94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB5244

 

Introduced 1/24/2006, by Rep. Robin Kelly - William Davis - Deborah L. Graham

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.663 new
105 ILCS 5/21-14   from Ch. 122, par. 21-14
30 ILCS 805/8.30 new

    Creates the I-Connect Computer Technology Act. Requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to establish and implement, with the advice of the I-Connect Advisory Board, the I-Connect Computer Advisory Program in order to provide 7th grade students in public schools and their teachers with portable computers. Sets forth standards for the Program. Establishes the I-Connect Computer Technology Advisory Board and sets forth qualifications for its members. Requires the Advisory Board, in conjunction with ISBE, to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the progress of the Program. Establishes the I-Connect Computer Technology Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that it is the sole duty of school districts, school administrators, and school teachers to make decisions relating to the use of portable computers provided by the Program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the I-Connect Computer Technology Fund. Amends the School Code to provide that participation in courses, seminars, or other courses of instruction that develop the technology skills of the teacher or that provide the teacher with skills for integration of technology into the classroom constitutes continuing professional development activities. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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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 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the
5 I-Connect Computer Technology Act.
 
6     Section 5. Purpose. The General Assembly finds that in the
7 modern, knowledge-based economy of the 21st century it is
8 critical that all students have access to modern educational
9 technology. The General Assembly further finds that universal
10 access to portable computers has been found to increase student
11 assessment test scores and encourage student and parent
12 collaborations in learning. It is the duty of the State to
13 provide new ways to equalize and advance educational
14 opportunities for all students in public schools. In order to
15 meet the goal of universal access to modern educational
16 technology, the General Assembly finds it necessary to provide
17 students in public schools with access to portable computers.
 
18     Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
19     "Advisory Board" means the I-Connect Advisory Board.
20     "ISBE" means the Illinois State Board of Education.
21     "Program" means the I-Connect Computer Technology Program.
 
22     Section 15. I-Connect Computer Technology Program.
23     (a) The Illinois State Board of Education shall, by rule
24 and with the advice of the I-Connect Advisory Board, establish
25 and implement the I-Connect Computer Technology Program, which
26 must meet all of the following standards:
27         (1) Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year and each
28     school year thereafter, each student entering 7th grade who
29     attends a public school in Illinois shall receive a
30     portable computer. Additionally, each teacher teaching 7th

 

 

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1     grade students in a classroom at an Illinois public school
2     shall receive a portable computer. Portable computers
3     shall be delivered to each school district and shall become
4     the property of the school district. School districts are
5     responsible for distributing the computers to students and
6     for establishing rules for student use of the computers.
7     Each portable computer must include software and other
8     learning technologies capable of being used in a classroom
9     environment.
10         (2) Each school taking part in the I-Connect Computer
11     Technology Program shall receive teacher technology
12     training and professional development. Teachers that take
13     part in technology training courses, seminars, or other
14     related courses of instruction may credit that time towards
15     their continuing professional development requirement,
16     pursuant to Section 21-14 of the School Code. Professional
17     development provided in accordance with this item (2) must
18     be sufficient to ensure optimal use of software and other
19     learning technologies included with portable computers
20     under this Act.
21         (3) A statewide or regional plan for external and
22     internal network and technical support must be created to
23     allow for contracts for technical support with private
24     businesses, colleges or universities, or not-for-profit
25     corporations.
26         (4) A set-aside funding mechanism must be established
27     to cover the costs of replacement portable computers,
28     servers, and other equipment. Nothing in this Section shall
29     preclude a contract with a vendor that places the financial
30     duty on the vendor to cover those costs in part or in
31     whole.
32     (b) ISBE is authorized to enter into contracts and
33 memorandums of understanding with private parties and other
34 State agencies to carry out its functions under this Act. ISBE
35 shall contract with only one vendor for the purchase of
36 portable computers for program recipients, but may contract

 

 

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1 with more than one company for technical support and
2 professional development.
 
