093_HB1255

 
                                     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b

 1        AN ACT regarding 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  four  4  years  of  teaching.  Standard  Teaching
20    Certificates are renewable every five 5 years as provided  in
21    subsection  (c)  of  Section  21-2 and subsection (c) of this
22    Section.  For purposes of this Section, "teaching" is defined
23    as employment and performance  of  services  in  an  Illinois
24    public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
25    or  cooperative  or  joint agreement with a governing body or
26    board of control, in a certificated teaching position,  or  a
27    charter  school  operating  in  compliance  with  the Charter
28    Schools Law.
29        (c)  In compliance with subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
30    this  Code,  which  provides   that   a   Standard   Teaching
31    Certificate may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification
32    Board   based   upon   proof   of   continuing   professional
33    development,  the  State  Board  of  Education  and the State
34    Teacher Certification Board shall jointly:
 
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 1             (1)  establish a  procedure  for  renewing  Standard
 2        Teaching  Certificates,  which  shall  include but not be
 3        limited to annual timelines for the renewal  process  and
 4        the  components  set forth in subsections (d) through (k)
 5        of this Section;
 6             (2)  establish   the   standards   for   certificate
 7        renewal;
 8             (3)  approve    the    providers    of    continuing
 9        professional development activities;
10             (4)  determine the maximum credit for each  category
11        of  continuing professional development activities, based
12        upon   recommendations   submitted   by   a    continuing
13        professional development activity task force, which shall
14        consist  of  6  staff  members  from  the  State Board of
15        Education,  appointed  by  the  State  Superintendent  of
16        Education, and 6 teacher representatives, 3 of  whom  are
17        selected  by  the Illinois Education Association and 3 of
18        whom are selected by the Illinois Federation of Teachers;
19             (5)  designate the type and amount of  documentation
20        required to show that continuing professional development
21        activities have been completed; and
22             (6)  provide,  on  a  timely  basis  to all Illinois
23        teachers, certificate holders,  regional  superintendents
24        of schools, school districts, and others with an interest
25        in continuing professional development, information about
26        the  standards  and  requirements established pursuant to
27        this subsection (c).
28        (d)  Any  Standard  Teaching  Certificate  held   by   an
29    individual  employed  and  performing services in an Illinois
30    public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
31    or cooperative or joint agreement with a  governing  body  or
32    board  of  control  in  a certificated teaching position or a
33    charter school in compliance with  the  Charter  Schools  Law
34    must  be  maintained  Valid  and  Active  through certificate
 
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 1    renewal  activities  specified  in  the  certificate  renewal
 2    procedure established pursuant  to  subsection  (c)  of  this
 3    Section,  provided  that  a  holder  of  a  Valid  and Active
 4    certificate who is only employed on either a part-time  basis
 5    or  day-to-day  basis  as a substitute teacher shall pay only
 6    the required registration fee to renew his or her certificate
 7    and maintain it as Valid  and  Active.   All  other  Standard
 8    Teaching  Certificates  held  may  be maintained as Valid and
 9    Exempt through the registration process provided for  in  the
10    certificate   renewal   procedure   established  pursuant  to
11    subsection  (c)  of  this  Section.   A  Valid   and   Exempt
12    certificate must be immediately activated, through procedures
13    developed  jointly  by  the  State Board of Education and the
14    State  Teacher  Certification  Board,  upon  the  certificate
15    holder  becoming  employed  and  performing  services  in  an
16    Illinois  public   or   State-operated   elementary   school,
17    secondary  school,  or  cooperative or joint agreement with a
18    governing body or board of control in a certificated teaching
19    position or a charter school operating in compliance with the
20    Charter  Schools  Law.   A  holder  of  a  Valid  and  Exempt
21    certificate may  activate  his  or  her  certificate  through
22    procedures  provided for in the certificate renewal procedure
23    established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.
24        (e)(1)  A Standard Teaching  Certificate  that  has  been
25    maintained  as  Valid  and  Active  for  the  5  years of the
26    certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid  and  Active
27    upon  the  certificate  holder:  (i)  completing  an advanced
28    degree from an approved institution in  an  education-related
29    field;   (ii)   completing  at  least  8  semester  hours  of
30    coursework as described in subdivision (B) of  paragraph  (3)
31    of  this subsection (e); (iii) earning at least 24 continuing
32    education units as described in subdivision (C) of  paragraph
33    (3)  of  this  subsection  (e);  (iv) completing the National
34    Board  for  Professional  Teaching   Standards   process   as
 
