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Current Developments

At the MCTA meeting on July 10, 03, certification issues are brought up again: the Chicago Public Schools is currently looking for Chinese teachers, some of the MCTA members are looking for employment, it seems to be a match, however what prevent the CPS to find a suitable match or the possible candidates from being hired is that none of the Chinese teachers to be has a valid certificate in Chinese.
Recently, Bush administration enforced the “No Child Left” policy. Public school teachers are no longer being able to qualified to teach without proper certificates: principals sent out letters to parents to notify which teacher was qualified and teachers gave notice to obtain certification within certain time. All this makes Asian language programs in public school in deeper trouble for the majority of the Asian language teachers have no endorsement in the subject areas they teach even though most of them set up and developed the programs single handedly.
At the meeting, Dr. Haiyan Fu, Ms. Amy Liang, Dr. Yvonne Lau, and Dr. Stephen Shiu reflected upon and reported what the history and reasons are for the current situation; what we, the MCTA, have done about the situation so far; and what new developments have occurred.

Background:

The State of Illinois has no subject area certificate for any Asian Languages. Up to now, any teacher who teachers such language programs at public schools in Illinois is required to be certified in other subject areas or allowed to teach under Type 29 (provisional bilingual certificate). As results, either an Asian language teacher bears double burden of proof to qualify him/herself as a teacher or though teaching full time, his or her teaching experience won’t be counted towards certification process. And teaching experience under other subject endorsement will never qualify such a teacher for national teaching certificate. Now it is impossible to continue to teach under “No Child Left Behind” policy for a teacher without subject area certificate will be disqualified and fired.

The work that has been done:

In the past 4 years, MCTA has been working with the Chicago Public Schools, Asian Language Institute, Community Advocates, Politicians and legislators, other teachers, and parents to appeal to Illinois State Board of Education repeatedly to change its policy and procedures to make Asian languages teaching legitimate thus possible.
Many efforts have been put into this matter. Letters has been sent out politicians and legislators, community members, and supporting letters collected from varies sources including principals, LSCs, parents, local organizations, and community memberts. Petitions are also signed by fellow union members, parents, and students. At various meetings and on different occasions, we also tried to make a case and let our voice being heard. Collective packages were sent to ISBE. Recommendations have been made many times to various levels of bureaucratic system.

News developments:

Good news:
The State of Illinois changed its policy, standards and procedures in certifying teachers. 43 new tests including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic are being made as new subject area tests. And they are expected to be used in 2004, and standards are changed from course based to proficiency based, which means in the near future, teachers may receive endorsement in these languages by test taking method only.
Dr. Lau, Dr. Fu, and Amy Liang have been invited to participate in content review advisory board meeting for certification testing on different occasions.

Bad news:
Though with new tests the States encourage universities to set up new programs for certification in these areas, few schools will do so due to the cost. A teacher may receive a new endorsement only when he/she has a major subject area certificate. The situation for most Asian language teachers is still problematic.
Secondly, due to the fact that Asian languages are low incidences in terms of testing, in other words, not money making, the quality and equity of the tests will be compromised.

MCTA’s Recommendations on Policy changing to The State’s Politicians:

Dr. Lau has been on the Lt. Governor Quinn’s advisory council advocating for educational equity. MCTA made some recommendations demanding further policy change with regard to Asian language teachers’ certification situations through Dr. Lau.

Last Modified: 8-25-2003