The goal of the Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Assistance
Grant is to address the shortages experienced by preschool education programs
funded under Section 2-3.71 of the School Code [105 ILCS
5/2-3.71 ] of teachers holding a professional educator
license endorsed for early childhood education issued pursuant to Section
21B-25 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/21B-25 ] and State
Board of Education rules governing Standards for All Illinois Teachers (23 Ill.
Adm. Code 24), Educator Licensure (23 Ill. Adm. Code 25) and Standards for
Endorsements in Early Childhood Education and in Elementary Education (23 Ill.
Adm. Code 26).
a) This Part
establishes the procedures and criteria for the approval of proposals submitted
to the State Board of Education by eligible applicants for grants to establish
programs to assist individuals employed in State-funded preschool education
programs and other early childhood education programs to enroll as candidates
in and complete a teacher preparation program leading to a professional
educator license endorsed in early childhood education. The Early Childhood
Teacher Preparation Assistance Grant program shall:
1) be designed to enroll a single group of
individuals who will move through their coursework and educational experiences
at the same time;
2) offer the
coursework necessary for individuals possessing a bachelor's degree to obtain a
professional educator license endorsed in early childhood education or the
coursework necessary for individuals possessing an associate's degree to obtain
a bachelor's degree and a professional educator license endorsed in early
childhood education; and
3) make a
commitment to continue the program with the group of candidates so that those
candidates will be able to successfully complete their education and teaching
experiences in an amount of time that is commensurate with the amount of time
it would take a candidate in the institution's regular program to complete the
same course of study and experiences, provided that the program continues to
receive State funding.
b) The provisions of this Part shall not
apply to a school district that receives funding for early childhood programs
as part of its general education block grant pursuant to Section 1D-1 of the
School Code [105 ILCS 5/1D-1 ] nor to any
entity that receives a grant from that school district for early childhood
programs funded under Section 1D-1 of the School Code.
