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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the BTTT program?

• Free graduate school tuition.
• Classes held at a convenient location in and around the City of Chicago.
• Classes held at convenient times in the evening.
• A teaching assignment that allows you to work while you learn.
• Benefits of increased earning potential (salary increase with a master's degree).
• Quality professional development opportunities.
• Tailored academic advising.
• E-mentoring through Moodle and CPS Golden Teacher Program or the equivalent.

Exactly how much of the tuition does the Bilingual Transition to Teaching program cover?

All but the last three courses are covered by the program. You will be certified at the end of the courses we covered.  Those remaining three are to obtain State of Illinois Bilingual and ESL Approval.  Please keep in mind that books, transportation to your designated cohort location, and testing fees are incurred by the program participant not by the program.

Is there an application fee?

No.

Are there other costs associated with the program?

As with any graduate school program, students will be required to purchase textbooks and other materials needed for their classes.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To be eligible for the Transition to Teaching program, you must have a bachelor's degree in a field other than education, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and be a permanent resident or citizen of the United States . To continue in the program, you must be able to pass the Illinois Basic Skills and Target Language Proficiency tests in one of the program's approved languages. Please note that permanent residents will have to sign an affidavit stating that they will seek citizenship within 10 years.

What are the requirements for a student from a non-English-speaking institution?

Non-native speakers of English must demonstrate that their command of the English language is adequate to engage in graduate coursework. Students who have degrees from non-English speaking institutions will be required to submit an official transcript evaluated by an evaluation service like Educational Credential Evaluators www.ece.org.

In addition to the evaluation, you must present your original diploma and transcripts accompanied by a certified translation. Please note that an evaluation is different than a certified translation. You must present all documents in person at NIU so that your degrees may be attested by a designated NIU staff member.

Demonstration of command of the language can be provided by submitting TOEFL exam scores. The TOEFL exam is offered by the Educational Testing Service as a paper-based, computer-based, or internet-based exam depending on availability in your area. Use the institution code 1559 to ensure that your test is sent to NIU, and use ETS resources to determine the appropriate departmental code. NIU considers TOEFL scores to be valid for two years. The Graduate School has established minimum scores on the TOEFL for admission purposes, no other arrangements will be made.  If you feel your English competency level would not allow you admission into the graduate school, we encourage you to take a preparation course and apply at a later date.

What is considered an Official English Translation?
NIU requests English Translations of your academic work. An Official English Translation is a document translated from an original transcript. This must be translated by a translating company, or the Institution the transcript came from. NIU does not accept Translations issued from students

I am an international student. Will CPS sponsor my work visa?

No. CPS does not sponsor work visas. To be eligible for employment, participants must be permanent residents or citizens of the United States.

Which languages qualify?

The greatest need in the Chicago Public Schools and other high needs districts is for Spanish. Other languages targeted by the State include Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Urdu and Vietnamese. ISBE will check for need before accepting applicants in these languages.

What type of certification is offered through this program?

Scholars who successfully complete the program earn elementary teacher certification (Type 03) with Bilingual and ESL approvals.

What degree will I receive for completing the BTTT program?

Scholars will receive a MS Ed. In Elementary Education w/ Type 03 Certification plus Bilingual approval.

I am already certified. Do I qualify for this program?

No. This program is an alternative certification program and only accepts individuals that do not have teaching credentials. This includes teaching credentials from other states and other countries. We will consider individuals that have emergency or provisional credentials as long as they are not traditionally trained in education.

How many classes do participants take each semester?

Normally, participants take two classes each semester. Participants attend each class one time per week. The courses usually run on a Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday schedule.

When are the classes?

Classes are held in the evenings, usually from 6pm - 9pm.

Where are the classes?

Classes are held at convenient locations in and around the City of Chicago . Participants DO NOT have to attend classes at the Northern Illinois University campus in De Kalb.

Do I have to live in the City of Chicago to teach in the Chicago Public Schools?

No. Newly hired teachers of the CPS who are certified/endorsed in subject areas deemed special needs may apply for a waiver to the residency policy, provided they are hired to teach in a special needs area of education, which currently includes bilingual education. Such individuals must complete and submit applications for exemptions to the residency policy within 31 calendar days of their dates of hire. If granted, exemptions will be valid for three (3) academic years after the employee's date of hire and may be renewed for subsequent three (3) year periods; provided that the employees continue to be employed in a special needs position. If bilingual education were to be removed from the high needs list, participants would have six (6) 6 months to relocate to the City of Chicago.

