Public Act 0413 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2420 Enrolled LRB098 07890 NHT 37975 b

Public Act 098-0413

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 changing Sections 21-25 and 21B-25 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21-25) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on June 30, 2013)

Sec. 21-25. School service personnel certificate.

(a) For purposes of this Section, "school service personnel" means persons employed and performing appropriate services in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control or a charter school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law in a position requiring a school service personnel certificate.

Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a, a school service personnel certificate shall be issued to those applicants of good character, good health, a citizen of the United States and at least 19 years of age who have a Bachelor's degree with not fewer than 120 semester hours from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning and who meets the requirements established by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A school service personnel certificate with a school nurse endorsement may be issued to a person who holds a bachelor of science degree from an institution of higher learning accredited by the North Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting association. Persons seeking any other endorsement on the school service personnel certificate shall be recommended for the endorsement by a recognized teacher education institution as having completed a program of preparation approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(b) Until August 30, 2002, a school service personnel certificate endorsed for school social work may be issued to a student who has completed a school social work program that has not been approved by the State Superintendent of Education, provided that each of the following conditions is met:

(1) The program was offered by a recognized, public teacher education institution that first enrolled students in its master's degree program in social work in 1998;

(2) The student applying for the school service personnel certificate was enrolled in the institution's master's degree program in social work on or after May 11, 1998;

(3) The State Superintendent verifies that the student has completed coursework that is substantially similar to that required in approved school social work programs, including (i) not fewer than 600 clock hours of a supervised internship in a school setting or (ii) if the student has completed part of a supervised internship in a school setting prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly and receives the prior approval of the State Superintendent, not fewer than 300 additional clock hours of supervised work in a public school setting under the supervision of a certified school social worker who certifies that the supervised work was completed in a satisfactory manner; and

(4) The student has passed a test of basic skills and the test of subject matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.

This subsection (b) does not apply after August 29, 2002.

(c) A school service personnel certificate shall be endorsed with the area of Service as determined by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

The holder of such certificate shall be entitled to all of the rights and privileges granted holders of a valid teaching certificate, including teacher benefits, compensation and working conditions.

When the holder of such certificate has earned a master's degree, including 8 semester hours of graduate professional education from a recognized institution of higher learning, and has at least 2 years of successful school experience while holding such certificate, the certificate may be endorsed for supervision.

(d) Persons who have successfully achieved National Board certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be issued a Master School Service Personnel Certificate, valid for 10 years and renewable thereafter every 10 years through compliance with requirements set forth by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. However, each holder of a Master School Service Personnel Certificate shall be eligible for a corresponding position in this State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal background checks.

(e) School service personnel certificates are renewable every 5 years and may be renewed as provided in this Section. Requests for renewals must be submitted, in a format prescribed by the State Board of Education, to the regional office of education responsible for the school where the holder is employed.

Upon completion of at least 80 hours of continuing professional development as provided in this subsection (e), a person who holds a valid school service personnel certificate shall have his or her certificate renewed for a period of 5 years. A person who (i) holds an active license issued by the State as a clinical professional counselor, a professional counselor, a marriage and family therapist, a clinical social worker, a social worker, or a speech-language pathologist; (ii) holds national certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist from the National School Psychology Certification Board; (iii) is nationally certified as a National Certified School Nurse from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses; (iv) is nationally certified as a National Certified Counselor or National Certified School Counselor from the National Board for Certified Counselors; or (v) holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional development requirements established by the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board to renew a school service personnel certificate.

School service personnel certificates may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification Board based upon proof of continuing professional development. The State Board of Education shall (i) establish a procedure for renewing school service personnel certificates, which shall include without limitation annual timelines for the renewal process and the components set forth in this Section; (ii) approve or disapprove the providers of continuing professional development activities; and (iii) provide, on a timely basis to all school service personnel certificate holders, regional superintendents of schools, school districts, and others with an interest in continuing professional development, information about the standards and requirements established pursuant to this subsection (e).

