SB1930eng 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1930 Engrossed LRB101 09021 AXK 54114 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Grow Your Own STEM and Vocational Education Teachers Act.

Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "public institution of higher education" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, or any other public university or college, other than a community college, new or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly.

Section 10. Grow Your Own STEM and Vocational Education Teachers Program. Subject to any tuition waiver limitation established by the Board of Higher Education, a public institution of higher education shall, if funds are appropriated to the Board of Higher Education under this Act, waive any tuition, fees, and on-campus housing costs for a student who does all of the following:

(1) Agrees to pursue a minimum of a bachelor's degree in agriculture, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics for a teaching occupation that includes, but is not limited to, mathematics, natural sciences, or career and vocational education in the areas of agriculture education teacher, technology teacher, industrial arts teacher, trade teacher, health care teacher, or information technology teacher.

(2) Agrees to attend a public institution of higher education to pursue an undergraduate degree or an advanced degree in one of the concentrations set forth under paragraph (1).

(3) Agrees to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the Board of Higher Education.

(4) Maintains a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (or its equivalent as determined by the Board of Higher Education) at all times.

(5) Agrees to fully reimburse the public institution of higher education for any waived tuition, fees, or costs if the student fails to teach at least 3 years at a high school located in this State or at least 5 years at a public institution of higher education or a public community college located in this State.

Section 15. Grow Your Own Dual Credit Teachers Program. Subject to any tuition waiver limitation established by the Board of Higher Education, a public institution of higher education shall, if funds are appropriated to the Board of Higher Education under this Act, waive any tuition and fees for a student who is a licensed Illinois teacher with a master's degree and who does all of the following:

(1) Agrees to pursue up to a maximum of 18 graduate hours necessary to qualify the student to teach dual credit consistent with applicable accreditation and State standards for dual credit faculty. These credit hours shall be in disciplines consistent with the general education areas specified in the General Education Core Curriculum or with the student's major in the Illinois Articulation Initiative, provided the institution has those courses.

(2) Agrees to fully reimburse the public institution of higher education for any waived tuition or fees if the student fails to teach at least 5 years at a high school located in this State after the completion of the graduate hours.

Section 20. Funding. Funding for this Act shall come from the General Revenue Fund and shall be subject to appropriation.

Section 90. Rules. The Board of Higher Education shall adopt rules it determines are necessary for the administration of this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2020.