Public Act 0996 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2687 Enrolled LRB095 05573 NHT 25663 b

Public Act 095-0996

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 21-27 and 22-45 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21-27)

Sec. 21-27. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.

(a) The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program is hereby established to provide categorical funding for monetary incentives and bonuses for teachers and school counselors who are employed by school districts and who hold a Master Certificate. The State Board of Education shall allocate and distribute to each school district an amount as annually appropriated by the General Assembly from federal funds for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. The State Board of Education's annual budget must set out by separate line item the appropriation for the program. Unless otherwise provided by appropriation, each school district's annual allocation shall be the sum of the amounts earned for the following incentives and bonuses:

(1) An annual payment of $3,000 to be paid to (A) each teacher who holds both a Master Certificate and a corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards successfully completes the program leading to and who receives a Master Certificate and is employed as a teacher by a school district and (B) each school counselor who holds both a Master Certificate and a corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards successfully completes the program leading to and who receives a Master Certificate and is employed as a school counselor by a school district. The school district shall distribute this payment to each eligible teacher or school counselor as a single payment or in not more than 3 payments.

(2) An annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be paid to (A) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable, and (B) each retired teacher or school counselor who holds both a Master Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees, in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable. An additional annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be paid to (I) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide an additional 30 60 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable, and (II) each retired teacher or school counselor who holds both a Master Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees, in writing, to provide an additional 30 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable, for a total of 60 hours of mentoring and $2,000 in incentives under this paragraph (2). Mentoring under this paragraph (2) This mentoring may include, either singly or in combination, (i) providing high quality professional development for new and experienced teachers or school counselors, as applicable, and/or , and (ii) assisting National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) candidates through the NBPTS certification process. The school district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive payment upon completion of the 30 hours or 60 hours of the required mentoring, whichever is applicable. and the remaining 50% of the incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school district for mentoring or related services provided during a regular school day or during the total number of days of required service for the school year.

(3) An annual incentive equal to $2,000 shall be paid to (A) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both, and (B) each retired teacher or school counselor who holds both a Master Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees, in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both. An additional annual incentive equal to $2,000 $3,000 shall be paid to (I) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide an additional 30 60 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both, and (II) each retired teacher or school counselor who holds both a Master Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees, in writing, to provide an additional 30 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both, for a total of 60 hours of mentoring and $4,000 in incentives under this paragraph (3). Mentoring under this paragraph (3) may include, either singly or in combination, (i) providing high quality professional development for new and experienced teachers or school counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both, and/or (ii) assisting National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) candidates through the NBPTS certification process in schools on academic early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both. The school district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive payment upon completion of the 30 hours or 60 hours of the required mentoring, whichever is applicable. and the remaining 50% of the incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school district for mentoring or related services provided during a regular school day or during the total number of days of required service for the school year.

(4) If funds are available under the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program in a given fiscal year, the following Master Certificate incentives shall be provided:

(A) As a first priority, monetary support of up to $2,000 per person shall be provided for first-time application fees.

(B) As a second priority, monetary support for NBPTS's Take One! process of up to $395 per person shall be provided for cohorts of teachers in schools on academic early warning status or schools deemed to be a priority by the State Board of Education.

(C) As a third priority, monetary support of up to $350 per retake shall be provided for up to 3 retakes.

(D) As a fourth priority, monetary support of up to $850 per person shall be provided for renewals for those persons who have not received prior State or federal fee support.

(b) Each regional superintendent of schools shall provide information about National Board certification administered by the Master Certificate Program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and this Section amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly to each individual seeking to register or renew a certificate under Section 21-14 of this Code.

(c) After the incentives and bonuses under subsection (a) of this Section have been expended in a given fiscal year, if there are additional funds available under the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program, up to $250,000 must be used for the continuation of an appropriate electronic system to process Master Certificates and various payments.

(d) After funds have been expended under priorities (A) through (D) of paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this Section in a given fiscal year and if there are any additional funds available under the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program, remaining funds must be spent on candidate support and recruitment.

(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03; 94-105, eff. 7-1-05; 94-901, eff. 6-22-06.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-45)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 22-45. Illinois P-20 Council.

(a) The General Assembly finds that preparing Illinoisans for success in school and the workplace requires a continuum of quality education from preschool through graduate school. This State needs a framework to guide education policy and integrate education at every level. A statewide coordinating council to study and make recommendations concerning education at all levels can avoid fragmentation of policies, promote improved teaching and learning, and continue to cultivate and demonstrate strong accountability and efficiency. Establishing an Illinois P-20 Council will develop a statewide agenda that will move the State towards the common goals of improving academic achievement, increasing college access and success, improving use of existing data and measurements, developing improved accountability, promoting lifelong learning, easing the transition to college, and reducing remediation. A pre-kindergarten through grade 20 agenda will strengthen this State's economic competitiveness by producing a highly-skilled workforce. In addition, lifelong learning plans will enhance this State's ability to leverage funding.

