Public Act 098-1147
 
SB2711 EnrolledLRB098 14599 OMW 49390 b


  
    AN ACT concerning finance.
  
 
    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 
21B-25 and 21B-45 as follows:
 
    (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) At least 4 total  Four years of teaching 
            or, until June 30, 2019, working in the capacity of 
            school support personnel in an Illinois a public 
            school or nonpublic school recognized by the State 
            Board of Education or in an out-of-state public 
            school or out-of-state nonpublic school meeting 
            out-of-state recognition standards comparable to 
            those approved by the State Superintendent 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 full-time in a 
        general administrative position or 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.

            Beginning on January  1, 2014 and ending on April 
        30, 2014, a person holding a Professional Educator 
        License with a school speech and language pathologist 
        (teaching) endorsement may exchange his or her school 
        speech and language pathologist (teaching) endorsement 
        for a school speech and language pathologist 
        (non-teaching) endorsement through application to the 
        State Board of Education. There shall be no cost for 
        this exchange. 
(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 98-413, eff. 8-16-13; 
98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 98-872, eff. 8-11-14; 98-917, eff. 
8-15-14; revised 9-2-14.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
    Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal. 
    (a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License 
are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as 
specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this 
Code.
    Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall 
meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section, unless 
otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds a 
license endorsed in more than one area that has different 
renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal 
requirements for the position for which he or she spends the 
majority of his or her time working.
    (b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as 
provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that 
year. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon (i) 
payment by the applicant of a $500 penalty to the State Board 
of Education or, for individuals holding an Educator License 
with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement 
only, payment by the applicant of a $150 penalty to the State 
Board of Education or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by 
completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally 
accredited institution of higher education in the content area 
that most aligns with one or more of the educator's endorsement 
areas. Any and all back fees, including without limitation 
registration fees owed from the time of expiration of the 
certificate until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid and 
kept in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this 
Code concerning an institute fund and the provisions in Article 
21B of this Code concerning fees and requirements for 
registration. Licenses not registered in accordance with 
Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6 
months from the expiration of the last year of registration.  An 
unregistered license is invalid after September 1 for 
employment and performance of services in an Illinois public or 
State-operated school or cooperative and in a charter school.  
Any license or endorsement may be voluntarily surrendered by 
the license holder.  A voluntarily surrendered license, except a 
substitute teaching license issued under Section 21B-20 of this 
Code, shall be treated as a revoked license. 

