093_SB0202

 
                                     LRB093 07451 NHT 07616 b

 1        AN ACT relating to 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 adding  Section
 5    2-3.131 as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.131 new)
 7        Sec. 2-3.131.  Teacher Cadet Program.
 8        (a)  The  Teacher Cadet Program is hereby established and
 9    shall be operated by  the  State  Board  of  Education.   The
10    Program  is established for the purpose of introducing public
11    secondary school pupils to the teaching profession.  The main
12    purpose of the Program is to encourage high school pupils who
13    possess  a  high  level  of  academic  achievement  and   the
14    personality  traits  found  in  good  teachers  to consider a
15    career in teaching.
16        (b)  The State Board of Education shall develop  a  grant
17    program  that  assists  school  districts chosen by the State
18    Board of Education on a competitive basis  in  offering  year
19    long coursework designed to expose pupils to teaching careers
20    and  the  education  system  through  the  development  of  a
21    hands-on curriculum that includes the following elements:
22             (1)  Classroom  discussions  led  by the supervising
23        teacher at the high school.
24             (2)  Hands-on activities designed to  excite  pupils
25        about teaching.
26             (3)  Observation  and participation in public school
27        classrooms.
28             (4)  Interaction with successful administrators  and
29        teachers.
30             (5)  Opportunities   for   high   school  pupils  to
31        participate in classrooms through tutoring,  internships,
 
                            -2-      LRB093 07451 NHT 07616 b
 1        and classroom observation of teaching.
 2        (c)  A  school  district that participates in the Teacher
 3    Cadet Program shall receive, from funds appropriated for that
 4    purpose, a one-time grant of up to $5,000 for the start-up of
 5    the Program at its school site that will fund the development
 6    of  the  curriculum,  the  purchase  of  materials,  and  the
 7    development of tutoring, internship, and observation  options
 8    for the high school pupils enrolled in the Program.
 9        (d)  Subject  to  the  availability of funding, the State
10    Board of Education shall contract for an  evaluation  of  the
11    Teacher  Cadet  Program and shall report on the evaluation to
12    the General Assembly by January 1,  2007.    This  evaluation
13    shall   include  (i)  interviews  with  Program  participants
14    regarding their views on the value of the Program and whether
15    participation  in  the  Program  has  been  instrumental   in
16    encouraging  the  selection of teaching as a major in college
17    or as a career and (ii) surveys of colleges and  universities
18    to determine whether there has been an increase in the number
19    of pupils that indicate an interest in preparing for a career
20    in public education.
21        (e)  The  State  Board  of  Education may adopt any rules
22    necessary to implement and administer this Section.
23        (f)  This Section is repealed on January 1, 2011.

24        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
25    becoming law.