Any school service personnel certificate held by an individual employed and performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control in a certificated school service personnel position or in a charter school in compliance with the Charter Schools Law must be maintained Valid and Active through certificate renewal activities specified in the certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to this Section, provided that a holder of a Valid and Active certificate who is only employed on either a part-time basis or day-to-day basis as a substitute shall pay only the required registration fee to renew his or her certificate and maintain it as Valid and Active. All other school service personnel certificates held may be maintained as Valid and Exempt through the registration process provided for in the certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to Section 21-14 of this Code. A Valid and Exempt certificate must be immediately activated, through procedures developed by the State Board of Education upon the certificate holder becoming employed and performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control in a certificated school service personnel position or in a charter school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law. A holder of a Valid and Exempt certificate may activate his or her certificate through procedures provided for in the certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to this Section.

A school service personnel certificate that has been maintained as Valid and Active for the 5 years of the certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid and Active upon the certificate holder (i) completing the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards process in an area of concentration comparable to the holder's school service personnel certificate of endorsement or (ii) earning 80 continuing professional development units as described in this Section. If, however, the certificate holder has maintained the certificate as Valid and Exempt for a portion of the 5-year period of validity, the number of continuing professional development units needed to renew the certificate as Valid and Active must be proportionately reduced by the amount of time the certificate was Valid and Exempt. If a certificate holder is employed and performs services requiring the holder's school service personnel certificate on a part-time basis for all or a portion of the certificate's 5-year period of validity, the number of continuing professional development units needed to renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be reduced by 50% for the amount of time the certificate holder has been employed and performing such services on a part-time basis. "Part-time" means less than 50% of the school day or school term.

Beginning July 1, 2008, in order to satisfy the requirements for continuing professional development provided for in this Section, each Valid and Active school service personnel certificate holder shall complete professional development activities that address the certificate or those certificates that are required of his or her certificated position, if the certificate holder is employed and performing services in an Illinois public or State operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control, or that certificate or those certificates most closely related to his or her teaching position, if the certificate holder is employed in a charter school. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (e), the certificate holder's activities must address and must reflect the following continuing professional development purposes:

(1) Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge and skills consistent with the Illinois Standards for the service area in which the certificate is endorsed in order to keep the certificate holder current in that area.

(2) Develop the certificate holder's knowledge and skills in areas determined by the State Board of Education to be critical for all school service personnel.

(3) Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the certificate holder's local school improvement plan, if the certificate holder is employed in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control.

(4) Address the needs of serving students with disabilities, including adapting and modifying clinical or professional practices to meet the needs of students with disabilities and serving such students in the least restrictive environment.

(5) Address the needs of serving students who are the children of immigrants, including, if the certificate holder is employed as a counselor in an Illinois public or State-operated secondary school, opportunities for higher education for students who are undocumented immigrants.

The coursework or continuing professional development units ("CPDU") required under this subsection (e) must total 80 CPDUs or the equivalent and must address 4 of the 5 purposes described in items (1) through (5) of this subsection (e). Holders of school service personnel certificates may fulfill this obligation with any combination of semester hours or CPDUs as follows:

(A) Collaboration and partnership activities related to improving the school service personnel certificate holder's knowledge and skills, including (i) participating on collaborative planning and professional improvement teams and committees; (ii) peer review and coaching; (iii) mentoring in a formal mentoring program, including service as a consulting teacher participating in a remediation process formulated under Section 24A-5 of this Code; (iv) participating in site-based management or decision-making teams, relevant committees, boards, or task forces directly related to school improvement plans; (v) coordinating community resources in schools, if the project is a specific goal of the school improvement plan; (vi) facilitating parent education programs for a school, school district, or regional office of education directly related to student achievement or school improvement plans; (vii) participating in business, school, or community partnerships directly related to student achievement or school improvement plans; or (viii) supervising a student teacher (student services personnel) or teacher education candidate in clinical supervision, provided that the supervision may be counted only once during the course of 5 years.

(B) Coursework from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning related to one of the purposes listed in items (1) through (4) of this subsection (e), which shall apply at the rate of 15 continuing professional development units per semester hour of credit earned during the previous 5-year period when the status of the holder's school service personnel certificate was Valid and Active. Proportionate reductions shall apply when the holder's status was Valid and Active for less than the 5-year period preceding the renewal.

(C) Teaching college or university courses in areas relevant to the certificate area being renewed, provided that the teaching may be counted only once during the course of 5 years.

