Public Act 93-0081

HB0210 Enrolled                      LRB093 03786 NHT 03821 b

    AN ACT concerning education.

    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 21-14 as follows:

    (105 ILCS 5/21-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-14)
    Sec. 21-14. Registration and renewal of certificates.
    (a)  A limited four-year  certificate  or  a  certificate
issued  after  July  1,  1955,  shall  be  renewable  at  its
expiration  or  within  60  days  thereafter  by  the  county
superintendent of schools having supervision and control over
the  school  where  the  teacher  is  teaching upon certified
evidence of meeting the requirements for renewal as  required
by this Act and prescribed by the State Board of Education in
consultation  with the State Teacher Certification Board.  An
elementary supervisory certificate shall not  be  renewed  at
the  end  of  the  first  four-year  period  covered  by  the
certificate  unless  the  holder  thereof has filed certified
evidence with the State Teacher Certification Board  that  he
has  a master's degree or that he has earned 8 semester hours
of credit in the  field  of  educational  administration  and
supervision  in  a recognized institution of higher learning.
The holder shall continue to earn 8 semester hours of  credit
each  four-year  period  until  such  time as he has earned a
master's degree.
    All certificates not  renewed  or  registered  as  herein
provided  shall  lapse  after  a  period  of 5 years from the
expiration  of  the  last   year   of   registration.    Such
certificates  may  be  reinstated  for a one year period upon
payment  of  all   accumulated   registration   fees.    Such
reinstated certificates shall only be renewed: (1) by earning
5  semester  hours  of  credit in a recognized institution of
higher learning in the field of professional education or  in
courses  related to the holder's contractual teaching duties;
or (2) by presenting evidence  of  holding  a  valid  regular
certificate  of  some  other  type.   Any  certificate may be
voluntarily  surrendered  by  the  certificate   holder.    A
voluntarily  surrendered  certificate  shall  be treated as a
revoked certificate.
    (b)  When  those  teaching  certificates  issued   before
February  15,  2000  are  renewed  for  the  first time after
February 15, 2000, all such teaching  certificates  shall  be
exchanged  for  Standard Teaching Certificates as provided in
subsection (c) of Section 21-2.   All  Initial  and  Standard
Teaching  Certificates, including those issued to persons who
previously held teaching certificates issued before  February
15,  2000,  shall be renewable under the conditions set forth
in this subsection (b).
    Initial Teaching Certificates are  nonrenewable  and  are
valid for 4 years of teaching. Standard Teaching Certificates
are  renewable every 5 years as provided in subsection (c) of
Section 21-2  and  subsection  (c)  of  this  Section.    For
purposes of this Section, "teaching" is defined as employment
and   performance  of  services  in  an  Illinois  public  or
State-operated  elementary  school,  secondary   school,   or
cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
of control, in a certificated teaching position, or a charter
school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law.
    (c)  In compliance with subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
this   Code,   which   provides   that  a  Standard  Teaching
Certificate may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification
Board   based   upon   proof   of   continuing   professional
development, the State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State
Teacher Certification Board shall jointly:
         (1)  establish  a  procedure  for  renewing Standard
    Teaching Certificates, which shall  include  but  not  be
    limited  to  annual timelines for the renewal process and
    the components set forth in subsections (d)  through  (k)
    of this Section;
         (2)  establish   the   standards   for   certificate
    renewal;
         (3)  approve    the    providers    of    continuing
    professional development activities;
         (4)  determine  the maximum credit for each category
    of continuing professional development activities,  based
    upon    recommendations   submitted   by   a   continuing
    professional development activity task force, which shall
    consist of 6  staff  members  from  the  State  Board  of
    Education,  appointed  by  the  State  Superintendent  of
    Education,  and  6 teacher representatives, 3 of whom are
    selected by the Illinois Education Association and  3  of
    whom are selected by the Illinois Federation of Teachers;
         (5)  designate  the type and amount of documentation
    required to show that continuing professional development
    activities have been completed; and
         (6)  provide, on a  timely  basis  to  all  Illinois
    teachers,  certificate  holders, regional superintendents
    of schools, school districts, and others with an interest
    in continuing professional development, information about
    the standards and requirements  established  pursuant  to
    this subsection (c).
