Endorsements

An introduction

Endorsements Defined

• The subjects a teacher can teach and the grade range in which they are authorized to teach them

Changes

• Effective Sept 2018– Middle grade endorsements can only be acquired by

going through an approved Middle Grade program• Elementary Ed will be Grades 1-6 (self contained)• High school will be Grades 9-12 (departmentalized)

– This change (should) only effect freshmen and those others who do not or cannot claim their licenses/endorsements by end of August 2018.• If you hold a license and are middle grade endorsed prior

to 9/18, the middle grade endorsements will not be taken away).

Everyone who completes a program will be endorsed in something

• Departmentalized– Specialized or narrowly focused instruction• Examples: 9-12 grade Biology or Chemistry, Middle

grade 5-8 General Science or Math

• Self-contained General Education– All subjects taught to the same kids• Example B-3 Early Childhood Education, K-4 Elementary

Education

Adding Additional endorsements

• Can expand on your qualifications• Limited to the grade range of your initial

licensure (unless you go through another program)

• Some you may be able to finish as an undergrad while others may require post graduate work

High School (9-12)• Many High School endorsements– 24 hours of coursework– 12 of those hours must be 300 or above– Pass the content test

• Social Science– 32 overall hours of social science• 12 in one designation• One course from at least two other designations• Pass the content test

Adding additional 9-12 grade Social Science designations

• Take 12 semester hours in the designation• Pass the content test in that designation• This allows you to teach Advance Placement

and honors for the subject

• Science– 32 overall hours of Science– 12 of those hours in the same designation– At least one course from two other designations– At least one course in physical sciences and one

course from life sciences (i.e, they can’t all be physical or life science courses).

– Pass the content test in the designation in which you have 12 hours

Adding additional 9-12 grade Science designations

• 12 semester hours in the designation• Pass the content test in that designation• This allows you to teach Advance Placement

and Honors for that designation

Elementary Ed majors• Middle grade endorsements-grade 5-8

(departmentalized)• All middle grade endorsements require the middle

grade coursework in adolescent psychology and middle grade curriculum, instruction and methods– At UIUC, these courses are CI 410, EPS 427, and EPSY 430

• Offered only online and only in the summer

– Many MG endorsements are simply 18 hours in discipline– Exceptions are Math, ESL, Reading teacher, Bilingual

• Primary (K-4) endorsements– Foreign Language– ESL, Bilingual, Reading teacher

Early Childhood Education• Primary grades (K-4)– Foreign language– ESL, Bilingual, Reading Teacher

Special Education

• If you want to teach Special Education Pre kindergarten you must pursue the Early Childhood Special Education approval– Available only to grad students

• Middle grades (5-8) endorsements• High school (9-12) endorsements

Foreign Language endorsements• K-3(4), 5(6)-8, 9-12• Foreign language endorsements requirements are

all the same• 24 hours in same foreign language• Pass the content test• Additional foreign language endorsements require only

that you pass the respective content test

Pursuing endorsements

• Determine what endorsements you want• Determine what the requirements are• Plan ahead• Don’t have to declare like you would a minor• Gen Education courses and Area of

concentration courses may count toward endorsements

• For endorsements which require tests, take them when you feel most prepared

Odds and Ends• The COTE can add endorsements when you apply for your

initial certificate/license.– No additional cost– Convenient– We may count courses ISBE might not

May add endorsements anytime during your teaching career

• May apply through us if ALL coursework was through UIUC– ISBE will still assess fees (per each endorsement requested)

• Through ISBE– Apply through the site where you will ultimately apply for/claim

your license– Charges will be assessed (per each endorsement requested).

Council On Teacher Education

• Jeff Buck (jbuck@illinois.edu) • Brenda Clevenger (bmclvngr@illinois.edu) • 505 East Green Street– Above Coldstone Creamery and PNC bank

• (217) 333-7195