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 1    described  in  subdivision  (D)  of  paragraph  (3)  of  this
 2    subsection  (e);  or  (v) earning 120 continuing professional
 3    development units ("CPDU") as described in subdivision (E) of
 4    paragraph (3) of this subsection (e).  The maximum continuing
 5    professional   development   units   for   each    continuing
 6    professional  development activity identified in subdivisions
 7    (F) through (J) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e) shall
 8    be jointly determined by the State Board of Education and the
 9    State  Teacher  Certification   Board.   If,   however,   the
10    certificate  holder  has  maintained the certificate as Valid
11    and Exempt for a portion of the 5-year  period  of  validity,
12    the  number  of  continuing  professional  development  units
13    needed  to renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be
14    proportionately reduced by the amount of time the certificate
15    was Valid and Exempt. Furthermore, if a certificate holder is
16    employed and performs teaching services on a part-time  basis
17    for  all  or  a portion of the certificate's 5-year period of
18    validity, the number of continuing  professional  development
19    units  needed  to  renew  the certificate as Valid and Active
20    shall  be  reduced  by  50%  for  the  amount  of  time   the
21    certificate  holder  has been employed and performed teaching
22    services on a part-time basis.  Part-time shall be defined as
23    less than 50% of the school day or school term.
24        (2)  Each Valid and Active Standard Teaching  Certificate
25    holder   shall   develop   a  certificate  renewal  plan  for
26    satisfying   the    continuing    professional    development
27    requirement provided for in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
28    this  Code.  Certificate  holders  with multiple certificates
29    shall develop a certificate renewal plan that addresses  only
30    that  certificate  or those certificates that are required of
31    his or her certificated teaching position, if the certificate
32    holder is employed and performing  services  in  an  Illinois
33    public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
34    or  cooperative  or  joint agreement with a governing body or
 
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 1    board of control, or that certificate or  those  certificates
 2    most  closely related to his or her teaching position, if the
 3    certificate holder is employed in a charter  school.   Except
 4    as  otherwise  provided in this subsection (e), a certificate
 5    renewal  plan  shall  include  a  minimum  of  3   individual
 6    improvement  goals  developed  by  the certificate holder and
 7    shall reflect purposes (A), (B),  and  (C)  and  may  reflect
 8    purpose   (D)   of   the  following  continuing  professional
 9    development purposes:
10             (A)  Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
11        and skills as a  teacher  consistent  with  the  Illinois
12        Professional  Teaching Standards and the Illinois Content
13        Area Standards  in  the  certificate  holder's  areas  of
14        certification,  endorsement,  or  teaching  assignment in
15        order to keep the certificate  holder  current  in  those
16        areas.
17             (B)  Develop  the certificate holder's knowledge and
18        skills  in  areas  determined  to  be  critical  for  all
19        Illinois teachers, as  defined  by  the  State  Board  of
20        Education, known as "State priorities".
21             (C)  Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the
22        certificate  holder's  local  school improvement plan, if
23        the  teacher  is  employed  in  an  Illinois  public   or
24        State-operated  elementary  school,  secondary school, or
25        cooperative or joint agreement with a governing  body  or
26        board of control.
27             (D)  Expand  the  certificate holder's knowledge and
28        skills in an additional  teaching  field  or  toward  the
29        acquisition of another teaching certificate, endorsement,
30        or relevant education degree.
31    A  certificate renewal plan must include a description of how
32    these goals are to be achieved and an explanation of selected
33    continuing  professional   development   activities   to   be
34    completed,  each  of  which  must  meet  one  or  more of the
 
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 1    continuing professional  development  purposes  specified  in
 2    this  paragraph  (2).   The  plan  shall  identify  potential
 3    activities   and   include   projected  timelines  for  those
 4    activities that will assure completion of the plan before the
 5    expiration of the 5-year validity of  the  Standard  Teaching
 6    Certificate.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection
 7    (e), at least  50%  of  continuing  professional  development
 8    units  must  relate to purposes (A) and (B) set forth in this
 9    paragraph (2): the  advancement  of  a  certificate  holder's
10    knowledge  and  skills  as  a  teacher  consistent  with  the
11    Illinois  Professional  Teaching  Standards  and the Illinois
12    Content Area Standards in the certificate holder's  areas  of
13    certification,  endorsement,  or teaching assignment in order
14    to keep the certificate holder current in those areas and the
15    development of a certificate holder's knowledge and skills in
16    the State priorities that exist at the time  the  certificate
17    renewal plan is developed.
18        A  speech-language  pathologist  or  audiologist  who  is
19    licensed  under  the  Illinois  Speech-Language Pathology and
20    Audiology  Practice  Act  and  who  has  met  the  continuing
21    education requirements of that Act and the rules  promulgated
22    under  that  Act  shall  be  deemed  to  have  satisfied  the
23    continuing  professional development requirements established
24    by the State Board of Education and the Teacher Certification
25    Board to renew a Standard Certificate.
26        (3)  Continuing   professional   development   activities
27    included in a certificate renewal plan may include,  but  are
28    not limited to, the following activities:
29             (A)  completion   of  an  advanced  degree  from  an
30        approved institution in an education-related field;
31             (B)  at least 8 semester hours of coursework  in  an
32        approved  education-related  program, of which at least 2
33        semester hours  relate  to  the  continuing  professional
34        development purpose set forth in purpose (A) of paragraph
 
