Section 25.720  Applicability of Testing Requirement and Scores

a)         It is the individual's responsibility to take the appropriate tests. Upon request, the State Board of Education shall assist individuals in identifying appropriate tests.

b)         Content-Area Tests

1)         Each candidate seeking an Illinois professional educator license or endorsement on that license, whether a first license or endorsement or a subsequent license or endorsement, shall be required to pass a content-area test for each endorsement area for which there is an applicable test (see Section 21B-30(d) of the Code; also see Section 25.710). Further, Section 21B-30(d) of the Code requires passage of this test before a candidate begins student teaching or begins serving as a teacher of record in an alternative educator preparation program. A person who has passed another state's or country's content test as a condition of educator certification or licensure in that state or country or admission to a teacher preparation program approved by that state or country shall not be required to take the Illinois content test before receiving the license or endorsement. (See Section 21B-35 of the Code.)

2)         A person who has passed a test of language proficiency, authorized under Section 21B-30 of the Code, in order to qualify for an educator license with stipulations endorsed for transitional bilingual educator, and received that license shall not be required to retake that test in order to qualify for a bilingual education credential on another PEL received later. A person who has passed a test of language proficiency as a condition of admission to an Illinois preparation program also shall not be required to retake that test.

3)         If the Governor declares a disaster due to a public health emergency under Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, individuals may begin student teaching or enter alternative educator preparation programs prior to passing the required content test. If the Governor rescinds a disaster declaration, or allows it to expire without replacement, this subsection (c)(3) shall remain in effect through the end of the calendar year (December 31) or the end of the fiscal year (June 30), whichever is later.

4)         An individual who holds an Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy or who has obtained working fluency or higher on the Global Seal of Biliteracy shall be exempt from the language proficiency test required for a bilingual education or world language endorsement in the same language.

5)         Passing scores earned on content area tests shall not expire.

c)         Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA)

Until August 4, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 103-488), and beginning again on September 1, 2025, each candidate or out-of-state applicant completing an educator preparation program in a teaching field shall be required to pass the edTPA. The edTPA is a performance-based assessment designed to measure an educator's knowledge, skills, and preparedness.

1)         Each recognized institution offering approved teacher preparation programs shall administer the edTPA during a candidate's student teaching experience.

2)         A person who has successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness, as required under this subsection (c), at the time of initial certification or licensure in another state or country shall not be required to complete the edTPA.  (See Section 21B-35 of the Code.)

3)         In accordance with Section 21B-110 of the Code, the edTPA is waived during any time in which the Governor has declared a public health emergency under Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act [20 ILCS 3305].

4)         Candidates may not be required to submit edTPA test materials by video submission. (See Section 21B-30(f) of the Code.)

d)         Subject to registration in accordance with the provisions of this Subpart I and the provisions of Section 25.755(g)(1), an individual who has taken a computer-based test may retake that test or specific subtest by computer after no fewer than 30 days.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 7729, effective May 9, 2024)