HB4652 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 36983 RJT 67097 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4652

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Rep. Barbara Hernandez

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 205/9.44 new

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching and to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher no later than June 1, 2025 or no later than June 1 each year thereafter. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1, 2025 and no later than July 1 each year thereafter and all eligible students shall be participants in the stipend program. Provides that no later than August 1, 2025 and no later than August 1 each year thereafter, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that the educator preparation program shall distribute stipend funds using the standard methods for allocating State-based financial aid or as wages for employment to each eligible student in monthly installments. Sets forth additional provisions concerning the distribution of funds. Provides for rulemaking.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.44 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.44 new)

Sec. 9.44. Student teaching stipend program.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Educator preparation program" means an approved educator preparation program offered by a recognized school or institution under Article 21B of the School Code.

"Eligible student" means a student who is enrolled in an educator preparation program, who is maintaining satisfactory academic progress, who is in a student teaching placement, and who is not contracted as the teacher of record for the student teaching placement.

"Student teaching" means a supervised clinical experience that prepares a candidate to take full responsibility in an instructional setting.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the Board shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching and to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage.

(c) To participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher no later than June 1, 2025 or no later than June 1 each year thereafter. An educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1, 2025 and no later than July 1 each year thereafter, and all eligible students shall be participants in the stipend program.

(d) Under the stipend program and subject to available appropriations, no later than August 1, 2025 and no later than August 1 each year thereafter, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. The educator preparation program shall distribute stipend funds using the standard methods for allocating State-based financial aid or as wages for employment to each eligible student in monthly installments.

(e) If there is a surplus appropriated in a fiscal year for the stipend program, then the Board shall increase the amount distributed to each educator preparation program by the same percentage that the surplus bears to the amount required to fully fund the total number of eligible students who qualify for the stipend program that fiscal year. An educator preparation program shall increase the stipend amounts distributed to each eligible student in proportion to the surplus.

(f) If the amount appropriated in a fiscal year for the stipend program is insufficient to fully fund stipends for the total number of eligible students for that fiscal year, then the Board shall reduce the amount distributed to each educator preparation program by the same percentage that the deficit bears to the amount required to fully fund the total number of eligible students who qualify for the stipend program. An educator preparation program shall reduce the stipend amounts distributed to each eligible student in proportion to the deficit.

(g) Funds not distributed by an educator preparation program shall be returned to the Board to be used for the subsequent fiscal year's stipend program.

(h) The Board shall adopt rules regarding the administration of the stipend program.