HB2896 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 05330 NHT 15341 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2896

Introduced , by Rep. Dave Severin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.170 new
110 ILCS 205/9.36 new
110 ILCS 947/65.28 new

Amends the School Code, the Board of Higher Education Act, and the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish a position for one Rural Education Coordinator to represent the rural regions of this State, to be based at a recognized educator preparation institution, to (1) provide an emphasis on access to educator preparation programs that focus on rural education, (2) increase rural teacher recruitment, (3) develop an educator pipeline to rural schools and school districts, and (4) provide support mechanisms for rural schools and school districts. Subject to appropriation, requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to provide up to 40 financial stipends annually, not to exceed $2,800 per student, to offset tuition costs for individuals in educator preparation programs who agree to student teach in a rural school or school district of the student teacher's choice. Provides that a student teacher who receives a stipend must agree to work in a rural school or school district for at least 2 years. Makes related changes.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.170 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.170 new)

Sec. 2-3.170. Rural school determination. The State Board of Education shall determine which schools and school districts in this State are rural for the purposes of Section 9.36 of the Board of Higher Education Act and Section 65.28 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

Section 10. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.36 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.36 new)

Sec. 9.36. Rural Education Coordinator.

(a) In this Section:

"Coordinator" means the Rural Education Coordinator established under this Section.

"Educator preparation program" means an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at a recognized institution that upon completion leads to a recommendation for licensure by that institution.

"Recognized institution" means a college, university, or not-for-profit entity granted recognition as an educator preparation institution under Section 21B-105 of the School Code.

"Rural schools and school districts" means schools and school districts that the State Board of Education has determined to be rural under Section 2-3.170 of the School Code.

(b) On or before July 1, 2018, the Board may establish a position for one Rural Education Coordinator to represent the rural regions of this State. The Coordinator must be based at a recognized institution in which an educator preparation program is maintained. The purpose of the Coordinator is to:

(1) provide an emphasis on access to educator preparation programs that focus on rural education;

(2) increase rural teacher recruitment;

(3) develop an educator pipeline to rural schools and school districts; and

(4) provide support mechanisms for rural schools and school districts.

On or before January 1, 2019, the Board may select a recognized institution in a rural part of this State to house the Coordinator for no more than 5 years. Upon completion of the first 5 years and every subsequent 5 years, the Board may select a different recognized institution in a rural part of this State to house the Coordinator. Any recognized institution is eligible to be selected to house the Coordinator in subsequent time periods.

Subject to appropriation, the Board shall provide funding for the purposes of this Section to the recognized institution selected to house the Coordinator.

(c) The recognized institution selected under subsection (b) of this Section to house the Coordinator shall collect data on the work of the Coordinator and annually provide a written summary report to the Board and to the State Board of Education. The report shall include:

(1) data on the number of students enrolled in an educator preparation program at the recognized institution; and

(2) data on how many students enrolled in an educator preparation program at the recognized institution during the 5-year period of housing the Coordinator were awarded a stipend under Section 65.28 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

Prior to the completion of each 5-year period of a recognized institution housing the Coordinator, the Board and the State Board of Education, with the assistance of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, shall jointly evaluate the effectiveness of the Coordinator and the stipends awarded under Section 65.28 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act and report their recommendations for continued funding to the General Assembly.

(d) The Board of Higher Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.

Section 15. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.28 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.28 new)

Sec. 65.28. Teachers for rural schools stipend.

(a) In this Section:

"Educator preparation program" means an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at a recognized institution that upon completion leads to a recommendation for licensure by that institution.

"Recognized institution" means a college, university, or not-for-profit entity granted recognition as an educator preparation institution under Section 21B-105 of the School Code.

"Rural school or school district" means a school or school district that the State Board of Education has determined to be rural under Section 2-3.170 of the School Code.

(b) Beginning on or before January 1, 2019, subject to appropriation, the Commission shall provide up to 40 financial stipends annually, not to exceed $2,800 per student, to offset tuition costs for individuals in educator preparation programs who agree to student teach in a rural school or school district of the student teacher's choice. In awarding stipends, the Commission shall, to the extent practicable, include persons with disabilities and take into consideration the geographic, race, and ethnic diversity of this State. Money for the stipends must be allocated from the Commission to the recognized institution in which the student is enrolled and credited to the student's account.

(c) A student teacher who receives a stipend pursuant to this Section must agree to work in a rural school or school district for at least 2 years after the completion of his or her student teaching, unless he or she can demonstrate extenuating circumstances in which employment would impose a hardship on him or her. If the recipient of a stipend does not accept an offer of employment to teach in a rural school or school district after the completion of his or her student teaching, then he or she may, as determined by the Commission on a case-by-case basis, have to reimburse the Commission for two-thirds of the amount of the stipend that he or she received. If a recipient of a stipend accepts an offer of employment to teach in a rural school or school district but only teaches in a rural school or school district for one year and not the required 2 years, then he or she may, as determined by the Commission on a case-by-case basis, have to reimburse the Commission for one-third of the amount of the stipend he or she received.

(d) The Commission shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.