ILLINOIS CLEANS UP CERTIFICATION HOOPS FOR ITS TEACHERS

Illinois has moved to streamline its procedures to certify out-of-state teachers. The change should provide more qualified teachers more quickly for the Land of Lincoln.

Unbelievably, certifying teachers who moved into the state had taken months -- even years -- as applications wallowed in a sea of red tape. The bottom line is that Illinois lost qualified teachers because of the bureaucratic paper chase.

Illinois gets about 5,000 such certification requests each year. Currently, there is a backlog of 2,600 cases, some dating back to April 1994. Part of the reason for the backlog is that the state issues about 25,000 certificates annually to teachers, aides, administrators and other school personnel.

In an effort to speed up the process, Illinois has secured reciprocity agreements with 36 states and the District of Columbia. In other words, those with teaching certificates in these states are eligible for comparable certification in Illinois.

The state has also improved the process for in-state candidates, streamlining the process from seven steps to two. Instead of presenting an application at regional boards of education, paperwork will be shipped electronically to the State Board of Education for more immediate verification.

The integrity of the system seems to have remained intact with the changes. Applicants must still complete a state-approved education program, undergo criminal background checks and pass proficiency examinations.

And, after all, the decision to hire a teacher still rests with the local school board. If the applicant doesn't seem qualified, the local board will no doubt make appropriate choices.

The announcement of the certification streamlining caught teachers groups by surprise in Illinois. One would think they would be jumping for joy instead of complaining that they didn't know about the decision in advance.

When government takes the reins to reduce red tape, all citizens should applaud. Perhaps it is an idea that will one day catch on.