093_HB0210

                                     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b

 1        AN ACT concerning education.

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

 4        Section 5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by  changing
 5    Section 21-14 as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/21-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-14)
 7        Sec. 21-14. Registration and renewal of certificates.
 8        (a)  A  limited  four-year  certificate  or a certificate
 9    issued  after  July  1,  1955,  shall  be  renewable  at  its
10    expiration  or  within  60  days  thereafter  by  the  county
11    superintendent of schools having supervision and control over
12    the school where  the  teacher  is  teaching  upon  certified
13    evidence  of meeting the requirements for renewal as required
14    by this Act and prescribed by the State Board of Education in
15    consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.   An
16    elementary  supervisory  certificate  shall not be renewed at
17    the  end  of  the  first  four-year  period  covered  by  the
18    certificate unless the holder  thereof  has  filed  certified
19    evidence  with  the State Teacher Certification Board that he
20    has a master's degree or that he has earned 8 semester  hours
21    of  credit  in  the  field  of educational administration and
22    supervision in a recognized institution of  higher  learning.
23    The  holder shall continue to earn 8 semester hours of credit
24    each four-year period until such time  as  he  has  earned  a
25    master's degree.
26        All  certificates  not  renewed  or  registered as herein
27    provided shall lapse after a  period  of  5  years  from  the
28    expiration   of   the   last   year  of  registration.   Such
29    certificates may be reinstated for a  one  year  period  upon
30    payment   of   all   accumulated   registration  fees.   Such
31    reinstated certificates shall only be renewed: (1) by earning
 
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 1    5 semester hours of credit in  a  recognized  institution  of
 2    higher  learning in the field of professional education or in
 3    courses related to the holder's contractual teaching  duties;
 4    or  (2)  by  presenting  evidence  of holding a valid regular
 5    certificate of some  other  type.   Any  certificate  may  be
 6    voluntarily   surrendered   by  the  certificate  holder.   A
 7    voluntarily surrendered certificate shall  be  treated  as  a
 8    revoked certificate.
 9        (b)  When   those  teaching  certificates  issued  before
10    February 15, 2000  are  renewed  for  the  first  time  after
11    February  15,  2000,  all such teaching certificates shall be
12    exchanged for Standard Teaching Certificates as  provided  in
13    subsection  (c)  of  Section  21-2.  All Initial and Standard
14    Teaching Certificates, including those issued to persons  who
15    previously  held teaching certificates issued before February
16    15, 2000, shall be renewable under the conditions  set  forth
17    in this subsection (b).
18        Initial  Teaching  Certificates  are nonrenewable and are
19    valid for 4 years of teaching. Standard Teaching Certificates
20    are renewable every 5 years as provided in subsection (c)  of
21    Section  21-2  and  subsection  (c)  of  this  Section.   For
22    purposes of this Section, "teaching" is defined as employment
23    and  performance  of  services  in  an  Illinois  public   or
24    State-operated   elementary   school,  secondary  school,  or
25    cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
26    of control, in a certificated teaching position, or a charter
27    school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law.
28        (c)  In compliance with subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
29    this  Code,  which  provides   that   a   Standard   Teaching
30    Certificate may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification
31    Board   based   upon   proof   of   continuing   professional
32    development,  the  State  Board  of  Education  and the State
33    Teacher Certification Board shall jointly:
34             (1)  establish a  procedure  for  renewing  Standard
 
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 1        Teaching  Certificates,  which  shall  include but not be
 2        limited to annual timelines for the renewal  process  and
 3        the  components  set forth in subsections (d) through (k)
 4        of this Section;
 5             (2)  establish   the   standards   for   certificate
 6        renewal;
 7             (3)  approve    the    providers    of    continuing
 8        professional development activities;
 9             (4)  determine the maximum credit for each  category
10        of  continuing professional development activities, based
11        upon   recommendations   submitted   by   a    continuing
12        professional development activity task force, which shall
13        consist  of  6  staff  members  from  the  State Board of
14        Education,  appointed  by  the  State  Superintendent  of
15        Education, and 6 teacher representatives, 3 of  whom  are
16        selected  by  the Illinois Education Association and 3 of
17        whom are selected by the Illinois Federation of Teachers;
18             (5)  designate the type and amount of  documentation
19        required to show that continuing professional development
20        activities have been completed; and
21             (6)  provide,  on  a  timely  basis  to all Illinois
22        teachers, certificate holders,  regional  superintendents
23        of schools, school districts, and others with an interest
24        in continuing professional development, information about
25        the  standards  and  requirements established pursuant to
26        this subsection (c).
27        (d)  Any  Standard  Teaching  Certificate  held   by   an
28    individual  employed  and  performing services in an Illinois
29    public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
30    or cooperative or joint agreement with a  governing  body  or
31    board  of  control  in  a certificated teaching position or a
32    charter school in compliance with  the  Charter  Schools  Law
33    must  be  maintained  Valid  and  Active  through certificate
34    renewal  activities  specified  in  the  certificate  renewal
 