    (d)  Any   Standard   Teaching  Certificate  held  by  an
individual employed and performing services  in  an  Illinois
public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
or  cooperative  or  joint agreement with a governing body or
board of control in a certificated  teaching  position  or  a
charter  school  in  compliance  with the Charter Schools Law
must be  maintained  Valid  and  Active  through  certificate
renewal  activities  specified  in  the  certificate  renewal
procedure  established  pursuant  to  subsection  (c) of this
Section, provided  that  a  holder  of  a  Valid  and  Active
certificate  who is only employed on either a part-time basis
or day-to-day basis as a substitute teacher  shall  pay  only
the required registration fee to renew his or her certificate
and  maintain  it  as  Valid  and Active.  All other Standard
Teaching Certificates held may be  maintained  as  Valid  and
Exempt  through  the registration process provided for in the
certificate  renewal  procedure   established   pursuant   to
subsection   (c)   of  this  Section.   A  Valid  and  Exempt
certificate must be immediately activated, through procedures
developed jointly by the State Board  of  Education  and  the
State  Teacher  Certification  Board,  upon  the  certificate
holder  becoming  employed  and  performing  services  in  an
Illinois   public   or   State-operated   elementary  school,
secondary school, or cooperative or joint  agreement  with  a
governing body or board of control in a certificated teaching
position or a charter school operating in compliance with the
Charter  Schools  Law.   A  holder  of  a  Valid  and  Exempt
certificate  may  activate  his  or  her  certificate through
procedures provided for in the certificate renewal  procedure
established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.
    (e)(1)  A  Standard  Teaching  Certificate  that has been
maintained as Valid  and  Active  for  the  5  years  of  the
certificate's  validity  shall be renewed as Valid and Active
upon the  certificate  holder:  (i)  completing  an  advanced
degree  from  an approved institution in an education-related
field;  (ii)  completing  at  least  8  semester   hours   of
coursework  as  described in subdivision (B) of paragraph (3)
of this subsection (e); (iii) earning at least 24  continuing
education  units as described in subdivision (C) of paragraph
(3) of this subsection  (e);  (iv)  completing  the  National
Board   for   Professional   Teaching  Standards  process  as
described  in  subdivision  (D)  of  paragraph  (3)  of  this
subsection (e); or (v) earning  120  continuing  professional
development units ("CPDU") as described in subdivision (E) of
paragraph (3) of this subsection (e).  The maximum continuing
professional    development   units   for   each   continuing
professional development activity identified in  subdivisions
(F) through (J) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e) shall
be jointly determined by the State Board of Education and the
State   Teacher   Certification   Board.   If,  however,  the
certificate holder has maintained the  certificate  as  Valid
and  Exempt  for  a portion of the 5-year period of validity,
the  number  of  continuing  professional  development  units
needed to renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall  be
proportionately reduced by the amount of time the certificate
was Valid and Exempt. Furthermore, if a certificate holder is
employed  and performs teaching services on a part-time basis
for all or a portion of the certificate's  5-year  period  of
validity,  the  number of continuing professional development
units needed to renew the certificate  as  Valid  and  Active
shall   be  reduced  by  50%  for  the  amount  of  time  the
certificate holder has been employed and  performed  teaching
services on a part-time basis.  Part-time shall be defined as
less than 50% of the school day or school term.
    Notwithstanding  any  other requirements to the contrary,
if a Standard Teaching Certificate  has  been  maintained  as
Valid  and  Active  for  the  5  years  of  the certificate's
validity and the certificate holder has completed his or  her
certificate renewal plan before July 1, 2002, the certificate
shall be renewed as Valid and Active.
    (2)  Each  Valid and Active Standard Teaching Certificate
holder  shall  develop  a  certificate   renewal   plan   for
satisfying    the    continuing    professional   development
requirement provided for in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
this Code. Certificate  holders  with  multiple  certificates
shall  develop a certificate renewal plan that addresses only
that certificate or those certificates that are  required  of
his or her certificated teaching position, if the certificate
holder  is  employed  and  performing services in an Illinois
public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
or cooperative or joint agreement with a  governing  body  or
board  of  control, or that certificate or those certificates
most closely related to his or her teaching position, if  the
certificate  holder  is employed in a charter school.  Except
as otherwise provided in this subsection (e),  a  certificate
renewal   plan  shall  include  a  minimum  of  3  individual
improvement goals developed by  the  certificate  holder  and
shall  reflect  purposes  (A),  (B),  and (C) and may reflect
purpose  (D)  of  the   following   continuing   professional
development purposes:
         (A)  Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
    and  skills  as  a  teacher  consistent with the Illinois
    Professional Teaching Standards and the Illinois  Content
    Area  Standards  in  the  certificate  holder's  areas of
    certification, endorsement,  or  teaching  assignment  in
    order  to  keep  the  certificate holder current in those
    areas.
