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Bilingual Education Program:
Information for In-Service and Pre-Service Teachers

Requirements to Obtain Approval to Teach Bilingual and ESL through the Illinois State Board of Education

Bilingual and ESL Teacher Approval

Teachers in approved bilingual education programs may possess either a Transitional Bilingual Certificate or a valid Illinois teaching certificate and a statement of approval authorizing employment as a bilingual education teacher issued by the State Board of Education or an endorsement on their full certificates for a bilingual program. A statement of approval is a letter indicating the teacher has met the minimum requirements to serve in a bilingual or ESL position at the grade level of the certificate the teacher holds; the approval is also recorded on the Teacher Certification Information System.

Since the bilingual certificate is valid for only six years and may only be renewed for a single two-year period, it is anticipated that current holders will seek to obtain an Initial or Standard certificate and qualify for approval or endorsement as a bilingual teacher or teacher of English as a Second Language. Approvals will only be issued to applicants who already possess a regular teaching certificate and will be limited to the grade levels or subjects for which the teaching certificate is valid.

A. Approval to Teach Bilingual Education

Approval as a bilingual teacher may be obtained by first making application through a Regional Office of Education on ISBE Form 73-49 "Request for Approval as a Bilingual or ESL Teacher".

A statement of approval will be issued to individuals meeting the following requirements:

1. A valid Illinois teacher certificate;
2. Bilingual clinical experience totaling 100 clock hours or three months teaching experience in bilingual programs;
3. Successful completion of a language examination in the non-English language to be taught;
4. Credits totaling 18 semester hours distributed among the following five course areas:

• Foundations of Bilingual Education (C&I 319 - Study of Bilingual/Bicultural Education)
• Assessment of Bilingual Students (C&I 320 - Bilingual/Bicultural Program Design and Implementation)
• Methods and Materials for Teaching Limited-English-Proficient Students in Bilingual Programs (C&I 321 - Bilingual/Bicultural Methods and Materials)
• Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching Limited-English-Proficient Students (C&I 409 - Student Diversity and Educational Practices)
• Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language (ENG 345 – TESOL: Methods and Materials)

B. Approval to Teach English as a Second Language (ESL)

Approval to teach ESL in the context of a state-approved bilingual education program may be obtained by making application through a Regional Office of Education on ISBE Form 73-49 "Request for Approval as a Bilingual or ESL Teacher". The same requirements apply to the ESL endorsement on a full certificate.

The requirements for obtaining this approval are as follows:

1. A valid Illinois teaching certificate ;
2. ESL clinical experience equal to 100 clock hours or three months teaching experience with ESL students ;
3. Credits totaling 18 semester hours distributed among the following five course areas:

• Linguistics (ENG 341)
• Theoretical Foundations of Teaching ESL (ENG 344)
• Assessment of the Bilingual Student (C&I 320)
• Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language (ENG 345)
• Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching Limited-English-Proficient Students (C&I 409)

Individuals who obtain an ESL approval may teach in this capacity only at the grade level for which their regular certificate is valid. Individuals who hold an elementary certificate and who qualify for bilingual approval, however, may teach ESL in grades K-6, as well as all other subject areas of a bilingual education program in the language for which they have approval.

ISBE Form 73-49 “Request for Approval as a Bilingual or ESL Teacher” website:
http://www.isbe.net/certification/pdf/73-49_bilingual_teacher.pdf