Public Act 102-0521
 
SB0814 EnrolledLRB102 04618 CMG 14637 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 Sections
2-3.53a, 21A-5, 21A-10, 21A-15, 21A-20, 21A-25, and 21A-30 and
by adding Sections 21A-20.5 and 21A-25.5 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.53a)
    Sec. 2-3.53a. New principal mentoring program.
    (a) Beginning on July 1, 2007, and subject to an annual
appropriation by the General Assembly, to establish a new
principal mentoring program for new principals. Any individual
who is first hired as a principal on or after July 1, 2007
shall participate in a new principal mentoring program for the
duration of his or her first year as a principal and must
complete the program in accordance with the requirements
established under this Section and by the State Board of
Education by rule or, for a school district created by Article
34 of this Code, in accordance with the provisions of Section
34-18.33 34-18.27 of this Code. School districts created by
Article 34 are not subject to the requirements of subsection
(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g), (i), (j), (k), (l), or (m) of
this Section. Any individual who is first hired as a principal
on or after July 1, 2008 may participate in a second year of
mentoring if it is determined by the State Superintendent of
Education that sufficient funding exists for such
participation. The new principal mentoring program shall match
an experienced principal who meets the requirements of
subsection (b) of this Section with each new principal in
order to assist the new principal in the development of his or
her professional growth and to provide guidance.
    (b) Any individual who has been a principal in Illinois
for 3 or more years and who has demonstrated success as an
instructional leader, as determined by the State Board by
rule, is eligible to apply to be a mentor under a new principal
mentoring program. Eligible mentors Mentors shall be selected
by approved entities and shall complete mentoring training
provided by an approved entity by entities approved by the
State Board and meet any other requirements set forth by the
State Board by rule and by the school district employing the
mentor.
    (c) Subject to annual appropriation by the General
Assembly, the State Board shall establish a competitive grant
program to support the new principal mentoring program and
shall approve one or more eligible entities to provide
services to new principals under the program. Approval of
eligible entities shall be valid for 3 years. Eligible
entities are defined as regional offices of education,
intermediate service centers, Illinois higher education
institutions, statewide organizations representing
principals, and school districts. Approved entities shall be
responsible for mentor training, pairing mentors and new
principals, and all other administrative aspects of providing
mentoring services as provided by the State Board by rule. The
State Board shall certify an entity or entities approved to
provide training of mentors.
    (d) A mentor shall be assigned to a new principal based on
(i) similarity of grade level or type of school, (ii) learning
needs of the new principal, and (iii) accessibility
geographical proximity of the mentor to the new principal. The
principal, in collaboration with the mentor, shall identify
areas for improvement of the new principal's professional
growth, including, but not limited to, professional growth in
the areas addressed in the Illinois Performance Standards for
School Leaders. each of the following:
        (1) Analyzing data and applying it to practice.
        (2) Aligning professional development and
    instructional programs.
        (3) Building a professional learning community.
        (4) Observing classroom practices and providing
    feedback.
        (5) Facilitating effective meetings.
        (6) Developing distributive leadership practices.
        (7) Facilitating organizational change.
The mentor shall not be required to provide input into a new
principal's an evaluation that is completed in accordance with
Article 24A of this Code of the new principal on the basis of
the mentoring relationship.
    (e) On or before July 1, 2008 and on or after July 1 of
each year thereafter, the State Board shall facilitate a
review and evaluate the new principal mentoring training
program in collaboration with the approved entities providers.
Each new principal and his or her mentor must complete a
verification form developed by the State Board in order to
certify their completion of a new principal mentoring program.
    (f) The requirements of this Section do not apply to any
individual who has previously served as an assistant principal
in Illinois acting under an administrative endorsement
certificate for 5 or more years and who is hired, on or after
July 1, 2007, as a principal by the school district in which
the individual last served as an assistant principal, although
such an individual may choose to participate in this program
or may shall be required to participate in the program by the
individual's employing school district.