         (B)  Develop the certificate holder's knowledge  and
    skills  in  areas  determined  to  be  critical  for  all
    Illinois  teachers,  as  defined  by  the  State Board of
    Education, known as "State priorities".
         (C)  Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the
    certificate holder's local school  improvement  plan,  if
    the   teacher  is  employed  in  an  Illinois  public  or
    State-operated elementary school,  secondary  school,  or
    cooperative  or  joint agreement with a governing body or
    board of control.
         (D)  Expand the certificate holder's  knowledge  and
    skills  in  an  additional  teaching  field or toward the
    acquisition of another teaching certificate, endorsement,
    or relevant education degree.
A certificate renewal plan must include a description of  how
these goals are to be achieved and an explanation of selected
continuing   professional   development   activities   to  be
completed, each of  which  must  meet  one  or  more  of  the
continuing  professional  development  purposes  specified in
this  paragraph  (2).   The  plan  shall  identify  potential
activities  and  include  projected   timelines   for   those
activities that will assure completion of the plan before the
expiration  of  the  5-year validity of the Standard Teaching
Certificate. Except as otherwise provided in this  subsection
(e),  at  least  50%  of  continuing professional development
units must relate to purposes (A) and (B) set forth  in  this
paragraph  (2):  the  advancement  of  a certificate holder's
knowledge  and  skills  as  a  teacher  consistent  with  the
Illinois Professional Teaching  Standards  and  the  Illinois
Content  Area  Standards in the certificate holder's areas of
certification, endorsement, or teaching assignment  in  order
to keep the certificate holder current in those areas and the
development of a certificate holder's knowledge and skills in
the  State  priorities that exist at the time the certificate
renewal plan is developed.
    A  speech-language  pathologist  or  audiologist  who  is
licensed under the  Illinois  Speech-Language  Pathology  and
Audiology  Practice  Act  and  who  has  met  the  continuing
education  requirements of that Act and the rules promulgated
under  that  Act  shall  be  deemed  to  have  satisfied  the
continuing professional development requirements  established
by the State Board of Education and the Teacher Certification
Board to renew a Standard Certificate.
    (3)  Continuing   professional   development   activities
included  in  a certificate renewal plan may include, but are
not limited to, the following activities:
         (A)  completion  of  an  advanced  degree  from   an
    approved institution in an education-related field;
         (B)  at  least  8 semester hours of coursework in an
    approved education-related program, of which at  least  2
    semester  hours  relate  to  the  continuing professional
    development purpose set forth in purpose (A) of paragraph
    (2) of this subsection (e), provided  that  such  a  plan
    need   not  include  any  other  continuing  professional
    development activities nor reflect or contain  activities
    related  to the other continuing professional development
    purposes set forth in paragraph (2)  of  this  subsection
    (e);
         (C)  continuing  education  units  that  satisfy the
    continuing professional development purposes set forth in
    paragraph  (2)  of  this  subsection   (e),   with   each
    continuing   education  unit  equal  to  5  clock  hours,
    provided that a plan that includes at least 24 continuing
    education units (or 120  clock/contact  hours)  need  not
    include  any  other  continuing  professional development
    activities;
         (D)  completion   of   the   National    Board    of
    Professional   Teaching   Standards   ("NBPTS")  process,
    provided that a plan  that  includes  completion  of  the
    NBPTS  process  need  not  include  any  other continuing
    professional  development  activities  nor   reflect   or
    contain activities related to the continuing professional
    development  purposes  set  forth  in  paragraph  (2)  of
    subsection (e) of this Section;
         (E)  completion   of   120  continuing  professional
    development   units   that   satisfy    the    continuing
    professional  development purposes set forth in paragraph
    (2) of  this  subsection  (e)  and  may  include  without
    limitation  the activities identified in subdivisions (F)
    through (J) of this paragraph (3);
         (F)  collaboration   and   partnership    activities
    related  to  improving the teacher's knowledge and skills
    as a teacher, including the following:
              (i)  participating  on  collaborative  planning
         and professional improvement teams and committees;
              (ii)  peer review and coaching;
              (iii)  mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
         including   service   as   a   consulting    teacher
         participating  in  a  remediation process formulated
         under Section 24A-5 of this Code;
              (iv)  participating in site-based management or
         decision making teams, relevant committees,  boards,
         or   task   forces   directly   related   to  school
         improvement plans;
              (v)  coordinating   community   resources    in
         schools,  if  the  project is a specific goal of the
         school improvement plan;
              (vi)  facilitating  parent  education  programs
         for a school, school district, or regional office of
         education directly related to student achievement or
         school improvement plans;
              (vii)  participating in  business,  school,  or
