and Consumer Science
  • German
  • School Health Education
  • Mathematics
  • Middle Level Education: Language Arts, Math, General Science, Social Science 
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Science: Biology
  • Science: Chemistry
  • Science: Earth and Space
  • Science: Physics
  • Social Science: Geography
  • Social Science: History
  • Spanish
  • Special Education: Specialist in Learning Behavior, Specialist in Low Vision and Blindness, Specialist in Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  • Technology and Engineering Education
  • Theatre

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) grants teacher/school licenses in the State of Illinois. All teacher candidates who successfully complete an approved teacher education program at Illinois State University, pass appropriate licensure exams, and meet ISBE requirements will be recommended for licensure. This does not lead to licensure in other states. Teacher candidates are responsible for checking the requirements of the state in question.

Endorsements are available at the graduate level for Chief School Business Official, Director of Special Education, Learning Behavior Specialist II, Low Vision/Blindness, Library Information Specialist, Principal, Reading Specialist, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Speech and Language Pathologist, Superintendent, and School Nursing.

Each student who completes a bachelor’s degree program in an approved Teacher Education program, and who is recommended for licensure by the licensure officer at Illinois State University as having completed all requirements (General Education, Professional Education, field of study or area of specialization, and general teacher education requirements, and all other applicable degree requirements), is recommended for a teaching license in the State of Illinois. The Evaluations Office at Illinois State University will notify students of the correct procedures for applying for the appropriate Illinois teaching license. Application to ISBE for licensure should occur within one year of this notification. Failure to do so may result in no longer meeting licensure requirements due to state law changes. To satisfy Illinois licensure requirements and Illinois State University’s Gateway System requirements, all candidates must pass a subject matter knowledge test and a teacher performance assessment (except when waived or eliminated by state legislation). Additional tests may be required for select licensure programs and additional endorsements.

Students who have already completed one or more non-teaching degrees and now seek admission to a teacher education program are advised to seek admission to the University as a candidate for a second bachelor’s degree. Subsequent transcript analysis may determine that a second degree is not required. In this instance, the student will be allowed to complete the requirements for licensure without completing the requirements of the second bachelor’s degree.

General Education

As part of the entitlement program, the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board will accept the same general education requirements for licensure as are accepted for graduation from that university.

Endorsements

The minimum requirements for all teaching fields and all endorsements are defined by the State of Illinois. One or more endorsements may be earned along with the completion of the teaching major by taking additional courses and a possible state test. Students should contact an advisor for information on requirements for endorsements.

Council for Teacher Education

The Council for Teacher Education is responsible for developing requirements for Teacher Education and for providing avenues of communication among all of the areas of the University concerned with teacher education.

Time Limit on Teacher Education Courses

To provide teacher candidates with current information and meet required standards, all undergraduate teacher education courses have a longevity of seven (7) years. Any teacher education program reserves the right not to accept any course older than seven years to fulfill the requirements of their program. If a course has been taken beyond a seven-year period, the course may not count towards the education degree.

Dismissal from Programs

Teacher candidates who fail to comply with teacher education requirements may be dismissed. At the option of the department or school, teacher candidates dropped from the program may pursue a degree in a non-teaching major or be classified “undeclared.”

If a student is dismissed from a teacher education program, they have a right to appeal this decision to the Council for Teacher Education. The appeal process is outlined on the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center website under the heading "Rights and Responsibilities." 

Teacher candidates convicted of certain types of crimes may not be approved for licensure by the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

Clinical Experiences in Teacher Education

A variety of clinical (pre-student teaching) experiences, as well as student teaching, are included in the teacher candidate's professional preparation. Observations, small and large group instruction, tutoring, field experiences, and student teaching are included in the Clinical Experiences Program. The experiences offered prior to student teaching are integral parts of specific college courses. Clinical experiences are provided in off-campus professional development schools, local schools, campus laboratory schools, agencies, and other approved school and non-school settings. The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center monitors and documents all clinical experiences. Teacher candidates will show verification of having completed clinical experiences commensurate with attaining local, state, and national standards. Teacher candidates must provide their own transportation to clinical experiences sites.

