Public Act 100-0822
 
SB3536 EnrolledLRB100 19134 AXK 34399 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-50 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-50)
    Sec. 21B-50. Alternative educator licensure program.
    (a)  There is established an alternative educator licensure 
program, to be known as the Alternative Educator Licensure 
Program for Teachers.
    (b)  The Beginning on January 1, 2013, the Alternative 
Educator Licensure Program for Teachers may be offered by a 
recognized institution approved to offer educator preparation 
programs by the State Board of Education, in consultation with 
the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
    The program shall be comprised of 4 phases:
        (1) A course of study that at a minimum includes 
    instructional planning; instructional strategies, 
    including special education, reading, and English language 
    learning; classroom management; and the assessment of 
    students and use of data to drive instruction.
        (2) A year of residency, which is a candidate's 
    assignment to a full-time teaching position or as a 
    co-teacher for one full school year. An individual must 
    hold an Educator License with Stipulations with an 
    alternative provisional educator endorsement in order to 
    enter the residency and must complete additional program 
    requirements that address required State and national 
    standards, pass the assessment of professional teaching 
    before entering the second residency year, as required 
    under phase (3) of this subsection (b), and be recommended 
    by the principal or qualified equivalent of a principal, as 
    required under subsection (d) of this Section, and the 
    program coordinator to continue with the second year of the 
    residency.
        (3) A second year of residency, which shall include the 
    candidate's assignment to a full-time teaching position 
    for one school year. The candidate must be assigned an 
    experienced teacher to act as a mentor and coach the 
    candidate through the second year of residency.
        (4) A comprehensive assessment of the candidate's 
    teaching effectiveness, as evaluated by the principal or 
    qualified equivalent of a principal, as required under 
    subsection (d) of this Section, and the program 
    coordinator, at the end of the second year of residency. If 
    there is disagreement between the 2 evaluators about the 
    candidate's teaching effectiveness, the candidate may 
    complete one additional year of residency teaching under a 
    professional development plan developed by the principal 
    or qualified equivalent and the preparation program.  At the 
    completion of the third year, a candidate must have 
    positive evaluations and a recommendation for full 
    licensure from both the principal or qualified equivalent 
    and the program coordinator or no Professional Educator 
    License shall be issued.
    Successful completion of the program shall be deemed to 
satisfy any other practice or student teaching and content 
matter requirements established by law.
    (c)  An alternative provisional  educator endorsement on an 
Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 2 years of 
teaching in the public schools, including without limitation a 
preschool educational program under Section 2-3.71 of this Code 
or charter school, 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 in which a majority of the teachers are required to have 
the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in 
this State, but may be renewed for a third year if needed to 
complete the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for 
Teachers.  The endorsement shall be issued only once to an 
individual who meets all of the following requirements:
        (1)  Has graduated from a regionally accredited college 
    or university with a bachelor's degree or higher.
        (2)  Has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or 
    greater on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent on another scale.
        (3)  Has completed a major in the content area if 
    seeking a middle or secondary level endorsement or, if 
    seeking an early childhood, elementary, or special 
    education endorsement, has completed a major in the content 
    area of reading, English/language arts, mathematics, or 
    one of the sciences. If the individual does not have a 
    major in a content area for any level of teaching, he or 
    she must submit transcripts to the State Board 
    Superintendent of Education to be reviewed for 
    equivalency.
        (4)  Has successfully completed phase (1) of subsection 
    (b) of this Section.
        (5)  Has passed a test of basic skills and content area 
    test required for the specific endorsement for admission 
    into the program, as required under Section 21B-30 of this 
    Code.
    A candidate possessing the alternative provisional 
educator endorsement may receive a salary, benefits, and any 
other terms of employment offered to teachers in the school who 
are members of an exclusive bargaining representative, if any, 
but a school is not required to provide these benefits during 
the years of residency if the candidate is serving only as a 
co-teacher.  If the candidate is serving  as the teacher of 
record, the candidate must receive a salary, benefits, and any 
other terms of employment.  Residency experiences must not be 
counted towards tenure.
    (d)  The recognized institution offering the Alternative 
Educator Licensure Program for Teachers must partner with a 
school district, including without limitation a preschool 
educational program under Section 2-3.71 of this Code or 
charter school, or a State-recognized, nonpublic school in this 
State in which the chief administrator is required to have the 
licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in 
this State and in which a majority of the teachers are required 
to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public 
school in this State. A recognized institution that partners 
with a public school district administering a preschool 
educational program under Section 2-3.71 of this Code must 
require a principal to recommend or evaluate candidates in the 
program. A recognized institution that partners with an 
eligible entity  administering a preschool educational program 
under Section 2-3.71 of this Code and that is not a public 
school district must require a principal or qualified 
equivalent of a principal to recommend or evaluate candidates 
in the program.  The program presented for approval by the State 
Board of Education must demonstrate the supports that are to be 
provided to assist the provisional teacher during the 2-year 
residency period. These supports must provide additional 
contact hours with mentors during the first year of residency.
    (e)  Upon completion of the 4 phases outlined in subsection 
(b) of this Section and all assessments required under Section 
21B-30 of this Code, an individual shall receive a Professional 
Educator License.
    (f)  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 
Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers.

(Source: P.A. 99-58, eff. 7-16-15.)