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| [ Introduced ] | [ Senate Amendment 001 ] |
90_SB0557eng
105 ILCS 5/21-5c new
Amends the School Code to create a statewide alternative
teacher certification program. Effective immediately.
SRS90S0021KSsa
SB557 Engrossed SRS90S0021KSsa
1 AN ACT to amend the School Code by adding Section 21-5c.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
5 21-5c as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/21-5c new)
7 Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification.
8 The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
9 Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an
10 alternative route to teacher certification program under
11 which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully
12 complete the program established by this Section shall be
13 issued a standard teaching certificate for teaching in
14 schools in this State. The program shall be limited to not
15 more than 1,000 new participants during each year that the
16 program is in effect. The State Board of Education, in
17 cooperation with one or more partnerships formed with
18 universities that offer 4-year baccalaureate and masters
19 degree programs and that are recognized teacher training
20 institutions as defined in Section 21-21 and one or more
21 not-for-profit organizations in the State that support
22 excellence in teaching, shall within 30 days after submission
23 by a partnership approve a course of study developed by the
24 partnership that persons in the program must successfully
25 complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of a
26 certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to
27 Teacher Certification program course of study must include
28 the current content and skills contained in the university's
29 current courses for State certification which have been
30 approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation
31 with the State Teacher Certification Board, as the
SB557 Engrossed -2- SRS90S0021KSsa
1 requirement for State teacher certification.
2 The alternative route to teacher certification program
3 established under this Section shall be known as the
4 Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program. The
5 program shall be offered by the submitting partnership and
6 may be offered in conjunction with one or more not-for-profit
7 organizations in the State. The program shall be comprised
8 of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on
9 an intensive basis in education theory, instructional
10 methods, and practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment
11 to a full-time teaching position for one school year that
12 shall include the designation of a mentor teacher to advise
13 and assist the person in such teaching assignment; and (c) a
14 comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance
15 by school officials and the partnership participants and a
16 recommendation by the partner institution of higher education
17 to the State Board of Education that the person be issued a
18 standard teaching certificate. Successful completion of the
19 Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program shall be
20 deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and
21 subject matter requirements established by law.
22 A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for
23 one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable,
24 shall be issued under this Section 21-5c to persons who at
25 the time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching
26 certificate under this Section:
27 (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
28 university with a bachelor's degree;
29 (2) have been employed for a period of at least 5
30 years in an area requiring application of the
31 individual's education;
32 (3) have successfully completed the first phase of
33 the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided
34 in this Section; and
SB557 Engrossed -3- SRS90S0021KSsa
1 (4) have passed the tests of basic skills and
2 subject matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.
3 A standard teaching certificate, valid for teaching in
4 the common schools and renewable as provided in Section
5 21-14, shall be issued under Sections 21-3 or 21-5 to persons
6 who first complete the requirements for the provisional
7 alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of
8 applying for a standard teaching certificate have
9 successfully completed the second and third phases of the
10 Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program as
11 provided in this Section.
12 A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate
13 or a standard teaching certificate earned under this Section
14 shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for
15 purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and
16 conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who
17 are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive
18 bargaining representative, if any.
19 The State Board of Education may adopt rules and
20 regulations that are consistent with this Section and that
21 the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement
22 the program.
23 (105 ILCS 5/21-5b rep.)
24 Section 10. Section 21-5b of the School Code is repealed.
25 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
26 becoming law.