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 1    procedure established pursuant  to  subsection  (c)  of  this
 2    Section,  provided  that  a  holder  of  a  Valid  and Active
 3    certificate who is only employed on either a part-time  basis
 4    or  day-to-day  basis  as a substitute teacher shall pay only
 5    the required registration fee to renew his or her certificate
 6    and maintain it as Valid  and  Active.   All  other  Standard
 7    Teaching  Certificates  held  may  be maintained as Valid and
 8    Exempt through the registration process provided for  in  the
 9    certificate   renewal   procedure   established  pursuant  to
10    subsection  (c)  of  this  Section.   A  Valid   and   Exempt
11    certificate must be immediately activated, through procedures
12    developed  jointly  by  the  State Board of Education and the
13    State  Teacher  Certification  Board,  upon  the  certificate
14    holder  becoming  employed  and  performing  services  in  an
15    Illinois  public   or   State-operated   elementary   school,
16    secondary  school,  or  cooperative or joint agreement with a
17    governing body or board of control in a certificated teaching
18    position or a charter school operating in compliance with the
19    Charter  Schools  Law.   A  holder  of  a  Valid  and  Exempt
20    certificate may  activate  his  or  her  certificate  through
21    procedures  provided for in the certificate renewal procedure
22    established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.
23        (e)(1)  A Standard Teaching  Certificate  that  has  been
24    maintained  as  Valid  and  Active  for  the  5  years of the
25    certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid  and  Active
26    upon  the  certificate  holder:  (i)  completing  an advanced
27    degree from an approved institution in  an  education-related
28    field;   (ii)   completing  at  least  8  semester  hours  of
29    coursework as described in subdivision (B) of  paragraph  (3)
30    of  this subsection (e); (iii) earning at least 24 continuing
31    education units as described in subdivision (C) of  paragraph
32    (3)  of  this  subsection  (e);  (iv) completing the National
33    Board  for  Professional  Teaching   Standards   process   as
34    described  in  subdivision  (D)  of  paragraph  (3)  of  this
 
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 1    subsection  (e);  or  (v) earning 120 continuing professional
 2    development units ("CPDU") as described in subdivision (E) of
 3    paragraph (3) of this subsection (e).  The maximum continuing
 4    professional   development   units   for   each    continuing
 5    professional  development activity identified in subdivisions
 6    (F) through (J) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e) shall
 7    be jointly determined by the State Board of Education and the
 8    State  Teacher  Certification   Board.   If,   however,   the
 9    certificate  holder  has  maintained the certificate as Valid
10    and Exempt for a portion of the 5-year  period  of  validity,
11    the  number  of  continuing  professional  development  units
12    needed  to renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be
13    proportionately reduced by the amount of time the certificate
14    was Valid and Exempt. Furthermore, if a certificate holder is
15    employed and performs teaching services on a part-time  basis
16    for  all  or  a portion of the certificate's 5-year period of
17    validity, the number of continuing  professional  development
18    units  needed  to  renew  the certificate as Valid and Active
19    shall  be  reduced  by  50%  for  the  amount  of  time   the
20    certificate  holder  has been employed and performed teaching
21    services on a part-time basis.  Part-time shall be defined as
22    less than 50% of the school day or school term.
23        Notwithstanding any other requirements to  the  contrary,
24    if  a  Standard  Teaching  Certificate has been maintained as
25    Valid and  Active  for  the  5  years  of  the  certificate's
26    validity and the certificate holder has earned 120 continuing
27    professional  development  units  before  July  1,  2002, the
28    certificate shall be renewed as Valid and  Active  regardless
29    of  the  fact  that  the  holder  has not completed any other
30    additional credits.
31        (2)  Each Valid and Active Standard Teaching  Certificate
32    holder   shall   develop   a  certificate  renewal  plan  for
33    satisfying   the    continuing    professional    development
34    requirement provided for in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
 
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 1    this  Code.  Certificate  holders  with multiple certificates
 2    shall develop a certificate renewal plan that addresses  only
 3    that  certificate  or those certificates that are required of
 4    his or her certificated teaching position, if the certificate
 5    holder is employed and performing  services  in  an  Illinois
 6    public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
 7    or  cooperative  or  joint agreement with a governing body or
 8    board of control, or that certificate or  those  certificates
 9    most  closely related to his or her teaching position, if the
10    certificate holder is employed in a charter  school.   Except
11    as  otherwise  provided in this subsection (e), a certificate
12    renewal  plan  shall  include  a  minimum  of  3   individual
13    improvement  goals  developed  by  the certificate holder and
14    shall reflect purposes (A), (B),  and  (C)  and  may  reflect
15    purpose   (D)   of   the  following  continuing  professional
16    development purposes:
17             (A)  Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
18        and skills as a  teacher  consistent  with  the  Illinois
19        Professional  Teaching Standards and the Illinois Content
20        Area Standards  in  the  certificate  holder's  areas  of
21        certification,  endorsement,  or  teaching  assignment in
22        order to keep the certificate  holder  current  in  those
23        areas.
24             (B)  Develop  the certificate holder's knowledge and
25        skills  in  areas  determined  to  be  critical  for  all
26        Illinois teachers, as  defined  by  the  State  Board  of
27        Education, known as "State priorities".
28             (C)  Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the
29        certificate  holder's  local  school improvement plan, if
30        the  teacher  is  employed  in  an  Illinois  public   or
31        State-operated  elementary  school,  secondary school, or
32        cooperative or joint agreement with a governing  body  or
33        board of control.
34             (D)  Expand  the  certificate holder's knowledge and
 