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 1        (2)  of  this  subsection  (e), provided that such a plan
 2        need  not  include  any  other  continuing   professional
 3        development  activities nor reflect or contain activities
 4        related to the other continuing professional  development
 5        purposes  set  forth  in paragraph (2) of this subsection
 6        (e);
 7             (C)  continuing education  units  that  satisfy  the
 8        continuing professional development purposes set forth in
 9        paragraph   (2)   of   this  subsection  (e),  with  each
10        continuing  education  unit  equal  to  5  clock   hours,
11        provided that a plan that includes at least 24 continuing
12        education  units  (or  120  clock/contact hours) need not
13        include any  other  continuing  professional  development
14        activities;
15             (D)  completion    of    the   National   Board   of
16        Professional  Teaching   Standards   ("NBPTS")   process,
17        provided  that  a  plan  that  includes completion of the
18        NBPTS process  need  not  include  any  other  continuing
19        professional   development   activities  nor  reflect  or
20        contain activities related to the continuing professional
21        development  purposes  set  forth  in  paragraph  (2)  of
22        subsection (e) of this Section;
23             (E)  completion  of  120   continuing   professional
24        development    units    that   satisfy   the   continuing
25        professional development purposes set forth in  paragraph
26        (2)  of  this  subsection  (e)  and  may  include without
27        limitation the activities identified in subdivisions  (F)
28        through (J) of this paragraph (3);
29             (F)  collaboration    and   partnership   activities
30        related to improving the teacher's knowledge  and  skills
31        as a teacher, including the following:
32                  (i)  participating  on  collaborative  planning
33             and professional improvement teams and committees;
34                  (ii)  peer review and coaching;
 
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 1                  (iii)  mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
 2             including    service   as   a   consulting   teacher
 3             participating in a  remediation  process  formulated
 4             under Section 24A-5 of this Code;
 5                  (iv)  participating in site-based management or
 6             decision  making teams, relevant committees, boards,
 7             or  task   forces   directly   related   to   school
 8             improvement plans;
 9                  (v)  coordinating    community   resources   in
10             schools, if the project is a specific  goal  of  the
11             school improvement plan;
12                  (vi)  facilitating  parent  education  programs
13             for a school, school district, or regional office of
14             education directly related to student achievement or
15             school improvement plans;
16                  (vii)  participating  in  business,  school, or
17             community partnerships directly related  to  student
18             achievement or school improvement plans; or
19                  (viii)  supervising   a   student   teacher  or
20             teacher education candidate in clinical supervision,
21             provided that the supervision may  only  be  counted
22             once during the course of 5 years;
23             (G)  college  or  university  coursework  related to
24        improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher
25        as follows:
26                  (i)  completing   undergraduate   or   graduate
27             credit   earned   from   a   regionally   accredited
28             institution   in   coursework   relevant   to    the
29             certificate area being renewed, including coursework
30             that    incorporates    induction   activities   and
31             development of  a  portfolio  of  both  student  and
32             teacher  work that provides experience in reflective
33             practices, provided the  coursework  meets  Illinois
34             Professional  Teaching Standards or Illinois Content
 
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 1             Area   Standards   and   supports   the    essential
 2             characteristics of quality professional development;
 3             or
 4                  (ii)  teaching college or university courses in
 5             areas   relevant   to  the  certificate  area  being
 6             renewed, provided that  the  teaching  may  only  be
 7             counted once during the course of 5 years;
 8             (H)  conferences,  workshops,  institutes, seminars,
 9        and  symposiums  related  to  improving   the   teacher's
10        knowledge   and   skills  as  a  teacher,  including  the
11        following:
12                  (i)  completing non-university credit  directly
13             related  to  student achievement, school improvement
14             plans, or State priorities;
15                  (ii)  participating   in   or   presenting   at
16             workshops, seminars,  conferences,  institutes,  and
17             symposiums;
18                  (iii)  training   as   external  reviewers  for
19             Quality Assurance; or
20                  (iv)  training  as  reviewers   of   university
21             teacher preparation programs;
22             (I)  other   educational   experiences   related  to
23        improving  the  teacher's  knowledge  and  skills  as   a
24        teacher, including the following:
25                  (i)  participating   in   action  research  and
26             inquiry projects;
27                  (ii)  observing   programs   or   teaching   in
28             schools, related businesses,  or  industry  that  is
29             systematic,  purposeful, and relevant to certificate
30             renewal;
31                  (iii)  traveling  related  to   ones   teaching
32             assignment,  directly related to student achievement
33             or school improvement plans and approved at least 30
34             days prior to the travel experience,  provided  that
 
