Sen. Heather A. Steans

Filed: 3/22/2012

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 638

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 638 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
521-5b, 21-5c, and 21B-50 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/21-5b)
7    (Section scheduled to be repealed on September 1, 2013)
8    Sec. 21-5b. Alternative certification. The State Board of
9Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
10Certification Board, shall establish and implement an
11alternative certification program under which persons who meet
12the requirements of and successfully complete the program
13established by this Section shall be issued an alternative
14teaching certificate for teaching in the schools. The program
15shall be limited to not more than 260 new participants during
16each year that the program is in effect. The State Board of

 

 

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1Education, in cooperation with one or more not-for-profit
2organizations in the State that support excellence in teaching,
3which may be in partnership with a university that offers
44-year baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a
5recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this
6Code, may within 30 days after submission by the program
7sponsor approve a course of study developed by the program
8sponsor that persons in the program must successfully complete
9in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of an
10alternative certificate under this Section. The Alternative
11Teacher Certification program course of study must include
12content and skills which have been approved by the State Board
13of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
14Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for State
15teacher certification.
16    The alternative certification program established under
17this Section shall be known as the Alternative Teacher
18Certification program. The Alternative Teacher Certification
19Program shall be offered by the submitting partnership, and
20such partnership may be offered by one or more not-for-profit
21organizations in the State which support excellence in
22teaching. The program shall be comprised of the following 3
23phases: (a) the first phase is the course of study offered on
24an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods,
25and practice teaching; (b) the second phase is the person's
26assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school

 

 

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1year; and (c) the third phase is a comprehensive assessment of
2the person's teaching performance by school officials and the
3partnership participants and a recommendation by the program
4sponsor to the State Board of Education that the person be
5issued a standard alternative teaching certificate. Successful
6completion of the Alternative Teacher Certification program
7shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student
8teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.
9    A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for
10one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable,
11shall be issued under this Section 21-5b to persons who at the
12time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching
13certificate under this Section:
14        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
15    university with a bachelor's degree;
16        (2) have successfully completed the first phase of the
17    Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in
18    this Section;
19        (3) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject
20    matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a; and
21        (4) (i) have been employed for a period of at least 5
22    years in an area requiring application of the individual's
23    education or (ii) have attained at least a cumulative grade
24    average of a "B" if the individual is assigned either to a
25    school district that has not met the annual measurable
26    objective for highly qualified teachers required by the

 

 

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1    Illinois Revised Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) Plan or to
2    a school district whose data filed with the State Board of
3    Education indicates that the district's poor and minority
4    students are taught by teachers who are not highly
5    qualified at a higher rate than other students; however,
6    this item (4) does not apply with respect to a provisional
7    alternative teaching certificate for teaching in schools
8    situated in a school district that is located in a city
9    having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
10    Assignment may be made under clause (ii) of this item (4)
11    only if the district superintendent and the exclusive
12    bargaining representative of the district's teachers, if
13    any, jointly agree to permit the assignment.
14    A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate
15under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified
16teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms
17and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school
18who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an
19exclusive bargaining representative, if any.
20    Until February 15, 2000, a standard alternative teaching
21certificate, valid for 4 years for teaching in the schools and
22renewable as provided in Section 21-14, shall be issued under
23this Section 21-5b to persons who first complete the
24requirements for the provisional alternative teaching
25certificate and who at the time of applying for a standard
26alternative teaching certificate under this Section have

 

 

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1successfully completed the second and third phases of the
2Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this
3Section. Alternatively, beginning February 15, 2000, at the end
4of the 4-year validity period, persons who were issued a
5standard alternative teaching certificate shall be eligible,
6on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate
7issued under subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this Code, to
8apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet
9the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code
10and further provided that a person who does not apply for and
11receive a Standard Teaching Certificate shall be able to teach
12only in schools situated in a school district that is located
13in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
14    Beginning February 15, 2000, persons who have completed the
15requirements for a standard alternative teaching certificate
16under this Section shall be issued an Initial Alternative
17Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching and not
18renewable. At the end of the 4-year validity period, these
19persons shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an
20Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of
21Section 21-2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching
22Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection
23(c) of Section 21-2.
24    Such alternative certification program shall be
25implemented so that the first provisional alternative teaching
26certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the

