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Public Act 100-0013 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections | ||||
21B-15, 21B-20, 21B-25, 21B-35, and 21B-45 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/21B-15) | ||||
Sec. 21B-15. Qualifications of educators. | ||||
(a) No one may be licensed to teach or supervise or be | ||||
otherwise employed in the public schools of this State who is | ||||
not of good character and at least 19 20 years of age. | ||||
In determining good character under this Section, the State | ||||
Superintendent of Education shall take into consideration the | ||||
disciplinary actions of other states or national entities | ||||
against certificates or licenses issued by those states and | ||||
held by individuals from those states. In addition, any felony | ||||
conviction of the applicant may be taken into consideration; | ||||
however, no one may be licensed to teach or supervise in the | ||||
public schools of this State who has been convicted of (i) an | ||||
offense set forth in subsection (b) of Section 21B-80 of this | ||||
Code until 7 years following the end of the sentence for the | ||||
criminal offense or (ii) an offense set forth in subsection (c) | ||||
of Section 21B-80 of this Code. Unless the conviction is for an | ||||
offense set forth in Section 21B-80 of this Code, an applicant |
must be permitted to submit character references or other | ||
written material before such a conviction or other information | ||
regarding the applicant's character may be used by the State | ||
Superintendent of Education as a basis for denying the | ||
application. | ||
(b) No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the right | ||
to be licensed or to receive training for the purpose of | ||
becoming an educator because of a physical disability, | ||
including, but not limited to, visual and hearing disabilities; | ||
nor shall any school district refuse to employ a teacher on | ||
such grounds, provided that the person is able to carry out the | ||
duties of the position for which he or she applies. | ||
(c) No person may be granted or continue to hold an | ||
educator license who has knowingly altered or misrepresented | ||
his or her qualifications, in this State or any other state, in | ||
order to acquire or renew the license. Any other license issued | ||
under this Article held by the person may be suspended or | ||
revoked by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, | ||
depending upon the severity of the alteration or | ||
misrepresentation. | ||
(d) No one may teach or supervise in the public schools nor | ||
receive for teaching or supervising any part of any public | ||
school fund who does not hold an educator license granted by | ||
the State Superintendent of Education as provided in this | ||
Article. However, the provisions of this Article do not apply | ||
to a member of the armed forces who is employed as a teacher of |
subjects in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of any school, | ||
nor to an individual teaching a dual credit course as provided | ||
for in the Dual Credit Quality Act. | ||
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the | ||
school board of a school district may grant to a teacher of the | ||
district a leave of absence with full pay for a period of not | ||
more than one year to permit the teacher to teach in a foreign | ||
state under the provisions of the Exchange Teacher Program | ||
established under Public Law 584, 79th Congress, and Public Law | ||
402, 80th Congress, as amended. The school board granting the | ||
leave of absence may employ, with or without pay, a national of | ||
the foreign state wherein the teacher on the leave of absence | ||
is to teach if the national is qualified to teach in that | ||
foreign state and if that national is to teach in a grade level | ||
similar to the one that was taught in the foreign state. The | ||
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State | ||
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt rules as | ||
may be necessary to implement this subsection (e).
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(Source: P.A. 99-667, eff. 7-29-16.) | ||
(105 ILCS 5/21B-20) | ||
Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. Before July 1, 2013, the | ||
State Board of Education shall implement a system of educator | ||
licensure, whereby individuals employed in school districts | ||
who are required to be licensed must have one of the following | ||
licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) a |
professional educator license with stipulations; or (iii) a | ||
substitute teaching license. References in law regarding | ||
individuals certified or certificated or required to be | ||
certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall | ||
also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed | ||
under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June | ||
30 following one full year of the license being issued. | ||
The State Board of Education, in consultation with the | ||
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such | ||
rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for | ||
licenses and endorsements under this Section. | ||
(1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i) | ||
have successfully completed an approved educator | ||
preparation program and are recommended for licensure by | ||
the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation | ||
program, (ii) have successfully completed the required | ||
testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have | ||
successfully completed coursework on the psychology of, | ||
the identification of, and the methods of instruction for | ||
the exceptional child, including without limitation | ||
children with learning disabilities, (iv) have | ||
successfully completed coursework in methods of reading | ||
and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other | ||
criteria established by rule of the State Board of | ||
Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License. | ||
All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30 |
immediately following 5 years of the license being issued. | ||
The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with | ||
specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is | ||
eligible to practice. | ||
Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the | ||
Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements | ||
shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework | ||
in the endorsement area, unless otherwise specified by | ||
rule, and passage of the applicable content area test. | ||
(2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator | ||
License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement | ||
that limits the license holder to one particular position | ||
or does not require completion of an approved educator | ||
program or both. | ||
An individual with an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or | ||
any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher | ||
who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason. | ||
An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued | ||
with the following endorsements: | ||
(A) Provisional educator. A provisional educator | ||
endorsement in a specific content area or areas on an | ||
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an | ||
applicant who holds an educator license from another | ||
state, U.S. territory, or foreign country and who, at | ||
the time of applying for an Illinois license, does not |
meet the minimum requirements under Section 21B-35 of | ||
this Code, but does, at a minimum, meet the following | ||
requirements: | ||
(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a | ||
bachelor's degree, unless a master's degree is | ||
required for the endorsement, from a regionally | ||
accredited college or university or, for | ||
individuals educated in a country other than the | ||
United States, the equivalent of a minimum of a | ||
bachelor's degree issued in the United States, | ||
unless a master's degree is required for the | ||
endorsement. | ||
(ii) Has passed or passes a test of basic | ||
skills and content area test prior to or within one | ||
year after issuance of the provisional educator | ||
endorsement on the Educator License with | ||
Stipulations. If an individual who holds an | ||
Educator License with Stipulations endorsed for | ||
provisional educator has not passed a test of basic | ||
skills and applicable content area test or tests | ||
within one year after issuance of the endorsement, | ||
the endorsement shall expire on June 30 following | ||
one full year of the endorsement being issued. If | ||
such an individual has passed the test of basic | ||
skills and applicable content area test or tests | ||
either prior to issuance of the endorsement or |
within one year after issuance of the endorsement, | ||
the endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately | ||
following 2 years of the license being issued, | ||
during which time any and all coursework | ||
deficiencies must be met and any and all additional | ||
testing deficiencies must be met. | ||
In addition, a provisional educator endorsement | ||
for principals or superintendents may be issued if the | ||
individual meets the requirements set forth in | ||
subdivisions (1) and (3) of subsection (b-5) of Section | ||
21B-35 of this Code. Applicants who have not been | ||
entitled by an Illinois-approved educator preparation | ||
program at an Illinois institution of higher education | ||
shall not receive a provisional educator endorsement | ||
if the person completed an alternative licensure | ||
program in another state, unless the program has been | ||
determined to be equivalent to Illinois program | ||
requirements. | ||
Notwithstanding any other requirements of this | ||
Section, a service member or spouse of a service member | ||
may obtain a Professional Educator License with | ||
