99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB6181

 

Introduced 2/11/2016, by Rep. Kathleen Willis

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/21B-45

    Amends provisions concerning educator licensure in the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall allow educators to earn professional development hours during the final 3 months of the school year and enter those professional development hours into the Educator Licensure Information System.


LRB099 19895 MLM 44294 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB6181LRB099 19895 MLM 44294 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
521B-45 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
7    Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.
8    (a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License
9are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as
10specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this
11Code.
12    Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall
13meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section, unless
14otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds a
15license endorsed in more than one area that has different
16renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal
17requirements for the position for which he or she spends the
18majority of his or her time working.
19    (b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as
20provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that
21year. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon (i)
22payment by the applicant of a $500 penalty to the State Board
23of Education or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by

 

 

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1completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally
2accredited institution of higher education in the content area
3that most aligns with one or more of the educator's endorsement
4areas. Any and all back fees, including without limitation
5registration fees owed from the time of expiration of the
6license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid and kept
7in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this Code
8concerning an institute fund and the provisions in Article 21B
9of this Code concerning fees and requirements for registration.
10Licenses not registered in accordance with Section 21B-40 of
11this Code shall lapse after a period of 6 months from the
12expiration of the last year of registration. An unregistered
13license is invalid after September 1 for employment and
14performance of services in an Illinois public or State-operated
15school or cooperative and in a charter school. Any license or
16endorsement may be voluntarily surrendered by the license
17holder. A voluntarily surrendered license, except a substitute
18teaching license issued under Section 21B-20 of this Code,
19shall be treated as a revoked license. An Educator License with
20Stipulations with only a paraprofessional endorsement does not
21lapse.
22    (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to
23satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in
24this Section, each professional educator licensee with an
25administrative endorsement who is working in a position
26requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois

 

 

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1Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of
2this Code, per fiscal year.
3    (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
4requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
5Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
6professional development plan each year. The plan shall address
7one or more of the endorsements that are required of his or her
8educator position if the licensee is employed and performing
9services in an Illinois public or State-operated school or
10cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a charter school,
11the plan shall address that endorsement or those endorsements
12most closely related to his or her educator position. Licensees
13employed and performing services in any other Illinois schools
14may participate in the renewal requirements by adhering to the
15same process.
16    Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the
17licensee's professional development activities shall align
18with one or more of the following criteria:
19        (1) activities are of a type that engage participants
20    over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,
21    discovery, and application as they relate to student
22    learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
23        (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
24    performance;
25        (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student
26    growth or district improvement;

 

 

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1        (4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
2        (5) higher education coursework.
3    (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
4licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
5Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into
6the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
7date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
8development hours, and the provider's name. The following
9provisions shall apply concerning professional development
10activities:
11        (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours
12    of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in
13    order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided in
14    this Section.
15        (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,
16    any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not
17    working in a position requiring such endorsement shall
18    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
19    described in Article 2 of this Code, in each 5-year renewal
20    cycle in which the administrative endorsement was held for
21    at least one year. The Illinois Administrators' Academy
22    course may count toward the total of 120 hours per 5-year
23    cycle.
24        (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement
25    who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
26    an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in

 

 

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1    an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
2    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
3    described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
4    addition to 100 hours of professional development per
5    5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
6        (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
7    Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
8    designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of
9    professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order
10    to renew the license.
11        (5) Licensees working in a position that does not
12    require educator licensure or working in a position for
13    less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
14    exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration
15    fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
16    license.
17        (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits
18    from a State retirement system shall notify the State Board
19    of Education using ELIS, and the license shall be
20    maintained in retired status. An individual with a license
21    in retired status shall not be required to complete
22    professional development activities or pay registration
23    fees until returning to a position that requires educator
24    licensure. Upon returning to work in a position that
25    requires the Professional Educator License, the licensee
26    shall immediately pay a registration fee and complete

 

 

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1    renewal requirements for that year. A license in retired
2    status cannot lapse.
3        (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
4    development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
5    licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
6    minimum professional development hours required in this
7    Section prior to September 1 of that year. For any fiscal
8    year or renewal cycle in which an Illinois Administrators'
9    Academy course was required but not completed, the licensee
10    shall complete any missed Illinois Administrators' Academy
11    courses prior to September 1 of that year. The licensee may
12    complete all deficient hours and Illinois Administrators'
13    Academy courses while continuing to work in a position that
14    requires that license until September 1 of that year.
15        (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the professional
16    development renewal requirements set forth in this Section
17    at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is ineligible to
18    register his or her license and may submit an appeal to the
19    State Superintendent of Education for reinstatement of the
20    license.
21        (9) If professional development opportunities were
22    unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were
23    unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
24    August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be
25    submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
26    State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an

 

 

