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Lauby Teacher Education Center

Format for Council for Teacher Education Hearings

Purpose of the hearing

To serve as an opportunity for students from teacher education programs to appeal decisions made by the Teacher Education Review Board(TERB). Students have the right to be supported by legal counsel. Legal counsel may not speak on behalf of the complainant but is there to advise his/her client. If the complainant brings legal counsel, the University legal counsel will be asked to be present as well. The Council for Teacher Education will make one of following decisions relative to the student's complaint:

  • approve the student's request; overrules the Teacher Education Review Board decision
  • deny the student's request; affirms the Teacher Education Review Board decision

Authorization

The Bylaws of the Council for Teacher Education stipulate that the Teacher Education Review Board (TERB) will review cases of students having complaints concerning student removal/progress in teacher education programs.

Note: Illinois State Board of Education rules require, as a criterion for program approval, that institutions provide this stipulation for teacher candidates. See Criterion 8 of the program approval rules.

Procedures for Hearing of Complaints by the Council for Teacher Education (CTE)

At the hearing

The Chairperson of the Council for Teacher Education will facilitate the hearing. Other members of the Council who are members of the specific student's department and/or members of Teacher Education Review Board may not participate in  this hearing but may attend and observe the appeal hearing. The chair of the Council for Teacher Education will begin with a review of the act or decision denying or abridging the right and/or responsibility in question. Both parties (the student and the representative(s) of the department/school will meet jointly with the Council. 

Student Remarks

  • The student will present their  appeal first . Their legal counsel or representative may not speak on behalf of the student  but may be there to advise the student . This is limited to 30 minutes.
  • Members of the CTE may ask questions for up to an additional 15 minutes.
  • Each party has the right to suggest questions to members of the Council


Department/School Remarks

  • The department/school representative(s)  will then be asked to respond to the appeal and to provide evidence and rationale to the decision. This is limited to 30 minutes.
  • Council members may ask the Department questions for up to an additional 15 minutes. Following  any questions by the Council for Teacher Education members,  both parties will leave the hearing room.
  • Each party has the right to suggest questions to members of the Council.
     

Council Deliberation

  • Following both parties’ presentations, the Council will review the merits of the appeal; it may choose to reschedule another meeting for review or it may make a decision at that time.The members of the Council will vote by open role-call. The chair will announce the results. Members of the Council for Teacher Education who may be members of the specific student's department and/or members of Teacher Education Review Board may not vote. In the event of a tie, the chair will vote.
  • Once a decision is reached, the chair of CTE will inform all parites of the results in writing within 30 working days of the hearing.