Press "Enter" to skip to content

Elementary Education program sees updates

Elementary education majors can expect updates to the program as Bradley works to align itself more closely with state codes next year.

This past month, the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board approved Bradley’s Education and Health Sciences Department’s proposal for a redesigned elementary education program.
The proposal will change the program to align more closely with the revised Illinois Administrative Code (IAC). The IAC establishes rules for teacher preparation degrees throughout Illinois, and all schools and colleges of education are required to submit redesigned program proposals to the Board.
Bradley will be one of the first universities with an elementary education program and the first to fully incorporate the English as a Second Language (ESL) component.

The board was complimentary of the program’s design, specifically the ESL component, according to Chairperson Dean Cantu.

Bradley stands out by offering this revised degree with its ESL component.

“Bradley’s Department of Teacher Education is the only one in the state to require an elementary degree that has the coursework necessary for an endorsement to teach English as a Second Language,” Associate Professor Cecile Arquette said.

“[This redesigned program] will allow them to be hired in any type of educational setting throughout Illinois, the [United States] and in other countries around the world,” Associate Professor Jean Marie Grant said.

Prominent in getting these revisions completed are: Cantu, Grant, Arquette and Associate Professor Chairperson David McMullen.

The revised program could provide difficulties for freshman and sophomore education majors.
Junior education major Katelyn Waller said she was told juniors and seniors should not be affected by the new policy, but freshmen and sophomores are refraining from taking concentration classes that might be removed under the new program.

“[Not many students] really know what’s going on,” Waller said.

Either way, big changes are in store for elementary education students beginning fall 2015.

Copyright © 2023, The Scout, Bradley University. All rights reserved.
The Scout is published by members of the student body of Bradley University. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the University.