(D) Conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, or symposiums designed to improve the certificate holder's knowledge and skills in the service area and applicable to the purposes listed in items (1) through (5) of this subsection (e). One CPDU shall be awarded for each hour of attendance. No one shall receive credit for conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, or symposiums that are designed for entertainment, promotional, or commercial purposes or that are solely inspirational or motivational. The State Superintendent of Education and regional superintendents of schools are authorized to review the activities and events provided or to be provided under this subdivision (D) and to investigate complaints regarding those activities and events. Either the State Superintendent of Education or a regional superintendent of schools may recommend that the State Board of Education disapprove those activities and events considered to be inconsistent with this subdivision (D).

(E) Completing non-university credit directly related to student achievement, school improvement plans, or State priorities.

(F) Participating in or presenting at workshops, seminars, conferences, institutes, or symposiums.

(G) Training as external reviewers for quality assurance.

(H) Training as reviewers of university teacher preparation programs.

(I) Other educational experiences related to improving the school service personnel's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including (i) participating in action research and inquiry projects; (ii) traveling related to one's assignment and directly related to school service personnel achievement or school improvement plans and approved by the regional superintendent of schools or his or her designee at least 30 days prior to the travel experience, provided that the traveling shall not include time spent commuting to destinations where the learning experience will occur; (iii) participating in study groups related to student achievement or school improvement plans; (iv) serving on a statewide education-related committee, including without limitation the State Teacher Certification Board, State Board of Education strategic agenda teams, or the State Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities; (v) participating in work/learn programs or internships; or (vi) developing a portfolio of student and teacher work.

(J) Professional leadership experiences related to improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including (i) participating in curriculum development or assessment activities at the school, school district, regional office of education, State, or national level; (ii) participating in team or department leadership in a school or school district; (iii) participating on external or internal school or school district review teams; (iv) publishing educational articles, columns, or books relevant to the certificate area being renewed; or (v) participating in non-strike-related professional association or labor organization service or activities related to professional development.

(f) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.

(Source: P.A. 97-233, eff. 8-1-11; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-25)

Sec. 21B-25. Endorsement on licenses. All licenses issued under paragraph (1) of Section 21B-20 of this Code shall be specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each content area, school support area, and administrative area for which the holder of the license is qualified. Recognized institutions approved to offer educator preparation programs shall be trained to add endorsements to licenses issued to applicants who meet all of the requirements for the endorsement or endorsements, including passing any required tests. The State Superintendent of Education shall randomly audit institutions to ensure that all rules and standards are being followed for entitlement or when endorsements are being recommended.

(1) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall establish, by rule, the grade level and subject area endorsements to be added to the Professional Educator License. These rules shall outline the requirements for obtaining each endorsement.

(2) In addition to any and all grade level and content area endorsements developed by rule, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall develop the requirements for the following endorsements:

(A) General administrative endorsement. A general administrative endorsement shall be added to a Professional Educator License, provided that an approved program has been completed. An individual holding a general administrative endorsement may work only as a principal or assistant principal or in a related or similar position, as determined by the State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

Beginning on September 1, 2014, the general administrative endorsement shall no longer be issued. Individuals who hold a valid and registered administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement issued under Section 21-7.1 of this Code or a Professional Educator License with a general administrative endorsement issued prior to September 1, 2014 and who have served for at least one full year during the 5 years prior in a position requiring a general administrative endorsement shall, upon request to the State Board of Education and through July 1, 2015, have their respective general administrative endorsement converted to a principal endorsement on the Professional Educator License. Candidates shall not be admitted to an approved general administrative preparation program after September 1, 2012.

All other individuals holding a valid and registered administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or a general administrative endorsement on a Professional Educator License issued prior to September 1, 2014 shall have the general administrative endorsement converted to a principal endorsement on a Professional Educator License upon request to the State Board of Education and by completing one of the following pathways:

(i) Passage of the State principal assessment developed by the State Board of Education.

(ii) Through July 1, 2019, completion of an Illinois Educators' Academy course designated by the State Superintendent of Education.

(iii) Completion of a principal preparation program established and approved pursuant to Section 21B-60 of this Code and applicable rules.

Individuals who do not choose to convert the general administrative endorsement on the administrative certificate issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or on the Professional Educator License shall continue to be able to serve in any position previously allowed under paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 21-7.1 of this Code.

The general administrative endorsement on the Professional Educator License is available only to individuals who, prior to September 1, 2014, had such an endorsement on the administrative certificate issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or who already have a Professional Educator License and have completed a general administrative program and who do not choose to convert the general administrative endorsement to a principal endorsement pursuant to the options in this Section.

