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92_SB1923
LRB9215484NTsb
1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Teaching Fellows Program Act.
6 Section 5. Definitions.
7 "Commission" means the Teaching Fellows Commission.
8 "Program" means the Teaching Fellows Program.
9 Section 10. Teaching Fellows Commission.
10 (a) There is hereby established the Teaching Fellows
11 Commission. The Commission shall exercise its powers and
12 functions independently of the Illinois Student Assistance
13 Commission.
14 (b) The Commission shall consist of all the following
15 persons, which may not be members of the General Assembly:
16 (1) The Executive Director of the Illinois Student
17 Assistance Commission or his or her designee.
18 (2) The Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee,
19 who shall serve as chairperson.
20 (3) Three persons appointed by the Governor.
21 (4) Two persons appointed by the General Assembly,
22 by joint resolution, on the recommendation of the
23 President of the Senate.
24 (5) Two persons appointed by the General Assembly,
25 by joint resolution, on the recommendation of the
26 Minority Leader of the Senate.
27 (6) Two persons appointed by the General Assembly,
28 by joint resolution, on the recommendation of the Speaker
29 of the House of Representatives.
30 (7) Two persons appointed by the General Assembly,
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1 by joint resolution, on the recommendation of the
2 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
3 (c) Members of the Commission shall be chosen in such a
4 way as to seek to achieve a balanced membership representing,
5 to the maximum extent possible, the State as a whole and
6 shall be chosen from among those individuals who have
7 demonstrated a commitment to education.
8 (d) Of the initial members appointed by the General
9 Assembly, 4 members shall be appointed for a term expiring on
10 June 30, 2004 and 4 members shall be appointed for a term
11 expiring on June 30, 2006, as determined by lot at the first
12 meeting of the Commission. Thereafter, members appointed by
13 the General Assembly shall be appointed for a term of 4
14 years. The initial members appointed by the Governor shall
15 be appointed for a term expiring on June 30, 2004.
16 Thereafter, members appointed by the Governor shall be
17 appointed for a term of 4 years. All appointed members shall
18 serve until their successors are appointed and qualified.
19 (e) In the event a vacancy occurs for any reason, the
20 vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the individual or
21 entity that made the appointment. The new appointee shall
22 serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
23 (f) Members of the Commission shall receive per diem and
24 necessary travel and subsistence expenses.
25 (g) The Commission shall meet regularly at those times
26 and places that the chairperson deems necessary.
27 Section 15. Teaching Fellows Program.
28 (a) A Teaching Fellows Program shall be established and
29 administered by the Commission. Under the Program, the
30 Commission shall provide a 4-year scholarship loan of $6,500
31 per person per year to high school seniors in this State
32 interested in preparing to teach in the public schools of
33 this State. The Commission shall adopt stringent standards,
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1 including minimum grade point average and scholastic aptitude
2 test scores, for awarding these scholarship loans to ensure
3 that only the top high school seniors receive them.
4 (b) The Commission shall administer the Program in
5 cooperation with teacher training institutions selected by
6 the Commission. Teaching fellows shall be required to be
7 exposed to a range of extra-curricular activities while in
8 college. These activities must be geared to instilling a
9 strong motivation not only to remain in teaching but also to
10 provide leadership to schools.
11 (c) The Commission shall form regional review committees
12 to assist it in identifying the top high school seniors
13 eligible for the Program. The Commission and the review
14 committees shall make an effort to identify and encourage
15 minority students and students who may not otherwise consider
16 a career in teaching to enter the Program.
17 (d) A scholarship loan under the Program shall be
18 evidenced by a note made payable to the Commission and shall
19 bear interest at a rate determined by the Commission, but not
20 exceeding a 10% annual percentage rate per year beginning
21 September 1 after completion of the Program or immediately
22 after termination of the scholarship loan, whichever is
23 earlier. The scholarship loan may be terminated by the
24 recipient withdrawing from school or by the recipient not
25 meeting the standards set by the Commission.
26 (e) The Commission shall forgive a scholarship loan if,
27 within 7 years after receiving a teaching certificate, the
28 recipient teaches for 4 years in a public school in this
29 State. The Commission shall forgive the loan if, within 7
30 years after receiving a teaching certificate, the recipient
31 teaches for 3 consecutive years, unless the recipient takes
32 an approved leave of absence, in a public school in this
33 State in a local school administrative unit that, at the time
34 the recipient accepts employment with the unit, is a
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1 low-performing school system or is on warning status as
2 defined by the State Board of Education. The Commission shall
3 forgive the loan if it finds that it is impossible for the
4 recipient to teach for 4 years, within 7 years after
5 receiving a teaching certificate, at a public school in this
6 State because of the death or permanent disability of the
7 recipient.
8 (f) The Teaching Fellows Revolving Fund is created as a
9 special fund in the State treasury. All funds appropriated
10 to or otherwise received by the Commission for scholarships,
11 all funds received as repayment of scholarship loans, and all
12 interest earned on these funds, shall be placed in the Fund.
13 All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to
14 appropriation, by the Commission for scholarship loans
15 granted under the Program. With the prior approval of the
16 General Assembly, the Fund may be used, subject to
17 appropriation, for campus and summer program support and
18 costs related to the disbursement of awards and collection of
19 loan repayments.
20 (g) The administrative costs for the Program shall not
21 exceed 5% of the funds appropriated for the Program.
22 Section 990. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
23 Section 5.570 as follows:
24 (30 ILCS 105/5.570 new)
25 Sec. 5.570. The Teaching Fellows Revolving Fund.