 

 

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1commencement of the 1997-1998 academic year and the first
2standard alternative teaching certificates issued under this
3Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1998-1999
4academic year.
5    The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the
6partnership or partnerships establishing such Alternative
7Teacher Certification programs, shall adopt rules and
8regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the
9State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and
10implement the program.
11    No one may be admitted to an alternative certification
12program under this Section after September 1, 2013 2012, and
13those candidates who are admitted on or before September 1,
142013 2012 must complete the program before January 1, 2015
15September 1, 2013.
16    This Section is repealed on January 1, 2015 September 1,
172013.
18(Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 
19    (105 ILCS 5/21-5c)
20    (Section scheduled to be repealed on September 1, 2013)
21    Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification.
22The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
23Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement one
24or more alternative route to teacher certification programs
25under which persons who meet the requirements of and

 

 

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1successfully complete the programs established by this Section
2shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching in
3schools in this State. The State Board of Education may approve
4a course of study that persons in such programs must
5successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for
6issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative
7Route to Teacher Certification programs course of study must
8include content and skills which have been approved by the
9State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
10Teacher Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for
11State teacher certification.
12    Programs established under this Section shall be known as
13Alternative Route to Teacher Certification programs. The
14programs may be offered by a university that offers 4-year
15baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a
16recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this
17Code, by one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State,
18or a combination thereof. The programs shall be comprised of
19the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on an
20intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods,
21and practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment to a
22full-time teaching position for one school year, including the
23designation of a mentor teacher to advise and assist the person
24with that teaching assignment; and (c) a comprehensive
25assessment of the person's teaching performance by school
26officials and program participants and a recommendation by the

 

 

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1program sponsor to the State Board of Education that the person
2be issued an initial teaching certificate. Successful
3completion of Alternative Route to Teacher Certification
4programs shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or
5student teaching and subject matter requirements established
6by law.
7    A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for
8one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable,
9shall be issued under this Section 21-5c to persons who at the
10time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching
11certificate under this Section:
12        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
13    university with a bachelor's degree;
14        (2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years
15    in an area requiring application of the individual's
16    education;
17        (3) have successfully completed the first phase of the
18    Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in
19    this Section; and
20        (4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject
21    matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.
22    An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the
23common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to
24persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional
25alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of
26applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully

 

 

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1completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route
2to Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section.
3    A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate
4or an initial teaching certificate earned under this Section
5shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes
6of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of
7employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a
8bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining
9representative, if any.
10    The State Board of Education may adopt rules and
11regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the
12State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the
13program.
14    No one may be admitted to an alternative certification
15program under this Section after September 1, 2013 2012, and
16those candidates who are admitted on or before September 1,
172013 2012 must complete the program before January 1, 2015
18September 1, 2013.
19    This Section is repealed on January 1, 2015 September 1,
202013.
21(Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 
22    (105 ILCS 5/21B-50)
23    Sec. 21B-50. Alternative educator licensure program.
24    (a) There is established an alternative educator licensure
25program, to be known as the Alternative Educator Licensure

 

 

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1Program for Teachers.
2    (b) Beginning on January 1, 2013, the Alternative Educator
3Licensure Program for Teachers may be offered by a recognized
4institution approved to offer educator preparation programs by
5the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
6Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Any program offered
7by a not-for-profit entity also must be approved by the Board
8of Higher Education.
9    The program shall be comprised of 4 phases:
10        (1) A course of study that at a minimum includes
11    instructional planning; instructional strategies,
12    including special education, reading, and English language
13    learning; classroom management; and the assessment of
14    students and use of data to drive instruction.
15        (2) A year of residency, which is a candidate's
16    assignment to a full-time teaching position or as a
17    co-teacher for one full school year. An individual must
18    hold an Educator License with Stipulations with an
19    alternative provisional educator endorsement in order to
20    enter the residency and must complete additional program
21    requirements that address required State and national
22    standards, pass the assessment of professional teaching
23    before entering the second residency year, as required
24    under phase (3) of this subsection (b), and be recommended
25    by the principal and program coordinator to continue with
26    the second year of the residency.

