Teacher Duties and Qualifications
A teacher, as the term is used in this policy, refers to a District employee who is required to be licensed under Illinois law. The following qualifications apply:
- Each teacher must:
- Have a valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with the required endorsements that legally qualifies the teacher for the duties for which the teacher is employed.
- Provide the District Office with a complete transcript of credits earned in institutions of higher education.
- Notify the Superintendent of any change in the teacher’s transcript.
- Teachers expecting to earn an Educational Advancement stipend, must submit an official transcript to the District Office on or before September 30.
- All teachers working in a program supported with federal funds under Title I, Part A must meet applicable state certification and licensure requirements.
The Superintendent or designee shall:
- monitor compliance with state and federal law requirements that teachers be appropriately licensed;
- through incentives for voluntary transfers, professional development, recruiting programs, or other effective strategies, ensure that minority students and students from low-income families are not taught at higher rates than other students by unqualified, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers; and
- ensure parents/guardians of students in schools receiving Title I money are notified of their right to request their students’ classroom teachers’ professional qualifications.
Adopted: February 19, 2008
Revised: March 23, 2015; December 16, 2019; April 25, 2022
Reviewed: April 24, 2023; February 26, 2024