If you are considering applying to the Chicago Teaching Fellows program this year, we strongly encourage you to visit the Illinois Certification Testing System's website to review required testing dates, fees, and registration process as tests are offered on limited dates that are coming up quickly. Please visit http://www.icts.nesinc.com.

Accepted candidates are responsible for passing the Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) Basic Skills test and required content area test(s) for enrollment in the Chicago Teaching Fellows program to be finalized.  The Chicago Teaching Fellows program strongly encourages candidates to register for these tests as soon as possible.  They are mandatory for final acceptance and offered on limited dates. Applicants are responsible for all testing costs and fees.

If invited to an interview, the Fellows office will assign candidates to a subject area and advise candidates on the content area test(s) that should be taken.  Please note that subject area assignments are based on candidates’ reports of subject area eligibility on the online application.  Please see the tables below for detailed information about subject area eligibility and corresponding content area test requirements.  Upon further review of transcripts, the Fellows program may change candidates’ subject area assignments if necessary.  In such cases, candidates may need to take an additional content area test.  Ineligibility for a specific subject does not necessarily remove a candidate from the interview and selection process. 

ICTS test scores are valid for several years.  Candidates may submit passing score reports for the Basic Skills test and/or required content area test(s) taken after they have received an offer and will be required to submit passing score reports for the Basic Skills exam and the Content Area exam(s) by May 21, 2010.  Please note that it takes approximately one month to receive scores after your testing date.

ICTS Testing Schedule

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE TEST DATES: ICTS IS OFFERING THE PAPER BASED BASIC SKILLS EXAM ON JANUARY 9, 2010 AT LIMITED LOCATIONS IN ILLINOIS.

Test Date: January 9, 2010

Regular Registration Deadline: November 27, 2009

Late Registration Deadline: December 18, 2009

Emergency Registration Period: December 18, 2009 - January 5, 2010

Official Score Report Date: February 5, 2010

ICTS Computer-Based Testing: An Option For The Basic Skills Exam Only

The ICTS Basic Skills test is now offered on computer in addition to the regularly scheduled paper-based administrations. Refer to the Pearson VUE Web site at http://www.pearsonvue.com/icts or http://www.icts.nesinc.com for up-to-date information about test centers, including test center addresses and locations of over 200 test centers in the United States.

To register for the Basic Skills and content area exams, please visit http://www.icts.nesinc.com. Please note:

• the November 2009, January 2010, February 2010 and the April 2010 tests are the only paper-based testing dates that work with Chicago Teaching Fellows deadlines.

• the October 2009, the December 2009 and the March 2010 computer-based tests are the only computer-based testing dates that work with Chicago Teaching Fellows deadlines.

If candidates have further questions about the required examinations, we encourage them to contact us at info@chicagoteachingfellows.org.

High School Math Requirements

*Please note that Accounting, Finance, and Business courses will not count toward this requirement.

High School Science Requirements

*Please note that social science coursework will not count toward this requirement.

Bilingual Education Requirements

Please note: Bilingual candidates are required to take and pass three ICTS exams. ICTS allows two exams at most to be taken on the same day. Please take the testing dates into consideration and plan accordingly. Fluency and/or high proficiency in both the respective language and English are expected for bilingual candidates prior to applying.

* Please review the ICTS website for specific test and test code information based on the language you are applying to teach.

Special Education Requirements

Test Preparation

It is imperative that all candidates study thoroughly for the ICTS exams. Teachers and candidates report that these exams can be challenging and require thorough preparation in order to pass -- even for individuals with deep content knowledge or relevant professional experience. As you prepare, consider the following test preparation resources:

• Visit www.icts.nesinc.com for information. Select the Preparation Information section to review topics covered on the exam and to identify which topics you need to focus on during your studying.    

• In addition to the Illinois Certification Testing System, there are other entities that provide certification testing to states across the country. One of those tests is the Praxis test for which many test preparation materials exist. Because Praxis tests are similar in content to the ICTS exams, we also encourage candidates to consider using Praxis test prep materials. The Praxis I is equivalent to the ICTS Basic Skills exam and the Praxis II exams are equivalent to the ICTS Content Area exams. Please note that despite their similarities, the state of Illinois does not recognize passage of the Praxis exams as meeting testing requirements. You must take and pass the designated ICTS exams.

• Consider online resources designed for Praxis I test prep, such as www.PraxisMath.com, www.PraxisReading.com, and www.PraxisWriting.com.

• Candidates eligible to teach math should consider online resources designed for math Praxis II test prep, such as www.PraxisHighSchoolMath.com, wwwPraxisMiddleSchoolMath.com, and www.PraxisMathExam.com.

Although Chicago Teaching Fellows and CPS do not specifically endorse any of these materials, and while individual's preparation needs will vary, Fellows have cited these resources as helpful starting points in studying for these important tests.

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