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 1             the traveling shall not include time spent commuting
 2             to  destinations  where the learning experience will
 3             occur;
 4                  (iv)  participating in study groups related  to
 5             student achievement or school improvement plans;
 6                  (v)  serving  on  a statewide education-related
 7             committee, including but not limited  to  the  State
 8             Teacher   Certification   Board,   State   Board  of
 9             Education  strategic  agenda  teams,  or  the  State
10             Advisory  Council  on  Education  of  Children  with
11             Disabilities;
12                  (vi)  participating in work/learn  programs  or
13             internships; or
14                  (vii)  developing  a  portfolio  of student and
15             teacher work;
16             (J)  professional leadership experiences related  to
17        improving   the  teacher's  knowledge  and  skills  as  a
18        teacher, including the following:
19                  (i)  participating in curriculum development or
20             assessment  activities   at   the   school,   school
21             district,  regional  office  of education, State, or
22             national level;
23                  (ii)  participating  in  team   or   department
24             leadership in a school or school district;
25                  (iii)  participating  on  external  or internal
26             school or school district review teams;
27                  (iv)  publishing educational articles, columns,
28             or books relevant  to  the  certificate  area  being
29             renewed; or
30                  (v)  participating    in   non-strike   related
31             professional  association  or   labor   organization
32             service   or   activities  related  to  professional
33             development.
34        (4)  A  certificate  renewal  plan  must   initially   be
 
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 1    approved  by  the  certificate  holder's  local  professional
 2    development  committee,  as provided for in subsection (f) of
 3    this  Section.   If  the   local   professional   development
 4    committee  does not approve the certificate renewal plan, the
 5    certificate holder  may  appeal  that  determination  to  the
 6    regional   professional   development  review  committee,  as
 7    provided for in paragraph  (2)  of  subsection  (g)  of  this
 8    Section.   If  the  regional  professional development review
 9    committee disagrees with the local  professional  development
10    committee's determination, the certificate renewal plan shall
11    be  deemed  approved  and  the  certificate  holder may begin
12    satisfying the continuing professional development activities
13    set  forth  in  the  plan.   If  the  regional   professional
14    development   review   committee   agrees   with   the  local
15    professional  development  committee's   determination,   the
16    certificate  renewal  plan  shall  be  deemed disapproved and
17    shall be returned to the  certificate  holder  to  develop  a
18    revised certificate renewal plan.  In all cases, the regional
19    professional  development  review committee shall immediately
20    notify both the local professional development committee  and
21    the certificate holder of its determination.
22        (5)  A  certificate  holder  who  wishes  to  modify  the
23    continuing  professional  development  activities or goals in
24    his or her certificate renewal plan must submit the  proposed
25    modifications  to  his  or her local professional development
26    committee for approval prior  to  engaging  in  the  proposed
27    activities.   If the local professional development committee
28    does not approve the proposed modification,  the  certificate
29    holder   may   appeal  that  determination  to  the  regional
30    professional development review committee, as  set  forth  in
31    paragraph (4) of this subsection (e).
32        (6)  When  a  certificate  holder  changes assignments or
33    school  districts  during  the   course   of   completing   a
34    certificate  renewal  plan,  the professional development and
 
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 1    continuing education credit earned pursuant to the plan shall
 2    transfer to the new assignment or school district  and  count
 3    toward  the total requirements. This certificate renewal plan
 4    must  be  reviewed  by  the  appropriate  local  professional
 5    development committee and may  be  modified  to  reflect  the
 6    certificate  holder's  new  work  assignment  or  the  school
 7    improvement  plan  of  the  new  school  district  or  school
 8    building.
 9        (f)  Notwithstanding  any  other provisions of this Code,
10    each school district,  charter  school,  and  cooperative  or
11    joint  agreement  with  a  governing body or board of control
12    that  employs  certificated  staff,   shall   establish   and
13    implement,  in conjunction with its exclusive representative,
14    if  any,  one  or   more   local   professional   development
15    committees,  as set forth in this subsection (f), which shall
16    perform the following functions:
17             (1)  review and approve  certificate  renewal  plans
18        and  any  modifications  made  to  these plans, including
19        transferred plans;
20             (2)  maintain a file of approved certificate renewal
21        plans;
22             (3)  monitor  certificate   holders'   progress   in
23        completing  approved  certificate renewal plans, provided
24        that a local professional development committee shall not
25        be  required   to   maintain   materials   submitted   by
26        certificate  holders  to  demonstrate  their  progress in
27        completing their  certificate  renewal  plans  after  the
28        committee has reviewed the materials and the credits have
29        been awarded;
30             (4)  assist   in  the  development  of  professional
31        development  plans  based  upon   needs   identified   in
32        certificate renewal plans;
33             (5)  determine  whether certificate holders have met
34        the requirements of their certificate renewal  plans  and
 
