State Exams, State Assessments, and State Standards
Every state has different requirements for teacher licensure-- in the state of Illinois, students must complete an accredited educator preparation program and pass a series of state-administered assessments. Illinois is one many states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards; you'll want to make yourself very familiar with them.
State assessments and requirements can feel like quite a maze. Luckily, the SEHHB's Advising Office can help you to navigate the terrain!
If you want to begin by exploring on your own, check out the resources below.
- Common Core State Standards, ELA : The Common Core State Standards lay out expectations for student learning in English Language Arts and Mathematics in K-12 education. They form the foundations of curriculum design and standardized assessment.
- Illinois Professional Teaching Standards (pdf): The Illinois State Board of Education periodically updates its expectations of teachers. These are the standards by which you will be measured once you begin work as a teacher, and you will encounter them in many of your education courses!
- Illinois Licensure Testing System: As part of the licensure process, you'll need to take exams administered by the ILTS, including the Content Area Test in English Language Arts.
- edTPA: The edTPA is the Teacher Preparation Assessment tool, and is completed during Student Teaching. Courses in the school of education (including CI315a and CI315b) will prepare you to undertake the edTPA.