3     Section 20. I-Connect Computer Technology Advisory Board.
4     (a) There is created The I-Connect Computer Technology
5 Advisory Board. The Advisory Board shall be comprised of 9
6 members as follows: the Lieutenant Governor; 4 members
7 appointed by the Governor; and one member appointed by the
8 President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Minority
9 Leader of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of
10 the House of Representatives, and one member appointed by the
11 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
12     (b) Each of the Governor's appointees must have a
13 background in at least one of the following areas:
14         (1) computer technical support;
15         (2) education administration at the grade K through 12
16     level;
17         (3) teaching 6th through 12th grade students;
18         (4) higher education administration or teaching;
19         (5) community outreach; or
20         (6) education policy.
21     (c) All members shall serve 4-year terms, except that
22 members appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the
23 remainder of the vacated term. Vacancies shall be filled in the
24 same manner as the initial appointment.
25     (d) Advisory Board members shall receive no compensation
26 other than reimbursement for necessary travel expenses.
 
27     Section 25. Annual Report.
28     (a) By no later than July 1st of each year, the Advisory
29 Board, in conjunction with ISBE, shall submit an annual report
30 to the Governor and the members of the General Assembly on the
31 progress of the I-Connect Computer Technology Program. The
32 report must include, at a minimum, all of the following:
33         (1) The number of students receiving portable
34     computers.

 

 

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1         (2) An accounting of all State, local, and federal
2     funds used to implement the program.
3         (3) A projection for the cost of implementing the
4     program in the next school year.
5         (4) The identification of software included on
6     computers provided under the program.
7         (5) The academic progress of the students using the
8     portable computers.
9         (6) If available, a comparison of academic progress
10     between those students using the computers in a specific
11     curriculum and those who are not.
12         (7) The quality and quantity of increased student
13     proficiency with technology.
14         (8) Teacher involvement and performance.
15         (9) Of those students taking the portable computer
16     home, the number of households in which person other than
17     the student use the portable computer.
18         (10) Recommendations for program improvement.
 
19     Section 30. I-Connect Computer Technology Fund.
20     (a) The I-Connect Computer Technology Fund is created as a
21 special fund in the State treasury. All funds deposited into
22 the I-Connect Computer Technology Fund shall be used, subject
23 to appropriation, by ISBE for the purposes of this Act.
24     (b) ISBE may use any funds appropriated by the General
25 Assembly for the purposes of the I-Connect Computer Technology
26 Program, as well as any gift, grant, or donation given for the
27 I-Connect Computer Technology Program. ISBE may solicit and
28 accept a gift, grant, or donation of any kind from any source,
29 including from a foundation, private entity, governmental
30 entity, or institution of higher education, for the
31 implementation of the I-Connect Computer Technology Program.
32 However, funds for the I-Connect Computer Technology Program
33 may not be used for the construction of a building or other
34 facility.
 

 

 

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1     Section 35. Local authority.
2     (a) It is the sole duty of school districts, school
3 administrators, and school teachers to make decisions relating
4 to the use of portable computers provided under this Act,
5 including determining: (i) standards for allowing students to
6 take portable computers off school property; (ii) the courses
7 or curriculums best suited for portable computers; and (iii)
8 the use of particular software or learning technologies.
9     (b) Any school may opt out of the Program.
10     (c) Any school taking part in the Program must provide
11 necessary data to ISBE and the Advisory Board for the annual
12 report described in Section 25 of this Act.
 
13     Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
14 Section 5.663 as follows:
 
15     (30 ILCS 105/5.663 new)
16     Sec. 5.663. The I-Connect Computer Technology Fund.
 
17     Section 95. The School Code is amended by changing Section
18 21-14 as follows:
 
19     (105 ILCS 5/21-14)  (from Ch. 122, par. 21-14)
20     Sec. 21-14. Registration and renewal of certificates.
21     (a) A limited four-year certificate or a certificate issued
22 after July 1, 1955, shall be renewable at its expiration or
23 within 60 days thereafter by the county superintendent of
24 schools having supervision and control over the school where
25 the teacher is teaching upon certified evidence of meeting the
26 requirements for renewal as required by this Act and prescribed
27 by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State
28 Teacher Certification Board. An elementary supervisory
29 certificate shall not be renewed at the end of the first
30 four-year period covered by the certificate unless the holder
31 thereof has filed certified evidence with the State Teacher
32 Certification Board that he has a master's degree or that he

 

 