                            -7-      LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1        skills in an additional  teaching  field  or  toward  the
 2        acquisition of another teaching certificate, endorsement,
 3        or relevant education degree.
 4    A  certificate renewal plan must include a description of how
 5    these goals are to be achieved and an explanation of selected
 6    continuing  professional   development   activities   to   be
 7    completed,  each  of  which  must  meet  one  or  more of the
 8    continuing professional  development  purposes  specified  in
 9    this  paragraph  (2).   The  plan  shall  identify  potential
10    activities   and   include   projected  timelines  for  those
11    activities that will assure completion of the plan before the
12    expiration of the 5-year validity of  the  Standard  Teaching
13    Certificate.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection
14    (e), at least  50%  of  continuing  professional  development
15    units  must  relate to purposes (A) and (B) set forth in this
16    paragraph (2): the  advancement  of  a  certificate  holder's
17    knowledge  and  skills  as  a  teacher  consistent  with  the
18    Illinois  Professional  Teaching  Standards  and the Illinois
19    Content Area Standards in the certificate holder's  areas  of
20    certification,  endorsement,  or teaching assignment in order
21    to keep the certificate holder current in those areas and the
22    development of a certificate holder's knowledge and skills in
23    the State priorities that exist at the time  the  certificate
24    renewal plan is developed.
25        A  speech-language  pathologist  or  audiologist  who  is
26    licensed  under  the  Illinois  Speech-Language Pathology and
27    Audiology  Practice  Act  and  who  has  met  the  continuing
28    education requirements of that Act and the rules  promulgated
29    under  that  Act  shall  be  deemed  to  have  satisfied  the
30    continuing  professional development requirements established
31    by the State Board of Education and the Teacher Certification
32    Board to renew a Standard Certificate.
33        (3)  Continuing   professional   development   activities
34    included in a certificate renewal plan may include,  but  are
 
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 1    not limited to, the following activities:
 2             (A)  completion   of  an  advanced  degree  from  an
 3        approved institution in an education-related field;
 4             (B)  at least 8 semester hours of coursework  in  an
 5        approved  education-related  program, of which at least 2
 6        semester hours  relate  to  the  continuing  professional
 7        development purpose set forth in purpose (A) of paragraph
 8        (2)  of  this  subsection  (e), provided that such a plan
 9        need  not  include  any  other  continuing   professional
10        development  activities nor reflect or contain activities
11        related to the other continuing professional  development
12        purposes  set  forth  in paragraph (2) of this subsection
13        (e);
14             (C)  continuing education  units  that  satisfy  the
15        continuing professional development purposes set forth in
16        paragraph   (2)   of   this  subsection  (e),  with  each
17        continuing  education  unit  equal  to  5  clock   hours,
18        provided that a plan that includes at least 24 continuing
19        education  units  (or  120  clock/contact hours) need not
20        include any  other  continuing  professional  development
21        activities;
22             (D)  completion    of    the   National   Board   of
23        Professional  Teaching   Standards   ("NBPTS")   process,
24        provided  that  a  plan  that  includes completion of the
25        NBPTS process  need  not  include  any  other  continuing
26        professional   development   activities  nor  reflect  or
27        contain activities related to the continuing professional
28        development  purposes  set  forth  in  paragraph  (2)  of
29        subsection (e) of this Section;
30             (E)  completion  of  120   continuing   professional
31        development    units    that   satisfy   the   continuing
32        professional development purposes set forth in  paragraph
33        (2)  of  this  subsection  (e)  and  may  include without
34        limitation the activities identified in subdivisions  (F)
 
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 1        through (J) of this paragraph (3);
 2             (F)  collaboration    and   partnership   activities
 3        related to improving the teacher's knowledge  and  skills
 4        as a teacher, including the following:
 5                  (i)  participating  on  collaborative  planning
 6             and professional improvement teams and committees;
 7                  (ii)  peer review and coaching;
 8                  (iii)  mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
 9             including    service   as   a   consulting   teacher
10             participating in a  remediation  process  formulated
11             under Section 24A-5 of this Code;
12                  (iv)  participating in site-based management or
13             decision  making teams, relevant committees, boards,
14             or  task   forces   directly   related   to   school
15             improvement plans;
16                  (v)  coordinating    community   resources   in
17             schools, if the project is a specific  goal  of  the
18             school improvement plan;
19                  (vi)  facilitating  parent  education  programs
20             for a school, school district, or regional office of
21             education directly related to student achievement or
22             school improvement plans;
23                  (vii)  participating  in  business,  school, or
24             community partnerships directly related  to  student
25             achievement or school improvement plans; or
26                  (viii)  supervising   a   student   teacher  or
27             teacher education candidate in clinical supervision,
28             provided that the supervision may  only  be  counted
29             once during the course of 5 years;
30             (G)  college  or  university  coursework  related to
31        improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher
32        as follows:
33                  (i)  completing   undergraduate   or   graduate
34             credit   earned   from   a   regionally   accredited
 