         community  partnerships  directly related to student
         achievement or school improvement plans; or
              (viii)  supervising  a   student   teacher   or
         teacher education candidate in clinical supervision,
         provided  that  the  supervision may only be counted
         once during the course of 5 years;
         (G)  college or  university  coursework  related  to
    improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher
    as follows:
              (i)  completing   undergraduate   or   graduate
         credit   earned   from   a   regionally   accredited
         institution    in   coursework   relevant   to   the
         certificate area being renewed, including coursework
         that   incorporates   induction    activities    and
         development  of  a  portfolio  of  both  student and
         teacher work that provides experience in  reflective
         practices,  provided  the  coursework meets Illinois
         Professional Teaching Standards or Illinois  Content
         Area    Standards   and   supports   the   essential
         characteristics of quality professional development;
         or
              (ii)  teaching college or university courses in
         areas  relevant  to  the  certificate   area   being
         renewed,  provided  that  the  teaching  may only be
         counted once during the course of 5 years;
         (H)  conferences, workshops,  institutes,  seminars,
    and   symposiums   related  to  improving  the  teacher's
    knowledge  and  skills  as  a  teacher,   including   the
    following:
              (i)  completing  non-university credit directly
         related to student achievement,  school  improvement
         plans, or State priorities;
              (ii)  participating   in   or   presenting   at
         workshops,  seminars,  conferences,  institutes, and
         symposiums;
              (iii)  training  as  external   reviewers   for
         Quality Assurance; or
              (iv)  training   as   reviewers  of  university
         teacher preparation programs;
         (I)  other  educational   experiences   related   to
    improving   the  teacher's  knowledge  and  skills  as  a
    teacher, including the following:
              (i)  participating  in  action   research   and
         inquiry projects;
              (ii)  observing   programs   or   teaching   in
         schools,  related  businesses,  or  industry that is
         systematic, purposeful, and relevant to  certificate
         renewal;
              (iii)  traveling   related   to  ones  teaching
         assignment, directly related to student  achievement
         or school improvement plans and approved at least 30
         days  prior  to the travel experience, provided that
         the traveling shall not include time spent commuting
         to destinations where the learning  experience  will
         occur;
              (iv)  participating  in study groups related to
         student achievement or school improvement plans;
              (v)  serving on a  statewide  education-related
         committee,  including  but  not limited to the State
         Teacher  Certification   Board,   State   Board   of
         Education  strategic  agenda  teams,  or  the  State
         Advisory  Council  on  Education  of  Children  with
         Disabilities;
              (vi)  participating  in  work/learn programs or
         internships; or
              (vii)  developing a portfolio  of  student  and
         teacher work;
         (J)  professional  leadership experiences related to
    improving  the  teacher's  knowledge  and  skills  as   a
    teacher, including the following:
              (i)  participating in curriculum development or
         assessment   activities   at   the   school,  school
         district, regional office of  education,  State,  or
         national level;
              (ii)  participating   in   team  or  department
         leadership in a school or school district;
              (iii)  participating on  external  or  internal
         school or school district review teams;
              (iv)  publishing educational articles, columns,
         or  books  relevant  to  the  certificate area being
         renewed; or
              (v)  participating   in   non-strike    related
         professional   association   or  labor  organization
         service  or  activities  related   to   professional
         development.
    (4)  A   certificate   renewal  plan  must  initially  be
approved  by  the  certificate  holder's  local  professional
development committee, as provided for in subsection  (f)  of
this   Section.    If   the  local  professional  development
committee does not approve the certificate renewal plan,  the
certificate  holder  may  appeal  that  determination  to the
regional  professional  development  review   committee,   as
provided  for  in  paragraph  (2)  of  subsection (g) of this
Section.  If the  regional  professional  development  review
committee  disagrees  with the local professional development
committee's determination, the certificate renewal plan shall
be deemed approved  and  the  certificate  holder  may  begin
satisfying the continuing professional development activities
set   forth  in  the  plan.   If  the  regional  professional
development  review   committee   agrees   with   the   local
professional   development   committee's  determination,  the
certificate renewal plan  shall  be  deemed  disapproved  and
shall  be  returned  to  the  certificate holder to develop a
revised certificate renewal plan.  In all cases, the regional
professional development review committee  shall  immediately
notify  both the local professional development committee and
the certificate holder of its determination.