Stipulations, and a provisional educator endorsement | ||
in a specific content area or areas, if he or she holds | ||
a valid teaching certificate or license in good | ||
standing from another state, meets the qualifications | ||
of educators outlined in Section 21B-15 of this Code, |
and has not engaged in any misconduct that would | ||
prohibit an individual from obtaining a license | ||
pursuant to Illinois law, including without limitation | ||
any administrative rules of the State Board of | ||
Education. | ||
In this Section, "service member" means any person | ||
who, at the time of application under this Section, is | ||
an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces | ||
or any reserve component of the United States Armed | ||
Forces or the National Guard of any state, | ||
commonwealth, or territory of the United States or the | ||
District of Columbia. | ||
A provisional educator endorsement is valid until | ||
June 30 immediately following 2 years of the license | ||
being issued, provided that any remaining testing and | ||
coursework deficiencies are met as set forth in this | ||
Section. Failure to satisfy all stated deficiencies | ||
shall mean the individual, including any service | ||
member or spouse who has obtained a Professional | ||
Educator License with Stipulations and a provisional | ||
educator endorsement in a specific content area or | ||
areas, is ineligible to receive a Professional | ||
Educator License at that time. An Educator License with | ||
Stipulations endorsed for provisional educator shall | ||
not be renewed for individuals who hold an Educator | ||
License with Stipulations and who have held a position |
in a public school or non-public school recognized by | ||
the State Board of Education. | ||
(B) Alternative provisional educator. An | ||
alternative provisional educator endorsement on an | ||
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an | ||
applicant who, at the time of applying for the | ||
endorsement, has done all of the following: | ||
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited | ||
college or university with a minimum of a | ||
bachelor's degree. | ||
(ii) Successfully completed the first phase of | ||
the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for | ||
Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this | ||
Code. | ||
(iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content | ||
area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this | ||
Code. | ||
The alternative provisional educator endorsement | ||
is valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for | ||
a third year by an individual meeting the requirements | ||
set forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code. | ||
(C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An | ||
alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on | ||
an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the | ||
holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant | ||
superintendent in a school district's central office. |
This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant | ||
who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has | ||
done all of the following: | ||
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited | ||
college or university with a minimum of a master's | ||
degree in a management field other than education. | ||
(ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5 | ||
years in a management level position in a field | ||
other than education. | ||
(iii) Successfully completed the first phase | ||
of an alternative route to superintendent | ||
endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55 | ||
of this Code. | ||
(iv) Passed a test of basic skills and content | ||
area tests required under Section 21B-30 of this | ||
Code. | ||
The endorsement may be registered for 2 fiscal | ||
years in order to complete one full year of serving as | ||
a superintendent or assistant superintendent. | ||
(D) Resident teacher endorsement. A resident | ||
teacher endorsement on an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who, at the | ||
time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of | ||
the following: | ||
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited | ||
institution of higher education with a minimum of a |
bachelor's degree. | ||
(ii) Enrolled in an approved Illinois educator | ||
preparation program. | ||
(iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content | ||
area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this | ||
Code. | ||
The resident teacher endorsement on an Educator | ||
License with Stipulations is valid for 4 years of | ||
teaching and shall not be renewed. | ||
A resident teacher may teach only under the | ||
direction of a licensed teacher, who shall act as the | ||
resident mentor teacher, and may not teach in place of | ||
a licensed teacher.
A resident teacher endorsement on | ||
an Educator License with Stipulations shall no longer | ||
be valid after June 30, 2017. | ||
(E) Career and technical educator. A career and | ||
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License | ||
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has | ||
a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a | ||
regionally accredited institution of higher education | ||
and has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside | ||
of education in each area to be taught. | ||
The career and technical educator endorsement on | ||
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until | ||
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the | ||
endorsement being issued and may be renewed. For |
individuals who were issued the career and technical | ||
educator endorsement on an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations on or after January 1, 2015, the license | ||
may be renewed if the individual passes a test of basic | ||
skills or test of work proficiency, as required under | ||
Section 21B-30 of this Code. | ||
An individual who holds a valid career and | ||
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License | ||
with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree | ||
may substitute teach in career and technical education | ||
classrooms. | ||
(F) Part-time provisional career and technical | ||
educator or provisional career and technical educator. | ||
A part-time provisional career and technical educator | ||
endorsement or a provisional career and technical | ||
educator endorsement on an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a | ||
minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill | ||
for which the applicant is seeking the endorsement. It | ||
is the responsibility of each employing school board | ||
and regional office of education to provide | ||
verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent | ||
of Education at the time the application is submitted | ||
that no qualified teacher holding a Professional | ||
Educator License or an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations with a career and technical educator |
endorsement is available and that actual circumstances | ||
require such issuance. | ||
The provisional career and technical educator | ||
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations | ||
is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of | ||
the endorsement being issued and may be renewed only | ||
one time for 5 years. For individuals who were issued | ||
the provisional career and technical educator | ||
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations | ||
on or after January 1, 2015, the license may be renewed | ||
one time if the individual passes a test of basic | ||
skills or test of work proficiency, as required under | ||
Section 21B-30 of this Code , and has completed a | ||
minimum of 20 semester hours from a regionally | ||
accredited institution . | ||
A part-time provisional career and technical | ||
educator endorsement on an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations may be issued for teaching no more than 2 | ||
courses of study for grades 6 through 12. The part-time | ||
provisional career and technical educator endorsement | ||
on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until | ||
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the | ||
endorsement being issued and may be renewed for 5 years | ||
if the individual makes application for renewal. | ||
An individual who holds a provisional or part-time | ||
provisional career and technical educator endorsement |
on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not | ||
hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in career | ||
and technical education classrooms. | ||
(G) Transitional bilingual educator. A | ||
transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an | ||
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for | ||
the purpose of providing instruction in accordance | ||
with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who | ||
provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all | ||
of the following requirements: | ||
(i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and | ||
writing ability in the language other than English | ||
in which transitional bilingual education is | ||
offered. | ||
(ii) Has the ability to successfully | ||
communicate in English. | ||
(iii) Either possessed, within 5 years | ||
previous to his or her applying for a transitional | ||
bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and | ||
comparable teaching certificate or comparable | ||
authorization issued by a foreign country or holds | ||
a degree from an institution of higher learning in | ||
a foreign country that the State Educator | ||
Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be | ||
the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a | ||
regionally accredited institution of higher |
learning in the United States. | ||
A transitional bilingual educator endorsement | ||
shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12, is | ||
valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of | ||
the endorsement being issued, and shall not be renewed. | ||
Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator | ||
endorsement shall not be employed to replace any | ||
presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be | ||
replaced for any reason. | ||
(H) Language endorsement. In an effort to | ||
alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language | ||
other than English in the public schools, an individual | ||
who holds an Educator License with Stipulations may | ||
also apply for a language endorsement, provided that | ||
the applicant provides satisfactory evidence that he | ||
or she meets all of the following requirements: | ||
(i) Holds a transitional bilingual | ||
endorsement. | ||
(ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the | ||
language for which the endorsement is to be issued | ||
by passing the applicable language content test | ||
required by the State Board of Education. | ||
(iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from | ||
a regionally accredited institution of higher | ||
education or, for individuals educated in a | ||
country other than the United States, holds a |
degree from an institution of higher learning in a | ||
foreign country that the State Educator | ||
Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be | ||
the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a | ||
regionally accredited institution of higher | ||
learning in the United States. | ||
(iv) Has passed a test of basic skills, as | ||
required under Section 21B-30 of this Code. | ||
A language endorsement on an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through | ||
grade 12 for the same validity period as the | ||
individual's transitional bilingual educator | ||
endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations | ||
and shall not be renewed. | ||
(I) Visiting international educator. A visiting | ||
international educator endorsement on an Educator | ||
License with Stipulations may be issued to an | ||
individual who is being recruited by a particular | ||
school district that conducts formal recruitment | ||
programs outside of the United States to secure the | ||
services of qualified teachers and who meets all of the | ||
following requirements: | ||
(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a | ||
bachelor's degree issued in the United States. | ||
(ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the | ||
grade level for which he or she will be employed. |
(iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the | ||
subject to be taught. | ||
(iv) Has an adequate command of the English | ||
language. | ||
A holder of a visiting international educator | ||
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations | ||
shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education | ||
programs in the language that was the medium of | ||
instruction in his or her teacher preparation program, | ||
provided that he or she passes the English Language | ||
Proficiency Examination or another test of writing | ||
skills in English identified by the State Board of | ||
Education, in consultation with the State Educator | ||
Preparation and Licensure Board. | ||
A visiting international educator endorsement on | ||
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 3 | ||
years and shall not be renewed. | ||
(J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional | ||
educator endorsement on an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a | ||
high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and | ||
either holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60 | ||
semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited | ||
institution of higher education or has passed a test of | ||
basic skills required under Section 21B-30 of this | ||
Code. The paraprofessional educator endorsement is |
valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of | ||
the endorsement being issued and may be renewed through | ||
application and payment of the appropriate fee, as | ||
required under Section 21B-40 of this Code. An | ||
individual who holds only a paraprofessional educator | ||
endorsement is not subject to additional requirements | ||
in order to renew the endorsement. | ||
(K) Chief school business official. A chief school | ||
business official endorsement on an Educator License | ||
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who | ||
qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2 | ||
years of full-time administrative experience in school | ||
business management or 2 years of university-approved | ||
practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester | ||
hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the | ||
State Board of Education for the preparation of school | ||
business administrators and by passage of the | ||
applicable State tests, including a test of basic | ||
skills and applicable content area test. | ||
The chief school business official endorsement may | ||
also be affixed to the Educator License with | ||
Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a | ||
master's degree in business administration, finance, | ||
or accounting and who completes an additional 6 | ||
semester hours of internship in school business | ||
management from a regionally accredited institution of |
higher education and passes the applicable State | ||
tests, including a test of basic skills and applicable | ||
content area test. This endorsement shall be required | ||
for any individual employed as a chief school business | ||
official. | ||
The chief school business official endorsement on | ||
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until | ||
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the | ||
endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the | ||
license holder completes renewal requirements as | ||
required for individuals who hold a Professional | ||
Educator License endorsed for chief school business | ||
official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such | ||
rules as may be adopted by the State Board of | ||
Education. | ||
(L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional | ||
in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License | ||
with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has | ||
completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation | ||
program at an Illinois institution of higher education | ||
and who has not successfully completed an | ||
evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but | ||
who meets all of the following requirements: | ||
(i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree. | ||
(ii) Has completed an approved educator | ||
preparation program at an Illinois institution. |
(iii) Has passed a test of basic skills and | ||
applicable content area test, as required by | ||
Section 21B-30 of this Code. | ||
(iv) Has attempted an evidence-based | ||
assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a | ||
minimum score on that assessment, as established | ||
by the State Board of Education in consultation | ||
with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure | ||
Board. | ||
A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an | ||
Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one | ||
full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not | ||
be renewed. | ||
(3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching | ||
License may be issued to qualified applicants for | ||
substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, | ||
prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching | ||
Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for | ||
a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's degree | ||
or higher from a regionally accredited institution of | ||
higher education. | ||
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years. | ||
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute | ||
teaching in every county of this State. If an individual | ||
has had his or her Professional Educator License or | ||
Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked or |
has not met the renewal requirements for licensure, then | ||
that individual is not eligible to obtain a Substitute | ||
Teaching License. | ||
A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a | ||
licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing | ||
board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under | ||
contract because of an emergency situation, then a district | ||
may employ a substitute teacher for no longer than 30 | ||
calendar days per each vacant position in the district if | ||
the district notifies the appropriate regional office of | ||
education within 5 business days after the employment of | ||
the substitute teacher in the emergency situation. An | ||
emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy | ||
has occurred and (i) a teacher is unable to fulfill his or | ||
her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of | ||
the district exceed previous indications, and the district | ||
is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed | ||
teacher for the vacant position. | ||
There is no limit on the number of days that a | ||
substitute teacher may teach in a single school district, | ||
provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer | ||
than 90 school days for any one licensed teacher under | ||
contract in the same school year. A substitute teacher who | ||
holds a Professional Educator License or Educator License | ||
with Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school | ||
days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the |
same school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on | ||
the number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do | ||
not apply to any school district operating under Article 34 | ||
of this Code.