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 1             institution   in   coursework   relevant   to    the
 2             certificate area being renewed, including coursework
 3             that    incorporates    induction   activities   and
 4             development of  a  portfolio  of  both  student  and
 5             teacher  work that provides experience in reflective
 6             practices, provided the  coursework  meets  Illinois
 7             Professional  Teaching Standards or Illinois Content
 8             Area   Standards   and   supports   the    essential
 9             characteristics of quality professional development;
10             or
11                  (ii)  teaching college or university courses in
12             areas   relevant   to  the  certificate  area  being
13             renewed, provided that  the  teaching  may  only  be
14             counted once during the course of 5 years;
15             (H)  conferences,  workshops,  institutes, seminars,
16        and  symposiums  related  to  improving   the   teacher's
17        knowledge   and   skills  as  a  teacher,  including  the
18        following:
19                  (i)  completing non-university credit  directly
20             related  to  student achievement, school improvement
21             plans, or State priorities;
22                  (ii)  participating   in   or   presenting   at
23             workshops, seminars,  conferences,  institutes,  and
24             symposiums;
25                  (iii)  training   as   external  reviewers  for
26             Quality Assurance; or
27                  (iv)  training  as  reviewers   of   university
28             teacher preparation programs;
29             (I)  other   educational   experiences   related  to
30        improving  the  teacher's  knowledge  and  skills  as   a
31        teacher, including the following:
32                  (i)  participating   in   action  research  and
33             inquiry projects;
34                  (ii)  observing   programs   or   teaching   in
 
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 1             schools, related businesses,  or  industry  that  is
 2             systematic,  purposeful, and relevant to certificate
 3             renewal;
 4                  (iii)  traveling  related  to   ones   teaching
 5             assignment,  directly related to student achievement
 6             or school improvement plans and approved at least 30
 7             days prior to the travel experience,  provided  that
 8             the traveling shall not include time spent commuting
 9             to  destinations  where the learning experience will
10             occur;
11                  (iv)  participating in study groups related  to
12             student achievement or school improvement plans;
13                  (v)  serving  on  a statewide education-related
14             committee, including but not limited  to  the  State
15             Teacher   Certification   Board,   State   Board  of
16             Education  strategic  agenda  teams,  or  the  State
17             Advisory  Council  on  Education  of  Children  with
18             Disabilities;
19                  (vi)  participating in work/learn  programs  or
20             internships; or
21                  (vii)  developing  a  portfolio  of student and
22             teacher work;
23             (J)  professional leadership experiences related  to
24        improving   the  teacher's  knowledge  and  skills  as  a
25        teacher, including the following:
26                  (i)  participating in curriculum development or
27             assessment  activities   at   the   school,   school
28             district,  regional  office  of education, State, or
29             national level;
30                  (ii)  participating  in  team   or   department
31             leadership in a school or school district;
32                  (iii)  participating  on  external  or internal
33             school or school district review teams;
34                  (iv)  publishing educational articles, columns,
 
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 1             or books relevant  to  the  certificate  area  being
 2             renewed; or
 3                  (v)  participating    in   non-strike   related
 4             professional  association  or   labor   organization
 5             service   or   activities  related  to  professional
 6             development.
 7        (4)  A  certificate  renewal  plan  must   initially   be
 8    approved  by  the  certificate  holder's  local  professional
 9    development  committee,  as provided for in subsection (f) of
10    this  Section.   If  the   local   professional   development
11    committee  does not approve the certificate renewal plan, the
12    certificate holder  may  appeal  that  determination  to  the
13    regional   professional   development  review  committee,  as
14    provided for in paragraph  (2)  of  subsection  (g)  of  this
15    Section.   If  the  regional  professional development review
16    committee disagrees with the local  professional  development
17    committee's determination, the certificate renewal plan shall
18    be  deemed  approved  and  the  certificate  holder may begin
19    satisfying the continuing professional development activities
20    set  forth  in  the  plan.   If  the  regional   professional
21    development   review   committee   agrees   with   the  local
22    professional  development  committee's   determination,   the
23    certificate  renewal  plan  shall  be  deemed disapproved and
24    shall be returned to the  certificate  holder  to  develop  a
25    revised certificate renewal plan.  In all cases, the regional
26    professional  development  review committee shall immediately
27    notify both the local professional development committee  and
28    the certificate holder of its determination.
29        (5)  A  certificate  holder  who  wishes  to  modify  the
30    continuing  professional  development  activities or goals in
31    his or her certificate renewal plan must submit the  proposed
32    modifications  to  his  or her local professional development
33    committee for approval prior  to  engaging  in  the  proposed
34    activities.   If the local professional development committee
 