Candidates are required to provide documentation of meeting all State of Illinois, district, and university requirements regarding criminal background checks BEFORE beginning any clinical experiences. Criminal background checks must remain current as of the last day of the clinical experience. Additionally, the schools in which the teacher candidate will complete their clinical experiences and student teaching assignments may require their own criminal background check be completed. 

The approximate number of clinical hours may be found with the appropriate course description in this Undergraduate Catalog. Clinical Experiences may consist of the following: observation (including field trips), tutoring, non-instructional assisting, small group instruction, whole class instruction, work with clinic client(s), and professional meetings.

Every program has a required set of clinical hours which will be completed in conjunction with specific courses. Of these pre-student teaching clinical hours, 50 hours must be in a diverse setting. Learn more about diverse clinical hours on the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center website. Prior to beginning any clinical experience and student teaching, every teacher candidate must complete a National Criminal Background Check (NCBC) through the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center (56 DeGarmo Hall).  

Student Teaching Requirements

During the student teaching semester, the teacher candidate will be involved with directing the learning of pupils, participating in school and community activities, and assuming full responsibility for a group of learners supervised by a cooperating teacher. Student teaching assignments are made based on the teacher candidate’s area of specialization.

The number of semester hours required for student teaching varies with the teacher candidate’s program of study. The student teaching assignment is completed in the candidate’s major field of study and is the culminating experience in the teacher education program.

The following requirements must be met prior to participation in student teaching.

1. Approval for student teaching by the Director of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center. This approval will include verification of the following:

  • Completion of pre-student teaching clinical experiences commensurate with the local, state, and national standards;
  • An application for student teaching filed in The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center at least 6 months prior to the planned student teaching semester;
  • Satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses to STT 399. (See University-wide courses);
  • Meeting all requirements for Gateway 1 - Pre-Student Teaching as stated in the Performance-based Assessment System. All requirements for Admission to Student Teaching must be met by December 15 for student teaching during the spring semester and by July 15 for student teaching during the fall semester.

2. Approval for student teaching will be granted by the candidate’s major department chairperson or school director or designee. This approval may be based on the following criteria that the teacher candidate:

  • Has demonstrated content knowledge in the student’s major area of study;
  • Has a grade of C or better in all major coursework (that leads to licensure) and all professional education coursework;
  • Possesses professional knowledge necessary for performing teaching responsibilities;
  • Has performed at an acceptable level during the pre-student teaching clinical experiences;
  • Shows evidence of professional characteristics and interpersonal skills necessary for working with children and youth; and
  • Has completed all other departmental or school requirements, including a minimum major GPA (see major department or school for additional requirements).

Student Teaching Assignments

The University will assign student teachers to selected schools or professional development schools (PDS) in Illinois during regular semesters. Personnel of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, in cooperation with the major department or school, secure the student teaching placement(s). Teacher candidates may not self-place and are responsible for their own living arrangements and transportation to and from the student teaching location. Student teachers are assigned only to classrooms that have regularly employed full time and fully qualified teachers. Assignments are not made to a school in which the teacher candidate or a family member is currently or has been employed. 

During the student teaching semester, the teacher candidate works with one or more cooperating teachers who are responsible for teaching a specific group or groups of pupils. These cooperating teachers, along with the University supervisors, have responsibility for guiding and evaluating the work of the student teachers. During this experience, the student teacher becomes a member of the school staff and the community in which they are working. Any student teacher who is unable to continue their student teaching assignment should consult with the Director of the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center immediately. Any student with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation to complete their student teaching assignment should contact the Office of Student Access and Accommodation Services as soon as possible at 350 Fell Hall, (309) 438-5853. 

