HB6144 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 14882 NHT 40448 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6144

Introduced 2/6/2004, by Tom Cross

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/21-5c

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning alternative teacher certification.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT in relation to teacher certification.

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

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 21-5c as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21-5c)

Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an alternative route to teacher certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching in schools in this State. The State Board of Education shall approve a course of study that persons in the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in a university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as the requirement for State teacher certification.

The program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program. The program may be offered in conjunction with one or more not-for-profit organizations in this the State. The program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school year, including the designation of a mentor teacher to advise and assist the person with that teaching assignment; and (c) a comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance by school officials and program participants and a recommendation by the institution of higher education to the State Board of Education that the person be issued an initial teaching certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.

A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21-5c to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching certificate under this Section:

(1) have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree;

(2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years in an area requiring application of the individual's education;

(3) have successfully completed the first phase of the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section; and

(4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.

An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section.

A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate or an initial teaching certificate earned under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining representative, if any.

The State Board of Education may adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the program.

(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)