SE Illinois News

A bill introduced in the senate would make it easier for teachers to acquire their licensure and get into the classroom. 

Senate Bill 49 was introduced by Sen. Darren Bailey in January; the legislation would amend the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code to remove the video capstone assessment required for teaching licensure. 

Kyle Thompson, superintendent of the Regional Office of Education #11, said he is a supporter of SB 49 and believes the bill would help get more teachers registered.

Currently, aspiring teachers must videotape themselves in the classrooms during their student teaching phase, submit the video to a third-party evaluator and wait for someone not local to inform them of whether they should get their license. 

"It's keeping teachers out of the classroom," Thompson told SE Illinois News. "Qualified people, people who have gone through programs. [...] We are in the middle of a teacher shortage and it's keeping people out of the classroom."

According to Thompson, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois State Board of Education are in support of the added video requirement. 

Despite Thompson and multiple others testifying to the importance of removing the video requirement, a vote was not called on the bill, which the superintendent said was disheartening. 

"I know Sen. Bailey championed this for the last couple of years," Thompson said. 

The House currently has an identical bill introduced by a Democrat. 

"There is bipartisan support there," Thompson said. "I'm willing to work with anyone to get some of these barriers removed to entering the teaching profession."