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91_SB1054enr
SB1054 Enrolled LRB9106132NTks
1 AN ACT to amend the School Code by changing Section 21-2
2 and adding Section 21-27.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing
6 Section 21-2 and adding Section 21-27 as follows:
7 (105 ILCS 5/21-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2)
8 Sec. 21-2. Grades of certificates.
9 (a) Until July 1, 1999, all certificates issued under
10 this Article shall be State certificates valid, except as
11 limited in Section 21-1, in every school district coming
12 under the provisions of this Act and shall be limited in time
13 and designated as follows: Provisional vocational
14 certificate, temporary provisional vocational certificate,
15 early childhood certificate, elementary school certificate,
16 special certificate, high school certificate, school service
17 personnel certificate, administrative certificate,
18 provisional certificate, and substitute certificate. The
19 requirement of student teaching under close and competent
20 supervision for obtaining a teaching certificate may be
21 waived by the State Teacher Certification Board upon
22 presentation to the Board by the teacher of evidence of 5
23 years successful teaching experience on a valid certificate
24 and graduation from a recognized institution of higher
25 learning with a bachelor's degree with not less than 120
26 semester hours and a minimum of 16 semester hours in
27 professional education.
28 (b) Initial Teaching Certificate. Beginning July 1,
29 1999, persons who (1) have completed an approved teacher
30 preparation program, (2) are recommended by an approved
31 teacher preparation program, (3) have successfully completed
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1 the Initial Teaching Certification examinations required by
2 the State Board of Education, and (4) have met all other
3 criteria established by the State Board of Education in
4 consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board,
5 shall be issued an Initial Teaching Certificate valid for 4
6 years of teaching. Initial Teaching Certificates shall be
7 issued for categories corresponding to Early Childhood,
8 Elementary, Secondary, and Special K-12, with special
9 certification designations for Special Education, Bilingual
10 Education, fundamental learning areas (including Language
11 Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical
12 Development and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and
13 other areas designated by the State Board of Education, in
14 consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
15 (c) Standard Certificate. Beginning July 1, 1999,
16 persons who (1) have completed 4 years of teaching with an
17 Initial Certificate, have successfully completed the Standard
18 Teaching Certificate examinations, and have met all other
19 criteria established by the State Board of Education in
20 consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, or
21 (2) were issued teaching certificates prior to July 1, 1999
22 and are renewing those certificates after July 1, 1999, shall
23 be issued a Standard Certificate valid for 5 years, which may
24 be renewed thereafter every 5 years by the State Teacher
25 Certification Board based on proof of continuing education or
26 professional development. Standard Certificates shall be
27 issued for categories corresponding to Early Childhood,
28 Elementary, Secondary, and Special K-12, with special
29 certification designations for Special Education, Bilingual
30 Education, fundamental learning areas (including Language
31 Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical
32 Development and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and
33 other areas designated by the State Board of Education, in
34 consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
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1 (d) Master Certificate. Beginning July 1, 1999, persons
2 who have successfully achieved National Board certification
3 through the National Board for Professional Teaching
4 Standards shall be issued a Master Certificate, valid for 10
5 7 years and renewable thereafter every 10 7 years through
6 compliance with requirements set forth by the State Board of
7 Education. However, each teacher who holds a Master
8 Certificate shall be eligible for a teaching position in this
9 State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master
10 Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this
11 Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal
12 background checks. A teacher who holds a Master Certificate
13 shall be deemed to meet State certification renewal
14 requirements in the area or areas for which he or she holds a
15 Master Certificate for the 10-year term of the teacher's
16 Master Certificate.
17 (Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-653, eff. 7-29-98;
18 90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)
19 (105 ILCS 5/21-27 new)
20 Sec. 21-27. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.
21 The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program is hereby
22 established to provide categorical funding for monetary
23 incentives and bonuses for teachers who are employed by
24 school districts and who hold a Master Certificate. The
25 State Board of Education shall allocate and distribute to
26 each school district an amount as annually appropriated by
27 the General Assembly for the Illinois Teaching Excellence
28 Program. Unless otherwise provided by appropriation, each
29 school district's annual allocation shall be the sum of the
30 amounts earned for the following incentives and bonuses:
31 (1) A one-time payment of $3,000 to be paid to each
32 teacher who successfully completes the program leading to
33 and who receives a Master Certificate and is employed by
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1 a school district. The school district shall distribute
2 this payment to each eligible teacher as a single payment
3 or in not more than 3 payments.
4 (2) An annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be
5 paid to each teacher who holds a Master Certificate, who
6 is employed by a school district, and who agrees, in
7 writing, to provide 60 hours of mentoring during that
8 year to classroom teachers. This mentoring may include,
9 either singly or in combination, (i) providing high
10 quality professional development for new and experienced
11 teachers, and (ii) assisting National Board for
12 Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) candidates
13 through the NBPTS certification process. The school
14 district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive
15 payment upon completion of 30 hours of the required
16 mentoring and the remaining 50% of the incentive upon
17 completion of the required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit
18 may not be granted by a school district for mentoring or
19 related services provided during a regular school day or
20 during the total number of days of required service for
21 the school year.
22 (3) An annual incentive equal to $3,000 shall be
23 paid to each teacher who holds a Master Certificate, who
24 is employed by a school district, and who agrees, in
25 writing, to provide 60 hours of mentoring during that
26 year to classroom teachers in schools on the Academic
27 Early Warning List or in schools in which 50% or more of
28 the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or
29 both. The school district shall distribute 50% of each
30 annual incentive payment upon completion of 30 hours of
31 the required mentoring and the remaining 50% of the
32 incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours of
33 mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school
34 district for mentoring or related services provided
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1 during a regular school day or during the total number of
2 days of required service for the school year.
3 Each regional superintendent of schools shall provide
4 information about the Master Certificate Program of the
5 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
6 and this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly to each
7 individual seeking to register or renew a certificate under
8 Section 21-14 of this Code.
9 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
10 becoming law.
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