a) This Part establishes the standards that, together with the standards set forth in Standards for All Illinois Teachers (23 Ill. Adm. Code 24), shall apply to the issuance of endorsements in the middle grades (i.e., grades 5 through 8) on professional educator licenses pursuant to Article 21B of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/Art. 21B]. The standards set forth in this Part shall apply both to candidates for endorsements in middle grades and to the programs that prepare them. That is:

1. 1) beginning July 1, 2013, approval of any teacher preparation program or course of study in middle grades, whether currently approved or newly proposed, pursuant to the State Board's rules for Educator Licensure (23 Ill. Adm. Code 25, Subpart C) shall be based on the congruence of that program's or course's content with the standards identified in this Part;
2. 2) on or before February 1, 2018, the examinations required for issuance of an endorsement in middle grades shall be based on the standards identified in this Part; and
3. 3) on or before February 1, 2018, each middle grades program seeking approval shall work in consultation with one or more community colleges to ensure the articulation of coursework between the two institutions and, as applicable, the alignment of community college coursework relevant to middle grades education to the standards set forth in this Part.