    (g) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary for the
implementation of this Section.
    (h) On an annual basis, the State Superintendent of
Education shall determine whether appropriations are likely to
be sufficient to require operation of the new principal
mentoring program for the coming year. In doing so, the State
Superintendent of Education shall first determine whether it
is likely that funds will be sufficient to require operation
of the mentoring program for individuals in their first year
as principal and shall then determine whether it is likely
that funds will be sufficient to require operation of the
mentoring program for individuals in their second year as
principal.
    (i) If the State Superintendent of Education determines
that appropriations are not likely sufficient to serve all
anticipated first year principals in any given year, then the
new principal mentoring program shall be voluntary and
priority access to mentoring services shall be given to first
year principals in the highest need schools, as determined by
the State Superintendent of Education. The new principal
mentoring program shall only be available to second year
principals if the State Superintendent of Education first
determines that appropriations are likely sufficient to serve
all anticipated first year principals. If mentoring services
are extended to second year principals and if appropriations
are not sufficient to serve all second year principals who
wish to participate in the new principal mentoring program,
priority access to mentoring services shall be given to second
year principals who are in the highest need schools, as
determined by the State Superintendent of Education.
    (j) The State Superintendent of Education may determine on
a yearly basis the number of mentoring hours required for
first year principals and the number of mentoring hours
required for second year principals.
    (k) The State Superintendent of Education may determine on
a yearly basis the amount of compensation to be provided to
first year principal mentors, second year principal mentors,
and approved entities.
    (l) Contact hours for mentors and principals may be in
person, by telephone, online, or by any other mechanism that
allows for synchronous communication between the mentor and
new principal. The State Board may, by rule, require a minimum
number of in-person contact hours.
    (m) Using funds from the new principal mentoring program,
the State Board may contract with an independent party to
conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program.
(Source: P.A. 96-373, eff. 8-13-09.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-5)
    Sec. 21A-5. Definitions. In this Article:
    "New teacher" means the holder of a professional educator
license, as set forth in Section 21B-20 of this Code, who is
employed by a public school and who has not previously
participated in a new teacher induction and mentoring program
required by this Article, except as provided in Section 21A-25
of this Code.
    "Eligible applicant" or "eligible entity" means a regional
office of education, an intermediate service center, an
Illinois institution of higher education, a statewide
organization representing teachers, a local education agency,
or a public or private not-for-profit entity with experience
providing professional learning, including mentoring, to early
childhood educators.
    "Public school" means any school operating pursuant to the
authority of this Code, including without limitation a school
district, a charter school, a cooperative or joint agreement
with a governing body or board of control, and a school
operated by a regional office of education or State agency.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-10)
    Sec. 21A-10. Development of program required.
    (a) Each eligible applicant shall develop a new teacher
induction and mentoring program for first and second-year
teachers that meets the requirements set forth in Section
21A-20 to assist new teachers in developing the skills and
strategies necessary for instructional excellence, provided
that funding is made available by the State Board of Education
from an appropriation made for this purpose.
    (b) A public school that has a new teacher induction and
mentoring program in existence before the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly that does
not meet the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 may
modify the program to meet the requirements of Section 21A-20
and may receive funding as described in Section 21A-25,
provided that funding is made available by the State Board of
Education from an appropriation made for this purpose.
    (c) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with
its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, whether to
forgo modifications to a new teacher induction and mentoring
program in existence before the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
    If a district does not have a new teacher induction and
mentoring program in existence before the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly or if a
district and the exclusive bargaining representative, if any,
agree that an eligible entity would better serve the
district's needs, the district and the exclusive bargaining
representative, if any, shall jointly decide which eligible
entity offers the most suitable program. The eligible entity
shall include representatives from both the district and the
exclusive bargaining representative in the program development
discussions to ensure the program captures local need.
