Section 25.480  Supplemental Documentation and Review of Certain Licensure Applications

This Section sets forth the requirements for supplemental documentation and other information that an applicant must submit when the applicant has provided an affirmative response or indicated noncompliance with any of the requirements set forth in Sections 25.485 through 25.492 or has knowingly altered or misrepresented any qualifications to obtain a license, endorsement, or other credential pursuant to Section 21B-15 of the Code. An application for issuance, renewal, reinstatement, or registration of a license, endorsement, or other credential shall not be processed until all supplemental documentation has been received.

a)         Personal Statement 

When a personal statement is required to be submitted, the applicant shall provide the information required under this subsection (a). A personal statement shall not be afforded full weight by the committee reviewing the application and supplemental documentation if the statement fails to adequately address each of the requirements of this subsection (a) to the degree necessary to enable the review committee to make a determination of whether the applicant has been rehabilitated and should be licensed as a professional educator. Each personal statement shall:

1)         be written in the applicant's own words (statements written by an attorney or someone other than the applicant shall be considered a letter of reference);

2)         provide a detailed description of the conduct and circumstances that led to the knowing alteration or misrepresentation of the applicant's qualifications to obtain a license, endorsement, or other credential, or a detailed description of the conduct and circumstances for the license sanction, criminal conviction, the indicated report of child abuse or neglect, or adjudication or finding of sexual misconduct, as defined under Section 22-85.5 of the Code (whichever is applicable);

3)         provide evidence that the applicant has been rehabilitated, including an explanation of why the applicant believes the applicant is of good character, merits receipt of an educator license, endorsement, or other credential, and would be an asset to the field of professional educators; and

4)         provide any other information that is requested by the State Board that is relevant to the agency's review and understanding of the reasons for the knowing alteration or misrepresentation of the applicant's qualifications to obtain a license, endorsement, or other credential, the license sanction the circumstances of the criminal conviction, the indicated report of child abuse or neglect, or adjudication or finding of sexual misconduct, as defined under Section 22-85.5 of the Code (whichever is applicable).

b)         Character References

When character references are required, the applicant shall provide at least three letters that meet the requirements set forth in this subsection. A character reference shall not be afforded full weight by the committee reviewing the application and supplemental documentation if the reference fails to adequately address each of the requirements of this subsection to the degree necessary to enable the review committee to make a determination of whether the applicant has been rehabilitated and should be licensed as a professional educator. Each character reference shall:  

1)         be written by a colleague of the applicant who is employed in an educational field or by a faculty member of the applicant's educator preparation program who has first-hand knowledge of or experience working with the applicant; if the applicant has no prior education-related experience, then an employer of the applicant may submit a character reference;

2)         state that the purpose of the letter is to assist the applicant in obtaining an educator license, endorsement, or other credential and acknowledge the specific conduct and circumstances that led to the applicant's license sanction, the conviction, report of child abuse or neglect, or adjudication or finding of sexual misconduct, as defined under Section 22-85.5 of the Code (whichever is applicable);

3)         state the author's relationship (e.g., former instructor, employer, or school colleague) with the applicant and the length of time the author has known the applicant;

4)         explain in detail why the author believes that, in spite of the reason for the applicant's license sanction, the conviction, report of child abuse or neglect, or adjudication or finding of sexual misconduct, as defined under Section 22-85.5 of the Code (whichever is applicable), the applicant has been rehabilitated and why the applicant would be an asset to the field of professional educators; and

5)         be signed by the author and include the telephone number or email address to be used should the committee reviewing the character reference have questions or need additional information and, as applicable, be presented on the letterhead of the author's place of employment.

c)         Knowingly Altered or Misrepresented Qualifications

1)         No person may be granted or continue to hold an educator license, endorsement, or other credential who has knowingly altered or misrepresented his or her qualifications, in this State or any other state, in order to acquire or renew the license, endorsement, or other credential (Section 21B-15(c) of the Code). For purposes of this subsection, "qualifications" means the requirements needed to obtain, register, or renew an educator license, endorsement, or other credential, as outlined in this Part and the School Code, and includes information provided or omitted on the application for the license, endorsement, credential, or renewal.

2)         If the State Superintendent has reason to believe an applicant has knowingly altered or misrepresented the applicant's qualifications as part of an application for an initial license, endorsement, or other credential, or as part of a renewal application, the applicant shall submit a personal statement and any other relevant documentation or information requested by the State Superintendent. After an applicant submits the requested documentation or information to the State Superintendent, a committee comprised of State Board staff shall convene to determine whether a preponderance of the evidence demonstrates the applicant knowingly altered or misrepresented the applicant's qualifications.

