Education, Early Childhood

To teach young children (birth to grade 2) in Illinois public schools, teachers must be licensed by the State of Illinois. Since admission is competitive, completion of the recommended courses does not guarantee admission. Community college students are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate in Arts (AA) degree prior to transfer. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), dependent on the transfer school requirements, is required for program admission.

Information regarding Illinois standards for Professional Educator License is available on the Illinois State Board of Education Website at www.isbe.net.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON GENERAL EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS: The courses recommended in the suggested program are beyond the minimum requirements necessary for completion of general education courses for an Associates of Arts degree.  The general education recommendations listed below are for a student's full licensure requirements.  Some of these additional courses may be completed after a student transfers, even with an Associates of Arts degree. Licensure information is based on the Illinois State Board of Education's administrative rules for teacher education preparation.

Students pursuing licensure versus non-licensure tracks should consult with education faculty at their institutions.

Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program. Transfer guides for some universities are available at svcc.edu/transfer.

Criminal History Check Policy

Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

Students who perform classroom observations through coursework at Sauk Valley Community College may be required by the selected school/site to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement. Students may be denied at any observation site based on the results of that check.

Students who feel their criminal background may exclude them from observation or employment should seek counseling with SVCC faculty or advising staff early in their program to determine how it may affect their participation and eligibility.