(B) Principal endorsement. A principal endorsement shall be affixed to a Professional Educator License of any holder who qualifies by having all of the following:

(i) Successful completion of a principal preparation program approved in accordance with Section 21B-60 of this Code and any applicable rules.

(ii) Four years of teaching in a public school or nonpublic school recognized by the State Board of Education; however, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall allow, by rules, for fewer than 4 years of experience based on meeting standards set forth in such rules, including without limitation a review of performance evaluations or other evidence of demonstrated qualifications.

(iii) A master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.

(C) Chief school business official endorsement. A chief school business official endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional Educator License of any holder who qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2 years of full-time administrative experience in school business management or 2 years of university-approved practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the State Board of Education for the preparation of school business administrators and by passage of the applicable State tests. The chief school business official endorsement may also be affixed to the Professional Educator License of any holder who qualifies by having a master's degree in business administration, finance, or accounting and who completes an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school business management from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and passes the applicable State tests. This endorsement shall be required for any individual employed as a chief school business official.

(D) Superintendent endorsement. A superintendent endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional Educator License of any holder who has completed a program approved by the State Board of Education for the preparation of superintendents of schools, has had at least 2 years of experience employed as a full-time principal, director of special education, or chief school business official in the public schools or in a State-recognized nonpublic school in which the chief administrator is required to have the licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in this State and where a majority of the teachers are required to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in this State, and has passed the required State tests; or of any holder who has completed a program from out-of-state that has a program with recognition standards comparable to those approved by the State Superintendent of Education and holds the general administrative, principal, or chief school business official endorsement and who has had 2 years of experience as a principal, director of special education, or chief school business official while holding a valid educator license or certificate comparable in validity and educational and experience requirements and has passed the appropriate State tests, as provided in Section 21B-30 of this Code. The superintendent endorsement shall allow individuals to serve only as a superintendent or assistant superintendent.

(E) Teacher leader endorsement. It shall be the policy of this State to improve the quality of instructional leaders by providing a career pathway for teachers interested in serving in leadership roles, but not as principals. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may issue a teacher leader endorsement under this subdivision (E). Persons who meet and successfully complete the requirements of the endorsement shall be issued a teacher leader endorsement on the Professional Educator License for serving in schools in this State. Teacher leaders may qualify to serve in such positions as department chairs, coaches, mentors, curriculum and instruction leaders, or other leadership positions as defined by the district. The endorsement shall be available to those teachers who (i) hold a Professional Educator License, (ii) hold a master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution, (iii) have completed a program of study that has been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and (iv) have taken coursework in all of the following areas:

(I) Leadership.

(II) Designing professional development to meet teaching and learning needs.

(III) Building school culture that focuses on student learning.

(IV) Using assessments to improve student learning and foster school improvement.

(V) Building collaboration with teachers and stakeholders.

A teacher who meets the requirements set forth in this Section and holds a teacher leader endorsement may evaluate teachers pursuant to Section 24A-5 of this Code, provided that the individual has completed the evaluation component required by Section 24A-3 of this Code and a teacher leader is allowed to evaluate personnel under the respective school district's collective bargaining agreement.

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish and implement the teacher leader endorsement program and to specify the positions for which this endorsement shall be required.

(F) Special education endorsement. A special education endorsement in one or more areas shall be affixed to a Professional Educator License for any individual that meets those requirements established by the State Board of Education in rules. Special education endorsement areas shall include without limitation the following:

(i) Learning Behavior Specialist I;

(ii) Learning Behavior Specialist II;

(iii) Speech Language Pathologist;

(iv) Blind or Visually Impaired;

(v) Deaf-Hard of Hearing; and

(vi) Early Childhood Special Education.

Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may add additional areas of special education by rule.

(G) School support personnel endorsement. School support personnel endorsement areas shall include, but are not limited to, school counselor, marriage and family therapist, school psychologist, school speech and language pathologist, school nurse, and school social worker. This endorsement is for individuals who are not teachers or administrators, but still require licensure to work in an instructional support position in a public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control or a charter school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law. The school support personnel endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional Educator License and shall meet all of the requirements established in any rules adopted to implement this subdivision (G). The holder of such an endorsement is entitled to all of the rights and privileges granted holders of any other Professional Educator License, including teacher benefits, compensation, and working conditions.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.