SB2844 EnrolledLRB100 20437 AXK 35779 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  





 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by adding Section 
52-3.173 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.173  new)
7    Sec. 2-3.173. Supporting Future Teachers Program.
8    (a) In this Section: 
9    "English learner" means a child included in the definition 
10of "English learners" under Section 14C-2 of this Code.
11    "Low-income student" means a student that would be included 
12in an Organizational Unit's Low-Income Count, as calculated 
13under Section 18-8.15 of this Code. 
14    "Program" means the Supporting Future Teachers Program 
15established under this Section. 
16    "Qualified participant" means a high school graduate who: 
17(i) can demonstrate proficiency in a language other than 
18English or is a recipient of a State Seal of Biliteracy or, at 
19any one time during pre-kindergarten through grade 12, was 
20identified as a low-income student; and (ii) is a member of the 
21community in which the participating school district is 
22located. A "qualified participant" must be enrolled in an 
23educator preparation program approved by the State Board of 
 
 
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1Education at a regionally accredited institution of higher 
2education in this State.
3    "State Board" means the State Board of Education. 
4    (b) Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the State 
5Board shall establish and maintain the Supporting Future 
6Teachers Program to assist qualified participants in acquiring 
7a Professional Educator License.
8    (c) Each participating school district shall partner with 
9an educator preparation program approved by the State Board at 
10a regionally accredited institution of higher education in this 
11State. Each qualified participant enrolled in the Program 
12through the school district must be enrolled at least part-time 
13each semester at that institution of higher education in its 
14educator preparation program and be working toward a 
15Professional Educator License. 
16    (d) A qualified participant shall no longer qualify for the 
17Program if at any time the participating school district or the 
18institution of higher education determines that the qualified 
19participant is no longer making substantial progress toward a 
20degree in an approved educator preparation program.
21    (e) Throughout each semester of participation in the 
22Program, the qualified participant must be employed by the 
23participating school district and working under the 
24supervision of a school district employee. Duties of the 
25qualified participant may include, but are not limited to (i) 
26working in cooperation with his or her supervisor under this 
 
 
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1subsection (e) to create classroom curriculum and lesson plans 
2and (ii) working with and mentoring English learners or 
3low-income students on a one-on-one basis.
4    Each participating school district may use appropriate 
5State, federal, or local revenue to employ the qualified 
6participant.
7    (f) At the end of each school year of the Program, each 
8participating school district shall submit data to the State 
9Board detailing all of the following:
10        (1) The number of qualified participants enrolled in 
11    the Program.
12        (2) The costs associated with the Program.
13        (3) The duties assigned to each qualified participant 
14    by his or her supervisor.
15        (4) The current status of each qualified participant in 
16    his or her educator preparation program.
17        (5) The qualified participant's Illinois Educator 
18    Identification Number, if available.
19        (6) Any other information requested by the State Board. 
20    (g) Prior to the 2023-2024 school year, the State Board 
21shall electronically submit a report to the Clerk of the House 
22of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate detailing 
23the first 4 years of the program, including, but not limited 
24to, the following information: 
25        (1) The participating school districts in the Program.
26        (2) The number of qualified participants enrolled in 
 
 
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1    the Program.
2        (3) The costs associated with the Program per school 
3    district.
4        (4) A summary of the duties assigned to qualified 
5    participants by school district supervisors.
6        (5) Any other information as determined by the State 
7    Board. 
8    (h) The State Board may establish and adopt any rules 
9necessary to implement this Section.
10    (i) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a 
11school district to participate in the Program. 
 

12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
13becoming law.