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 1    does not approve the proposed modification,  the  certificate
 2    holder   may   appeal  that  determination  to  the  regional
 3    professional development review committee, as  set  forth  in
 4    paragraph (4) of this subsection (e).
 5        (6)  When  a  certificate  holder  changes assignments or
 6    school  districts  during  the   course   of   completing   a
 7    certificate  renewal  plan,  the professional development and
 8    continuing education credit earned pursuant to the plan shall
 9    transfer to the new assignment or school district  and  count
10    toward  the total requirements. This certificate renewal plan
11    must  be  reviewed  by  the  appropriate  local  professional
12    development committee and may  be  modified  to  reflect  the
13    certificate  holder's  new  work  assignment  or  the  school
14    improvement  plan  of  the  new  school  district  or  school
15    building.
16        (f)  Notwithstanding  any  other provisions of this Code,
17    each school district,  charter  school,  and  cooperative  or
18    joint  agreement  with  a  governing body or board of control
19    that  employs  certificated  staff,   shall   establish   and
20    implement,  in conjunction with its exclusive representative,
21    if  any,  one  or   more   local   professional   development
22    committees,  as set forth in this subsection (f), which shall
23    perform the following functions:
24             (1)  review and approve  certificate  renewal  plans
25        and  any  modifications  made  to  these plans, including
26        transferred plans;
27             (2)  maintain a file of approved certificate renewal
28        plans;
29             (3)  monitor  certificate   holders'   progress   in
30        completing  approved  certificate renewal plans, provided
31        that a local professional development committee shall not
32        be  required   to   maintain   materials   submitted   by
33        certificate  holders  to  demonstrate  their  progress in
34        completing their  certificate  renewal  plans  after  the
 
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 1        committee has reviewed the materials and the credits have
 2        been awarded;
 3             (4)  assist   in  the  development  of  professional
 4        development  plans  based  upon   needs   identified   in
 5        certificate renewal plans;
 6             (5)  determine  whether certificate holders have met
 7        the requirements of their certificate renewal  plans  and
 8        notify certificate holders of its determination;
 9             (6)  provide   a   certificate   holder   with   the
10        opportunity   to   address  the  committee  when  it  has
11        determined that the certificate holder has  not  met  the
12        requirements of his or her certificate renewal plan;
13             (7)  issue  and  forward recommendations for renewal
14        or nonrenewal of certificate holders'  Standard  Teaching
15        Certificates  to  the appropriate regional superintendent
16        of schools, based upon whether certificate  holders  have
17        met   the  requirements  of  their  approved  certificate
18        renewal  plans,  with  30-day  written  notice   of   its
19        recommendation  provided  to the certificate holder prior
20        to  forwarding  the  recommendation   to   the   regional
21        superintendent  of  schools,  provided  that if the local
22        professional development  committee's  recommendation  is
23        for  certificate  nonrenewal, the written notice provided
24        to the certificate holder shall include a return receipt;
25        and
26             (8)  reconsider its  recommendation  of  certificate
27        nonrenewal, upon request of the certificate holder within
28        30 days of receipt of written notification that the local
29        professional  development  committee  will  make  such  a
30        recommendation,    and    forward    to    the   regional
31        superintendent of schools its  recommendation  within  30
32        days of receipt of the certificate holder's request.
33        Each   local  professional  development  committee  shall
34    consist of at least 3 classroom teachers; one  superintendent
 
                            -15-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1    or  chief  administrator  of  the  school  district,  charter
 2    school,  or  cooperative  or  joint  agreement  or his or her
 3    designee; and one at-large member who shall be either  (i)  a
 4    parent,  (ii)  a  member  of  the business community, (iii) a
 5    community member, or (iv) an administrator,  with  preference
 6    given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
 7    in   items   (i),   (ii),   and  (iii)  in  order  to  secure
 8    representation of an interest not already represented on  the
 9    committee.    Except  in a school district in a city having a
10    population   exceeding   500,000,   a   local    professional
11    development  committee  shall be responsible for no more than
12    200  certificate  renewal  plans  annually  unless  otherwise
13    mutually agreed upon by the school district, charter  school,
14    or  governing  body  or  board of control of a cooperative or
15    joint agreement and its exclusive representative, if any.  If
16    mutually agreed upon by the school district, charter  school,
17    or  governing  body  or  board of control of a cooperative or
18    joint agreement and its  exclusive  representative,  if  any,
19    additional  members  may  be  added  to  a local professional
20    development committee, provided that a  majority  of  members
21    are  classroom  teachers.    Except in a school district in a
22    city having a population  exceeding  500,000,  if  additional
23    members   are  added  to  a  local  professional  development
24    committee, the maximum number of  certificate  renewal  plans
25    for  which the committee shall annually be responsible may be
26    increased by 50 plans  for  each  additional  member,  unless
27    otherwise  mutually  agreed  upon  by  the  school  district,
28    charter  school,  or  governing body or board of control of a
29    cooperative   or   joint   agreement   and   its    exclusive
30    representative, if any.  The school district, charter school,
31    or  governing  body  or  board of control of a cooperative or
32    joint agreement and its  exclusive  representative,  if  any,
33    shall determine the term of service of the members of a local
34    professional development committee.  All individuals selected
 
