Section 227.25  Required Qualifications

As a means of demonstrating that he or she understands the characteristics and educational needs of children and is able to differentiate the curriculum and apply instructional methods to meet the needs of the children as required by Section 14A-30(16) of the School Code [105 ILCS 14A-30(16)], and subject to the provisions of Section 227.20(a)(6) of this Part, each teacher who is assigned to provide instruction in a program funded pursuant to this Part shall have completed, or shall be required to complete:

a)          Nine semester hours of college credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and demonstrably related to the education of gifted and talented students; or

b)         Both the State and national assessment instruments, namely: 

1)         the self-assessment developed by the Illinois Association for Gifted Children (IAGC) (which shall be based on the "Professional Teaching Standards for Educators Working with Gifted/Talented Learners" (2002), published by IAGC and posted at www.iagcgifted.org; no later editions of or revisions to these standards are incorporated) with a rating of "experienced" or "expert"; and

2)         the PRAXIS examination for gifted education (Test Code 0357, Educational Testing Service, Rosedale Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08541 (2006)); or

c)          Six semester hours of college credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and demonstrably related to the education of gifted and talented students and any one of the following additional choices:

1)         the self-assessment referred to in subsection (b)(1) of this Section; or

2)         the PRAXIS examination referred to in subsection (b)(2) of this Section; or

3)         the Gifted Education Institute offered by the State Board of Education in cooperation with IAGC; or

4)         two years of experience teaching in, coordinating, or directing a program for gifted students; or

5)         participation in no fewer than two state or national conferences on gifted education, such as those offered by IAGC or the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC); or

6)         professional development activities demonstrably related to the education of gifted and talented students that are sufficient to generate 30 continuing professional development units (CPDUs), as defined and quantified in the rules for certificate renewal (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.875); or

d)         Three semester hours of college credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and demonstrably related to the education of gifted and talented students and any two of the additional choices listed in subsections (c)(1) through (6) of this Section; or

e)         The Gifted Education Institute referred to in subsection (c)(3) of this Section and any two of the additional choices listed in subsection (c) of this Section.