The College of Education is reforming the traditional on-campus teacher education model.
At Illinois State, the College of Education (COE) is reforming the traditional on-campus teacher education model.
Through grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education and collaboration with Chicago Public Schools, the City Colleges of Chicago, and other educational organizations, a new model of teacher education was designed. The model targets preservice teachers, in-service bilingual teachers, and bilingual paraprofessionals for participation in on-site course work and supervision leading to certification and/or endorsements in bilingual/ English as a Second Language (ESL) education. The program, which is now institutionalized, has been delivered to areas in the state where qualified bilingual and English Language Learners (ELL) teachers are needed the most and offered in ways that allows them to concurrently work and go to school.
Since 2001, more than 400 individuals have either completed certification or received endorsement in the Chicago Metro area, with almost 60 individuals still in progress. Over the duration of the grants, the results have exceeded all expectations.
In fall 2010, 12 students graduated from the paraprofessional bilingual certification program.