Do I have to quit my job to participate in the program?

No, at least not yet. The program is designed to accommodate full-time professionals. Most participants continue in their current job until they are able to secure a full-time teaching position, which must occur within one calendar year of enrolling in the program. Unlike in many alternative certification programs, Bilingual Transition to Teaching participants do not have to sacrifice their income to go back to school.

Is there a teaching commitment?

Yes. Individuals accepted into the program must commit to teaching in a transitional bilingual or ESL classroom in a partner school district for three years. The time spent teaching while completing the certification program counts towards this commitment.

Where can I teach?

The Bilingual Transition to Teaching Project partners with school districts that meet federally defined conditions to be considered "high need." 

A "high-need" local educational agency is defined as an LEA that, per the federal census:

1. (a) serves not fewer than 10,000 children from families with incomes below the poverty line, OR
   (b) for which not less than 20 percent of the children served by the LEA are from families with incomes below the poverty line;

AND for which there is:

1. (a) a high percentage of teachers not teaching in the academic subjects or grade levels the teachers were trained to teach, OR
   (b) a high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or temporary certification or licensing. (See ESEA section 2102(3)).

All school districts meeting these requirements must sign a letter of agreement with the Illinois State Board of Education and the partnership must be approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

Participants have one year from the time they enroll in the program to secure a full-time bilingual teaching position with the Chicago Public Schools or one of the 12 partner districts:

• Chicago Heights School District #170,
• Chicago Public School District #299,
• Calumet City School District #155,
• Cicero Elementary School District #99,
• Harvey Public School District #152,
• Joliet Public School District #86,
• North Chicago School District #187,
• Posen-Robbins School District #143 ½,
• Summit School District #104,
• Waukegan Community School District #60,
• W. Harvey-Dixmoor School District #147,
• Zion Elementary School District #6.

Does the Transition to Teaching Project guarantee employment?

No. The BTTT project assists applicants in their job searches, but cannot guarantee placement. While applicants enrolled in the BTTT project are eligible to apply for employment and are required to secure employment with CPS or another partner school district within one year of commencing the program, it is the responsibility of the individual applicant to pursue employment opportunities.

When can I apply for employment with Chicago Public Schools?

Before you can apply for a position with CPS, you must be considered "highly qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Use this Interactive worksheet to determine if you are "highly qualified."

Will I get paid to teach?

Yes. All participants will receive the regular starting salary for their district plus benefits.

What is the regular starting salary?

Currently, CPS starts teachers with bachelor's degrees between $40,405 and $44,778. Candidates with masters' degrees can start between $43,204 and $47,576. Salaries at the other participating districts vary.

Can I get a teaching position with a charter school?

Yes, as long as the charter school is part of the Chicago Public School system and not considered a separate and independent Local Education Agency.

How do I become "Highly Qualified"?

In order for Bilingual Transition to Teaching participants to be considered ‘Highly Qualified’ under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, they must meet the following requirements during their first year of admission to the program:

• Pass the Illinois Test of Basic Skills
• Pass the Target Language Proficiency Test
• Apply for the Type 29 Transitional Bilingual Certificate
• Be admitted to the Northern Illinois University Graduate School
• Pass the Content Area Test for Elementary/Middle Grades

How do I qualify for the Type 29 Transitional Bilingual Certificate?

To qualify for the Type 29 Certificate, an applicant must:

• Hold at least a bachelor's degree from the United States , or from a foreign country that is determined to be the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in the United States;     AND
• Demonstrate adequate speaking and reading ability in the non-English language in which transitional bilingual education is offered in Illinois demonstrated through passage of the Target Language Proficiency test.
• Demonstrate adequate English communication skills demonstrated with a Bachelor's Degree from and accredited U.S. institution or for foreign credentials, passage of the English Proficiency test.

My native language is not English. Which test do I take to qualify for the Type 29?

If you received your bachelor's degree from an institution in which English is not the medium of instruction, you must take the English Language Proficiency test instead of the Target Language Proficiency test.

How do I apply for the Type 29 Transitional Bilingual Certificate?

After successful completion of the Target Language Proficiency test, participants can apply for the Type 29 Transitional Bilingual Certificate. All applicants for the Type 29 must also apply for the Type 39 Substitute Certificate. To apply in person, fill out two copies of Form 73-03C and submit them with official transcripts and the required fees in the form of a money order at the Chicago Office of the State Board of Education, 100 W. Randolph, FL 14, Chicago, IL.