    (5)  A  certificate  holder  who  wishes  to  modify  the
continuing professional development activities  or  goals  in
his  or her certificate renewal plan must submit the proposed
modifications to his or her  local  professional  development
committee  for  approval  prior  to  engaging in the proposed
activities.  If the local professional development  committee
does  not  approve the proposed modification, the certificate
holder  may  appeal  that  determination  to   the   regional
professional  development  review  committee, as set forth in
paragraph (4) of this subsection (e).
    (6)  When a certificate  holder  changes  assignments  or
school   districts   during   the   course  of  completing  a
certificate renewal plan, the  professional  development  and
continuing education credit earned pursuant to the plan shall
transfer  to  the new assignment or school district and count
toward the total requirements. This certificate renewal  plan
must  be  reviewed  by  the  appropriate  local  professional
development  committee  and  may  be  modified to reflect the
certificate  holder's  new  work  assignment  or  the  school
improvement  plan  of  the  new  school  district  or  school
building.
    (f)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of  this  Code,
each  school  district,  charter  school,  and cooperative or
joint agreement with a governing body  or  board  of  control
that   employs   certificated   staff,  shall  establish  and
implement, in conjunction with its exclusive  representative,
if   any,   one   or   more  local  professional  development
committees, as set forth in this subsection (f), which  shall
perform the following functions:
         (1)  review  and  approve  certificate renewal plans
    and any modifications  made  to  these  plans,  including
    transferred plans;
         (2)  maintain a file of approved certificate renewal
    plans;
         (3)  monitor   certificate   holders'   progress  in
    completing approved certificate renewal  plans,  provided
    that a local professional development committee shall not
    be   required   to   maintain   materials   submitted  by
    certificate holders  to  demonstrate  their  progress  in
    completing  their  certificate  renewal  plans  after the
    committee has reviewed the materials and the credits have
    been awarded;
         (4)  assist  in  the  development  of   professional
    development   plans   based   upon  needs  identified  in
    certificate renewal plans;
         (5)  determine whether certificate holders have  met
    the  requirements  of their certificate renewal plans and
    notify certificate holders of its determination;
         (6)  provide   a   certificate   holder   with   the
    opportunity  to  address  the  committee  when   it   has
    determined  that  the  certificate holder has not met the
    requirements of his or her certificate renewal plan;
         (7)  issue and forward recommendations  for  renewal
    or  nonrenewal  of certificate holders' Standard Teaching
    Certificates to the appropriate  regional  superintendent
    of  schools,  based upon whether certificate holders have
    met  the  requirements  of  their  approved   certificate
    renewal   plans,   with  30-day  written  notice  of  its
    recommendation provided to the certificate  holder  prior
    to   forwarding   the   recommendation  to  the  regional
    superintendent of schools, provided  that  if  the  local
    professional  development  committee's  recommendation is
    for certificate nonrenewal, the written  notice  provided
    to the certificate holder shall include a return receipt;
    and
         (8)  reconsider  its  recommendation  of certificate
    nonrenewal, upon request of the certificate holder within
    30 days of receipt of written notification that the local
    professional  development  committee  will  make  such  a
    recommendation,   and    forward    to    the    regional
    superintendent  of  schools  its recommendation within 30
    days of receipt of the certificate holder's request.
    Each  local  professional  development  committee   shall
consist  of at least 3 classroom teachers; one superintendent
or  chief  administrator  of  the  school  district,  charter
school, or cooperative or  joint  agreement  or  his  or  her
designee;  and  one at-large member who shall be either (i) a
parent, (ii) a member of  the  business  community,  (iii)  a
community  member,  or (iv) an administrator, with preference
given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
in  items  (i),  (ii),  and  (iii)   in   order   to   secure
representation  of an interest not already represented on the
committee.  Except in a school district in a  city  having  a
population    exceeding   500,000,   a   local   professional
development committee shall be responsible for no  more  than
200  certificate  renewal  plans  annually  unless  otherwise
mutually  agreed upon by the school district, charter school,
or governing body or board of control  of  a  cooperative  or
joint agreement and its exclusive representative, if any.  If
mutually  agreed upon by the school district, charter school,
or governing body or board of control  of  a  cooperative  or
joint  agreement  and  its  exclusive representative, if any,
additional members may  be  added  to  a  local  professional
development  committee,  provided  that a majority of members
are classroom teachers.  Except in a  school  district  in  a
city  having  a  population  exceeding 500,000, if additional
members  are  added  to  a  local  professional   development
committee,  the  maximum  number of certificate renewal plans
for which the committee shall annually be responsible may  be
increased  by  50  plans  for  each additional member, unless
otherwise  mutually  agreed  upon  by  the  school  district,
charter school, or governing body or board of  control  of  a
cooperative    or   joint   agreement   and   its   exclusive
representative, if any.  The school district, charter school,
or governing body or board of control  of  a  cooperative  or
joint  agreement  and  its  exclusive representative, if any,
shall determine the term of service of the members of a local
professional development committee.  All individuals selected
to serve on local professional development committees must be
known to demonstrate the best practices in teaching or  their
respective field of practice.