| ||
(Source: P.A. 98-28, eff. 7-1-13; 98-751, eff. 1-1-15; 99-35, | ||
eff. 1-1-16; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-642, | ||
eff. 7-28-16; 99-920, eff. 1-6-17.) | ||
(105 ILCS 5/21B-25) | ||
Sec. 21B-25. Endorsement on licenses. All licenses issued | ||
under paragraph (1) of Section 21B-20 of this Code shall be | ||
specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each | ||
content area, school support area, and administrative area for | ||
which the holder of the license is qualified. Recognized | ||
institutions approved to offer educator preparation programs | ||
shall be trained to add endorsements to licenses issued to | ||
applicants who meet all of the requirements for the endorsement | ||
or endorsements, including passing any required tests. The | ||
State Superintendent of Education shall randomly audit | ||
institutions to ensure that all rules and standards are being | ||
followed for entitlement or when endorsements are being | ||
recommended. | ||
(1) The State Board of Education, in consultation with | ||
the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall | ||
establish, by rule, the grade level and subject area | ||
endorsements to be added to the Professional Educator |
License. These rules shall outline the requirements for | ||
obtaining each endorsement. | ||
(2) In addition to any and all grade level and content | ||
area endorsements developed by rule, the State Board of | ||
Education, in consultation with the State Educator | ||
Preparation and Licensure Board, shall develop the | ||
requirements for the following endorsements: | ||
(A) General administrative endorsement. A general | ||
administrative endorsement shall be added to a | ||
Professional Educator License, provided that an | ||
approved program has been completed. An individual | ||
holding a general administrative endorsement may work | ||
only as a principal or assistant principal or in a | ||
related or similar position, as determined by the State | ||
Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the | ||
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. | ||
Beginning on September 1, 2014, the general | ||
administrative endorsement shall no longer be issued | ||
except to individuals who completed all coursework | ||
requirements for the receipt of the general | ||
administrative endorsement by September 1, 2014, who | ||
have completed all testing requirements by June 30, | ||
2016, and who apply for the endorsement on or before | ||
June 30, 2016. Individuals who hold a valid and | ||
registered administrative certificate with a general | ||
administrative endorsement issued under Section 21-7.1 |
of this Code or a Professional Educator License with a | ||
general administrative endorsement issued prior to | ||
September 1, 2014 and who have served for at least one | ||
full year during the 5 years prior in a position | ||
requiring a general administrative endorsement shall, | ||
upon request to the State Board of Education and | ||
through July 1, 2015, have their respective general | ||
administrative endorsement converted to a principal | ||
endorsement on the Professional Educator License. | ||
Candidates shall not be admitted to an approved general | ||
administrative preparation program after September 1, | ||
2012. | ||
All other individuals holding a valid and | ||
registered administrative certificate with a general | ||
administrative endorsement issued pursuant to Section | ||
21-7.1 of this Code or a general administrative | ||
endorsement on a Professional Educator License issued | ||
prior to September 1, 2014 shall have the general | ||
administrative endorsement converted to a principal | ||
endorsement on a Professional Educator License upon | ||
request to the State Board of Education and by | ||
completing one of the following pathways: | ||
(i) Passage of the State principal assessment | ||
developed by the State Board of Education. | ||
(ii) Through July 1, 2019, completion of an | ||
Illinois Educators' Academy course designated by |
the State Superintendent of Education. | ||
(iii) Completion of a principal preparation | ||
program established and approved pursuant to | ||
Section 21B-60 of this Code and applicable rules. | ||
Individuals who do not choose to convert the | ||
general administrative endorsement on the | ||
administrative certificate issued pursuant to Section | ||
21-7.1 of this Code or on the Professional Educator | ||
License shall continue to be able to serve in any | ||
position previously allowed under paragraph (2) of | ||
subsection (e) of Section 21-7.1 of this Code. | ||
The general administrative endorsement on the | ||
Professional Educator License is available only to | ||
individuals who, prior to September 1, 2014, had such | ||
an endorsement on the administrative certificate | ||
issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or who | ||
already have a Professional Educator License and have | ||
completed a general administrative program and who do | ||
not choose to convert the general administrative | ||
endorsement to a principal endorsement pursuant to the | ||
options in this Section. | ||
(B) Principal endorsement. A principal endorsement | ||
shall be affixed to a Professional Educator License of | ||
any holder who qualifies by having all of the | ||
following: | ||
(i) Successful completion of a principal |
preparation program approved in accordance with | ||
Section 21B-60 of this Code and any applicable | ||
rules. | ||
(ii) At least 4 total years of teaching or, | ||
until June 30, 2021, 4 total years of working in | ||
the capacity of school support personnel in an | ||
Illinois public school or nonpublic school | ||
recognized by the State Board of Education or in an | ||
out-of-state public school or out-of-state | ||
nonpublic school meeting out-of-state recognition | ||
standards comparable to those approved by the | ||
State Superintendent of Education; however, the | ||
State Board of Education, in consultation with the | ||
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, | ||
shall allow, by rules, for fewer than 4 years of | ||
experience based on meeting standards set forth in | ||
such rules, including without limitation a review | ||
of performance evaluations or other evidence of | ||
demonstrated qualifications. | ||
(iii) A master's degree or higher from a | ||
regionally accredited college or university. | ||
(C) Chief school business official endorsement. A | ||
chief school business official endorsement shall be | ||
affixed to the Professional Educator License of any | ||
holder who qualifies by having a master's degree or | ||
higher, 2 years of full-time administrative experience |
in school business management or 2 years of | ||