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1 has earned 8 semester hours of credit in the field of
2 educational administration and supervision in a recognized
3 institution of higher learning. The holder shall continue to
4 earn 8 semester hours of credit each four-year period until
5 such time as he has earned a master's degree.
6     All certificates not renewed or registered as herein
7 provided shall lapse after a period of 5 years from the
8 expiration of the last year of registration. Such certificates
9 may be reinstated for a one year period upon payment of all
10 accumulated registration fees. Such reinstated certificates
11 shall only be renewed: (1) by earning 5 semester hours of
12 credit in a recognized institution of higher learning in the
13 field of professional education or in courses related to the
14 holder's contractual teaching duties; or (2) by presenting
15 evidence of holding a valid regular certificate of some other
16 type. Any certificate may be voluntarily surrendered by the
17 certificate holder. A voluntarily surrendered certificate
18 shall be treated as a revoked certificate.
19     (b) When those teaching certificates issued before
20 February 15, 2000 are renewed for the first time after February
21 15, 2000, all such teaching certificates shall be exchanged for
22 Standard Teaching Certificates as provided in subsection (c) of
23 Section 21-2. All Initial and Standard Teaching Certificates,
24 including those issued to persons who previously held teaching
25 certificates issued before February 15, 2000, shall be
26 renewable under the conditions set forth in this subsection
27 (b).
28     Initial Teaching Certificates are valid for 4 years of
29 teaching, as provided in subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this
30 Code, and are renewable every 4 years until the person
31 completes 4 years of teaching. If the holder of an Initial
32 Certificate has completed 4 years of teaching but has not
33 completed the requirements set forth in paragraph (2) of
34 subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code, then the Initial
35 Certificate may be reinstated for one year, during which the
36 requirements must be met. A holder of an Initial Certificate

 

 

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1 who has not completed 4 years of teaching may continuously
2 register the certificate for additional 4-year periods without
3 penalty. Initial Certificates that are not registered shall
4 lapse consistent with subsection (a) of this Section and may be
5 reinstated only in accordance with subsection (a). Standard
6 Teaching Certificates are renewable every 5 years as provided
7 in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 and subsection (c) of this
8 Section. For purposes of this Section, "teaching" is defined as
9 employment and performance of services in an Illinois public or
10 State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
11 cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
12 of control, in a certificated teaching position, or a charter
13 school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law.
14     (c) In compliance with subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
15 this Code, which provides that a Standard Teaching Certificate
16 may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification Board based
17 upon proof of continuing professional development, the State
18 Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board
19 shall jointly:
20         (1) establish a procedure for renewing Standard
21     Teaching Certificates, which shall include but not be
22     limited to annual timelines for the renewal process and the
23     components set forth in subsections (d) through (k) of this
24     Section;
25         (2) establish the standards for certificate renewal;
26         (3) approve or disapprove the providers of continuing
27     professional development activities;
28         (4) determine the maximum credit for each category of
29     continuing professional development activities, based upon
30     recommendations submitted by a continuing professional
31     development activity task force, which shall consist of 6
32     staff members from the State Board of Education, appointed
33     by the State Superintendent of Education, and 6 teacher
34     representatives, 3 of whom are selected by the Illinois
35     Education Association and 3 of whom are selected by the
36     Illinois Federation of Teachers;

 

 

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1         (5) designate the type and amount of documentation
2     required to show that continuing professional development
3     activities have been completed; and
4         (6) provide, on a timely basis to all Illinois
5     teachers, certificate holders, regional superintendents of
6     schools, school districts, and others with an interest in
7     continuing professional development, information about the
8     standards and requirements established pursuant to this
9     subsection (c).
10     (d) Any Standard Teaching Certificate held by an individual
11 employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
12 State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
13 cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
14 of control in a certificated teaching position or a charter
15 school in compliance with the Charter Schools Law must be
16 maintained Valid and Active through certificate renewal
17 activities specified in the certificate renewal procedure
18 established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section,
19 provided that a holder of a Valid and Active certificate who is
20 only employed on either a part-time basis or day-to-day basis
21 as a substitute teacher shall pay only the required
22 registration fee to renew his or her certificate and maintain
23 it as Valid and Active. All other Standard Teaching
24 Certificates held may be maintained as Valid and Exempt through
25 the registration process provided for in the certificate
26 renewal procedure established pursuant to subsection (c) of
27 this Section. A Valid and Exempt certificate must be
28 immediately activated, through procedures developed jointly by
29 the State Board of Education and the State Teacher
30 Certification Board, upon the certificate holder becoming
31 employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
32 State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
33 cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
34 of control in a certificated teaching position or a charter
35 school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law. A
36 holder of a Valid and Exempt certificate may activate his or