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1    extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
2    during the extension period.
3        (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
4    December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-610)
5    this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly shall
6    commence the annual renewal process with the first
7    scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013 (the
8    effective date of Public Act 98-610) this amendatory Act of
9    the 98th General Assembly.
10        (11) The State Board of Education shall allow educators
11    to earn professional development hours during the final 3
12    months of the school year and enter those professional
13    development hours into ELIS as provided under this Section.
14    (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
15the required questions under penalty of perjury.
16    (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
17to provide professional development activities for the renewal
18of Professional Educator Licenses:
19        (1) The State Board of Education.
20        (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
21    service centers.
22        (3) Illinois professional associations representing
23    the following groups that are approved by the State
24    Superintendent of Education:
25            (A) school administrators;
26            (B) principals;

 

 

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1            (C) school business officials;
2            (D) teachers, including special education
3        teachers;
4            (E) school boards;
5            (F) school districts;
6            (G) parents; and
7            (H) school service personnel.
8        (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher
9    education that offer Illinois-approved educator
10    preparation programs and public community colleges subject
11    to the Public Community College Act.
12        (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
13    authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
14    educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
15    Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
16    education or special education services.
17        (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December
18    31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147) this
19    amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, has had or has
20    a grant from or a contract with the State Board of
21    Education to provide professional development services in
22    the area of English Learning to Illinois school districts,
23    teachers, or administrators.
24        (7) State agencies, State boards, and State
25    commissions.
26        (8) (7) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum

 

 

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1    Disposition of Property Act.
2    (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section
3shall make available professional development opportunities
4that satisfy at least one of the following:
5        (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
6    district leaders who guide continuous professional
7    development;
8        (2) improve the learning of students;
9        (3) organize adults into learning communities whose
10    goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
11        (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
12        (5) provide educators with research-based
13    instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
14    rigorous academic standards;
15        (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
16    types of classroom assessments;
17        (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
18    intended goals;
19        (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to
20    collaborate; or
21        (9) prepare educators to apply research to
22    decision-making.
23    (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section
24shall do the following:
25        (1) align professional development activities to the
26    State-approved national standards for professional

 

 

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1    learning;
2        (2) meet the professional development criteria for
3    Illinois licensure renewal;
4        (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains
5    how it aligns to State standards and identify the
6    assessment for determining the expected impact on student
7    learning or school improvement;
8        (4) maintain original documentation for completion of
9    activities; and
10        (5) provide license holders with evidence of
11    completion of activities.
12    (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
13audits of approved providers, except for school districts,
14which shall be audited by regional offices of education and
15intermediate service centers. The State Board of Education
16shall complete random audits of licensees.
17        (1) Approved providers shall annually submit to the
18    State Board of Education a list of subcontractors used for
19    delivery of professional development activities for which
20    renewal credit was issued and other information as defined
21    by rule.
22        (2) Approved providers shall annually submit data to
23    the State Board of Education demonstrating how the
24    professional development activities impacted one or more
25    of the following:
26            (A) educator and student growth in regards to

 

 

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1        content knowledge or skills, or both;
2            (B) educator and student social and emotional
3        growth; or
4            (C) alignment to district or school improvement
5        plans.
6        (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
7    the annual data collected by the State Board of Education,
8    regional offices of education, and intermediate service
9    centers in audits to determine if the approved provider has
10    met the criteria and should continue to be an approved
11    provider or if further action should be taken as provided
12    in rules.
13    (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
14cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
155-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
16development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed and
17entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
18registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
19debit card.
20    (l) Beginning July 1, 2014, any professional educator
21licensee endorsed for school support personnel who is employed
22and performing services in Illinois public schools and who
23holds an active and current professional license issued by the
24Department of Financial and Professional Regulation related to
25the endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License
26shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional

 

 

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1development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
2individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to
3renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who does
4not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial and
5Professional Regulation shall complete professional
6development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
7Educator License provided for in this Section.
8    (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
9Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of notice from
10the State Superintendent of Education that a license will not
11be renewed based upon failure to complete the requirements of
12this Section. A licensee may appeal that decision to the State
13Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in a manner prescribed
14by rule.
15        (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
16    Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
17    sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
18    State Board of Education.
19        (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
20    shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
21    within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to
22    determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of
23    this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
24    Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
25    determination based upon the record of review, which shall
26    consist of the following:

 

 

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1            (A) the regional superintendent of education's
2        rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,
3        if applicable;
4            (B) any evidence submitted to the State
5        Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
6        statement of assurance for renewal; and
7            (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
8        nonrenewal of the license.
9        (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
10    shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding license
11    renewal by certified mail, return receipt requested, no
12    later than 30 days after reaching a decision. Upon receipt
13    of notification of renewal, the licensee, using ELIS, shall
14    pay the applicable registration fee for the next cycle
15    using a form of credit or debit card.
16    (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
17necessary to implement this Section.
18(Source: P.A. 98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 98-1147, eff. 12-31-14;
1999-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-130, eff. 7-24-15; revised 10-21-15.)