university-approved practical experience, and a | ||
minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate credit in a | ||
program approved by the State Board of Education for | ||
the preparation of school business administrators and | ||
by passage of the applicable State tests. The chief | ||
school business official endorsement may also be | ||
affixed to the Professional Educator License of any | ||
holder who qualifies by having a master's degree in | ||
business administration, finance, or accounting and | ||
who completes an additional 6 semester hours of | ||
internship in school business management from a | ||
regionally accredited institution of higher education | ||
and passes the applicable State tests. This | ||
endorsement shall be required for any individual | ||
employed as a chief school business official. | ||
(D) Superintendent endorsement. A superintendent | ||
endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional | ||
Educator License of any holder who has completed a | ||
program approved by the State Board of Education for | ||
the preparation of superintendents of schools, has had | ||
at least 2 years of experience employed full-time in a | ||
general administrative position or as a full-time | ||
principal, director of special education, or chief | ||
school business official in the public schools or in a | ||
State-recognized nonpublic school in which the chief |
administrator is required to have the licensure | ||
necessary to be a principal in a public school in this | ||
State and where a majority of the teachers are required | ||
to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a | ||
public school in this State, and has passed the | ||
required State tests; or of any holder who has | ||
completed a program that is not an Illinois-approved | ||
educator preparation program at an Illinois | ||
institution of higher education and that has | ||
recognition standards comparable to those approved by | ||
the State Superintendent of Education and holds the | ||
general administrative, principal, or chief school | ||
business official endorsement and who has had 2 years | ||
of experience as a principal, director of special | ||
education, or chief school business official while | ||
holding a valid educator license or certificate | ||
comparable in validity and educational and experience | ||
requirements and has passed the appropriate State | ||
tests, as provided in Section 21B-30 of this Code. The | ||
superintendent endorsement shall allow individuals to | ||
serve only as a superintendent or assistant | ||
superintendent. | ||
(E) Teacher leader endorsement. It shall be the | ||
policy of this State to improve the quality of | ||
instructional leaders by providing a career pathway | ||
for teachers interested in serving in leadership |
roles, but not as principals. The State Board of | ||
Education, in consultation with the State Educator | ||
Preparation and Licensure Board, may issue a teacher | ||
leader endorsement under this subdivision (E). Persons | ||
who meet and successfully complete the requirements of | ||
the endorsement shall be issued a teacher leader | ||
endorsement on the Professional Educator License for | ||
serving in schools in this State. Teacher leaders may | ||
qualify to serve in such positions as department | ||
chairs, coaches, mentors, curriculum and instruction | ||
leaders, or other leadership positions as defined by | ||
the district. The endorsement shall be available to | ||
those teachers who (i) hold a Professional Educator | ||
License, (ii) hold a master's degree or higher from a | ||
regionally accredited institution, (iii) have | ||
completed a program of study that has been approved by | ||
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the | ||
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and | ||
(iv) have successfully demonstrated competencies as | ||
defined by rule. | ||
A teacher who meets the requirements set forth in | ||
this Section and holds a teacher leader endorsement may | ||
evaluate teachers pursuant to Section 24A-5 of this | ||
Code, provided that the individual has completed the | ||
evaluation component required by Section 24A-3 of this | ||
Code and a teacher leader is allowed to evaluate |
personnel under the respective school district's | ||
collective bargaining agreement. | ||
The State Board of Education, in consultation with | ||
the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, | ||
may adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish | ||
and implement the teacher leader endorsement program | ||
and to specify the positions for which this endorsement | ||
shall be required. | ||
(F) Special education endorsement. A special | ||
education endorsement in one or more areas shall be | ||
affixed to a Professional Educator License for any | ||
individual that meets those requirements established | ||
by the State Board of Education in rules. Special | ||
education endorsement areas shall include without | ||
limitation the following: | ||
(i) Learning Behavior Specialist I; | ||
(ii) Learning Behavior Specialist II; | ||
(iii) Speech Language Pathologist; | ||
(iv) Blind or Visually Impaired; | ||
(v) Deaf-Hard of Hearing; and | ||
(vi) Early Childhood Special Education ; and . | ||
(vii) Director of Special Education. | ||
Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, | ||
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the | ||
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may | ||
add additional areas of special education by rule. |
(G) School support personnel endorsement. School | ||
support personnel endorsement areas shall include, but | ||
are not limited to, school counselor, marriage and | ||
family therapist, school psychologist, school speech | ||
and language pathologist, school nurse, and school | ||
social worker. This endorsement is for individuals who | ||
are not teachers or administrators, but still require | ||
licensure to work in an instructional support position | ||
in a public or State-operated elementary school, | ||
secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement | ||
with a governing body or board of control or a charter | ||
school operating in compliance with the Charter | ||
Schools Law. The school support personnel endorsement | ||
shall be affixed to the Professional Educator License | ||
and shall meet all of the requirements established in | ||
any rules adopted to implement this subdivision (G). | ||
The holder of such an endorsement is entitled to all of | ||
the rights and privileges granted holders of any other | ||
Professional Educator License, including teacher | ||
benefits, compensation, and working conditions.
