Letter of Support for CRTL Standards

Dear Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules:
 
On the behalf of over 50 organizations and over 600 individuals representing communities, current and future educators, universities, affinity groups, parents, and students across Illinois, we urge the Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to readily accept the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards. 

The Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Standards outline positive steps for the education community to better support students of all backgrounds. Students learn best in spaces where they feel and believe they belong — spaces that acknowledge, reflect, and respect their unique identities. These standards will help future educators provide such spaces, so that they can help all students achieve the academic standards we uphold.

Despite what you may have heard, CRTL Standards are not requirements for students or for in-service educators. Instead, these are standards that will be implemented by colleges and universities that train teachers and will be offered as optional professional development courses for current teachers. These standards are grounded in research, effective practices, and performance indicators. The CRTL standards acknowledge that teachers are most effective when they engage in self-reflection; develop positive, meaningful relationships with each student; validate differences; and seek to support the whole child. These strategies support academics. They lay the foundation for an environment that enables and enhances student learning. The standards offer greater clarity and a stronger research base for these best practices that great teachers are already using. They offer more support for these best practices, so that our future educators are fully prepared to teach their students more effectively on day one and do not have to resort to figuring out these best practices through trial and error on their own.

The standards do not ask that teachers set aside their personal convictions. On the contrary, the standards invite teachers to examine how their personal convictions and their own backgrounds influence their teaching practice. The standards outline strategies for how educators can ensure students from all backgrounds, identities, and upbringings feel welcome and affirmed in their classrooms, which is critical for students to be able to learn.

CRTL standards will be essential in teacher preparation programs for future educators to focus on asset-based mindsets in all learners. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted some students and communities more profoundly than others, these standards are a resource for adults to continually respond to growing needs of students.

As individuals, organizations, associations, and professional groups that support all of our teachers and education, we are in support of the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards as a critical resource and tool to facilitate belonging, leverage belonging, and center humanity for all. We share the goal that all children and families are accepted and included. The Standards support future educators in preparing students to be successful, contributing members of a diverse world. We rally behind all students.

Vote to accept the IL Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.