(b) There is created the Illinois P-20 Council. The Illinois P-20 Council shall include all of the following members:

(1) The Governor or his or designee, to serve as chairperson.

(2) Four members of the General Assembly, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the President of the Senate, and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(3) Six at-large members appointed by the Governor as follows, with 2 members being from the City of Chicago, 2 members being from Lake County, McHenry County, Kane County, DuPage County, Will County, or that part of Cook County outside of the City of Chicago, and 2 members being from the remainder of the State:

(A) one representative of civic leaders;

(B) one representative of local government;

(C) one representative of trade unions;

(D) one representative of nonprofit organizations or foundations;

(E) one representative of parents' organizations; and

(F) one education research expert.

(4) Five members appointed by statewide business organizations and business trade associations.

(5) Six members appointed by statewide professional organizations and associations representing pre-kindergarten through grade 20 teachers, community college faculty, and public university faculty.

(6) Two members appointed by associations representing local school administrators and school board members. One of these members must be a special education administrator.

(7) One member representing community colleges, appointed by the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents.

(8) One member representing 4-year independent colleges and universities, appointed by a statewide organization representing private institutions of higher learning.

(9) One member representing public 4-year universities, appointed jointly by the university presidents and chancellors.

(10) Ex-officio members as follows from the following State agencies, boards, commissions, and councils:

(A) The State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee.

(B) The Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education or his or her designee.

(C) The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Community College Board or his or her designee.

(D) The Executive Director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission or his or her designee.

(E) The Co-chairpersons of the Illinois Workforce Investment Board or their designee.

(F) The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee.

(G) The Chairperson of the Illinois Early Learning Council or his or her designee.

(H) The President of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy or his or her designee.

(I) The president of an association representing educators of adult learners or his or her designee. Ex-officio members shall have no vote on the Illinois P-20 Council.

Appointed members shall serve for staggered terms expiring on July 1 of the first, second, or third calendar year following their appointments or until their successors are appointed and have qualified. Staggered terms shall be determined by lot at the organizing meeting of the Illinois P-20 Council.

Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments, and any member so appointed shall serve during the remainder of the term for which the vacancy occurred.

(c) The Illinois P-20 Council shall be funded through State appropriations to support staff activities, research, data-collection, and dissemination. The Illinois P-20 Council shall be staffed by the Office of the Governor, in coordination with relevant State agencies, boards, and commissions. The Illinois Education Research Council shall provide research and coordinate research collection activities for the Illinois P-20 Council.

(d) The Illinois P-20 Council shall have all of the following duties:

(1) To make recommendations to do all of the following:

(A) Coordinate pre-kindergarten through grade 20 (graduate school) education in this State through working at the intersections of educational systems to promote collaborative infrastructure.

(B) Coordinate and leverage strategies, actions, legislation, policies, and resources of all stakeholders to support fundamental and lasting improvement in this State's public schools, community colleges, and universities.

(C) Better align the high school curriculum with postsecondary expectations.

(D) Better align assessments across all levels of education.

(E) Reduce the need for students entering institutions of higher education to take remedial courses.

(F) Smooth the transition from high school to college.

(G) Improve high school and college graduation rates.

(H) Improve the rigor and relevance of academic standards for college and workforce readiness.

(I) Better align college and university teaching programs with the needs of Illinois schools.

(2) To advise the Governor, the General Assembly, the State's education and higher education agencies, and the State's workforce and economic development boards and agencies on policies related to lifelong learning for Illinois students and families.

(3) To articulate a framework for systemic educational improvement that will enable every student to meet or exceed Illinois learning standards and be well-prepared to succeed in the workforce and community.

(4) To provide an estimated fiscal impact for implementation of all Council recommendations.

(e) The chairperson of the Illinois P-20 Council may authorize the creation of working groups focusing on areas of interest to Illinois educational and workforce development, including without limitation the following areas:

(1) Preparation, recruitment, and certification of highly qualified teachers.

(2) Mentoring and induction of highly qualified teachers.

(3) The diversity of highly qualified teachers.

(4) Funding for highly qualified teachers, including developing a strategic and collaborative plan to seek federal and private grants to support initiatives targeting teacher preparation and its impact on student achievement.

(5) Highly effective administrators.

(6) Illinois birth through age 3 education, pre-kindergarten, and early childhood education.

(7) The assessment, alignment, outreach, and network of college and workforce readiness efforts.

(8) Alternative routes to college access.

(9) Research data and accountability.

The chairperson of the Illinois P-20 Council may designate Council members to serve as working group chairpersons. Working groups may invite organizations and individuals representing pre-kindergarten through grade 20 interests to participate in discussions, data collection, and dissemination.

(Source: P.A. 95-626, eff. 6-1-08.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect June 1, 2008.