HB2495 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 24847 AMQ 51180 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2495

Introduced 2/15/2023, by Rep. Hoan Huynh

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 10/7.11 new
225 ILCS 10/7.12 new
225 ILCS 10/7.13 new

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides qualifications for child care directors, early childhood teachers, and school-age workers at day care centers. Provides criteria that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall use to review and approve early childhood teacher credentialing programs.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by adding Sections 7.11, 7.12, 7.13, and 7.14 as follows:

(225 ILCS 10/7.11 new)

Sec. 7.11. Standards for licensing of child care director at day care center.

(a) The child care director of a facility serving the same number of groups of preschool and school-age children or more groups of preschool children than groups of school-age children shall have achieved:

(1) (A) 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of credit from an accredited college or university with 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours in courses related directly to child care or child development from birth to age 12; (B) a bachelor's degree with a major focusing on a human or social science or world history; or (C) a secondary school education degree and subdiscipline with a focus on human or social science, including, but not limited to, social studies, family studies, human ecology, world history, sociology of education, or Bachelor of Arts degree-socio-psycho- or ethno-linguistics/reading.

(2) (A) 2 years, or 3,120 clock hours, of child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, elementary school, or licensed day care center; (B) 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, of college credits with 10 semester hours, or 15 quarter hours, in courses related directly to child care or child development; and (C) proof of enrollment in an accredited college or university until 2 years of college credit has been achieved. A total of 18 semester hours, or 27 quarter hours, in courses related directly to child care or child development are required to be obtained within the total 2 years of college credits; or

(3) (A) completion of a credentialing program approved in accordance with Section 7.13; (B) completion of 12 semester hours, or 18 quarter hours, in courses related to child care or child development from birth to age 12 at an accredited college or university; and (C) 2 years, or 3,120 clock hours, in child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center.

(b) The child care director of a facility serving more groups of school-age children than groups of preschool children shall have achieved:

(1) 60 semester hours, or 90 quarter hours, of credit from an accredited college or university with 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours in courses related to child care or child development, elementary school education, physical education, recreation, camping, or other related fields, including courses related to school-age children; or

(2) (A) 2 years, or 3,120 clock hours, of child development experience in a recreational program, kindergarten, elementary school, licensed day care center serving school-age children, or license-exempt school-age child care program operated by a public or private school; (B) 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, of college credits with 10 semester hours, or 15 quarter hours, in courses related directly to child care or child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping, or other related fields; and (C) proof of enrollment in an accredited college or university until 2 years of college credit have been achieved. A total of 18 semester hours, or 27 quarter hours, in courses related directly to child care or child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping, or other related fields, including courses related to school-age children, is required to be obtained within the total 2 years of college credits; or

(3) (A) a bachelor's degree in a major discipline with a focus on a deeper and broader understanding of people such as a human or social science or world history; or (B) a bachelor's degree in secondary education and a subdiscipline with a focus on a deeper and broader understanding of people such as a human or social science, social studies, family studies, human ecology, world history, sociology of education, or Bachelor of Arts degree-socio-psycho- or ethno-linguistics/reading, or related people sciences.

(c) When a program or site serves only school-age children, qualifications for the school-age director responsible for multiple sites and the site coordinators shall meet both of the following requirements for education and experience:

(1) 60 semester hours, or 90 quarter hours, of credit from an accredited college or university, with 18 semester hours, or 27 quarter hours, in courses related to school-age childcare, child development, elementary education child care or child development, adolescent or elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping, or other related fields; or any social or human science bachelor's degree; and

(2) (A) at least 1,560 clock hours of child development experience in a recreational program, a licensed day care center, or a licensed school serving school-age children; or (B) 160 hours of child development experience in a recreational program, a licensed day care center, or a licensed school serving school-age children, plus 12 semester hours, or 18 quarter hours, acquired in any department of any accredited college in administration, public administration, social work administration, business administration, organizational science, accounting, or other courses relevant to administering a program and its regulations.

(d) Completion of a training program accredited by the American Montessori Society or Association Montessori Internationale may be substituted for the courses directly related to child care or child development required by this Section. A person holding a Montessori preprimary credential may serve as director to children through age 6. A person holding a Montessori primary or elementary credential may serve as director to children 6 years of age or older.