 

 

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1 her certificate through procedures provided for in the
2 certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to
3 subsection (c) of this Section.
4     (e)(1) A Standard Teaching Certificate that has been
5 maintained as Valid and Active for the 5 years of the
6 certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid and Active
7 upon the certificate holder: (i) completing an advanced degree
8 from an approved institution in an education-related field;
9 (ii) completing at least 8 semester hours of coursework as
10 described in subdivision (B) of paragraph (3) of this
11 subsection (e); (iii) earning at least 24 continuing education
12 units as described in subdivision (C) of paragraph (3) of this
13 subsection (e); (iv) completing the National Board for
14 Professional Teaching Standards process as described in
15 subdivision (D) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e); or (v)
16 earning 120 continuing professional development units ("CPDU")
17 as described in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of this
18 subsection (e). The maximum continuing professional
19 development units for each continuing professional development
20 activity identified in subdivisions (F) through (J) of
21 paragraph (3) of this subsection (e) shall be jointly
22 determined by the State Board of Education and the State
23 Teacher Certification Board. If, however, the certificate
24 holder has maintained the certificate as Valid and Exempt for a
25 portion of the 5-year period of validity, the number of
26 continuing professional development units needed to renew the
27 certificate as Valid and Active shall be proportionately
28 reduced by the amount of time the certificate was Valid and
29 Exempt. Furthermore, if a certificate holder is employed and
30 performs teaching services on a part-time basis for all or a
31 portion of the certificate's 5-year period of validity, the
32 number of continuing professional development units needed to
33 renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be reduced by
34 50% for the amount of time the certificate holder has been
35 employed and performed teaching services on a part-time basis.
36 Part-time shall be defined as less than 50% of the school day

 

 

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1 or school term.
2     Notwithstanding any other requirements to the contrary, if
3 a Standard Teaching Certificate has been maintained as Valid
4 and Active for the 5 years of the certificate's validity and
5 the certificate holder has completed his or her certificate
6 renewal plan before July 1, 2002, the certificate shall be
7 renewed as Valid and Active.
8     (2) Beginning July 1, 2004, in order to satisfy the
9 requirements for continuing professional development provided
10 for in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code, each Valid
11 and Active Standard Teaching Certificate holder shall complete
12 professional development activities that address the
13 certificate or those certificates that are required of his or
14 her certificated teaching position, if the certificate holder
15 is employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
16 State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
17 cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
18 of control, or that certificate or those certificates most
19 closely related to his or her teaching position, if the
20 certificate holder is employed in a charter school. Except as
21 otherwise provided in this subsection (e), the certificate
22 holder's activities must address purposes (A), (B), (C), or (D)
23 and must reflect purpose (E) of the following continuing
24 professional development purposes:
25         (A) Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
26     and skills as a teacher consistent with the Illinois
27     Professional Teaching Standards and the Illinois Content
28     Area Standards in the certificate holder's areas of
29     certification, endorsement, or teaching assignment in
30     order to keep the certificate holder current in those
31     areas.
32         (B) Develop the certificate holder's knowledge and
33     skills in areas determined to be critical for all Illinois
34     teachers, as defined by the State Board of Education, known
35     as "State priorities".
36         (C) Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the

 

 

