SB0862 Enrolled LRB094 04497 NHT 34526 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
5 21-2.1 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/21-2.1)  (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2.1)
7     Sec. 21-2.1. Early childhood certificate.
8     (a) An early childhood certificate shall be valid for 4
9 years for teaching children up to 6 years of age, exclusive of
10 children enrolled in kindergarten, in facilities approved by
11 the State Superintendent of Education. Beginning July 1, 1988,
12 such certificate shall be valid for 4 years for Teaching
13 children through grade 3 in facilities approved by the State
14 Superintendent of Education. Subject to the provisions of
15 Section 21-1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated
16 from a recognized institution of higher learning with a
17 bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours
18 including professional education or human development or,
19 until July 1, 1992, to persons who have early childhood
20 education instruction and practical experience involving
21 supervised work with children under 6 years of age or with
22 children through grade 3. Such persons shall be recommended for
23 the early childhood certificate by a recognized institution as
24 having completed an approved program of preparation which
25 includes the requisite hours and academic and professional
26 courses and practical experience approved by the State
27 Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State
28 Teacher Certification Board. The student teaching portion of
29 such practical experience may be satisfied through placement in
30 any of grades pre-kindergarten (which consists of children from
31 3 years through 5 years of age) through 3, provided that the
32 student is under the active supervision of a cooperating

 

 

SB0862 Enrolled - 2 - LRB094 04497 NHT 34526 b

1 teacher who is certified and qualified (i) in early childhood
2 education or (ii) in self-contained, general elementary
3 education. Candidates for the early childhood certificate
4 (including paraprofessionals) Paraprofessionals with at least
5 one year of experience in a school or community-based early
6 childhood setting who are enrolled in early-childhood teacher
7 preparation programs may be paid and receive credit while
8 student teaching with their current employer, provided that
9 their student teaching experience meets the requirements of
10 their early-childhood teacher preparation program.
11     (b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard Early
12 Childhood Education Certificates shall be issued to persons who
13 meet the criteria established by the State Board of Education.
14 (Source: P.A. 94-1034, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
15     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
16 1, 2007.