Public Act 100-0584
 
SB0863 EnrolledLRB100 08009 MLM 18091 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 
21B-35 as follows:
 
    (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) Provide evidence of completing a comparable 
    state-approved educator preparation program, as defined by 
    the State Superintendent of Education, or hold 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.
        (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.
        (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) (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 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.
    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. 99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-920, eff. 1-6-17; 100-13, 
eff. 7-1-17.)

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