SB1832 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 16889 CMG 22299 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1832

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 805/3-80 new

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate-level early childhood education program and confer a bachelor of applied science degree in early childhood education and a Professional Educator License with endorsements in early childhood education and early childhood special education under certain conditions. Provides for an application for approval from the Illinois Community College Board. Sets forth college requirements and prohibitions. Provides that a candidate for educator licensure must successfully complete applicable testing requirements prior to the issuance of an educator license and any endorsements. Provides for a statewide evaluation of such programs.

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 Public Community College Act is amended by adding Section 3-80 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/3-80 new)

Sec. 3-80. Early childhood education bachelor of applied science degree.

(a) A board of trustees may establish and offer a baccalaureate-level early childhood education program and confer a bachelor of applied science degree in early childhood education and a Professional Educator License with endorsements in early childhood education and early childhood special education if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The board meets all of the requirements as set forth in subsection (b) of this Section and has been approved by the State Board to offer a bachelor of applied science degree in early childhood education.

(2) After the program has been approved by the State Board, the Board of Higher Education shall consider the program for approval in a manner consistent with new bachelor's degree programs at public and private universities in this State.

(3) The program has been approved by the State Board of Education, pursuant to Section 21B-105 of the School Code and administrative rules.

(4) The board has identified and documented, in writing, unmet workforce needs in the subject area of the baccalaureate degree to be offered. The board shall publish on its Internet website and make publicly available the documentation and shall present the documentation to the State Board.

(5) The board meets all applicable accreditation requirements of the Higher Learning Commission.

(6) The community college district shall offer and maintain an associate degree in early childhood education or a related field.

(b) The board shall demonstrate that the community college district has the expertise, resources, and student interest to establish and offer a baccalaureate-level early childhood education program. An application for approval from the State Board shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) The board shall describe the labor market need as specified in paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this Section.

(2) The board shall describe the program's purpose, its target population, related occupations, and career paths.

(3) The board shall demonstrate the community college has developed quality curricula that aligns with federal, State, and local requirements and will prepare graduates with the appropriate level of skill to meet their educational goals.

(4) The board shall verify the community college has the fiscal resources in place or has budgeted for financial support for the program in a cost-effective manner.

(5) The board shall identify and document the faculty available for teaching the program, including the number of full-time faculty anticipated to teach in the program, and a description of their qualifications (including highest degree earned), teaching experience, professional experience, and licenses held. The board must also indicate how faculty are to be evaluated.

(c) A community college district is prohibited from using semester credit hours generated in a baccalaureate degree program for grants received pursuant to Section 2-16.02 of this Act.

(d) A community college offering educator licensure must establish standards and procedures for the denial of recommendation for licensure, in compliance with Section 21B-95 of the School Code.

(e) A candidate for educator licensure must successfully complete the applicable testing requirements under Section 21B-30 of the School Code and any corresponding administrative rules prior to the issuance of an educator license and any endorsements.

(f) The State Board shall conduct a statewide evaluation of all programs established under this Section. The results of the evaluation shall be reported, in writing, on or before July 1, 2028 to all of the following:

(1) The Board of Higher Education.

(2) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(3) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(4) The President of the Senate.

(5) The Minority Leader of the Senate.

(6) The Governor's Office of Management and Budget.

The evaluation shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(A) The number of new programs established under this Section, including information identifying applicants, admissions, enrollments, demographic characteristics of students, and degree recipients.

(B) The extent to which the programs established under this Section fulfill identified workforce needs.

(C) Which community college districts applied for a program but were denied and why were they denied.

(D) The cost of each program and the funding sources that were used to finance the programs.

(E) Time-to-degree rates and completion rates for each new program established under this Section.

(F) The extent to which the programs established under this Section are in compliance with the requirements of this Section.

Boards of trustees shall submit the information necessary to conduct the evaluation required under this subsection (f), as determined by the evaluators, to the State Board.