Public Act 101-0554
 
SB1498 EnrolledLRB101 09980 AXK 55082 b


  
    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 
2-3.80d as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.80d new)
    Sec. 2-3.80d. Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher 
Internship Program.
    (a) In this Section: 
    "Pre-service teaching student" means a student who is a 
declared agricultural education major accepted into an 
approved agricultural teacher education program at a public 
university in this State and who has completed at least 30 
credit hours and has maintained, at a minimum, a 2.5 cumulative 
grade point average on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent.
    "Illinois agricultural company" means any company in this 
State that has an interest in the agricultural industry, as 
determined by the pre-service teaching student's public 
university.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education 
must, in consultation with the Board of Higher Education, 
develop an Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher 
Internship Program, beginning at the secondary education 
level, for pre-service teaching students that consists of both 
of the following: 
        (1) At a  minimum, an 8-week experience or  300 hours of 
    experience to prepare the pre-service teaching student for 
    in-classroom experiences, including, but not limited to, 
    experiences in the 5 career clusters for Illinois 
    agricultural education through partnerships with Illinois 
    agricultural companies. The 5 career clusters include 
    agricultural business management, agricultural mechanics 
    and technology, horticulture services operations and 
    management, agricultural sciences, and natural resources 
    conservation management.
        (2) Both in-classroom lectures and hands-on, applied 
    learning. 
    (c) Subject to appropriation, the State Board must award 
grants to a pre-service teaching student enrolled in the 
Internship Program under subsection (b), which may be used by 
the student to support all of the following activities: 
        (1) A stipend not to exceed $7,500 for a pre-service 
    teaching student's completion of the Internship Program, 
    distributed in monthly installments. 
        (2) Lodging for a pre-service teaching student while 
    participating in the Internship Program.
        (3) Reimbursement for meals, not to exceed the per diem 
    rate established by the Internal Revenue Service, for a 
    pre-service teaching student while participating in the 
    Internship Program.
        (4) Any reasonable costs for participation in the 
    Internship Program charged by any participating Illinois 
    agricultural company.
 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.