| ||
Beginning on January 1, 2014 and ending on April | ||
30, 2014, a person holding a Professional Educator | ||
License with a school speech and language pathologist | ||
(teaching) endorsement may exchange his or her school | ||
speech and language pathologist (teaching) endorsement | ||
for a school speech and language pathologist |
(non-teaching) endorsement through application to the | ||
State Board of Education. There shall be no cost for | ||
this exchange. | ||
(Source: P.A. 98-413, eff. 8-16-13; 98-610, eff. 12-27-13; | ||
98-872, eff. 8-11-14; 98-917, eff. 8-15-14; 98-1147, eff. | ||
12-31-14; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-623, eff. 7-22-16; 99-920, | ||
eff. 1-6-17; revised 1-23-17.) | ||
(105 ILCS 5/21B-35) | ||
Sec. 21B-35. Minimum requirements for educators trained in | ||
other states or countries. | ||
(a) All applicants who have not been entitled by an | ||
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois | ||
institution of higher education applying for a Professional | ||
Educator License endorsed in a teaching field or school support | ||
personnel area must meet all of the following requirements: | ||
(1) Hold a comparable and valid educator license or | ||
certificate with similar grade level and subject matter | ||
credentials from another state. The State Board of | ||
Education shall have the authority to determine what | ||
constitutes similar grade level and subject matter | ||
credentials from another state. A comparable educator | ||
license or certificate is one that demonstrates that the | ||
license or certificate holder meets similar requirements | ||
as candidates entitled by an Illinois-approved educator | ||
preparation program in teaching or school support |
personnel areas concerning coursework aligned to standards | ||
concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional | ||
child, methods of reading and reading in the content area, | ||
and instructional strategies for English learners. An | ||
applicant who holds a comparable and valid educator license | ||
or certificate from another state must submit verification | ||
to the State Board of Education that the applicant has | ||
completed coursework concerning methods of instruction of | ||
the exceptional child, methods of reading and reading in | ||
the content area, and instructional strategies for English | ||
learners. | ||
(2) Have a degree from a regionally accredited | ||
institution of higher education and the degreed major or a | ||
constructed major must directly correspond to the license | ||
or endorsement sought . | ||
(3) (Blank). | ||
(4) (Blank). | ||
(5) (Blank). | ||
(6) Have successfully met all Illinois examination | ||
requirements. Applicants who have successfully completed a | ||
test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at the time of | ||
initial licensure in another state shall not be required to | ||
complete a test of basic skills. Applicants who have | ||
successfully completed a test of content, as defined by | ||
rules, at the time of initial licensure in another state | ||
shall not be required to complete a test of content. |
Applicants for a teaching endorsement who have | ||
successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of | ||
teacher effectiveness, as defined by rules, at the time of | ||
initial licensure in another state shall not be required to | ||
complete an evidence-based assessment of teacher | ||
effectiveness. | ||
(7) For applicants for a teaching endorsement, have | ||
completed student teaching or an equivalent experience or, | ||
for applicants for a school service personnel endorsement, | ||
have completed an internship or an equivalent experience. | ||
If one or more of the criteria in this subsection (a) are | ||
not met, then applicants who have not been entitled by an | ||
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois | ||
institution of higher education who hold a valid, comparable | ||
certificate from another state may qualify for a provisional | ||
educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations, | ||
in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code. | ||
(b) In order to receive a Professional Educator License | ||
endorsed in a teaching field, applicants trained in another | ||
country must meet all of the following requirements: | ||
(1) Have completed a comparable education program in | ||
another country. | ||
(2) Have had transcripts evaluated by an evaluation | ||
service approved by the State Superintendent of Education. | ||
(3) Have a degree comparable to a degree from a | ||
regionally accredited institution of higher education. |
Hold a degreed major that must directly correspond to the | ||
license or endorsement sought. | ||
(4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards | ||
concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional | ||
child, methods of reading and reading in the content area, | ||
and instructional strategies for English learners. | ||
(Blank). | ||
(5) (Blank). | ||
(6) (Blank). | ||
(7) Have successfully met all State licensure | ||
examination requirements. Applicants who have successfully | ||
completed a test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at | ||
the time of initial licensure in another country shall not | ||
be required to complete a test of basic skills. Applicants | ||
who have successfully completed a test of content, as | ||
defined by rules, at the time of initial licensure in | ||
another country shall not be required to complete a test of | ||
content. Applicants for a teaching endorsement who have | ||
successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of | ||
teacher effectiveness, as defined by rules, at the time of | ||
initial licensure in another country shall not be required | ||
to complete an evidence-based assessment of teacher | ||
effectiveness. | ||
(8) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent | ||
experience. | ||
(b-5) All applicants who have not been entitled by an |
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois | ||
institution of higher education and applicants trained in | ||
another country applying for a Professional Educator License | ||
endorsed for principal or superintendent must meet all of the | ||
following requirements: | ||
(1) Have completed an educator preparation program | ||
approved by another state or comparable educator program in | ||
another country leading to the receipt of a license or | ||
certificate for the Illinois endorsement sought. | ||
(2) Have successfully met all State licensure | ||
examination requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of | ||
this Code. Applicants who have successfully completed a | ||
test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at the time of | ||
initial licensure in another state or country shall not be | ||
required to complete a test of basic skills. Applicants who | ||
have successfully completed a test of content, as defined | ||
by rules, at the time of initial licensure in another state | ||
or country shall not be required to complete a test of | ||
content. | ||
(3) (Blank). | ||
(4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards | ||
concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional | ||
child, methods of reading and reading in the content area, | ||
and instructional strategies for English learners. | ||
(5) Have completed a master's degree. | ||
(6) Have successfully completed teaching, school |
support, or administrative experience as defined by rule. | ||
A provisional educator endorsement to serve as a | ||
superintendent or principal may be affixed to an Educator | ||
License with Stipulations in accordance with Section 21B-20 of | ||
this Code. | ||
(b-7) All applicants who have not been entitled by an | ||
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois | ||
institution of higher education applying for a Professional | ||
Educator License endorsed for Director of Special Education | ||
must meet all of the following requirements: | ||
(1) Have completed a master's degree. | ||
(2) Have 2 years of full-time experience providing | ||
special education services. | ||
(3) Have successfully completed all examination | ||
requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code. | ||
Applicants who have successfully completed a test of | ||
content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial | ||
licensure in another state or country shall not be required | ||
to complete a test of content. | ||
(4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards | ||
concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional | ||
child, methods of reading and reading in the content area, | ||
and instructional strategies for English learners. | ||
A provisional educator endorsement to serve as Director of | ||
Special Education may be affixed to an Educator License with | ||
Stipulations in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code. |
(b-10) All applicants who have not been entitled by an | ||
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois | ||
institution of higher education applying for a Professional | ||
Educator License endorsed for chief school business official | ||
must meet all of the following requirements: | ||
(1) Have completed a master's degree in school business | ||
management, finance, or accounting. | ||
(2) Have successfully completed an internship in | ||
school business management or have 2 years of experience as | ||
a school business administrator. | ||
(3) Have successfully met all State examination | ||
requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code. | ||
Applicants who have successfully completed a test of | ||
content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial | ||
licensure in another state or country shall not be required | ||
to complete a test of content. | ||
(4) Have successfully completed modules aligned to | ||
standards concerning methods of instruction of the | ||
exceptional child, methods of reading and reading in the | ||
content area, and instructional strategies for English | ||
learners in reading methods, special education, and | ||
English Learners . | ||
A provisional educator endorsement to serve as a chief | ||
school business official may be affixed to an Educator License | ||
with Stipulations. | ||
(c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the |
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such | ||
rules as may be necessary to implement this Section.
