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| Public Act 101-0554 | ||||
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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 | ||||
2-3.80d as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.80d new) | ||||
Sec. 2-3.80d. Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher | ||||
Internship Program. | ||||
(a) In this Section: | ||||
"Pre-service teaching student" means a student who is a | ||||
declared agricultural education major accepted into an | ||||
approved agricultural teacher education program at a public | ||||
university in this State and who has completed at least 30 | ||||
credit hours and has maintained, at a minimum, a 2.5 cumulative | ||||
grade point average on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent. | ||||
"Illinois agricultural company" means any company in this | ||||
State that has an interest in the agricultural industry, as | ||||
determined by the pre-service teaching student's public | ||||
university. | ||||
(b) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education | ||||
must, in consultation with the Board of Higher Education, | ||||
develop an Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher | ||||
Internship Program, beginning at the secondary education | ||||
level, for pre-service teaching students that consists of both | ||
of the following: | ||
(1) At a minimum, an 8-week experience or 300 hours of | ||
experience to prepare the pre-service teaching student for | ||
in-classroom experiences, including, but not limited to, | ||
experiences in the 5 career clusters for Illinois | ||
agricultural education through partnerships with Illinois | ||
agricultural companies. The 5 career clusters include | ||
agricultural business management, agricultural mechanics | ||
and technology, horticulture services operations and | ||
management, agricultural sciences, and natural resources | ||
conservation management. | ||
(2) Both in-classroom lectures and hands-on, applied | ||
learning. | ||
(c) Subject to appropriation, the State Board must award | ||
grants to a pre-service teaching student enrolled in the | ||
Internship Program under subsection (b), which may be used by | ||
the student to support all of the following activities: | ||
(1) A stipend not to exceed $7,500 for a pre-service | ||
teaching student's completion of the Internship Program, | ||
distributed in monthly installments. | ||
(2) Lodging for a pre-service teaching student while | ||
participating in the Internship Program. | ||
(3) Reimbursement for meals, not to exceed the per diem | ||
rate established by the Internal Revenue Service, for a | ||
pre-service teaching student while participating in the | ||
Internship Program. | ||
(4) Any reasonable costs for participation in the | ||
Internship Program charged by any participating Illinois | ||
agricultural company.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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