The Director of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, upon the recommendation of the University supervisor, chairperson or director of the student’s major department or school administrator, may remove a student from the assignment. A student teacher may be required to do additional coursework, engage in remedial activities, and/or complete an extended or additional student teaching experience until the candidate is sufficiently competent to be recommended for licensure. 

Student teaching assignments begin and end on the dates indicated on the student teacher’s official notice of assignment. The student teacher is expected to follow the calendar of the school in which they are completing their student teaching assignment including vacations and school holidays. Changes in dates involved in an assignment must receive prior permission of the Director of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center.

To be recommended for licensure, a teacher education candidate must earn a grade of C or better in student teaching to meet all requirements for Gateway 2: Student Teaching.

Graduation Requirement for All Teacher Education Majors

All teacher candidates must graduate with a minimum cumulative and major GPA of 2.50.

Licensure for Persons Who Have Been Convicted of a Crime

Entitlement for licensure is not an automatic procedure. The Undergraduate Evaluation Office will notify the Illinois State Board of Education when an Illinois State University candidate has completed all major degree requirements and all requirements identified in the Performance-Based Assessment System for all teacher education candidates. The Illinois State Board of Education makes the final decision in awarding of a teaching license. Additional considerations may preclude Illinois licensure.

If the answer to any of the statements below is “yes,” the teacher candidate may not be eligible for licensure in the State of Illinois. All statements refer to offenses in Illinois or any other state.

  1. Have you ever had a teaching license or certificate denied, suspended or revoked in any state or country?
  2. Have you failed to file a tax return with the Illinois Department of Revenue, or failed to pay any tax, penalty, or interest owed or any final assessment of same for any tax as required by law administered by that Department that was not subsequently resolved to the Department’s satisfaction?
  3. Have you ever been indicted as a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect by a state agency responsible for child welfare?
  4. Are you in default on an Illinois student loan for which you have failed to establish a satisfactory repayment plan with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission?
  5. Do you have a child support order and/or are more than 30 days delinquent in complying with a child support order?
  6. Have you ever been convicted of any of the following:
    • Felony
    • Sex Offense
    • Drug or narcotic offense
    • Any other criminal offense in any state or federal court (other than minor traffic violations)

If the teacher candidate answered “yes” to any of the above, they must contact the Director of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, 56 DeGarmo Hall, prior to starting Clinical Experiences. 

Complaints Regarding Teacher Education Matters

For information on how to appeal department, college or university decisions regarding admission, retention, evaluation, and licensure relative to Teacher Education, please review the procedures found on the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center website and contact the Director of the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, 56 DeGarmo Hall. 

All teacher education appeals will be reviewed by the Teacher Education Review Board (TERB)/Council for Teacher Education.

Information about Student Teaching Courses (STT)

View all STT Courses
399 Student Teaching 
1-16 sem. hrs. 
Directing the learning of pupils; participating in school and community activities; assuming full responsibility for a group of learners supervised by a cooperating teacher. Student teaching assignments are made based on the teacher candidate’s area of specialization. The teacher candidate’s transcript indicates the area in which student teaching was completed. Multiple enrollments are allowed.

Prerequisites for Student Teaching include: 
A minimum  cumulative GPA which is established by each department or school, approval of department chair or school director, approval of the Director of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, a grade of C or better in all major coursework, a grade of C or better in all professional coursework, completion of gateway 1- Pre-student teaching. All requirements for must be met by December 15th for student teaching during the spring semester and by July 15th for student teaching during the fall semester. Other requirements as listed in the University-Wide Teacher Education section of this Undergraduate Catalog, including but not limited to: Gateway 2 Student Teaching:

  • All education majors must meet the listed requirements in order to graduate and be recommended for licensure
  • Student Teaching (grade of C or better)
  • 50 Clinical Hours in a diverse setting
  • 100 Clinical Hours
  • Disposition/Communication Concerns Assessments
  • Successful completion of a teacher performance assessment as determined by the Illinois State Board of Education, except when waived or eliminated by state legislation.