(225 ILCS 10/7.12 new)

Sec. 7.12. Standards for licensing of early childhood teachers and school-age workers at day care centers.

(a) Early childhood teachers and school-age workers shall be at least 19 years of age.

(b) Early childhood teachers and school-age workers shall have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.

(c) An early childhood teacher responsible for a group of children that includes infants, toddler, or preschool age children shall have achieved:

(1) 60 semester hours, or 90 quarter hours, of credits from an accredited college or university with 6 semester hours, or 9 quarter hours, in courses related directly to child care and child development from birth to age 6;

(2) one year, or 1,560 clock hours, of child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, of credits from an accredited college or university with 6 semester hours, or 9 quarter hours, in courses related directly to child care and child development from birth to age 6; or

(3) completion of credentialing programs approved by the Department in accordance with Section 7.13.

(d) A school-age worker shall be at least 19 years of age and at least 5 years older than the oldest child with whom the school-age worker works.

(e) A newly employed school-age worker responsible for only one group of school-age children shall have achieved:

(1) (A) 30 semester hours, or 45 quarter hours, of credit from an accredited college or university with 6 semester hours, or 9 quarter hours, related to: school-age child care, education, or child development, each defined as inclusive of early childhood through adolescence, any social or human science courses from any university department, subject matter, or teaching methods courses, physical education, recreation, camping, or other related fields; (B) a bachelor's degree with a major focusing on a human or social science or world history; or (C) a secondary school education degree and subdiscipline with a focus on human or social science, including, but not limited to, social studies, family studies, human ecology, world history, sociology of education, or Bachelor of Arts degree-socio-psycho- or ethno-linguistics/reading;

(2) 1,560 clock hours of experience in a recreational program, licensed day care center serving school-age children, or a license-exempt school-age child care program operated by a public or private school and 6 semester hours, or 9 quarter hours, of credit from an accredited college or university related to school-age child care, child development, adolescent or elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping, or other related fields; or

(3) a high school diploma or equivalency certificate, plus 3,120 clock hours of experience in a recreational program, kindergarten, or licensed day care center serving school-age children or a license-exempt school-age child care program operated by a public or private school.

(f) Completion of a training program accredited by the American Montessori Society or Association Montessori Internationale may be substituted for the courses directly related to child care or child development required by this Section. A person holding a Montessori preprimary credential may supervise children through age 6. A person holding a Montessori primary or elementary credential may supervise children 6 years of age or older.

(g) A person who was deemed qualified as a child care worker or school-age worker prior to January 1, 1985 continues to be deemed qualified as an early childhood teacher or school-age worker.

(h) Early childhood teachers and school-age workers are responsible for the planning and supervision of a group of children. Early childhood workers and school-age workers are also responsible for supervising persons assigned to assist their group who are not similarly qualified.

(225 ILCS 10/7.13 new)

Sec. 7.13. Early childhood teacher credentialing program.

(a) The Department shall use the following criteria to review and approve early childhood teacher credentialing programs:

(1) candidates must be at least 18 years of age;

(2) candidates must have at least a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; and

(3) the credentialing program must require a minimum of 640 clock hours of documented experience within the past 5 years or 1200 clock hours working with children ages zero to 12 in a public or private school operated nursery school, kindergarten, licensed day care center, or in a public or a private elementary school for a minimum of one school year.

(b) The credentialing process must include:

(1) the child care director's recommendation in support of the candidate;

(2) a review of the applicant's interaction with children under direct supervision by an impartial person;

(3) a minimum of 120 clock hours of broad-based training that has been completed successfully and has been documented. One semester hour of college credits in early childhood education is equivalent to 15 clock hours of formal in-service training. This training may be completed through:

(A) early childhood education courses at an accredited college or university; or

(B) documented seminars and workshops pertaining to the growth and education of children zero to 12 years of age at educational conferences of recognized national or State associations, agencies, or educational institutions; and

(4) a professional resource file or portfolio that demonstrates the understanding of core professional content areas, including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) principles of child growth and development;

(B) planning a safe, healthy learning environment;

(C) advancing children's physical and intellectual development;

(D) supporting children's social and emotional development;

(E) establishing productive relationships among family, school, and community;

(F) managing an effective program operation;

(G) maintaining a commitment to professionalism;

(H) observing and recording children's behavior; and

(I) understanding the development of children's language.