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| Public Act 100-0982 | ||||
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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 adding Section | ||||
2-3.173 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.173 new) | ||||
Sec. 2-3.173. Supporting Future Teachers Program. | ||||
(a) In this Section: | ||||
"English learner" means a child included in the definition | ||||
of "English learners" under Section 14C-2 of this Code. | ||||
"Low-income student" means a student that would be included | ||||
in an Organizational Unit's Low-Income Count, as calculated | ||||
under Section 18-8.15 of this Code. | ||||
"Program" means the Supporting Future Teachers Program | ||||
established under this Section. | ||||
"Qualified participant" means a high school graduate who: | ||||
(i) can demonstrate proficiency in a language other than | ||||
English or is a recipient of a State Seal of Biliteracy or, at | ||||
any one time during pre-kindergarten through grade 12, was | ||||
identified as a low-income student; and (ii) is a member of the | ||||
community in which the participating school district is | ||||
located. A "qualified participant" must be enrolled in an | ||||
educator preparation program approved by the State Board of | ||||
Education at a regionally accredited institution of higher | ||
education in this State. | ||
"State Board" means the State Board of Education. | ||
(b) Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the State | ||
Board shall establish and maintain the Supporting Future | ||
Teachers Program to assist qualified participants in acquiring | ||
a Professional Educator License. | ||
(c) Each participating school district shall partner with | ||
an educator preparation program approved by the State Board at | ||
a regionally accredited institution of higher education in this | ||
State. Each qualified participant enrolled in the Program | ||
through the school district must be enrolled at least part-time | ||
each semester at that institution of higher education in its | ||
educator preparation program and be working toward a | ||
Professional Educator License. | ||
(d) A qualified participant shall no longer qualify for the | ||
Program if at any time the participating school district or the | ||
institution of higher education determines that the qualified | ||
participant is no longer making substantial progress toward a | ||
degree in an approved educator preparation program. | ||
(e) Throughout each semester of participation in the | ||
Program, the qualified participant must be employed by the | ||
participating school district and working under the | ||
supervision of a school district employee. Duties of the | ||
qualified participant may include, but are not limited to (i) | ||
working in cooperation with his or her supervisor under this | ||
subsection (e) to create classroom curriculum and lesson plans | ||
and (ii) working with and mentoring English learners or | ||
low-income students on a one-on-one basis. | ||
Each participating school district may use appropriate | ||
State, federal, or local revenue to employ the qualified | ||
participant. | ||
(f) At the end of each school year of the Program, each | ||
participating school district shall submit data to the State | ||
Board detailing all of the following: | ||
(1) The number of qualified participants enrolled in | ||
the Program. | ||
(2) The costs associated with the Program. | ||
(3) The duties assigned to each qualified participant | ||
by his or her supervisor. | ||
(4) The current status of each qualified participant in | ||
his or her educator preparation program. | ||
(5) The qualified participant's Illinois Educator | ||
Identification Number, if available. | ||
(6) Any other information requested by the State Board. | ||
(g) Prior to the 2023-2024 school year, the State Board | ||
shall electronically submit a report to the Clerk of the House | ||
of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate detailing | ||
the first 4 years of the program, including, but not limited | ||
to, the following information: | ||
(1) The participating school districts in the Program. | ||
(2) The number of qualified participants enrolled in | ||
the Program. | ||
(3) The costs associated with the Program per school | ||
district. | ||
(4) A summary of the duties assigned to qualified | ||
participants by school district supervisors. | ||
(5) Any other information as determined by the State | ||
Board. | ||
(h) The State Board may establish and adopt any rules | ||
necessary to implement this Section. | ||
(i) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a | ||
school district to participate in the Program.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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