    (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to 
satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in 
this Section, each professional educator licensee with an 
administrative endorsement who is working in a position 
requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois 
Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of 
this Code, per fiscal year.
    (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the 
requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this 
Section, each professional educator licensee may create a 
professional development plan each year. The plan shall address 
one or more of the endorsements that are required of his or her 
educator position if the licensee is employed and performing 
services in an Illinois public or State-operated school or 
cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a charter school, 
the plan shall address that endorsement or those endorsements 
most closely related to his or her educator position. Licensees 
employed and performing services in any other Illinois schools 
may participate in the renewal requirements by adhering to the 
same process.
    Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the 
licensee's professional development activities shall align 
with one or more of the following criteria:
        (1) activities are of a type that engage participants 
    over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis, 
    discovery, and application as they relate to student 
    learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
        (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's 
    performance;
        (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student 
    growth or district improvement;
        (4) activities align to State-approved standards;
and
        (5) higher education coursework.
    (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator 
licensee shall engage in professional development activities. 
Within 60 days after the conclusion of a professional 
development activity, the licensee shall enter electronically 
into the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name, 
date, and location of the activity, the number of professional 
development hours, and the provider's name. The following 
provisions shall apply concerning professional development 
activities:
        (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours 
    of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in 
    order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided in 
    this Section.
        (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle, 
    any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not 
    working in a position requiring such endorsement shall 
    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as 
    described in Article 2 of this Code, in each 5-year renewal 
    cycle in which the administrative endorsement was held for 
    at least one year. The Illinois Administrators' Academy 
    course may count toward the total of 120 hours per 5-year 
    cycle.
        (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement 
    who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or 
    an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in 
    an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall 
    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as 
    described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in 
    addition to 100 hours of professional development per 
    5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code. 
        (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for 
    Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher 
    designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of 
    professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order 
    to renew the license.
        (5) Licensees working in a position that does not 
    require educator licensure or working in a position for 
    less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be 
    exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration 
    fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the 
    license.
        (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits 
    from a State retirement system shall notify the State Board 
    of Education using ELIS, and the license shall be 
    maintained in retired status. An individual with a license 
    in retired status shall not be required to complete 
    professional development activities or pay registration 
    fees until returning to a position that requires educator 
    licensure. Upon returning to work in a position that 
    requires the Professional Educator License, the licensee 
    shall immediately pay a registration fee and complete 
    renewal requirements for that year. A license in retired 
    status cannot lapse.
        (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional 
    development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the 
    licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the 
    minimum professional development hours required in this 
    Section prior to September 1 of that year. For any fiscal 
    year or renewal cycle in which an Illinois Administrators' 
    Academy course was required but not completed, the licensee 
    shall complete any missed Illinois Administrators' Academy 
    courses prior to September 1 of that year. The licensee may 
    complete all deficient hours and Illinois  Administrators' 
    Academy courses while continuing to work in a position that 
    requires that license until September 1 of that year.
        (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the professional 
    development renewal requirements set forth in this Section 
    at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is ineligible to 
    register his or her license and may submit an appeal to the 
    State Superintendent of Education for reinstatement of the 
    license. 
        (9) If professional development opportunities were 
    unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were 
    unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond 
    August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be 
    submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the 
    State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an 
    extension is approved, the license shall remain valid 
    during the extension period. 
        (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to the 
    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General 
    Assembly shall commence the annual renewal process with the 
    first scheduled registration due after the effective date 
    of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly. 
    (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to 
the required questions under penalty of perjury.
    (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved 
to provide professional development activities for the renewal 
of Professional Educator Licenses:
        (1) The State Board of Education.
        (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate 
    service centers.
        (3) Illinois professional associations representing 
    the following groups that are approved by the State 
    Superintendent of Education:
            (A) school administrators;
            (B) principals;
            (C) school business officials;
            (D) teachers, including special education 
        teachers;
            (E) school boards;
            (F) school districts;
            (G) parents; and 
            (H) school service personnel. 
        (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher 
    education that offer Illinois-approved educator 
    preparation programs.
        (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools 
    authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint 
    educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this 
    Code for the purposes of providing career and technical 
    education or special education services.
        (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of the 
    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General 
    Assembly, has had or has a grant from or a contract with 
    the State Board of Education to provide professional 
    development services in the area of English Language 
    Learning to Illinois school districts, teachers, or 
    administrators. 
    (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section 
shall make available professional development opportunities 
that satisfy at least one of the following: 
        (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and 
    district leaders who guide continuous professional 
    development;
        (2) improve the learning of students;
        (3) organize adults into learning communities whose 
    goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
        (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
        (5) provide educators with research-based 
    instructional strategies to assist students in meeting 
    rigorous academic standards;
        (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various 
    types of classroom assessments;
        (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the 
    intended goals;
        (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to 
    collaborate; or
        (9) prepare educators to apply research to 
    decision-making.
    (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section 
shall do the following:
        (1) align professional development activities to the 
    State-approved national standards for professional 
    learning;
        (2) meet the professional development criteria for 
    Illinois licensure renewal;
        (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains 
    how it aligns to State standards and identify the 
    assessment for determining the expected impact on student 
    learning or school improvement;
        (4) maintain original documentation for completion of 
    activities; and
        (5) provide license holders with evidence of 
    completion of activities.
    (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual 
audits of approved providers, except for school districts, 
which shall be audited by regional offices of education and 
intermediate service centers. The State Board of Education 
shall complete random audits of licensees.
        (1) Approved providers shall annually submit to the 
    State Board of Education a list of subcontractors used for 
    delivery of professional development activities for which 
    renewal credit was issued and other information as defined 
    by rule.
        (2) Approved providers shall annually submit data to 
    the State Board of Education demonstrating how the 
    professional development activities impacted one or more 
    of the following:
            (A) educator and student growth in regards to 
        content knowledge or skills, or both;
            (B) educator and student social and emotional 
        growth; or
            (C) alignment to district or school improvement 
        plans.
        (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review 
    the annual data collected by the State Board of Education, 
    regional offices of education, and intermediate service 
    centers in audits to determine if the approved provider has 
    met the criteria and should continue to be an approved 
    provider or if further action should be taken as provided 
    in rules.
    (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal 
cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each 
5-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional 
development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed and 
entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the 
registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or 
debit card. 
    (l) Beginning July 1, 2014, any professional educator 
licensee endorsed for school support personnel who is employed 
and performing services in Illinois public schools and who 
holds an active and current professional license issued by the 
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation related to 
the endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License 
shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional 
development requirements provided for in this Section. Such 
individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to 
renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who does 
not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial and 
Professional Regulation shall complete professional 
development requirements for the renewal of a Professional 
Educator License provided for in this Section.
    (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure 
Board
must be made within 30 days after receipt of notice from 
the State Superintendent of Education that a license will not 
be renewed based upon failure to complete the requirements of 
this Section. A licensee may appeal that decision to the State 
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board  in a manner prescribed 
by rule.
        (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State 
    Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be 
    sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the 
    State Board of Education.
        (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board 
    shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license 
    within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to 
    determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of 
    this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure 
    Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its 
    determination based upon the record of review, which shall 
    consist of the following:
            (A) the regional superintendent of education's 
        rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license, 
        if applicable;
            (B) any evidence submitted to the State 
        Superintendent along with the individual's electronic 
        statement of assurance for renewal; and
            (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for 
        nonrenewal of the license.
        (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board 
    shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding license 
    renewal by certified mail, return receipt requested, no 
    later than 30 days after reaching a decision. Upon receipt 
    of notification of renewal, the licensee, using ELIS, shall 
    pay the applicable registration fee for the next cycle 
    using a form of credit or debit card.
    (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be 
necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 98-610, eff. 12-27-13.)
 

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