102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3442

 

Introduced 2/22/2021, by Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, Jr.

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
30 ILCS 105/5.935 new
110 ILCS 947/65.110 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, in cooperation with the State Board of Education, to establish and administer a teacher pipeline program for the purpose of encouraging and recruiting students enrolled in public high schools to pursue teaching careers in their school district, with a special focus on the encouragement and recruitment of minority students and students of color. Provides that participants in the program, upon graduation from high school, shall receive grant assistance in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees for up to 4 semesters at a public community college and up to 4 semesters at a public university if certain conditions are met. Requires the State Board of Education to designate teacher recruiters to work directly with public high school students. Sets forth provisions concerning applications, the repayment of grant assistance, and rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Teacher Pipeline Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3442LRB102 02750 CMG 12753 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
5Section 5.935 as follows:
 
6    (30 ILCS 105/5.935 new)
7    Sec. 5.935. The Teacher Pipeline Fund.
 
8    Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
9amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:
 
10    (110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)
11    Sec. 65.110. Teacher pipeline program.
12    (a) In this Section:
13    "Educator preparation program" means an Illinois-approved
14educator preparation program that is operated by a recognized
15institution, as defined in Section 21B-105 of the School Code.
16    "Continuous enrollment" means enrollment in the fall and
17spring semesters of a single academic year; enrollment in
18summer or intersession terms is not required.
19    (b) The Commission, in cooperation with the State Board of
20Education, shall establish and administer a teacher pipeline
21program for the purpose of encouraging and recruiting students

 

 

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1enrolled in public high schools in this State to pursue
2teaching careers in their school district, with a special
3focus on the encouragement and recruitment of minority
4students and students of color. Participants in the program,
5upon graduation from a public high school in this State, shall
6receive grant assistance in an amount sufficient to pay the
7tuition and fees for up to 4 semesters at a public community
8college in this State and up to 4 semesters at a public
9university in this State in accordance with subsection (c).
10However, the total amount of grant assistance awarded by the
11Commission under this Section to an individual in any given
12fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded
13to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of
14attendance at the institution at which the student is
15enrolled.
16    (c) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider
17applications for participation in the program. A program
18participant must:
19        (1) attend a public community college in this State
20    full time for 2 academic years of continuous enrollment,
21    maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by
22    the community college, and receive an associate degree
23    upon completion of the 2 academic years of continuous
24    enrollment at the community college;
25        (2) attend a public university in this State full time
26    immediately following graduation from the community

 

 

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1    college, be admitted to the university's educator
2    preparation program, maintain satisfactory academic
3    progress as determined by the university, and receive a
4    bachelor's degree upon completion of the 2 academic years
5    of continuous enrollment at the university; and
6        (3) obtain a Professional Educator License under
7    Article 21B of the School Code and accept a teaching
8    position in the school district from which he or she
9    graduated high school.
10    (d) Under the teacher pipeline program, the State Board of
11Education shall designate teacher recruiters to work directly
12with public high school students to:
13        (1) inform students about the benefits and rewards of
14    teaching and to encourage students to enter the teaching
15    profession;
16        (2) be available to assist students with the process
17    of applying to public institutions of higher learning;
18        (3) advise students on college course selection and
19    financial aid; and
20        (4) provide other related mentoring services to
21    students.
22    (e) All applications for participation in the teacher
23pipeline program shall be made to the Commission in a form as
24set forth by the Commission. The form of application and the
25information required to be set forth in the application shall
26be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall

 

 

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1require eligible applicants to submit with their applications
2such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary.
3    (f) A recipient of grant assistance under the teacher
4pipeline program who fails to obtain a Professional Educator
5License under Article 21B of the School Code or a teaching
6position in the school district from which he or she graduated
7high school shall repay the amount of all grant assistance
8received under the program, unless the recipient can
9demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Commission that the
10recipient has made a good faith effort to obtain a
11Professional Educator License or teaching position but has
12been unable to do so.
13    (g) The Teacher Pipeline Fund is created as a special fund
14in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of money
15appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, bequests,
16or donations made to the Fund. All money in the Teacher
17Pipeline Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the
18Commission for the purposes of this Section.
19    (h) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to
20implement and administer the teacher pipeline program,
21including rules relating to the granting of extensions and
22waivers to program participants and the Commission's
23collection activities for repayment of grant assistance under
24subsection (f).
 
25    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
26becoming law.