A)        The committee may request additional information from the applicant, as may be needed, in a manner that is prescribed by the committee.

B)        If the committee requires additional information, the committee may offer the applicant an informal hearing. If such a hearing is offered, the committee will notify the applicant of the specific conduct at issue and will provide the applicant an opportunity to appear before the committee to explain the specific circumstances of the altered or misrepresented qualifications on the application.

i)          The hearing may be held via video conference or in-person and will not be held if the applicant has not submitted all required documentation at least 72 hours prior to the hearing. At this hearing, the applicant may present the applicant's own statement or provide documentary evidence.

ii)         The applicant shall not be permitted to pose questions to the committee. An applicant may be represented by counsel at this hearing, but the applicant's attorney will not be permitted to address the committee or pose questions to the committee.

iii)        If the applicant fails to appear at the specified time and place, or otherwise fails to provide a notice of absence prior to the hearing of, the applicant will be deemed to have waived the opportunity to appear, and the committee shall make a determination based on the evidence available at the time of the hearing.

C)        No later than 30 days after the committee convenes to review the application and additional documentation or, if applicable, the conclusion of the hearing, whichever is later, the committee shall notify the applicant and the State Superintendent of whether the preponderance of the evidence demonstrates the applicant knowingly altered or misrepresented the applicant's qualifications.  In accordance with the committee's finding, the State Superintendent shall determine whether to deny the application on basis of knowingly altered or misrepresented qualifications.  The committee shall notify the applicant of the State Superintendent's decision to deny the application. Such notice shall be sent to the applicant via certified mail, return receipt requested to the address shown on the application. A decision to issue the license, endorsement, or approval will be recorded in ELIS and an electronic notification to that effect will be sent to the applicant. The decision of the review committee is a final decision and is reviewable pursuant to the Administrative Review Law [735 ILCS 5/Art. III], as provided in Section 21B-90 of the Code. A timely filed action for administrative review shall act as a stay of enforcement of the denial.

d)         Application Review Process

1)         The application and supplemental documentation shall be reviewed by a committee made up of staff from the State Board's licensure department. The committee may contact the applicant if additional information is needed. The committee will review the application and additional materials to determine whether the applicant is of good character. Upon conclusion of the committee's review, the committee shall notify the applicant of the agency's intent to deny an application, by certified mail, return receipt requested mailed to the address shown on the application. A decision to issue the license will be recorded in ELIS and an electronic notification to that effect will be sent to the applicant.

2)         If the agency intends to deny an application on character grounds pursuant to Section 21B-15 of the Code, the applicant shall be notified pursuant to subsection (d)(1) of the opportunity to request a credibility hearing. The purpose of the credibility hearing is for the applicant to demonstrate to the committee that the applicant is of good character. The applicant's request for a credibility hearing shall be submitted in writing to the agency no later than 10 days after the applicant's receipt of the agency's notification. Requests shall be sent to the Educator Licensure Department, 100 North First Street, E-240, Springfield, Illinois  62777, or to educatorcredibility@isbe.net. Failure to request a credibility hearing within the 10-day timeframe will result in a denial of the application.

A)        Credibility hearings may be held via video conference or in-person and will not be held if the applicant has not submitted all required documentation at least 72 hours prior to the hearing. At this hearing, the applicant may present a statement or provide documentary evidence and present character witnesses who wish to make a statement on behalf of the applicant; however, if the applicant does not submit this documentary evidence within 72 hours prior to the hearing, the hearing may be postponed by the committee until all documentary evidence can be reviewed by the committee.

B)        The applicant shall not be permitted to pose questions to the review committee. An applicant may be represented by counsel at this hearing, but the applicant's attorney will not be permitted to address or pose questions to the review committee.

C)        No later than 30 days after the conclusion of the credibility hearing, the review committee shall issue to the applicant its decision to grant or deny the application. The decision of the review committee is a final decision and is reviewable pursuant to the Administrative Review Law [735 ILCS 5/Art. III], as provided in Section 21B-90 of the Code.  A timely filed action for administrative review shall act as a stay of enforcement of the denial.

e)         Eligibility to Reapply

An applicant who was denied an initial license or denied the renewal, registration or reinstatement of a license on the grounds that the applicant does not have good character or that the applicant knowingly altered or misrepresented any qualifications to obtain a license pursuant to Section 21B-15 of the Code is ineligible to apply for any educator license, endorsement, or other credential on any currently held license for a period of up to five calendar years from the date of the denial as determined by the review committee. If an application is submitted during the period of ineligibility, the application shall be denied and the application fee will not be refunded.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 9405, effective July 1, 2025)