                            -16-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1    to serve on local professional development committees must be
 2    known  to demonstrate the best practices in teaching or their
 3    respective field of practice.
 4        The exclusive representative, if any,  shall  select  the
 5    classroom   teacher   members   of   the  local  professional
 6    development  committee.   If  no   exclusive   representative
 7    exists,  then  the  classroom  teacher  members  of  a  local
 8    professional  development  committee shall be selected by the
 9    classroom teachers that come within  the  local  professional
10    development  committee's  authority.   The  school  district,
11    charter  school,  or  governing body or board of control of a
12    cooperative  or  joint   agreement   shall   select   the   2
13    non-classroom  teacher  members  (the superintendent or chief
14    administrator of the  school  district,  charter  school,  or
15    cooperative or joint agreement or his or her designee and the
16    at-large   member)   of   a  local  professional  development
17    committee.  Vacancies in positions on  a  local  professional
18    development  committee  shall be filled in the same manner as
19    the original selections.  The members of a local professional
20    development committee  shall  select  a  chairperson.   Local
21    professional   development   committee   meetings   shall  be
22    scheduled so as not  to  interfere  with  committee  members'
23    regularly  scheduled  teaching  duties, except when otherwise
24    permitted by the policies of or agreed to or approved by  the
25    school  district,  charter school, or governing body or board
26    of control of  a  cooperative  or  joint  agreement,  or  its
27    designee.
28        The  board  of education or governing board shall convene
29    the first  meeting  of  the  local  professional  development
30    committee.   All  actions  taken  by  the  local professional
31    development  committee  shall  require  that  a  majority  of
32    committee members be present, and no committee action may  be
33    taken  unless  50%  or  more  of  those  present  are teacher
34    members.
 
                            -17-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1        The State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State  Teacher
 2    Certification  Board shall jointly provide local professional
 3    development committee members with a training manual, and the
 4    members shall certify that they have received  and  read  the
 5    manual.
 6        Notwithstanding  any  other provisions of this subsection
 7    (f), for a teacher employed  and  performing  services  in  a
 8    nonpublic  or  State-operated elementary or secondary school,
 9    all references to a local professional development  committee
10    shall  mean  the  regional  superintendent  of schools of the
11    regional office of education for the  geographic  area  where
12    the teaching is done.
13        (g)(1)  Each  regional  superintendent  of  schools shall
14    review and concur or nonconcur with each  recommendation  for
15    renewal  or  nonrenewal of a Standard Teaching Certificate he
16    or  she  receives  from  a  local  professional   development
17    committee   or,   if   a   certificate   holder  appeals  the
18    recommendation  to  the  regional  professional   development
19    review   committee,   the   recommendation   for  renewal  or
20    nonrenewal he or she receives from  a  regional  professional
21    development  review  committee and, within 14 days of receipt
22    of  the  recommendation,  shall  provide  the  State  Teacher
23    Certification Board with verification of  the  following,  if
24    applicable:
25             (A)  a   certificate  renewal  plan  was  filed  and
26        approved   by   the   appropriate   local    professional
27        development committee;
28             (B)  the  professional  development  and  continuing
29        education   activities   set   forth   in   the  approved
30        certificate  renewal  plan   have   been   satisfactorily
31        completed;
32             (C)  the  local  professional  development committee
33        has recommended the renewal of the  certificate  holder's
34        Standard   Teaching   Certificate   and   forwarded   the
 
                            -18-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1        recommendation,  along  with all supporting documentation
 2        as jointly required by the State Board of  Education  and
 3        the  State  Teacher  Certification Board, to the regional
 4        superintendent of schools;
 5             (D)  the certificate holder has appealed his or  her
 6        local professional development committee's recommendation
 7        of  nonrenewal  to  the regional professional development
 8        review committee and the result of that appeal;
 9             (E)  the  regional  superintendent  of  schools  has
10        concurred or nonconcurred  with  the  local  professional
11        development    committee's   or   regional   professional
12        development review committee's recommendation to renew or
13        nonrenew  the  certificate  holder's  Standard   Teaching
14        Certificate and made a recommendation to that effect; and
15             (F)  the   established   registration  fee  for  the
16        Standard Teaching Certificate has been paid.
17    At the same  time  the  regional  superintendent  of  schools
18    provides  the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board  with the
19    notice required by this subsection (g), he or she shall  also
20    notify the certificate holder in writing that this notice has
21    been  provided  to  the  State  Teacher  Certification Board,
22    provided  that  if  the  notice  provided  by  the   regional
23    superintendent  of schools to the State Teacher Certification
24    Board includes a recommendation  of  certificate  nonrenewal,
25    the  written  notice provided to the certificate holder shall
26    be by certified mail, return receipt requested.
27        (2)  Each certificate holder  shall  have  the  right  to
28    appeal  his or her local professional development committee's
29    recommendation of nonrenewal  to  the  regional  professional
30    development  review  committee,  within 14 days of receipt of
31    notice that the recommendation has been sent to the  regional
32    superintendent  of  schools.  Each regional superintendent of
33    schools shall establish a regional  professional  development
34    review  committee  or  committees for the purpose of advising
 