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 1        notify certificate holders of its determination;
 2             (6)  provide   a   certificate   holder   with   the
 3        opportunity   to   address  the  committee  when  it  has
 4        determined that the certificate holder has  not  met  the
 5        requirements of his or her certificate renewal plan;
 6             (7)  issue  and  forward recommendations for renewal
 7        or nonrenewal of certificate holders'  Standard  Teaching
 8        Certificates  to  the appropriate regional superintendent
 9        of schools, based upon whether certificate  holders  have
10        met   the  requirements  of  their  approved  certificate
11        renewal  plans,  with  30-day  written  notice   of   its
12        recommendation  provided  to the certificate holder prior
13        to  forwarding  the  recommendation   to   the   regional
14        superintendent  of  schools,  provided  that if the local
15        professional development  committee's  recommendation  is
16        for  certificate  nonrenewal, the written notice provided
17        to the certificate holder shall include a return receipt;
18        and
19             (8)  reconsider its  recommendation  of  certificate
20        nonrenewal, upon request of the certificate holder within
21        30 days of receipt of written notification that the local
22        professional  development  committee  will  make  such  a
23        recommendation,    and    forward    to    the   regional
24        superintendent of schools its  recommendation  within  30
25        days of receipt of the certificate holder's request.
26        Each   local  professional  development  committee  shall
27    consist of at least 3 classroom teachers; one  superintendent
28    or  chief  administrator  of  the  school  district,  charter
29    school,  or  cooperative  or  joint  agreement  or his or her
30    designee; and one at-large member who shall be either  (i)  a
31    parent,  (ii)  a  member  of  the business community, (iii) a
32    community member, or (iv) an administrator,  with  preference
33    given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
34    in   items   (i),   (ii),   and  (iii)  in  order  to  secure
 
                            -15-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1    representation of an interest not already represented on  the
 2    committee.    Except  in a school district in a city having a
 3    population   exceeding   500,000,   a   local    professional
 4    development  committee  shall be responsible for no more than
 5    200  certificate  renewal  plans  annually  unless  otherwise
 6    mutually agreed upon by the school district, charter  school,
 7    or  governing  body  or  board of control of a cooperative or
 8    joint agreement and its exclusive representative, if any.  If
 9    mutually agreed upon by the school district, charter  school,
10    or  governing  body  or  board of control of a cooperative or
11    joint agreement and its  exclusive  representative,  if  any,
12    additional  members  may  be  added  to  a local professional
13    development committee, provided that a  majority  of  members
14    are  classroom  teachers.    Except in a school district in a
15    city having a population  exceeding  500,000,  if  additional
16    members   are  added  to  a  local  professional  development
17    committee, the maximum number of  certificate  renewal  plans
18    for  which the committee shall annually be responsible may be
19    increased by 50 plans  for  each  additional  member,  unless
20    otherwise  mutually  agreed  upon  by  the  school  district,
21    charter  school,  or  governing body or board of control of a
22    cooperative   or   joint   agreement   and   its    exclusive
23    representative, if any.  The school district, charter school,
24    or  governing  body  or  board of control of a cooperative or
25    joint agreement and its  exclusive  representative,  if  any,
26    shall determine the term of service of the members of a local
27    professional development committee.  All individuals selected
28    to serve on local professional development committees must be
29    known  to demonstrate the best practices in teaching or their
30    respective field of practice.
31        The exclusive representative, if any,  shall  select  the
32    classroom   teacher   members   of   the  local  professional
33    development  committee.   If  no   exclusive   representative
34    exists,  then  the  classroom  teacher  members  of  a  local
 