 

 

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1        (3) A second year of residency, which shall include the
2    candidate's assignment to a full-time teaching position
3    for one school year. The candidate must be assigned an
4    experienced teacher to act as a mentor and coach the
5    candidate through the second year of residency.
6        (4) A comprehensive assessment of the candidate's
7    teaching effectiveness, as evaluated by the principal and
8    the program coordinator, at the end of the second year of
9    residency. If there is disagreement between the 2
10    evaluators about the candidate's teaching effectiveness,
11    the candidate may complete one additional year of residency
12    teaching under a professional development plan developed
13    by the principal and preparation program. At the completion
14    of the third year, a candidate must have positive
15    evaluations and a recommendation for full licensure from
16    both the principal and the program coordinator or no
17    Professional Educator License shall be issued.
18    Successful completion of the program shall be deemed to
19satisfy any other practice or student teaching and content
20matter requirements established by law.
21    (c) An alternative provisional educator endorsement on an a
22Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 2 years of
23teaching in the public schools, including without limitation a
24charter school, or in a State-recognized nonpublic school in
25which the chief administrator is required to have the licensure
26necessary to be a principal in a public school in this State

 

 

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1and in which a majority of the teachers are required to have
2the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in
3this State, but may be renewed for a third year if needed to
4complete the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
5Teachers. The endorsement shall be issued only once to an
6individual who meets all of the following requirements:
7        (1) Has graduated from a regionally accredited college
8    or university with a bachelor's degree or higher.
9        (2) Has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or
10    greater on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent on another scale.
11        (3) Has completed a major in the content area if
12    seeking a middle or secondary level endorsement or, if
13    seeking an early childhood, elementary, or special
14    education endorsement, has completed a major in the content
15    area of reading, English/language arts, mathematics, or
16    one of the sciences. If the individual does not have a
17    major in a content area for any level of teaching, he or
18    she must submit transcripts to the State Superintendent of
19    Education to be reviewed for equivalency.
20        (4) Has successfully completed phase (1) of subsection
21    (b) of this Section.
22        (5) Has passed a test of basic skills and content area
23    test required for the specific endorsement for admission
24    into the program, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
25    Code.
26    A candidate possessing the alternative provisional

 

 

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1educator endorsement may receive a salary, benefits, and any
2other terms of employment offered to teachers in the school who
3are members of an exclusive bargaining representative, if any,
4but a school is not required to provide these benefits during
5the years of residency if the candidate is serving only as a
6co-teacher. If the candidate is serving as the teacher of
7record, the candidate must receive a salary, benefits, and any
8other terms of employment. Residency experiences must not be
9counted towards tenure.
10    (d) The recognized institution offering the Alternative
11Educator Licensure Program for Teachers must partner with a
12school district, including without limitation a charter
13school, or a State-recognized, nonpublic school in this State
14in which the chief administrator is required to have the
15licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in
16this State and in which a majority of the teachers are required
17to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public
18school in this State. The program presented for approval by the
19State Board of Education must demonstrate the supports that are
20to be provided to assist the provisional teacher during the
212-year residency period. These supports must provide
22additional contact hours with mentors during the first year of
23residency.
24    (e) Upon completion of the 4 phases outlined in subsection
25(b) of this Section and all assessments required under Section
2621B-30 of this Code, an individual shall receive a Professional

 

 

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1Educator License.
2    (f) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
3State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
4rules as may be necessary to establish and implement the
5Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers.
6(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.".