| In 2000, the Illinois
Board of Higher Education (IBHE), along with the Illinois State Board
of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Community College
Board (ICCB), received the Illinois Middle Level Teacher Preparation
Teacher Quality Enhancement (TQE) Grant. SIUE is one of four institutions
of higher education that are participating in the grant. The other institutions
include Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago State University, and
Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Each Project Director at each
institution was charged with creating a Design Team consisting of university
and community college faculty from Arts & Sciences and Education,
as well as middle level teachers from area schools. The SIUE Design Team
also includes technology/instructional technology experts and academic
advisors.
The principal goal for this grant is the improvement of middle level
education in Illinois. The grant’s three objectives to help
achieve this goal include:
- changing the certification structure to include a middle-grade
teaching certificate
- improving the knowledge and skills of new and existing middle
level teachers
- implementing recruitment activities throughout the state to increase
the supply of effective middle grade teachers
Though
ISBE declined the middle level teaching certificate in the October
2002, middle level standards have been proposed for Illinois.
All Design Teams have created a proposed middle level program to be
implemented with a middle level certificate, as well as modified existing
general education requirements and professional education requirements
of the current program so that all K-9 interns can be classified as “highly
qualified” middle level teachers when they graduate beginning
in 2008.
|
