August 5, 2011
To the Honorable
Members of the
Illinois House of
Representatives,
97th
General Assembly:
I
hereby return House Bill 3489 with a specific recommendation for change.
As
Governor, I am committed to the education of the children across Illinois. In
order to properly prepare our children, we, as a State, must properly educate
all of the teachers that will be in the classrooms with our children, including
substitute teachers. I commend the sponsors of this legislation on their
efforts to increase the instruction provided to substitute teachers by allowing
school board to adopt programs for substitute teacher authorization. This
legislation is a step in adequately preparing these individuals to interact
with our children and continue their proper studies in the absence of the
original teacher.
While I am supportive of the goal
of this legislation, clarity is required to make sure we are having the very
best individuals working in our schools. Accordingly, a change to the language
of those who qualify to take this authorization program will help to clarify
what is already in the School Code—that individuals who wish to perform as
substitute teachers are required to hold a certificate from a place of higher
learning or a teaching certificate.
Therefore,
pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I
hereby return House Bill 3489, entitled “AN ACT concerning education.”, with
the following specific recommendation for change:
on page 5, by replacing lines
3 through 7, with the following:
“(d) A school board may
adopt a substitute authorization program for substitute teachers who hold a
certificate granted under this Section. A substitute authorization program
shall consist of, but is not limited to, the following components:”.
With this change, House Bill 3489
will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.
Sincerely,
PAT QUINN
Governor