100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4206

 

Introduced , by Rep. Thomas M. Bennett

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/21B-35

    Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows for the issuance of a Professional Educator License endorsed in a teaching field or school support personnel area to an applicant who has not been entitled by an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education if he or she provides evidence of completing a comparable state-approved educator preparation program, as defined by the State Superintendent of Education, among other conditions. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
521B-35 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/21B-35)
7    Sec. 21B-35. Minimum requirements for educators trained in
8other states or countries.
9    (a) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
10Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
11institution of higher education applying for a Professional
12Educator License endorsed in a teaching field or school support
13personnel area must meet all of the following requirements:
14        (1) Provide evidence of completing a comparable
15    state-approved educator preparation program, as defined by
16    the State Superintendent of Education, or hold Hold a
17    comparable and valid educator license or certificate with
18    similar grade level and subject matter credentials from
19    another state. The State Board of Education shall have the
20    authority to determine what constitutes similar grade
21    level and subject matter credentials from another state. A
22    comparable educator license or certificate is one that
23    demonstrates that the license or certificate holder meets

 

 

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1    similar requirements as candidates entitled by an
2    Illinois-approved educator preparation program in teaching
3    or school support personnel areas concerning coursework
4    aligned to standards concerning methods of instruction of
5    the exceptional child, methods of reading and reading in
6    the content area, and instructional strategies for English
7    learners. An applicant who holds a comparable and valid
8    educator license or certificate from another state must
9    submit verification to the State Board of Education that
10    the applicant has completed coursework concerning methods
11    of instruction of the exceptional child, methods of reading
12    and reading in the content area, and instructional
13    strategies for English learners.
14        (2) Have a degree from a regionally accredited
15    institution of higher education.
16        (3) (Blank).
17        (4) (Blank).
18        (5) (Blank).
19        (6) Have successfully met all Illinois examination
20    requirements. Applicants who have successfully completed a
21    test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at the time of
22    initial licensure in another state shall not be required to
23    complete a test of basic skills. Applicants who have
24    successfully completed a test of content, as defined by
25    rules, at the time of initial licensure in another state
26    shall not be required to complete a test of content.

 

 

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1    Applicants for a teaching endorsement who have
2    successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of
3    teacher effectiveness, as defined by rules, at the time of
4    initial licensure in another state shall not be required to
5    complete an evidence-based assessment of teacher
6    effectiveness.
7        (7) For applicants for a teaching endorsement, have
8    completed student teaching or an equivalent experience or,
9    for applicants for a school service personnel endorsement,
10    have completed an internship or an equivalent experience.
11    If one or more of the criteria in this subsection (a) are
12not met, then applicants who have not been entitled by an
13Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
14institution of higher education who hold a valid, comparable
15certificate from another state may qualify for a provisional
16educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations,
17in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code.
18    (b) In order to receive a Professional Educator License
19endorsed in a teaching field, applicants trained in another
20country must meet all of the following requirements:
21        (1) Have completed a comparable education program in
22    another country.
23        (2) Have had transcripts evaluated by an evaluation
24    service approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
25        (3) Have a degree comparable to a degree from a
26    regionally accredited institution of higher education.

 

 

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1        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
2    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
3    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
4    and instructional strategies for English learners.
5        (5) (Blank).
6        (6) (Blank).
7        (7) Have successfully met all State licensure
8    examination requirements. Applicants who have successfully
9    completed a test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at
10    the time of initial licensure in another country shall not
11    be required to complete a test of basic skills. Applicants
12    who have successfully completed a test of content, as
13    defined by rules, at the time of initial licensure in
14    another country shall not be required to complete a test of
15    content. Applicants for a teaching endorsement who have
16    successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of
17    teacher effectiveness, as defined by rules, at the time of
18    initial licensure in another country shall not be required
19    to complete an evidence-based assessment of teacher
20    effectiveness.
21        (8) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent
22    experience.
23    (b-5) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
24Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
25institution of higher education and applicants trained in
26another country applying for a Professional Educator License

 

 

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1endorsed for principal or superintendent must meet all of the
2following requirements:
3        (1) Have completed an educator preparation program
4    approved by another state or comparable educator program in
5    another country leading to the receipt of a license or
6    certificate for the Illinois endorsement sought.
7        (2) Have successfully met all State licensure
8    examination requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of
9    this Code. Applicants who have successfully completed a
10    test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at the time of
11    initial licensure in another state or country shall not be
12    required to complete a test of basic skills. Applicants who
13    have successfully completed a test of content, as defined
14    by rules, at the time of initial licensure in another state
15    or country shall not be required to complete a test of
16    content.
17        (3) (Blank).
18        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
19    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
20    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
21    and instructional strategies for English learners.
22        (5) Have completed a master's degree.
23        (6) Have successfully completed teaching, school
24    support, or administrative experience as defined by rule.
25    A provisional educator endorsement to serve as a
26superintendent or principal may be affixed to an Educator

 

 

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1License with Stipulations in accordance with Section 21B-20 of
2this Code.
3    (b-7) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
4Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
5institution of higher education applying for a Professional
6Educator License endorsed for Director of Special Education
7must meet all of the following requirements:
8        (1) Have completed a master's degree.
9        (2) Have 2 years of full-time experience providing
10    special education services.
11        (3) Have successfully completed all examination
12    requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
13    Applicants who have successfully completed a test of
14    content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial
15    licensure in another state or country shall not be required
16    to complete a test of content.
17        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
18    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
19    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
20    and instructional strategies for English learners.
21    A provisional educator endorsement to serve as Director of
22Special Education may be affixed to an Educator License with
23Stipulations in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code.
24    (b-10) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
25Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
26institution of higher education applying for a Professional

 

 

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1Educator License endorsed for chief school business official
2must meet all of the following requirements:
3        (1) Have completed a master's degree in school business
4    management, finance, or accounting.
5        (2) Have successfully completed an internship in
6    school business management or have 2 years of experience as
7    a school business administrator.
8        (3) Have successfully met all State examination
9    requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
10    Applicants who have successfully completed a test of
11    content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial
12    licensure in another state or country shall not be required
13    to complete a test of content.
14        (4) Have completed modules aligned to standards
15    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
16    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
17    and instructional strategies for English learners.
18    A provisional educator endorsement to serve as a chief
19school business official may be affixed to an Educator License
20with Stipulations.
21    (c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
22State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
23rules as may be necessary to implement this Section.
24(Source: P.A. 99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-920, eff. 1-6-17; 100-13,
25eff. 7-1-17.)
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

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1becoming law.