                            -19-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1    the regional superintendent of  schools,  upon  request,  and
 2    handling  certificate  holder  appeals.  This committee shall
 3    consist   of   at   least   4   classroom    teachers,    one
 4    non-administrative   certificated   educational  employee,  2
 5    administrators, and one at-large member who shall  be  either
 6    (i)  a parent, (ii) a member of the business community, (iii)
 7    a community member, or (iv) an administrator, with preference
 8    given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
 9    in  items  (i),  (ii),  and  (iii)   in   order   to   secure
10    representation  of an interest not already represented on the
11    committee.  The teacher and  non-administrative  certificated
12    educational employee members of the review committee shall be
13    selected  by  their exclusive representative, if any, and the
14    administrators and at-large member shall be selected  by  the
15    regional    superintendent    of    schools.     A   regional
16    superintendent of schools may add additional members  to  the
17    committee,  provided  that the same proportion of teachers to
18    administrators and  at-large  members  on  the  committee  is
19    maintained.   Any  additional  teacher and non-administrative
20    certificated educational employee members shall  be  selected
21    by  their  exclusive  representative,  if  any.  Vacancies in
22    positions  on  a  regional  professional  development  review
23    committee shall be filled in the same manner as the  original
24    selections.   Committee  members shall serve staggered 3-year
25    terms.   All  individuals  selected  to  serve  on   regional
26    professional  development  review committees must be known to
27    demonstrate  the  best  practices  in   teaching   or   their
28    respective field of practice.
29        The exclusive representative responsible for choosing the
30    individuals that serve on a regional professional development
31    review  committee  shall notify each school district, charter
32    school,  or  governing  body  or  board  of  control   of   a
33    cooperative  or  joint  agreement  employing  the individuals
34    chosen to serve and provide their names  to  the  appropriate
 
                            -20-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1    regional  superintendent  of  schools.  Regional professional
 2    development review committee meetings shall be  scheduled  so
 3    as  not  to  interfere  with the committee members' regularly
 4    scheduled teaching duties, except when otherwise permitted by
 5    the policies of or  agreed  to  or  approved  by  the  school
 6    district,  charter  school,  or  governing  body  or board of
 7    control of a cooperative or joint agreement, or its designee,
 8    provided  that  the  school  district,  charter  school,   or
 9    governing  body  or  board  of control shall not unreasonably
10    withhold permission for a committee member to attend regional
11    professional development review committee meetings.
12        In a city having a population exceeding 500,000 that does
13    not have a regional office of education, one or more separate
14    regional professional development review committees shall  be
15    established as mutually agreed upon by the board of education
16    of  the  school  district  organized under Article 34 of this
17    Code and the exclusive representative.   The  composition  of
18    each   committee   shall  be  the  same  as  for  a  regional
19    professional  development  review  committee,   except   that
20    members  of  the  committee shall be jointly appointed by the
21    board of education  and  the  exclusive  representative.  All
22    other   provisions   of   this  Section  concerning  regional
23    professional development review  committees  shall  apply  to
24    these committees.
25        The  regional  professional  development review committee
26    may require information in addition to that received  from  a
27    certificate holder's local professional development committee
28    or  request  that  the  certificate  holder appear before it,
29    shall either concur or nonconcur with  a  local  professional
30    development  committee's  recommendation  of  nonrenewal, and
31    shall forward to the regional superintendent of  schools  its
32    recommendation  of  renewal or nonrenewal.  All actions taken
33    by the regional  professional  development  review  committee
34    shall  require  a quorum and be by a simple majority of those
 
                            -21-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1    present  and  voting.    A  record  of  all  votes  shall  be
 2    maintained.  The committee shall have 45 days from receipt of
 3    a certificate holder's appeal to make its  recommendation  to
 4    the regional superintendent of schools.
 5        The  State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State Teacher
 6    Certification   Board   shall   jointly   provide    regional
 7    professional  development  review  committee  members  with a
 8    training manual, and the members shall be required to  attend
 9    one  training seminar sponsored jointly by the State Board of
10    Education and the State Teacher Certification Board.
11        (h)(1)  The  State  Teacher  Certification  Board   shall
12    review    the    regional    superintendent    of    schools'
13    recommendations   to  renew  or  nonrenew  Standard  Teaching
14    Certificates  and  notify  certificate  holders  in   writing
15    whether  their  certificates  have been renewed or nonrenewed
16    within 90 days of receipt of the  recommendations,  unless  a
17    certificate  holder has appealed a regional superintendent of
18    schools'  recommendation  of  nonrenewal,  as   provided   in
19    paragraph  (2)  of  this  subsection  (h).  The State Teacher
20    Certification Board shall verify that the certificate  holder
21    has  met  the  renewal criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of
22    subsection (g) of this Section.
23        (2)  Each certificate holder  shall  have  the  right  to
24    appeal  a  regional superintendent of school's recommendation
25    to nonrenew his or her Standard Teaching Certificate  to  the
26    State  Teacher Certification Board, within 14 days of receipt
27    of notice that the  decision  has  been  sent  to  the  State
28    Teacher  Certification  Board,  which  shall  hold  an appeal
29    hearing within 60 days of receipt of the appeal.   When  such
30    an   appeal  is  taken,  the  certificate  holder's  Standard
31    Teaching Certificate shall continue to  be  valid  until  the
32    appeal    is   finally   determined.    The   State   Teacher
33    Certification Board shall review the regional  superintendent
34    of   school's   recommendation,   the  regional  professional
 