                            -16-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1    professional  development  committee shall be selected by the
 2    classroom teachers that come within  the  local  professional
 3    development  committee's  authority.   The  school  district,
 4    charter  school,  or  governing body or board of control of a
 5    cooperative  or  joint   agreement   shall   select   the   2
 6    non-classroom  teacher  members  (the superintendent or chief
 7    administrator of the  school  district,  charter  school,  or
 8    cooperative or joint agreement or his or her designee and the
 9    at-large   member)   of   a  local  professional  development
10    committee.  Vacancies in positions on  a  local  professional
11    development  committee  shall be filled in the same manner as
12    the original selections.  The members of a local professional
13    development committee  shall  select  a  chairperson.   Local
14    professional   development   committee   meetings   shall  be
15    scheduled so as not  to  interfere  with  committee  members'
16    regularly  scheduled  teaching  duties, except when otherwise
17    permitted by the policies of or agreed to or approved by  the
18    school  district,  charter school, or governing body or board
19    of control of  a  cooperative  or  joint  agreement,  or  its
20    designee.
21        The  board  of education or governing board shall convene
22    the first  meeting  of  the  local  professional  development
23    committee.   All  actions  taken  by  the  local professional
24    development  committee  shall  require  that  a  majority  of
25    committee members be present, and no committee action may  be
26    taken  unless  50%  or  more  of  those  present  are teacher
27    members.
28        The State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State  Teacher
29    Certification  Board shall jointly provide local professional
30    development committee members with a training manual, and the
31    members shall certify that they have received  and  read  the
32    manual.
33        Notwithstanding  any  other provisions of this subsection
34    (f), for a teacher employed  and  performing  services  in  a
 
                            -17-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1    nonpublic  or  State-operated elementary or secondary school,
 2    all references to a local professional development  committee
 3    shall  mean  the  regional  superintendent  of schools of the
 4    regional office of education for the  geographic  area  where
 5    the teaching is done.
 6        (g)(1)  Each  regional  superintendent  of  schools shall
 7    review and concur or nonconcur with each  recommendation  for
 8    renewal  or  nonrenewal of a Standard Teaching Certificate he
 9    or  she  receives  from  a  local  professional   development
10    committee   or,   if   a   certificate   holder  appeals  the
11    recommendation  to  the  regional  professional   development
12    review   committee,   the   recommendation   for  renewal  or
13    nonrenewal he or she receives from  a  regional  professional
14    development  review  committee and, within 14 days of receipt
15    of  the  recommendation,  shall  provide  the  State  Teacher
16    Certification Board with verification of  the  following,  if
17    applicable:
18             (A)  a   certificate  renewal  plan  was  filed  and
19        approved   by   the   appropriate   local    professional
20        development committee;
21             (B)  the  professional  development  and  continuing
22        education   activities   set   forth   in   the  approved
23        certificate  renewal  plan   have   been   satisfactorily
24        completed;
25             (C)  the  local  professional  development committee
26        has recommended the renewal of the  certificate  holder's
27        Standard   Teaching   Certificate   and   forwarded   the
28        recommendation,  along  with all supporting documentation
29        as jointly required by the State Board of  Education  and
30        the  State  Teacher  Certification Board, to the regional
31        superintendent of schools;
32             (D)  the certificate holder has appealed his or  her
33        local professional development committee's recommendation
34        of  nonrenewal  to  the regional professional development
 
                            -18-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1        review committee and the result of that appeal;
 2             (E)  the  regional  superintendent  of  schools  has
 3        concurred or nonconcurred  with  the  local  professional
 4        development    committee's   or   regional   professional
 5        development review committee's recommendation to renew or
 6        nonrenew  the  certificate  holder's  Standard   Teaching
 7        Certificate and made a recommendation to that effect; and
 8             (F)  the   established   registration  fee  for  the
 9        Standard Teaching Certificate has been paid.
10    At the same  time  the  regional  superintendent  of  schools
11    provides  the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board  with the
12    notice required by this subsection (g), he or she shall  also
13    notify the certificate holder in writing that this notice has
14    been  provided  to  the  State  Teacher  Certification Board,
15    provided  that  if  the  notice  provided  by  the   regional
16    superintendent  of schools to the State Teacher Certification
17    Board includes a recommendation  of  certificate  nonrenewal,
18    the  written  notice provided to the certificate holder shall
19    be by certified mail, return receipt requested.
20        (2)  Each certificate holder  shall  have  the  right  to
21    appeal  his or her local professional development committee's
22    recommendation of nonrenewal  to  the  regional  professional
23    development  review  committee,  within 14 days of receipt of
24    notice that the recommendation has been sent to the  regional
25    superintendent  of  schools.  Each regional superintendent of
26    schools shall establish a regional  professional  development
27    review  committee  or  committees for the purpose of advising
28    the regional superintendent of  schools,  upon  request,  and
29    handling  certificate  holder  appeals.  This committee shall
30    consist   of   at   least   4   classroom    teachers,    one
31    non-administrative   certificated   educational  employee,  2
32    administrators, and one at-large member who shall  be  either
33    (i)  a parent, (ii) a member of the business community, (iii)
34    a community member, or (iv) an administrator, with preference
 
