SCH CD-EDUCATOR LICENSE-TEST

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. With regard to applicants seeking a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations provides that all applicants completing Illinois-approved, teacher education or school service personnel preparation programs shall be required to pass the State Board of Education's recognized test of basic skills (rather than requiring passage of the test prior to starting their student teaching or starting the final semester of their internship). Provides that if an applicant completing a teacher education or school service personal preparation program fails the test of basic skills the first time he or she takes the test, the applicant may complete a full school year of student teaching or of an internship instead of being required to pass the test. Provides that an institution of higher learning may not require an applicant to complete the test of basic skills prior to completing a semester of student teaching or of an internship (rather than prior to the semester before student teaching or prior to the semester before starting the final semester of an internship). Provides that an individual who completes a full school year of student teaching or of an internship is not required to pass the test of basic skills again for subsequent endorsements or other educator licenses. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change: Restores current law prohibiting an institution of higher learning from requiring an applicant to complete the test of basic skills prior to the semester before student teaching or prior to the semester before starting the final semester of an internship (rather than prior to completing a semester of student teaching or of an internship). Effective immediately.