    The  exclusive  representative,  if any, shall select the
classroom  teacher  members   of   the   local   professional
development   committee.    If  no  exclusive  representative
exists,  then  the  classroom  teacher  members  of  a  local
professional development committee shall be selected  by  the
classroom  teachers  that  come within the local professional
development  committee's  authority.   The  school  district,
charter school, or governing body or board of  control  of  a
cooperative   or   joint   agreement   shall   select  the  2
non-classroom teacher members (the  superintendent  or  chief
administrator  of  the  school  district,  charter school, or
cooperative or joint agreement or his or her designee and the
at-large  member)  of  a   local   professional   development
committee.   Vacancies  in  positions on a local professional
development committee shall be filled in the same  manner  as
the original selections.  The members of a local professional
development  committee  shall  select  a  chairperson.  Local
professional  development   committee   meetings   shall   be
scheduled  so  as  not  to  interfere with committee members'
regularly scheduled teaching duties,  except  when  otherwise
permitted  by the policies of or agreed to or approved by the
school district, charter school, or governing body  or  board
of  control  of  a  cooperative  or  joint  agreement, or its
designee.
    The board of education or governing board  shall  convene
the  first  meeting  of  the  local  professional development
committee.  All  actions  taken  by  the  local  professional
development  committee  shall  require  that  a  majority  of
committee  members be present, and no committee action may be
taken unless  50%  or  more  of  those  present  are  teacher
members.
    The  State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State Teacher
Certification Board shall jointly provide local  professional
development committee members with a training manual, and the
members  shall  certify  that they have received and read the
manual.
    Notwithstanding any other provisions of  this  subsection
(f),  for  a  teacher  employed  and performing services in a
nonpublic or State-operated elementary or  secondary  school,
all  references to a local professional development committee
shall mean the regional  superintendent  of  schools  of  the
regional  office  of  education for the geographic area where
the teaching is done.
    (g)(1)  Each regional  superintendent  of  schools  shall
review  and  concur or nonconcur with each recommendation for
renewal or nonrenewal of a Standard Teaching  Certificate  he
or   she  receives  from  a  local  professional  development
committee  or,  if   a   certificate   holder   appeals   the
recommendation   to  the  regional  professional  development
review  committee,  the   recommendation   for   renewal   or
nonrenewal  he  or  she receives from a regional professional
development review committee and, within 14 days  of  receipt
of  the  recommendation,  shall  provide  the  State  Teacher
Certification  Board  with  verification of the following, if
applicable:
         (A)  a  certificate  renewal  plan  was  filed   and
    approved    by   the   appropriate   local   professional
    development committee;
         (B)  the  professional  development  and  continuing
    education  activities   set   forth   in   the   approved
    certificate   renewal   plan   have  been  satisfactorily
    completed;
         (C)  the local  professional  development  committee
    has  recommended  the renewal of the certificate holder's
    Standard   Teaching   Certificate   and   forwarded   the
    recommendation, along with all  supporting  documentation
    as  jointly  required by the State Board of Education and
    the State Teacher Certification Board,  to  the  regional
    superintendent of schools;
         (D)  the  certificate holder has appealed his or her
    local professional development committee's recommendation
    of nonrenewal to the  regional  professional  development
    review committee and the result of that appeal;
         (E)  the  regional  superintendent  of  schools  has
    concurred  or  nonconcurred  with  the local professional
    development   committee's   or   regional    professional
    development review committee's recommendation to renew or
    nonrenew   the  certificate  holder's  Standard  Teaching
    Certificate and made a recommendation to that effect; and
         (F)  the  established  registration  fee   for   the
    Standard Teaching Certificate has been paid.
At  the  same  time  the  regional  superintendent of schools
provides the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board  with  the
notice  required by this subsection (g), he or she shall also
notify the certificate holder in writing that this notice has
been provided  to  the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board,
provided   that  if  the  notice  provided  by  the  regional
superintendent of schools to the State Teacher  Certification
Board  includes  a  recommendation of certificate nonrenewal,
the written notice provided to the certificate  holder  shall
be by certified mail, return receipt requested.