During the 2003-2004 school year, each public school or 2 or
more public schools acting jointly shall develop, in
conjunction with its exclusive representative or their
exclusive representatives, if any, a new teacher induction and
mentoring program that meets the requirements set forth in
Section 21A-20 of this Code to assist new teachers in
developing the skills and strategies necessary for
instructional excellence, provided that funding is made
available by the State Board of Education from an
appropriation made for this purpose. A public school that has
an existing induction and mentoring program that does not meet
the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code may
have school years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 to develop a program
that does meet those requirements and may receive funding as
described in Section 21A-25 of this Code, provided that the
funding is made available by the State Board of Education from
an appropriation made for this purpose. A public school with
such an existing induction and mentoring program may receive
funding for the 2005-2006 school year for each new teacher in
the second year of a 2-year program that does not meet the
requirements set forth in Section 21A-20, as long as the
public school has established the required new program by the
beginning of that school year as described in Section 21A-15
and provided that funding is made available by the State Board
of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose as
described in Section 21A-25.
(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-15)
    Sec. 21A-15. Program establishment and implementation.
When program is to be established and implemented.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a
competitive State grant program to support new teacher
induction and mentoring programs. The program shall be
available to eligible entities not less than every 3 years,
subject to appropriation. The State Board shall prioritize
funding based on the needs of students and school districts as
it relates to teacher retention.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, by
no later than the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year or by
no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year for
eligible applicants that have been given an extension of time
to develop a program under Section 21A-10, each eligible
entity or 2 or more eligible entities acting jointly shall
establish and implement a new teacher induction and mentoring
program required to be developed under Section 21A-10.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, by the
beginning of the 2004-2005 school year (or by the beginning of
the 2005-2006 school year for a public school that has been
given an extension of time to develop a program under Section
21A-10 of this Code), each public school or 2 or more public
schools acting jointly shall establish and implement, in
conjunction with its exclusive representative or their
exclusive representatives, if any, the new teacher induction
and mentoring program required to be developed under Section
21A-10 of this Code, provided that funding is made available
by the State Board of Education, from an appropriation made
for this purpose, as described in Section 21A-25 of this Code.
A public school may contract with an institution of higher
education or other independent party to assist in implementing
the program.
(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-20)
    Sec. 21A-20. Program requirements. Each new teacher
induction and mentoring program must align with the standards
established under Section 21A-20.5 and shall be based on a
plan that at least does all of the following:
        (1) Assigns a mentor teacher to each new teacher for a
    period of at least 2 school years.
        (2) Aligns with the Illinois Culturally Responsive
    Teaching and Leading Standards in Part 24 of Title 23 of
    the Illinois Administrative Code Illinois Professional
    Teaching Standards, content area standards, and applicable
    local school improvement and professional development
    plans, if any.
        (3) (Blank). Addresses all of the following elements
    and how they will be provided:
            (A) Mentoring and support of the new teacher.
            (B) Professional development specifically designed
        to ensure the growth of the new teacher's knowledge
        and skills.
            (C) Formative assessment designed to ensure
        feedback and reflection, which must not be used in any
        evaluation of the new teacher.
        (4) Describes the role of mentor teachers, the
    criteria and process for their selection, and how they
    will be trained, provided that each mentor teacher shall
    demonstrate the best practices in teaching his or her
    respective field of practice. A mentor teacher may not
    directly or indirectly participate in the evaluation of a
    new teacher pursuant to Article 24A of this Code or the
    evaluation procedure of the public school.
        (5) Is designed to be available for both in-person and
    virtual participation.
(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-20.5 new)
    Sec. 21A-20.5. Program standards.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish standards
for new teacher induction and mentoring programs. In
establishing these standards, the State Board shall seek input
and feedback from stakeholders, including parents, students,
and educators, who reflect the diversity of this State.
    (b) Any changes made to the standards established under
subsection (a) must be approved by the Teaching Induction and
Mentoring Advisory Group pursuant to Section 21A-25.5.