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1     certificate holder's local school improvement plan, if the
2     teacher is employed in an Illinois public or State-operated
3     elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or
4     joint agreement with a governing body or board of control.
5         (D) Expand the certificate holder's knowledge and
6     skills in an additional teaching field or toward the
7     acquisition of another teaching certificate, endorsement,
8     or relevant education degree.
9         (E) Address the needs of serving students with
10     disabilities, including adapting and modifying the general
11     curriculum related to the Illinois Learning Standards to
12     meet the needs of students with disabilities and serving
13     such students in the least restrictive environment.
14     Teachers who hold certificates endorsed for special
15     education must devote at least 50% of their continuing
16     professional development activities to this purpose.
17     Teachers holding other certificates must devote at least
18     20% of their activities to this purpose.
19     A speech-language pathologist or audiologist who is
20 licensed under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and
21 Audiology Practice Act and who has met the continuing education
22 requirements of that Act and the rules promulgated under that
23 Act shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing
24 professional development requirements established by the State
25 Board of Education and the Teacher Certification Board to renew
26 a Standard Certificate.
27     (3) Continuing professional development activities may
28 include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
29         (A) completion of an advanced degree from an approved
30     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
35     (2) of this subsection (e), completion of which means no
36     other continuing professional development activities are

 

 

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1     required;
2         (C) continuing education units that satisfy the
3     continuing professional development purposes set forth in
4     paragraph (2) of this subsection (e), with each continuing
5     education unit equal to 5 clock hours, provided that a plan
6     that includes at least 24 continuing education units (or
7     120 clock/contact hours) need not include any other
8     continuing professional development activities;
9         (D) completion of the National Board for Professional
10     Teaching Standards ("NBPTS") process for certification or
11     recertification, completion of which means no other
12     continuing professional development activities are
13     required;
14         (E) completion of 120 continuing professional
15     development units that satisfy the continuing professional
16     development purposes set forth in paragraph (2) of this
17     subsection (e) and may include without limitation the
18     activities identified in subdivisions (F) through (J) of
19     this paragraph (3);
20         (F) collaboration and partnership activities related
21     to improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a
22     teacher, including the following:
23             (i) participating on collaborative planning and
24         professional improvement teams and committees;
25             (ii) peer review and coaching;
26             (iii) mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
27         including service as a consulting teacher
28         participating in a remediation process formulated
29         under Section 24A-5 of this Code;
30             (iv) participating in site-based management or
31         decision making teams, relevant committees, boards, or
32         task forces directly related to school improvement
33         plans;
34             (v) coordinating community resources in schools,
35         if the project is a specific goal of the school
36         improvement plan;

 

 

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1             (vi) facilitating parent education programs for a
2         school, school district, or regional office of
3         education directly related to student achievement or
4         school improvement plans;
5             (vii) participating in business, school, or
6         community partnerships directly related to student
7         achievement or school improvement plans; or
8             (viii) supervising a student teacher or teacher
9         education candidate in clinical supervision, provided
10         that the supervision may only be counted once during
11         the course of 5 years;
12         (G) college or university coursework related to
13     improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher
14     as follows:
15             (i) completing undergraduate or graduate credit
16         earned from a regionally accredited institution in
17         coursework relevant to the certificate area being
18         renewed, including coursework that incorporates
19         induction activities and development of a portfolio of
20         both student and teacher work that provides experience
21         in reflective practices, provided the coursework meets
22         Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or Illinois
23         Content Area Standards and supports the essential
24         characteristics of quality professional development;
25         or
26             (ii) teaching college or university courses in
27         areas relevant to the certificate area being renewed,
28         provided that the teaching may only be counted once
29         during the course of 5 years;
30         (H) conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, and
31     symposiums related to improving the teacher's knowledge
32     and skills as a teacher, subject to disapproval of the
33     activity or event by the State Teacher Certification Board
34     acting jointly with the State Board of Education, including
35     the following:
36             (i) completing non-university credit directly

 

 