    (2)  Each  certificate  holder  shall  have  the right to
appeal his or her local professional development  committee's
recommendation  of  nonrenewal  to  the regional professional
development review committee, within 14 days  of  receipt  of
notice  that the recommendation has been sent to the regional
superintendent of schools.  Each regional  superintendent  of
schools  shall  establish a regional professional development
review committee or committees for the  purpose  of  advising
the  regional  superintendent  of  schools, upon request, and
handling certificate holder appeals.   This  committee  shall
consist    of    at   least   4   classroom   teachers,   one
non-administrative  certificated  educational   employee,   2
administrators,  and  one at-large member who shall be either
(i) a parent, (ii) a member of the business community,  (iii)
a community member, or (iv) an administrator, with preference
given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
in   items   (i),   (ii),   and  (iii)  in  order  to  secure
representation of an interest not already represented on  the
committee.   The  teacher and non-administrative certificated
educational employee members of the review committee shall be
selected by their exclusive representative, if any,  and  the
administrators  and  at-large member shall be selected by the
regional   superintendent    of    schools.     A    regional
superintendent  of  schools may add additional members to the
committee, provided that the same proportion of  teachers  to
administrators  and  at-large  members  on  the  committee is
maintained.  Any additional  teacher  and  non-administrative
certificated  educational  employee members shall be selected
by their exclusive  representative,  if  any.   Vacancies  in
positions  on  a  regional  professional  development  review
committee  shall be filled in the same manner as the original
selections.  Committee members shall serve  staggered  3-year
terms.    All  individuals  selected  to  serve  on  regional
professional development review committees must be  known  to
demonstrate   the   best   practices  in  teaching  or  their
respective field of practice.
    The exclusive representative responsible for choosing the
individuals that serve on a regional professional development
review committee shall notify each school  district,  charter
school,   or   governing  body  or  board  of  control  of  a
cooperative or  joint  agreement  employing  the  individuals
chosen  to  serve  and provide their names to the appropriate
regional superintendent of  schools.   Regional  professional
development  review  committee meetings shall be scheduled so
as not to interfere with  the  committee  members'  regularly
scheduled teaching duties, except when otherwise permitted by
the  policies  of  or  agreed  to  or  approved by the school
district, charter school,  or  governing  body  or  board  of
control of a cooperative or joint agreement, or its designee,
provided   that  the  school  district,  charter  school,  or
governing body or board of  control  shall  not  unreasonably
withhold permission for a committee member to attend regional
professional development review committee meetings.
    In a city having a population exceeding 500,000 that does
not have a regional office of education, one or more separate
regional  professional development review committees shall be
established as mutually agreed upon by the board of education
of the school district organized under  Article  34  of  this
Code  and  the  exclusive representative.  The composition of
each  committee  shall  be  the  same  as  for   a   regional
professional   development   review  committee,  except  that
members of the committee shall be jointly  appointed  by  the
board  of  education  and  the  exclusive representative. All
other  provisions  of  this   Section   concerning   regional
professional  development  review  committees  shall apply to
these committees.
    The regional professional  development  review  committee
may  require  information in addition to that received from a
certificate holder's local professional development committee
or request that the  certificate  holder  appear  before  it,
shall  either  concur  or nonconcur with a local professional
development committee's  recommendation  of  nonrenewal,  and
shall  forward  to the regional superintendent of schools its
recommendation of renewal or nonrenewal.  All  actions  taken
by  the  regional  professional  development review committee
shall require a quorum and be by a simple majority  of  those
present  and  voting.    A  record  of  all  votes  shall  be
maintained.  The committee shall have 45 days from receipt of
a  certificate  holder's appeal to make its recommendation to
the regional superintendent of schools.
    The State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State  Teacher
Certification    Board   shall   jointly   provide   regional
professional development  review  committee  members  with  a
training  manual, and the members shall be required to attend
one training seminar sponsored jointly by the State Board  of
Education and the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (h)(1)  The   State  Teacher  Certification  Board  shall
review    the    regional    superintendent    of    schools'
recommendations  to  renew  or  nonrenew  Standard   Teaching
Certificates   and  notify  certificate  holders  in  writing
whether their certificates have been  renewed  or  nonrenewed
within  90  days  of receipt of the recommendations, unless a
certificate holder has appealed a regional superintendent  of
schools'   recommendation   of  nonrenewal,  as  provided  in
paragraph (2) of this  subsection  (h).   The  State  Teacher
Certification  Board shall verify that the certificate holder
has met the renewal criteria set forth in  paragraph  (1)  of
subsection (g) of this Section.