                            -19-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1    given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
 2    in  items  (i),  (ii),  and  (iii)   in   order   to   secure
 3    representation  of an interest not already represented on the
 4    committee.  The teacher and  non-administrative  certificated
 5    educational employee members of the review committee shall be
 6    selected  by  their exclusive representative, if any, and the
 7    administrators and at-large member shall be selected  by  the
 8    regional    superintendent    of    schools.     A   regional
 9    superintendent of schools may add additional members  to  the
10    committee,  provided  that the same proportion of teachers to
11    administrators and  at-large  members  on  the  committee  is
12    maintained.   Any  additional  teacher and non-administrative
13    certificated educational employee members shall  be  selected
14    by  their  exclusive  representative,  if  any.  Vacancies in
15    positions  on  a  regional  professional  development  review
16    committee shall be filled in the same manner as the  original
17    selections.   Committee  members shall serve staggered 3-year
18    terms.   All  individuals  selected  to  serve  on   regional
19    professional  development  review committees must be known to
20    demonstrate  the  best  practices  in   teaching   or   their
21    respective field of practice.
22        The exclusive representative responsible for choosing the
23    individuals that serve on a regional professional development
24    review  committee  shall notify each school district, charter
25    school,  or  governing  body  or  board  of  control   of   a
26    cooperative  or  joint  agreement  employing  the individuals
27    chosen to serve and provide their names  to  the  appropriate
28    regional  superintendent  of  schools.  Regional professional
29    development review committee meetings shall be  scheduled  so
30    as  not  to  interfere  with the committee members' regularly
31    scheduled teaching duties, except when otherwise permitted by
32    the policies of or  agreed  to  or  approved  by  the  school
33    district,  charter  school,  or  governing  body  or board of
34    control of a cooperative or joint agreement, or its designee,
 
                            -20-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1    provided  that  the  school  district,  charter  school,   or
 2    governing  body  or  board  of control shall not unreasonably
 3    withhold permission for a committee member to attend regional
 4    professional development review committee meetings.
 5        In a city having a population exceeding 500,000 that does
 6    not have a regional office of education, one or more separate
 7    regional professional development review committees shall  be
 8    established as mutually agreed upon by the board of education
 9    of  the  school  district  organized under Article 34 of this
10    Code and the exclusive representative.   The  composition  of
11    each   committee   shall  be  the  same  as  for  a  regional
12    professional  development  review  committee,   except   that
13    members  of  the  committee shall be jointly appointed by the
14    board of education  and  the  exclusive  representative.  All
15    other   provisions   of   this  Section  concerning  regional
16    professional development review  committees  shall  apply  to
17    these committees.
18        The  regional  professional  development review committee
19    may require information in addition to that received  from  a
20    certificate holder's local professional development committee
21    or  request  that  the  certificate  holder appear before it,
22    shall either concur or nonconcur with  a  local  professional
23    development  committee's  recommendation  of  nonrenewal, and
24    shall forward to the regional superintendent of  schools  its
25    recommendation  of  renewal or nonrenewal.  All actions taken
26    by the regional  professional  development  review  committee
27    shall  require  a quorum and be by a simple majority of those
28    present  and  voting.    A  record  of  all  votes  shall  be
29    maintained.  The committee shall have 45 days from receipt of
30    a certificate holder's appeal to make its  recommendation  to
31    the regional superintendent of schools.
32        The  State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State Teacher
33    Certification   Board   shall   jointly   provide    regional
34    professional  development  review  committee  members  with a
 
                            -21-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1    training manual, and the members shall be required to  attend
 2    one  training seminar sponsored jointly by the State Board of
 3    Education and the State Teacher Certification Board.
 4        (h)(1)  The  State  Teacher  Certification  Board   shall
 5    review    the    regional    superintendent    of    schools'
 6    recommendations   to  renew  or  nonrenew  Standard  Teaching
 7    Certificates  and  notify  certificate  holders  in   writing
 8    whether  their  certificates  have been renewed or nonrenewed
 9    within 90 days of receipt of the  recommendations,  unless  a
10    certificate  holder has appealed a regional superintendent of
11    schools'  recommendation  of  nonrenewal,  as   provided   in
12    paragraph  (2)  of  this  subsection  (h).  The State Teacher
13    Certification Board shall verify that the certificate  holder
14    has  met  the  renewal criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of
15    subsection (g) of this Section.
16        (2)  Each certificate holder  shall  have  the  right  to
17    appeal  a  regional superintendent of school's recommendation
18    to nonrenew his or her Standard Teaching Certificate  to  the
19    State  Teacher Certification Board, within 14 days of receipt
20    of notice that the  decision  has  been  sent  to  the  State
21    Teacher  Certification  Board,  which  shall  hold  an appeal
22    hearing within 60 days of receipt of the appeal.   When  such
23    an   appeal  is  taken,  the  certificate  holder's  Standard
24    Teaching Certificate shall continue to  be  valid  until  the
25    appeal    is   finally   determined.    The   State   Teacher
26    Certification Board shall review the regional  superintendent
27    of   school's   recommendation,   the  regional  professional
28    development review committee's recommendation,  if  any,  and
29    the local professional development committee's recommendation
30    and   all   relevant  documentation  to  verify  whether  the
31    certificate holder has met the renewal criteria set forth  in
32    paragraph  (1)  of subsection (g) of this Section.  The State
33    Teacher Certification Board may request that the  certificate
34    holder  appear  before  it.   All  actions taken by the State
 