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1         related to student achievement, school improvement
2         plans, or State priorities;
3             (ii) participating in or presenting at workshops,
4         seminars, conferences, institutes, and symposiums;
5             (iii) training as external reviewers for Quality
6         Assurance; or
7             (iv) training as reviewers of university teacher
8         preparation programs.
9     A teacher, however, may not receive credit for conferences,
10     workshops, institutes, seminars, or symposiums that are
11     designed for entertainment, promotional, or commercial
12     purposes or that are solely inspirational or motivational.
13     The State Superintendent of Education and regional
14     superintendents of schools are authorized to review the
15     activities and events provided or to be provided under this
16     subdivision (H) and to investigate complaints regarding
17     those activities and events, and either the State
18     Superintendent of Education or a regional superintendent
19     of schools may recommend that the State Teacher
20     Certification Board and the State Board of Education
21     jointly disapprove those activities and events considered
22     to be inconsistent with this subdivision (H);
23         (I) other educational experiences related to improving
24     the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including
25     the following:
26             (i) participating in action research and inquiry
27         projects;
28             (ii) observing programs or teaching in schools,
29         related businesses, or industry that is systematic,
30         purposeful, and relevant to certificate renewal;
31             (iii) traveling related to one's teaching
32         assignment, directly related to student achievement or
33         school improvement plans and approved by the regional
34         superintendent of schools or his or her designee at
35         least 30 days prior to the travel experience, provided
36         that the traveling shall not include time spent

 

 

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1         commuting to destinations where the learning
2         experience will occur;
3             (iv) participating in study groups related to
4         student achievement or school improvement plans;
5             (v) serving on a statewide education-related
6         committee, including but not limited to the State
7         Teacher Certification Board, State Board of Education
8         strategic agenda teams, or the State Advisory Council
9         on Education of Children with Disabilities;
10             (vi) participating in work/learn programs or
11         internships; or
12             (vii) developing a portfolio of student and
13         teacher work;
14         (J) professional leadership experiences related to
15     improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher,
16     including the following:
17             (i) participating in curriculum development or
18         assessment activities at the school, school district,
19         regional office of education, State, or national
20         level;
21             (ii) participating in team or department
22         leadership in a school or school district;
23             (iii) participating on external or internal school
24         or school district review teams;
25             (iv) publishing educational articles, columns, or
26         books relevant to the certificate area being renewed;
27         or
28             (v) participating in non-strike related
29         professional association or labor organization service
30         or activities related to professional development;
31         (K) receipt of a subsequent Illinois certificate or
32     endorsement pursuant to this Article; or
33         (L) completion of requirements for meeting the
34     Illinois criteria for becoming "highly qualified" (for
35     purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public
36     Law 107-110) in an additional teaching area; .

 

 

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1         (M) successful completion of 4 semester hours of
2     graduate-level coursework on the assessment of one's own
3     performance in relation to the Illinois Teaching
4     Standards, as described in clause (B) of paragraph (2) of
5     subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code; .
6         (N) successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester
7     hours of graduate-level coursework addressing preparation
8     to meet the requirements for certification by the National
9     Board for Professional Teaching Standards, as described in
10     clause (C) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section
11     21-2 of this Code; or .
12         (O) participation in training courses, seminars, or
13     other course of instruction that develop the technology
14     skills of the teacher or that provide the teacher with
15     skills for integration of technology into the classroom.
16     (4) A person must complete the requirements of this
17 subsection (e) before the expiration of his or her Standard
18 Teaching Certificate and must submit assurance to the regional
19 superintendent of schools or, if applicable, a local
20 professional development committee authorized by the regional
21 superintendent to submit recommendations to him or her for this
22 purpose. The statement of assurance shall contain a list of the
23 activities completed, the provider offering each activity, the
24 number of credits earned for each activity, and the purposes to
25 which each activity is attributed. The certificate holder shall
26 maintain the evidence of completion of each activity for at
27 least one certificate renewal cycle. The certificate holder
28 shall affirm under penalty of perjury that he or she has
29 completed the activities listed and will maintain the required
30 evidence of completion. The State Board of Education or the
31 regional superintendent of schools for each region shall
32 conduct random audits of assurance statements and supporting
33 documentation.
34     (5) (Blank).
35     (6) (Blank).
36     (f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, a

 

 

