Faculty Associate Handbook

Forward
Chapter 1: Mission of the Laboratory Schools
Chapter 2: Role of Faculty Associates
Chapter 3: Appointment and Employment Information
Chapter 4: Professional Growth & Evaluation of Faculty Associates
Chapter 5: University Benefits and Time Away from Work
Chapter 6: Absence Procedures
Chapter 7: Resignation and Retirement
Chapter 8: Probation Period and Laboratory School Continued Service
Chapter 9: Discipline & Dismissal
Chapter 10: Grievance Process
Chapter 11: Compensation Add links for Appendix B, C, D, E, and F
Chapter 12: Emergency Information
Appendix A: Procedures for Making an Application for Research in the Laboratory Schools

Chapter 1: Mission of the Laboratory Schools and Heart of Illinois Low Incidence Association (HILIA)

The Illinois State University Laboratory Schools (Thomas Metcalf School and University High School) are an administrative department in the College of Education and serve as clinical experience and practice sites for pre-service teachers, innovative student instruction, and educational research. The Laboratory Schools also partner with local school districts, special education cooperatives, and the Regional Office, to provide regional programming for the Heart of Illinois Low Incidence Association (HILIA).

Serving as a living laboratory, the schools’ mission is built on four pillars:

Provide a school in which excellence in education theory and practice can be observed, studied, and practiced by teacher candidates and other pre-service school professionals.
Provide an environment in which research and development activities may be actively engaged in.
Provide a comprehensive, high-quality academic program for Metcalf and University High School students.
Promote effective, high-quality education throughout the teaching profession and aid other educators in the process of improving the quality of education in their schools and classrooms.

In support of this mission, nearly 45,000 hours of clinical experiences are provided to education majors in any given academic year. In addition to providing clinical sites for the College of Education, the Laboratory Schools also serve teacher educators in nineteen academic departments across the University who assign their students to the Laboratory Schools for the state-required clinical experiences component in teacher preparation.

The Laboratory Schools continue to contribute to the knowledge base regarding educational practice and improvement. Several research projects are conducted in the Laboratory Schools on an annual basis. These studies include research by Laboratory School faculty in their individual classrooms on particular problems of educational practice, graduate students conducting doctoral dissertations, and professors conducting grant-supported research with students, parents, and faculty on subject- based research problems, instructional strategies, and organization and administration.

The Laboratory Schools also provide a high-quality academic program for students. The Schools also engage in considerable self-evaluation in order to assure a climate of renewing reflection and improvement. The demand for enrollment in the Laboratory Schools confirms the assertion that the schools are highly prized by parents within the community.

The faculty of the Laboratory Schools are expected to aid others in other schools in improving the quality of education. Laboratory School and HILIA faculty share and disseminate information with other educators by making presentations to various local, state, and national audiences. The Laboratory Schools host visitors from many Illinois locations and from other parts of the United States and the world.

Illinois State University asserts its statewide and national leadership role in education. As the largest teacher preparation program in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation, Illinois State graduates teachers who influence both classroom practice and research on effective teaching throughout the country. As the site of the initial experiences of virtually all teacher education majors, the Laboratory Schools play a critical role in shaping their views of effective schooling. Rigorous standards and stimulating learning environments are important values in the Laboratory Schools.

Heart of Illinois Low Incidence Association (HILIA)

The Heart of Illinois Low Incidence Association (HILIA) was formed to promote, establish and maintain a continuum of comprehensive services for children with the low incidence eligibilities of Deafness, Hearing Impairment and Visual Impairment. HILIA exists in collaboration between Bloomington School District #87, Livingston County Special Services Unit, Tri-County Special Education Association, McLean County Unit 5 School District, Illinois State University Laboratory Schools and the Regional Office of Education. Currently, HILIA serves students in over thirty school districts within DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, and McLean counties. The unique assistive technology, hearing, and vision needs of these students are met through the continuum of services offered in the home school districts’ programs or at Illinois State University Laboratory Schools. HILIA is overseen by a board of directors which include all special ed directors from Unit 5, District 87, Livingston County Special Services Unit, and Tri-County Special Education Association, and the ISU Lab Schools superintendent.

HILIA Programming in Home School Districts

Consultation Services

Educators with expertise in the areas of assistive technology, hearing, and vision provide guidance/resources for educators working with students with low incidence disabilities. Consultative services include (but are not limited to) problem solving, equipment troubleshooting, team meetings, and IEP meetings.

Direct Services

Educators with expertise in the areas of vision and hearing work directly with students to provide specialized instruction. Direct instruction includes (but is not limited to) instruction in the areas of technology, advocacy, and other areas created by the lack of incidental learning that typically occurs through hearing or vision. In addition, HILIA can facilitate access to an educational audiologist and certified orientation mobility specialist.

HILIA Programming in the ISU Laboratory Schools

Thomas Metcalf School and University High School make up the Laboratory Schools at Illinois State University. It is most typical that students (ages 3-21) who are braille readers, use sign language, or need intense services in listening, speech, and language are educated at the Laboratory Schools. These students are taught by our Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments. Programming is available in both inclusive and self-contained settings. Students enrolled in HILIA Programs within the Laboratory Schools have access to related services provided by an educational audiologist, interpreters, certified orientation mobility specialist, and speech-language pathologist.

As provided under state and federal law, a placement decision is made by the district IEP team to determine whether HILIA Programming will be provided in the home school district or at the Laboratory Schools.