                            -22-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1    development review committee's recommendation,  if  any,  and
 2    the local professional development committee's recommendation
 3    and   all   relevant  documentation  to  verify  whether  the
 4    certificate holder has met the renewal criteria set forth  in
 5    paragraph  (1)  of subsection (g) of this Section.  The State
 6    Teacher Certification Board may request that the  certificate
 7    holder  appear  before  it.   All  actions taken by the State
 8    Teacher Certification Board shall require a quorum and be  by
 9    a  simple  majority  of those present and voting. A record of
10    all  votes  shall   be   maintained.    The   State   Teacher
11    Certification  Board  shall  notify the certificate holder in
12    writing, within 7 days of completing the review, whether  his
13    or  her  Standard  Teaching  Certificate  has been renewed or
14    nonrenewed, provided that if the State Teacher  Certification
15    Board  determines  to  nonrenew  a  certificate,  the written
16    notice  provided  to  the  certificate  holder  shall  be  by
17    certified mail, return  receipt  requested.  All  certificate
18    renewal   or   nonrenewal  decisions  of  the  State  Teacher
19    Certification Board are final and subject  to  administrative
20    review, as set forth in Section 21-24 of this Code.
21        (i)  Holders  of  Master Teaching Certificates shall meet
22    the same requirements  and  follow  the  same  procedures  as
23    holders  of Standard Teaching Certificates, except that their
24    renewal cycle shall be as set  forth  in  subsection  (d)  of
25    Section 21-2 of this Code.
26        A   holder  of  a  teaching  certificate  endorsed  as  a
27    speech-language  pathologist  who  has   been   granted   the
28    Certificate   of   Clinical   Competence   by   the  American
29    Speech-Language Hearing Association  may  renew  his  or  her
30    Standard Teaching Certificate pursuant to the 10-year renewal
31    cycle  set  forth  in  subsection (d) of Section 21-2 of this
32    Code.
33        (j)  Holders of Valid  and  Exempt  Standard  and  Master
34    Teaching  Certificates  who  are  not employed and performing
 
                            -23-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1    services in an Illinois public or  State-operated  elementary
 2    school,  secondary  school, or cooperative or joint agreement
 3    with a governing body or board of control, in a  certificated
 4    teaching    position,    may   voluntarily   activate   their
 5    certificates  by  developing  and  submitting  a  certificate
 6    renewal plan to the regional superintendent of schools of the
 7    regional office of education for the  geographic  area  where
 8    their teaching is done, who, or whose designee, shall approve
 9    the   plan  and  serve  as  the  certificate  holder's  local
10    professional  development   committee.    These   certificate
11    holders shall follow the same renewal criteria and procedures
12    as   all  other  Standard  and  Master  Teaching  Certificate
13    holders,   except   that   their   continuing    professional
14    development plans shall not be required to reflect or address
15    the   knowledge,   skills,   and  goals  of  a  local  school
16    improvement plan.
17        (k)  Each school district, charter school, or cooperative
18    or joint agreement shall be paid an annual amount of not less
19    than $1,000, as determined by a formula based on  the  number
20    of Standard Teaching and Master Teaching Certificate holders,
21    subject  to  renewal  and  established by rule, not to exceed
22    $1,000,000  annually  for  all  school   districts,   charter
23    schools,   and   cooperatives   or   joint   agreements,  for
24    administrative costs associated with conducting the  meetings
25    of   the   local   professional   development  committee,  as
26    determined in consultation with the committee.  Each regional
27    office of education shall  receive  $2,000  annually  to  pay
28    school  districts,  charter schools, or cooperatives or joint
29    agreements for costs, as defined by rule, incurred  in  staff
30    attendance   at   regional  professional  development  review
31    committee meetings and the training  seminar  required  under
32    paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of this Section.
33        (l)  The  State  Board of Education and the State Teacher
34    Certification  Board   shall   jointly   contract   with   an
 
                            -24-     LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b
 1    independent  party  to  conduct a comprehensive evaluation of
 2    the certificate renewal system pursuant to this Section.  The
 3    first report of this evaluation shall  be  presented  to  the
 4    General Assembly on January 1, 2005 and on January 1 of every
 5    third year thereafter.
 6    (Source:  P.A.  91-102,  eff.  7-12-99;  92-510, eff. 6-1-02;
 7    92-796, eff. 8-10-02.)

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