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1 school district is authorized to enter into an agreement with
2 the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, to form a
3 local professional development committee (LPDC). The
4 membership and terms of members of the LPDC may be determined
5 by the agreement. Provisions regarding LPDCs contained in a
6 collective bargaining agreement in existence on the effective
7 date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly
8 between a school district and the exclusive bargaining
9 representative shall remain in full force and effect for the
10 term of the agreement, unless terminated by mutual agreement.
11 The LPDC shall make recommendations to the regional
12 superintendent of schools on renewal of teaching certificates.
13 The regional superintendent of schools for each region shall
14 perform the following functions:
15         (1) review recommendations for certificate renewal, if
16     any, received from LPDCs;
17         (2) (blank);
18         (3) (blank);
19         (4) (blank);
20         (5) determine whether certificate holders have met the
21     requirements for certificate renewal and notify
22     certificate holders if the decision is not to renew the
23     certificate;
24         (6) provide a certificate holder with the opportunity
25     to appeal a recommendation made by a LPDC, if any, not to
26     renew the certificate to the regional professional
27     development review committee;
28         (7) issue and forward recommendations for renewal or
29     nonrenewal of certificate holders' Standard Teaching
30     Certificates to the State Teacher Certification Board; and
31         (8) (blank).
32     (g)(1) Each regional superintendent of schools shall
33 review and concur or nonconcur with each recommendation for
34 renewal or nonrenewal of a Standard Teaching Certificate he or
35 she receives from a local professional development committee,
36 if any, or, if a certificate holder appeals the recommendation

 

 

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1 to the regional professional development review committee, the
2 recommendation for renewal or nonrenewal he or she receives
3 from a regional professional development review committee and,
4 within 14 days of receipt of the recommendation, shall provide
5 the State Teacher Certification Board with verification of the
6 following, if applicable:
7         (A) the certificate holder has satisfactorily
8     completed professional development and continuing
9     education activities set forth in paragraph (3) of
10     subsection (e) of this Section;
11         (B) the certificate holder has submitted the statement
12     of assurance required under paragraph (4) of subsection (e)
13     of this Section, and this statement has been attached to
14     the application for renewal;
15         (C) the local professional development committee, if
16     any, has recommended the renewal of the certificate
17     holder's Standard Teaching Certificate and forwarded the
18     recommendation to the regional superintendent of schools;
19         (D) the certificate holder has appealed his or her
20     local professional development committee's recommendation
21     of nonrenewal, if any, to the regional professional
22     development review committee and the result of that appeal;
23         (E) the regional superintendent of schools has
24     concurred or nonconcurred with the local professional
25     development committee's or regional professional
26     development review committee's recommendation, if any, to
27     renew or nonrenew the certificate holder's Standard
28     Teaching Certificate and made a recommendation to that
29     effect; and
30         (F) the established registration fee for the Standard
31     Teaching Certificate has been paid.
32     If the notice required by this subsection (g) includes a
33 recommendation of certificate nonrenewal, then, at the same
34 time the regional superintendent of schools provides the State
35 Teacher Certification Board with the notice, he or she shall
36 also notify the certificate holder in writing, by certified

 

 

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1 mail, return receipt requested, that this notice has been
2 provided to the State Teacher Certification Board.
3     (2) Each certificate holder shall have the right to appeal
4 his or her local professional development committee's
5 recommendation of nonrenewal, if any, to the regional
6 professional development review committee, within 14 days of
7 receipt of notice that the recommendation has been sent to the
8 regional superintendent of schools. Each regional
9 superintendent of schools shall establish a regional
10 professional development review committee or committees for
11 the purpose of advising the regional superintendent of schools,
12 upon request, and handling certificate holder appeals. This
13 committee shall consist of at least 4 classroom teachers, one
14 non-administrative certificated educational employee, 2
15 administrators, and one at-large member who shall be either (i)
16 a parent, (ii) a member of the business community, (iii) a
17 community member, or (iv) an administrator, with preference
18 given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
19 in items (i), (ii), and (iii) in order to secure representation
20 of an interest not already represented on the committee. The
21 teacher and non-administrative certificated educational
22 employee members of the review committee shall be selected by
23 their exclusive representative, if any, and the administrators
24 and at-large member shall be selected by the regional
25 superintendent of schools. A regional superintendent of
26 schools may add additional members to the committee, provided
27 that the same proportion of teachers to administrators and
28 at-large members on the committee is maintained. Any additional
29 teacher and non-administrative certificated educational
30 employee members shall be selected by their exclusive
31 representative, if any. Vacancies in positions on a regional
32 professional development review committee shall be filled in
33 the same manner as the original selections. Committee members
34 shall serve staggered 3-year terms. All individuals selected to
35 serve on regional professional development review committees
36 must be known to demonstrate the best practices in teaching or