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-25)
    Sec. 21A-25. Funding.
    (a) From a separate appropriation made for the purposes of
this Article, for each new teacher participating in a new
teacher induction and mentoring program that meets the
requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code or in an
existing program that is in the process of transition to a
program that meets those requirements, the State Board of
Education shall pay the eligible entity for the duration of
the grant public school $1,200 annually for each of 2 school
years for the purpose of providing one or more of the
following:
        (1) Mentor teacher compensation and new teacher
    compensation.
        (2) Mentor teacher professional learning training or
    new teacher learning training or both.
        (3) (Blank). Release time.
    (b) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with
its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, which
eligible applicant offers the most suitable program. If a
mentor teacher receives release time to support a new teacher,
the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the
public school shall not increase in any substantial manner. If
the appropriation is not included in the State budget, the
State Board of Education is not required to implement programs
established by this Article.
However, if a new teacher, after participating in the new
teacher induction and mentoring program for one school year,
becomes employed by another public school, the State Board of
Education shall pay the teacher's new school $1,200 for the
second school year and the teacher shall continue to be a new
teacher as defined in this Article. Each public school shall
determine, in conjunction with its exclusive representative,
if any, how the $1,200 per school year for each new teacher
shall be used, provided that if a mentor teacher receives
additional release time to support a new teacher, the total
workload of other teachers regularly employed by the public
school shall not increase in any substantial manner. If the
appropriation is insufficient to cover the $1,200 per school
year for each new teacher, public schools are not required to
develop or implement the program established by this Article.
In the event of an insufficient appropriation, a public school
or 2 or more schools acting jointly may submit an application
for a grant administered by the State Board of Education and
awarded on a competitive basis to establish a new teacher
induction and mentoring program that meets the criteria set
forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code. The State Board of
Education may retain up to $1,000,000 of the appropriation for
new teacher induction and mentoring programs to train mentor
teachers, administrators, and other personnel, to provide best
practices information, and to conduct an evaluation of these
programs' impact and effectiveness.
(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-25.5 new)
    Sec. 21A-25.5. Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory
Group.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall create a Teaching
Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group. Members of the
Advisory Group must represent the diversity of this State and
possess the expertise needed to perform the work required to
meet the goals of the programs set forth under Section 21A-20.
    (b) The members of the Advisory Group shall by appointed
by the State Superintendent of Education and shall include all
of the following members:
        (1) Four members representing teachers recommended by
    a statewide professional teachers' organization.
        (2) Four members representing teachers recommended by
    a different statewide professional teachers' organization.
        (3) Two members representing principals recommended by
    a statewide organization that represents principals.
        (4) One member representing district superintendents
    recommended by a statewide organization that represents
    district superintendents.
        (5) One member representing regional superintendents
    of schools recommended by a statewide association that
    represents regional superintendents of schools.
        (6) One member representing a State-approved educator
    preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher
    education recommended by the institution of higher
    education.
    The majority of the membership of the Advisory Group shall
consist of practicing teachers.
    (c) The Advisory Group is responsible for approving any
changes made to the standards established under Section
21A-20.5.
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-30)
    Sec. 21A-30. Evaluation of programs. The State Board of
Education shall contract with an independent party, using
funds from the relevant appropriation for new teacher
induction and mentoring programs, to conduct a comprehensive
evaluation of the new teacher induction and mentoring programs
established pursuant to this Article. Reports from the
evaluation shall be made available to stakeholders after 3
years of program implementation. The State Board of Education
and the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall
jointly contract with an independent party to conduct a
comprehensive evaluation of new teacher induction and
mentoring programs established pursuant to this Article. The
first report of this evaluation shall be presented to the
General Assembly on or before January 1, 2009. Subsequent
evaluations shall be conducted and reports presented to the
General Assembly on or before January 1 of every third year
thereafter.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/20/2021