                            -22-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1    Teacher Certification Board shall require a quorum and be  by
 2    a  simple  majority  of those present and voting. A record of
 3    all  votes  shall   be   maintained.    The   State   Teacher
 4    Certification  Board  shall  notify the certificate holder in
 5    writing, within 7 days of completing the review, whether  his
 6    or  her  Standard  Teaching  Certificate  has been renewed or
 7    nonrenewed, provided that if the State Teacher  Certification
 8    Board  determines  to  nonrenew  a  certificate,  the written
 9    notice  provided  to  the  certificate  holder  shall  be  by
10    certified mail, return  receipt  requested.  All  certificate
11    renewal   or   nonrenewal  decisions  of  the  State  Teacher
12    Certification Board are final and subject  to  administrative
13    review, as set forth in Section 21-24 of this Code.
14        (i)  Holders  of  Master Teaching Certificates shall meet
15    the same requirements  and  follow  the  same  procedures  as
16    holders  of Standard Teaching Certificates, except that their
17    renewal cycle shall be as set  forth  in  subsection  (d)  of
18    Section 21-2 of this Code.
19        A   holder  of  a  teaching  certificate  endorsed  as  a
20    speech-language  pathologist  who  has   been   granted   the
21    Certificate   of   Clinical   Competence   by   the  American
22    Speech-Language Hearing Association  may  renew  his  or  her
23    Standard Teaching Certificate pursuant to the 10-year renewal
24    cycle  set  forth  in  subsection (d) of Section 21-2 of this
25    Code.
26        (j)  Holders of Valid  and  Exempt  Standard  and  Master
27    Teaching  Certificates  who  are  not employed and performing
28    services in an Illinois public or  State-operated  elementary
29    school,  secondary  school, or cooperative or joint agreement
30    with a governing body or board of control, in a  certificated
31    teaching    position,    may   voluntarily   activate   their
32    certificates  by  developing  and  submitting  a  certificate
33    renewal plan to the regional superintendent of schools of the
34    regional office of education for the  geographic  area  where
 
                            -23-     LRB093 06583 NHT 06711 b
 1    their teaching is done, who, or whose designee, shall approve
 2    the   plan  and  serve  as  the  certificate  holder's  local
 3    professional  development   committee.    These   certificate
 4    holders shall follow the same renewal criteria and procedures
 5    as   all  other  Standard  and  Master  Teaching  Certificate
 6    holders,   except   that   their   continuing    professional
 7    development plans shall not be required to reflect or address
 8    the   knowledge,   skills,   and  goals  of  a  local  school
 9    improvement plan.
10        (k)  Each school district, charter school, or cooperative
11    or joint agreement shall be paid an annual amount of not less
12    than $1,000, as determined by a formula based on  the  number
13    of Standard Teaching and Master Teaching Certificate holders,
14    subject  to  renewal  and  established by rule, not to exceed
15    $1,000,000  annually  for  all  school   districts,   charter
16    schools,   and   cooperatives   or   joint   agreements,  for
17    administrative costs associated with conducting the  meetings
18    of   the   local   professional   development  committee,  as
19    determined in consultation with the committee.  Each regional
20    office of education shall  receive  $2,000  annually  to  pay
21    school  districts,  charter schools, or cooperatives or joint
22    agreements for costs, as defined by rule, incurred  in  staff
23    attendance   at   regional  professional  development  review
24    committee meetings and the training  seminar  required  under
25    paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of this Section.
26        (l)  The  State  Board of Education and the State Teacher
27    Certification  Board   shall   jointly   contract   with   an
28    independent  party  to  conduct a comprehensive evaluation of
29    the certificate renewal system pursuant to this Section.  The
30    first report of this evaluation shall  be  presented  to  the
31    General Assembly on January 1, 2005 and on January 1 of every
32    third year thereafter.
33    (Source:  P.A.  91-102,  eff.  7-12-99;  92-510, eff. 6-1-02;
34    92-796, eff. 8-10-02.)