 

 

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1 their respective field of practice.
2     (h)(1) The State Teacher Certification Board shall review
3 the regional superintendent of schools' recommendations to
4 renew or nonrenew Standard Teaching Certificates and notify
5 certificate holders in writing whether their certificates have
6 been renewed or nonrenewed within 90 days of receipt of the
7 recommendations, unless a certificate holder has appealed a
8 regional superintendent of schools' recommendation of
9 nonrenewal, as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection
10 (h). The State Teacher Certification Board shall verify that
11 the certificate holder has met the renewal criteria set forth
12 in paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this Section.
13     (2) Each certificate holder shall have the right to appeal
14 a regional superintendent of school's recommendation to
15 nonrenew his or her Standard Teaching Certificate to the State
16 Teacher Certification Board, within 14 days of receipt of
17 notice that the decision has been sent to the State Teacher
18 Certification Board, which shall hold an appeal hearing within
19 60 days of receipt of the appeal. When such an appeal is taken,
20 the certificate holder's Standard Teaching Certificate shall
21 continue to be valid until the appeal is finally determined.
22 The State Teacher Certification Board shall review the regional
23 superintendent of school's recommendation, the regional
24 professional development review committee's recommendation, if
25 any, and the local professional development committee's
26 recommendation, if any, and all relevant documentation to
27 verify whether the certificate holder has met the renewal
28 criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this
29 Section. The State Teacher Certification Board may request that
30 the certificate holder appear before it. All actions taken by
31 the State Teacher Certification Board shall require a quorum
32 and be by a simple majority of those present and voting. A
33 record of all votes shall be maintained. The State Teacher
34 Certification Board shall notify the certificate holder in
35 writing, within 7 days of completing the review, whether his or
36 her Standard Teaching Certificate has been renewed or

 

 

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1 nonrenewed, provided that if the State Teacher Certification
2 Board determines to nonrenew a certificate, the written notice
3 provided to the certificate holder shall be by certified mail,
4 return receipt requested. All certificate renewal or
5 nonrenewal decisions of the State Teacher Certification Board
6 are final and subject to administrative review, as set forth in
7 Section 21-24 of this Code.
8     (i) Holders of Master Teaching Certificates shall meet the
9 same requirements and follow the same procedures as holders of
10 Standard Teaching Certificates, except that their renewal
11 cycle shall be as set forth in subsection (d) of Section 21-2
12 of this Code and their renewal requirements shall be subject to
13 paragraph (8) of subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code.
14     A holder of a teaching certificate endorsed as a
15 speech-language pathologist who has been granted the
16 Certificate of Clinical Competence by the American
17 Speech-Language Hearing Association may renew his or her
18 Standard Teaching Certificate pursuant to the 10-year renewal
19 cycle set forth in subsection (d) of Section 21-2 of this Code.
20     (j) Holders of Valid and Exempt Standard and Master
21 Teaching Certificates who are not employed and performing
22 services in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary
23 school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement
24 with a governing body or board of control, in a certificated
25 teaching position, may voluntarily activate their certificates
26 through the regional superintendent of schools of the regional
27 office of education for the geographic area where their
28 teaching is done. These certificate holders shall follow the
29 same renewal criteria and procedures as all other Standard and
30 Master Teaching Certificate holders, except that their
31 continuing professional development activities need not
32 reflect or address the knowledge, skills, and goals of a local
33 school improvement plan.
34     (k) (Blank).
35     (l) (Blank).
36     (m) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act

 

 

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1 of the 93rd General Assembly that affect renewal of Standard
2 and Master Certificates shall apply to those persons who hold
3 Standard or Master Certificates on or after the effective date
4 of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and shall
5 be given effect upon renewal of those certificates.
6 (Source: P.A. 92-510, eff. 6-1-02; 92-796, eff. 8-10-02; 93-81,
7 eff. 7-2-03; 93-679, eff. 6-30-04.)
 
8     Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
9 Section 8.30 as follows:
 
10     (30 ILCS 805/8.30 new)
11     Sec. 8.30. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8
12 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the
13 implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of
14 the 94th General Assembly.
 
15     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
16 becoming law.