Public Act 097-0702
 
SB0638 EnrolledLRB097 04402 NHT 44441 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 Sections 
21-5b, 21-5c, and 21B-50 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21-5b)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on September 1, 2013)
    Sec. 21-5b. Alternative certification. The State Board of 
Education, in
consultation with the State Teacher 
Certification Board, shall
establish and implement an 
alternative certification program under which
persons who meet 
the requirements of and successfully complete the program

established by this Section shall be issued an alternative 
teaching certificate
for teaching in the schools. The program 
shall be
limited to not more than 260 new participants during 
each year that the program
is in effect.  The State Board of 
Education, in cooperation with one or more not-for-profit 
organizations in the State that support excellence in teaching, 
which may be in partnership
 with a university that offers 
4-year baccalaureate and masters degree
programs and that is a 
recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this 
Code, may within
30 days after submission by the program 
sponsor approve
a course of study developed by the program 
sponsor that persons
in the program must successfully complete 
in order to satisfy one
criterion for issuance of an 
alternative certificate under this Section.
The Alternative 
Teacher Certification program course of study must include 
content and skills which have been approved by the State Board 
of Education,
in consultation with the State Teacher 
Certification Board, as meeting the requirement
for State 
teacher certification.
    The alternative certification program established under 
this Section shall be
known as the Alternative Teacher 
Certification program.  The Alternative
Teacher Certification 
Program shall be offered by the submitting partnership,
and 
such partnership may be offered by one or more not-for-profit

organizations in the State which support excellence in 
teaching.  The program
shall be
comprised of the following 3 
phases: (a) the first phase is the
course of study offered on 
an intensive basis in education theory,
instructional methods, 
and
practice
teaching; (b) the second phase is the person's 
assignment to a full-time
teaching position for one school 
year; and (c) the third phase is a
comprehensive assessment of 
the person's teaching performance by school
officials and the 
partnership participants
and a recommendation by the program 
sponsor to the
State Board of Education that the person be 
issued a standard alternative
teaching certificate.  Successful 
completion of the Alternative Teacher
Certification program 
shall be deemed to satisfy any other
practice or student 
teaching and subject matter requirements established by
law.
    A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for 
one year of
teaching
in the common schools and not renewable, 
shall be issued under this Section
21-5b to persons who at the 
time of applying for the provisional alternative
teaching 
certificate under this Section:
        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or 
    university with a
bachelor's degree;
        (2) have successfully completed the first phase of the 
    Alternative Teacher
Certification program as provided in 
    this Section;
        (3) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject 
    matter knowledge
required by Section
21-1a; and
        (4) (i) have been employed for a period of at least 5 
    years in an area
requiring application of the individual's 
    education or (ii) have attained at least a cumulative grade 
    average of a "B" if the individual is assigned either to a 
    school district that has not met the annual measurable 
    objective for highly qualified teachers required by the 
    Illinois Revised Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) Plan or to 
    a school district whose data filed with the State Board of 
    Education indicates that the district's poor and minority 
    students are taught by teachers who are not highly 
    qualified at a higher rate than other students; however, 
    this item (4)

does not apply with respect to a provisional 
    alternative teaching certificate
for
teaching in schools 
    situated in a school district that is located in a city

    having a
population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants. 
    Assignment may be made under clause (ii) of this item (4) 
    only if the district superintendent and the exclusive 
    bargaining representative of the district's teachers, if 
    any, jointly agree to permit the assignment.

    A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate 
under this Section
shall be treated as a regularly certified 
teacher for purposes of compensation,
benefits, and other terms 
and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the
school 
who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an 
exclusive
bargaining representative, if any.
    Until February 15, 2000, a standard alternative teaching 
certificate,
valid for 4 years for teaching
in the schools and 
renewable as provided in
Section 21-14, shall be
issued under 
this Section 21-5b to persons who first complete the 
requirements
for the provisional alternative teaching 
certificate
and who at the time of applying for a standard 
alternative teaching certificate
under this Section have 
successfully completed the second and third phases of
the 
Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this 
Section.
Alternatively, beginning February 15, 2000, at the end 
of the 4-year
validity
period,
persons who were issued a 
standard alternative teaching certificate shall be
eligible, 
on
the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate 
issued under
subsection (b) of
Section 21-2 of this Code, to 
apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate,
provided they
meet 
the requirements of
subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code 
and further provided that a
person who
does not
apply for and 
receive a Standard Teaching Certificate shall be able to teach

only in
schools situated in a school district that is located 
in a city having a
population in excess
of 500,000 inhabitants.
    Beginning February 15, 2000, persons who have completed the 
requirements for
a
standard alternative teaching certificate 
under this Section shall be issued an
Initial
Alternative 
Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching and not

renewable.  At the end of the 4-year validity period, these 
persons shall be
eligible, on the same
basis as
holders of an 
Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of