Residents of the City of Chicago can apply by mail by sending the above mentioned application materials directly to the Springfield Office of the State Board of Education, which is listed on the application form. Residents of other municipalities can apply by mail or in person through their Regional Office of Education. Please contact the State Board of Education, 312-814-2220, for the most up-to-date fees.

Can I take the coursework at a different university?

No. Northern Illinois University is currently the only institution of higher education partnered with the BTTT project. NIU has streamlined its enrollment process and has developed a specialized curriculum for BTTT participants.

What happens if I do not finish the program?

Any participant that does not complete the program may be required to repay to Transition to Teaching and the Illinois State Board of Education the portion of the course tuition or course contract costs incurred by his/her participation in the program.

Can I teach Spanish or other World Languages?

No. To continue in the program, applicants must be employed in a bilingual, ESL, or dual language position. Positions in World Languages or other areas do NOT meet the grant criteria. In addition, individuals teaching on a Type 29 are NOT certified to work in mainstream classrooms.

I have already applied for the program. Should I also apply to the Northern Illinois University Graduate School?

No. If accepted into the program, you will be enrolled at NIU at the orientation meeting.

Do I have to take the GRE to meet NIU admissions requirements?

After enrolling in the BTTT program, applicants will apply formally to NIU's Graduate School . The Graduate School requires scores from either the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller's Analogy Test (MAT). Although these scores are required in most cases, applications to the Graduate School are considered holistically. If you have a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution, this requirement might be waived.

Do I have to take the TOEFL Exam?

If your bachelor's degree is from an institution in which English was not the language of instruction, NIU requires that you take the TOEFL Exam before being considered for admission.

How long does the program take?

The graduate program consists of 18 courses or 53 semester hours. The program takes between two and a half and three years to complete, depending on how the university schedules the coursework.

Which certification tests will I have to take while I'm in the program?

To be admitted to the teacher education program at NIU, candidates for admission must submit passing scores for the Illinois Test of Basic Skills. To qualify for the Type 29 Transitional Bilingual Certificate, candidates must pass the Target Language Proficiency Test. To be considered 'highly qualified' under the No Child Left Behind Act, participants must pass the Content-Area Test for Elementary/Middle Grades. Before applying for the Type 03 certificate, all teacher candidates must pass the Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) Test.

Do I have to take the Basic Skills test and the Target Language Proficiency test before I submit my application?

No. However, your continuation in the program is contingent upon your ability to pass both tests in a timely fashion upon your acceptance.

Can I take the Basic Skills test and the Target Language Proficiency test on the same day?

Yes. The Target Language Proficiency test may be taken on the same day as the Illinois Basic Skills test, however, the Target Language Proficiency test is only offered at one location in Chicago .

Can I take the Content-Area test and the Target Language Proficiency test on the same day?

No. The Target Language Proficiency test can only be taken on the same day as the Basic Skills test.

Can I take the Basic Skills test and the Content-Area test on the same day?

Yes. The Basic Skills test and the Content-Area test can be taken on the same day throughout the state of Illinois .

What is Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)?

TBE is an instructional program in which subjects are taught through two languages--English and the native language of the English language learners -- and English is taught as a second language. The primary purpose of these programs is to facilitate the LEP student's transition to an all-English instructional environment while receiving academic subject instruction in the native language to the extent necessary.
Source: http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/expert/glossary.html

What is ESL?

English as a second language (ESL) is an educational approach in which English language learners are instructed in the use of the English language. Their instruction is based on a special curriculum that typically involves little or no use of the native language, focuses on language (as opposed to content) and is usually taught during specific school periods. For the rest of the school day, students may be placed in mainstream classrooms, an immersion program, or a bilingual education program.  Every bilingual education program has an ESL component (U.S. General Accounting Office, 1994).
Source: http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/expert/glossary.html

Can I have a Type 29 currently and still apply to the program?

Yes, but you still have to have three and a half years left on your Type 29 in order to apply.

Do I need access to a computer and the internet to be a participant in this program?

Absolutely yes, we use the latest technology to disseminate information about our program to participants. We also offer an e-mentor site. NIU utilizes blackboard, Live Text and other web-based programming for class instruction.

Is there a guide sheet that would help me see the process that an accepted participant would go through in a program like this?

Here is a timeline/checklist that we give participants in order to help guide them through the program:
    BTTT Timeline/Checklist