    (2)  Each  certificate  holder  shall  have  the right to
appeal a regional superintendent of  school's  recommendation
to  nonrenew  his or her Standard Teaching Certificate to the
State Teacher Certification Board, within 14 days of  receipt
of  notice  that  the  decision  has  been  sent to the State
Teacher Certification  Board,  which  shall  hold  an  appeal
hearing  within  60 days of receipt of the appeal.  When such
an  appeal  is  taken,  the  certificate  holder's   Standard
Teaching  Certificate  shall  continue  to be valid until the
appeal   is   finally   determined.    The   State    Teacher
Certification  Board shall review the regional superintendent
of  school's  recommendation,   the   regional   professional
development  review  committee's  recommendation, if any, and
the local professional development committee's recommendation
and  all  relevant  documentation  to  verify   whether   the
certificate  holder has met the renewal criteria set forth in
paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this Section.   The  State
Teacher  Certification Board may request that the certificate
holder appear before it.  All  actions  taken  by  the  State
Teacher  Certification Board shall require a quorum and be by
a simple majority of those present and voting.  A  record  of
all   votes   shall   be   maintained.    The  State  Teacher
Certification Board shall notify the  certificate  holder  in
writing,  within 7 days of completing the review, whether his
or her Standard Teaching  Certificate  has  been  renewed  or
nonrenewed,  provided that if the State Teacher Certification
Board determines  to  nonrenew  a  certificate,  the  written
notice  provided  to  the  certificate  holder  shall  be  by
certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested. All certificate
renewal  or  nonrenewal  decisions  of  the   State   Teacher
Certification  Board  are final and subject to administrative
review, as set forth in Section 21-24 of this Code.
    (i)  Holders of Master Teaching Certificates  shall  meet
the  same  requirements  and  follow  the  same procedures as
holders of Standard Teaching Certificates, except that  their
renewal  cycle  shall  be  as  set forth in subsection (d) of
Section 21-2 of this Code.
    A  holder  of  a  teaching  certificate  endorsed  as   a
speech-language   pathologist   who   has  been  granted  the
Certificate  of   Clinical   Competence   by   the   American
Speech-Language  Hearing  Association  may  renew  his or her
Standard Teaching Certificate pursuant to the 10-year renewal
cycle set forth in subsection (d) of  Section  21-2  of  this
Code.
    (j)  Holders  of  Valid  and  Exempt  Standard and Master
Teaching Certificates who are  not  employed  and  performing
services  in  an Illinois public or State-operated elementary
school, secondary school, or cooperative or  joint  agreement
with  a governing body or board of control, in a certificated
teaching   position,   may   voluntarily    activate    their
certificates  by  developing  and  submitting  a  certificate
renewal plan to the regional superintendent of schools of the
regional  office  of  education for the geographic area where
their teaching is done, who, or whose designee, shall approve
the  plan  and  serve  as  the  certificate  holder's   local
professional   development   committee.    These  certificate
holders shall follow the same renewal criteria and procedures
as  all  other  Standard  and  Master  Teaching   Certificate
holders,    except   that   their   continuing   professional
development plans shall not be required to reflect or address
the  knowledge,  skills,  and  goals  of   a   local   school
improvement plan.
    (k)  Each school district, charter school, or cooperative
or joint agreement shall be paid an annual amount of not less
than  $1,000,  as determined by a formula based on the number
of Standard Teaching and Master Teaching Certificate holders,
subject to renewal and established by  rule,  not  to  exceed
$1,000,000   annually   for  all  school  districts,  charter
schools,  and   cooperatives   or   joint   agreements,   for
administrative  costs associated with conducting the meetings
of  the  local   professional   development   committee,   as
determined in consultation with the committee.  Each regional
office  of  education  shall  receive  $2,000 annually to pay
school districts, charter schools, or cooperatives  or  joint
agreements  for  costs, as defined by rule, incurred in staff
attendance  at  regional  professional   development   review
committee  meetings  and  the training seminar required under
paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of this Section.
    (l)  The State Board of Education and the  State  Teacher
Certification   Board   shall   jointly   contract   with  an
independent party to conduct a  comprehensive  evaluation  of
the certificate renewal system pursuant to this Section.  The
first  report  of  this  evaluation shall be presented to the
General Assembly on January 1, 2005 and on January 1 of every
third year thereafter.
(Source: P.A. 91-102,  eff.  7-12-99;  92-510,  eff.  6-1-02;
92-796, eff. 8-10-02.)

    Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.