Section 21-2 of
this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching 
Certificate, provided they meet the
requirements of subsection 
(c) of Section 21-2.
    Such alternative certification program shall be 
implemented so that the first
provisional alternative teaching 
certificates issued under this Section are
effective upon the 
commencement of the 1997-1998 academic year and the first

standard alternative teaching certificates issued under this 
Section are
effective upon the commencement of the 1998-1999 
academic year.
    The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the 
partnership or partnerships
establishing such Alternative 
Teacher Certification programs, shall adopt rules
and 
regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the 
State Board
of Education deems necessary to establish and 
implement the program.
    No one  may be admitted to an alternative certification 
program under this Section after September 1, 2013 2012, and 
those candidates who are admitted on or before September 1, 
2013 2012 must complete the program before January 1, 2015 
September 1,  2013.
    This Section is repealed on January 1, 2015 September 1, 
2013. 
(Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21-5c)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on September 1, 2013)
    Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification. 
The State Board
of Education, in consultation with the State 
Teacher Certification Board, shall
establish and implement one 
or more alternative route to teacher certification programs

under which persons who meet the requirements of and 
successfully complete the programs
 established by this Section 
shall be issued an initial teaching
certificate for teaching in 
schools in this State.
The State Board of Education may
approve 
a course of study
that persons in such programs must 
successfully complete in order to
satisfy one criterion for 
issuance of a certificate under this Section.  The
Alternative 
Route to Teacher Certification programs course of study must 
include
 content and skills which have been approved by the 
State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State 
Teacher Certification Board, as meeting the
requirement for 
State teacher certification.
    Programs established under this Section shall be
known as 
Alternative Route to Teacher Certification programs.  The 
programs
may be offered by a university that offers 4-year 
baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a 
recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this 
Code, by one or more not-for-profit
organizations in the State, 
or a combination thereof.  The programs shall be comprised of 
the following 3
phases: (a) a
course of study offered on an 
intensive basis in education theory,
instructional methods, 
and
practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment to a 
full-time
teaching position for one school year, including the 
designation of a
mentor teacher to advise and assist the person 
with that
teaching assignment; and (c) a comprehensive 
assessment of the person's
teaching performance by school 
officials and program participants
and a recommendation by the 
program sponsor to the
State Board of Education that the person 
be issued an initial
teaching certificate.  Successful 
completion of Alternative Route to
Teacher
Certification 
programs shall be deemed to satisfy any other
practice or 
student teaching and subject matter requirements established 
by
law.
    A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for 
one year of
teaching
in the common schools and not renewable, 
shall be issued under this Section
21-5c to persons who at the 
time of applying for the provisional alternative
teaching 
certificate under this Section:
        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or 
    university with a
bachelor's degree;
        (2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years 
    in an area
requiring application of the individual's 
    education;
        (3) have successfully completed the first phase of the 
    Alternative Teacher
Certification program as provided in 
    this Section; and
        (4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject 
    matter knowledge
required by Section 21-1a.
    An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching
in the 
common schools,
shall be
issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to 
persons who first complete the
requirements
for the provisional 
alternative teaching certificate
and who at the time of 
applying for an initial teaching certificate
have successfully 
completed the second and third phases of
the Alternative Route 
to Teacher Certification program as provided in this
Section.
    A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate 
or an initial
teaching certificate earned under this Section

shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes 
of compensation,
benefits, and other terms and conditions of 
employment afforded teachers in the
school who are members of a 
bargaining unit represented by an exclusive
bargaining 
representative, if any.
    The State Board of Education may adopt rules
and 
regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the 
State Board
deems necessary to establish and implement the 
program.
    No one  may be admitted to an alternative certification 
program under this Section after September 1, 2013 2012, and 
those candidates who are admitted on or before September 1, 
2013 2012 must complete the program before January 1, 2015 
September 1,  2013.
    This Section is repealed on January 1, 2015 September 1, 
2013. 
(Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 
    (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)  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. Any program offered 
by a not-for-profit entity also must be approved by the Board 
of Higher Education.
    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 and 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 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 and 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 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 a 
Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 2 years of 
teaching in the public schools, including without limitation a 
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 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 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.  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. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 

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