| ||
(Source: P.A. 98-581, eff. 8-27-13; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15; | ||
99-920, eff. 1-6-17.) | ||
(105 ILCS 5/21B-45) | ||
Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal. | ||
(a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License | ||
are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as | ||
specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this | ||
Code. | ||
Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall | ||
meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section, unless | ||
otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds a | ||
license endorsed in more than one area that has different | ||
renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal | ||
requirements for the position for which he or she spends the | ||
majority of his or her time working. | ||
(b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as | ||
provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that | ||
year. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon (i) | ||
payment by the applicant of a $500 penalty to the State Board | ||
of Education or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by | ||
completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally | ||
accredited institution of higher education in the content area | ||
that most aligns with one or more of the educator's endorsement |
areas. Any and all back fees, including without limitation | ||
registration fees owed from the time of expiration of the | ||
license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid and kept | ||
in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this Code | ||
concerning an institute fund and the provisions in Article 21B | ||
of this Code concerning fees and requirements for registration. | ||
Licenses not registered in accordance with Section 21B-40 of | ||
this Code shall lapse after a period of 6 months from the | ||
expiration of the last year of registration or on January 1 of | ||
the fiscal year following initial issuance of the license . An | ||
unregistered license is invalid after September 1 for | ||
employment and performance of services in an Illinois public or | ||
State-operated school or cooperative and in a charter school. | ||
Any license or endorsement may be voluntarily surrendered by | ||
the license holder. A voluntarily surrendered license, except a | ||
substitute teaching license issued under Section 21B-20 of this | ||
Code, shall be treated as a revoked license. An Educator | ||
License with Stipulations with only a paraprofessional | ||
endorsement does not lapse.
| ||
(c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to | ||
satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in | ||
this Section, each professional educator licensee with an | ||
administrative endorsement who is working in a position | ||
requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois | ||
Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of | ||
this Code, per fiscal year. |
(d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the | ||
requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this | ||
Section, each professional educator licensee may create a | ||
professional development plan each year. The plan shall address | ||
one or more of the endorsements that are required of his or her | ||
educator position if the licensee is employed and performing | ||
services in an Illinois public or State-operated school or | ||
cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a charter school, | ||
the plan shall address that endorsement or those endorsements | ||
most closely related to his or her educator position. Licensees | ||
employed and performing services in any other Illinois schools | ||
may participate in the renewal requirements by adhering to the | ||
same process. | ||
Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the | ||
licensee's professional development activities shall align | ||
with one or more of the following criteria: | ||
(1) activities are of a type that engage participants | ||
over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis, | ||
discovery, and application as they relate to student | ||
learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being; | ||
(2) professional development aligns to the licensee's | ||
performance; | ||
(3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student | ||
growth or district improvement; | ||
(4) activities align to State-approved standards;
and | ||
(5) higher education coursework. |
(e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator | ||
licensee shall engage in professional development activities. | ||
Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into | ||
the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name, | ||
date, and location of the activity, the number of professional | ||
development hours, and the provider's name. The following | ||
provisions shall apply concerning professional development | ||
activities: | ||
(1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours | ||
of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in | ||
order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided in | ||
this Section. | ||
(2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle, | ||
any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not | ||
working in a position requiring such endorsement is not | ||
required to shall complete one Illinois Administrators' | ||
Academy courses course , as described in Article 2 of this | ||
Code , in each 5-year renewal cycle in which the | ||
administrative endorsement was held for at least one year. | ||
The Illinois Administrators' Academy course may count | ||
toward the total of 120 hours per 5-year cycle . Such | ||
licensees must complete one Illinois Administrators' | ||
Academy course within one year after returning to a | ||
position that requires the administrative endorsement. | ||
(3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement | ||
who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or |
an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in | ||
an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall | ||
complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as | ||
described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in | ||
addition to 100 hours of professional development per | ||
5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code. | ||
(4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for | ||
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher | ||
designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of | ||
professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order | ||
to renew the license. | ||
(5) Licensees working in a position that does not | ||
require educator licensure or working in a position for | ||
less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be | ||
exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration | ||
fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the | ||
license. | ||
(6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits | ||
from a State retirement system shall notify the State Board | ||
of Education using ELIS, and the license shall be | ||
maintained in retired status. For any renewal cycle in | ||
which a licensee retires during the renewal cycle, the | ||
licensee must complete professional development activities | ||
on a prorated basis depending on the number of years during | ||
the renewal cycle the educator held an active license. If a | ||
licensee retires during a renewal cycle, the licensee must |
notify the State Board of Education using ELIS that the | ||
licensee wishes to maintain the license in retired status | ||
and must show proof of completion of professional | ||
development activities on a prorated basis for all years of | ||
that renewal cycle for which the license was active. An | ||
individual with a license in retired status shall not be | ||
required to complete professional development activities | ||
or pay registration fees until returning to a position that | ||
requires educator licensure. Upon returning to work in a | ||
position that requires the Professional Educator License, | ||
the licensee shall immediately pay a registration fee and | ||
complete renewal requirements for that year. A license in | ||
retired status cannot lapse. Beginning on January 6, 2017 | ||
( the effective date of Public Act 99-920) this amendatory | ||
Act of the 99th General Assembly through December 31, 2017, | ||
any licensee who has retired and whose license has lapsed | ||
for failure to renew as provided in this Section may | ||
reinstate that license and maintain it in retired status | ||
upon providing proof to the State Board of Education using | ||
ELIS that the licensee is retired and is not working in a | ||
position that requires a Professional Educator License. | ||
(7) For any renewal cycle in which professional | ||
development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the | ||
licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the | ||
minimum professional development hours required in this | ||
Section prior to September 1 of that year. For any fiscal |
year or renewal cycle in which an Illinois Administrators' | ||
Academy course was required but not completed, the licensee | ||
shall complete any missed Illinois Administrators' Academy | ||
courses prior to September 1 of that year. The licensee may | ||
complete all deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' | ||
Academy courses while continuing to work in a position that | ||
requires that license until September 1 of that year. | ||
(8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the professional | ||
development renewal requirements set forth in this Section | ||
at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is ineligible to | ||
register his or her license and may submit an appeal to the | ||
State Superintendent of Education for reinstatement of the | ||
license. | ||
(9) If professional development opportunities were | ||
unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were | ||
unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond | ||
August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be | ||
submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the | ||
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an | ||
extension is approved, the license shall remain valid | ||
during the extension period. | ||
(10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to | ||
December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-610) | ||
shall commence the annual renewal process with the first | ||
scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013 (the | ||
effective date of Public Act 98-610). |
(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this | ||
subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required | ||
number of professional development hours during a renewal | ||
cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned | ||
from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the | ||
renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must | ||
be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois | ||
Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those | ||
courses may not be carried over. | ||
(f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to | ||
the required questions under penalty of perjury. | ||
(g) The following entities shall be designated as approved | ||
to provide professional development activities for the renewal | ||
of Professional Educator Licenses: | ||
(1) The State Board of Education. | ||
(2) Regional offices of education and intermediate | ||
service centers. | ||
(3) Illinois professional associations representing | ||
the following groups that are approved by the State | ||
Superintendent of Education: | ||
(A) school administrators; | ||
(B) principals; | ||
(C) school business officials; | ||
(D) teachers, including special education | ||
teachers; | ||
(E) school boards; |
(F) school districts; | ||
(G) parents; and | ||
(H) school service personnel. | ||
(4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher | ||
education that offer Illinois-approved educator | ||
preparation programs and public community colleges subject | ||
to the Public Community College Act. | ||
(5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools | ||
authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint | ||
educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this | ||
Code for the purposes of providing career and technical | ||
education or special education services. | ||
(6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December | ||
31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has | ||
had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board | ||
of Education to provide professional development services | ||
in the area of English Learning to Illinois school | ||
districts, teachers, or administrators. | ||
(7) State agencies, State boards, and State | ||
commissions. | ||
(8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum | ||
Disposition of Property Act. | ||
(h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section | ||
shall make available professional development opportunities | ||
that satisfy at least one of the following: | ||
(1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and |
district leaders who guide continuous professional | ||
development; | ||
(2) improve the learning of students; | ||
(3) organize adults into learning communities whose | ||
goals are aligned with those of the school and district; | ||
(4) deepen educator's content knowledge; | ||
(5) provide educators with research-based | ||
instructional strategies to assist students in meeting | ||
rigorous academic standards; | ||
(6) prepare educators to appropriately use various | ||
types of classroom assessments; | ||
(7) use learning strategies appropriate to the | ||
intended goals; | ||
(8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to | ||
collaborate; or | ||
(9) prepare educators to apply research to | ||
decision-making. | ||
(i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section | ||
shall do the following: | ||
(1) align professional development activities to the | ||
State-approved national standards for professional | ||
learning; | ||
(2) meet the professional development criteria for | ||
Illinois licensure renewal; | ||
(3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains | ||
how it aligns to State standards and identify the |
assessment for determining the expected impact on student | ||
learning or school improvement; | ||
(4) maintain original documentation for completion of | ||
activities; and | ||
(5) provide license holders with evidence of | ||
completion of activities. | ||
(j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual | ||
audits of a subset of approved providers, except for school | ||
districts, which shall be audited by regional offices of | ||
education and intermediate service centers. Each approved | ||
provider, except for school districts, that is audited by a | ||
regional office of education or intermediate service center | ||
must be audited at least once every 5 years. The State Board of | ||
Education shall complete random audits of licensees. | ||
(1) Approved providers shall annually submit to the | ||
State Board of Education a list of subcontractors used for | ||
delivery of professional development activities for which | ||
renewal credit was issued and other information as defined | ||
by rule. | ||
(2) Approved providers shall annually submit data to | ||
the State Board of Education demonstrating how the | ||
professional development activities impacted one or more | ||
of the following: | ||
(A) educator and student growth in regards to | ||
content knowledge or skills, or both; | ||
(B) educator and student social and emotional |
growth; or | ||
(C) alignment to district or school improvement | ||
plans. | ||
(3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review | ||
the annual data collected by the State Board of Education, | ||
regional offices of education, and intermediate service | ||
centers in audits to determine if the approved provider has | ||
met the criteria and should continue to be an approved | ||
provider or if further action should be taken as provided | ||
in rules. | ||
(k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal | ||
cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each | ||
5-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional | ||
development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed and | ||
entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the | ||
registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or | ||
debit card. | ||
(l) Any Beginning July 1, 2014, any professional educator | ||
licensee endorsed for school support personnel who is employed | ||
and performing services in Illinois public schools and who | ||
holds an active and current professional license issued by the | ||
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or a | ||
national certification board, as approved by the State Board of | ||
Education, related to the endorsement areas on the Professional | ||
Educator License shall be deemed to have satisfied the | ||
continuing professional development requirements provided for |
in this Section. Such individuals shall be required to pay only | ||
registration fees to renew the Professional Educator License. | ||
An individual who does not hold a license issued by the | ||
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall | ||
complete professional development requirements for the renewal | ||
of a Professional Educator License provided for in this | ||
Section. | ||
(m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure | ||
Board
must be made within 30 days after receipt of notice from | ||
the State Superintendent of Education that a license will not | ||
be renewed based upon failure to complete the requirements of | ||
this Section. A licensee may appeal that decision to the State | ||
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in a manner prescribed | ||
by rule. | ||
(1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State | ||
Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be | ||
sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the | ||
State Board of Education. | ||
(2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board | ||
shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license | ||
within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to | ||
determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of | ||
this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure | ||
Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its | ||
determination based upon the record of review, which shall | ||
consist of the following: |
(A) the regional superintendent of education's | ||
rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license, | ||
if applicable; | ||
(B) any evidence submitted to the State | ||
Superintendent along with the individual's electronic | ||
statement of assurance for renewal; and | ||
(C) the State Superintendent's rationale for | ||
nonrenewal of the license. | ||
(3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board | ||
shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding license | ||
renewal by certified mail, return receipt requested, no | ||
later than 30 days after reaching a decision. Upon receipt | ||
of notification of renewal, the licensee, using ELIS, shall | ||
pay the applicable registration fee for the next cycle | ||
using a form of credit or debit card. | ||
(n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be | ||
necessary to implement this Section. | ||
(Source: P.A. 98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 98-1147, eff. 12-31-14; | ||
99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-130, eff. 7-24-15; 99-591, eff. 1-1-17; | ||
99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 99-920, eff. 1-6-17; revised 1-23-17.)
| ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2017.
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