SB0814sam001 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

Filed: 4/13/2021

10200SB0814sam001 LRB102 04618 CMG 24983 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 814

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 814 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 21A-5, 21A-10, 21A-15, 21A-20, 21A-25, and 21A-30 and by adding Sections 21A-20.5 and 21A-25.5 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21A-5)

Sec. 21A-5. Definitions. In this Article:

"New teacher" means the holder of a professional educator license, as set forth in Section 21B-20 of this Code, who is employed by a public school and who has not previously participated in a new teacher induction and mentoring program required by this Article, except as provided in Section 21A-25 of this Code.

"Eligible applicant" or "eligible entity" means a regional office of education, an intermediate service center, an Illinois institution of higher education, a statewide organization representing teachers, a local education agency, or a public or private not-for-profit entity with experience providing professional learning, including mentoring, to early childhood educators.

"Public school" means any school operating pursuant to the authority of this Code, including without limitation a school district, a charter school, a cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control, and a school operated by a regional office of education or State agency.

(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-10)

Sec. 21A-10. Development of program required.

(a) Each eligible applicant shall develop a new teacher induction and mentoring program for first and second-year teachers that meets the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 to assist new teachers in developing the skills and strategies necessary for instructional excellence, provided that funding is made available by the State Board of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose.

(b) A public school that has a new teacher induction and mentoring program in existence before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly that does not meet the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 may modify the program to meet the requirements of Section 21A-20 and may receive funding as described in Section 21A-25, provided that funding is made available by the State Board of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose.

(c) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, whether to forgo modifications to a new teacher induction and mentoring program in existence before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

If a district does not have a new teacher induction and mentoring program in existence before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly or if a district and the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, agree that an eligible entity would better serve the district's needs, the district and the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, shall jointly decide which eligible entity offers the most suitable program. The eligible entity shall include representatives from both the district and the exclusive bargaining representative in the program development discussions to ensure the program captures local need. During the 2003-2004 school year, each public school or 2 or more public schools acting jointly shall develop, in conjunction with its exclusive representative or their exclusive representatives, if any, a new teacher induction and mentoring program that meets the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code to assist new teachers in developing the skills and strategies necessary for instructional excellence, provided that funding is made available by the State Board of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose. A public school that has an existing induction and mentoring program that does not meet the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code may have school years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 to develop a program that does meet those requirements and may receive funding as described in Section 21A-25 of this Code, provided that the funding is made available by the State Board of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose. A public school with such an existing induction and mentoring program may receive funding for the 2005-2006 school year for each new teacher in the second year of a 2-year program that does not meet the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20, as long as the public school has established the required new program by the beginning of that school year as described in Section 21A-15 and provided that funding is made available by the State Board of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose as described in Section 21A-25.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-15)

Sec. 21A-15. Program establishment and implementation. When program is to be established and implemented.

(a) The State Board of Education shall establish a competitive State grant program to support new teacher induction and mentoring programs. The program shall be available to eligible entities not less than every 3 years, subject to appropriation. The State Board shall prioritize funding based on the needs of students and school districts as it relates to teacher retention.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, by no later than the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year or by no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year for eligible applicants that have been given an extension of time to develop a program under Section 21A-10, each eligible entity or 2 or more eligible entities acting jointly shall establish and implement a new teacher induction and mentoring program required to be developed under Section 21A-10. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, by the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year (or by the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year for a public school that has been given an extension of time to develop a program under Section 21A-10 of this Code), each public school or 2 or more public schools acting jointly shall establish and implement, in conjunction with its exclusive representative or their exclusive representatives, if any, the new teacher induction and mentoring program required to be developed under Section 21A-10 of this Code, provided that funding is made available by the State Board of Education, from an appropriation made for this purpose, as described in Section 21A-25 of this Code. A public school may contract with an institution of higher education or other independent party to assist in implementing the program.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-20)

Sec. 21A-20. Program requirements. Each new teacher induction and mentoring program must align with the standards established under Section 21A-20.5 and shall be based on a plan that at least does all of the following:

(1) Assigns a mentor teacher to each new teacher for a period of at least 2 school years.

(2) Aligns with the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards in Part 24 of Title 23 of the Illinois Administrative Code Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, content area standards, and applicable local school improvement and professional development plans, if any.

(3) (Blank). Addresses all of the following elements and how they will be provided:

(A) Mentoring and support of the new teacher.

(B) Professional development specifically designed to ensure the growth of the new teacher's knowledge and skills.

(C) Formative assessment designed to ensure feedback and reflection, which must not be used in any evaluation of the new teacher.

(4) Describes the role of mentor teachers, the criteria and process for their selection, and how they will be trained, provided that each mentor teacher shall demonstrate the best practices in teaching his or her respective field of practice. A mentor teacher may not directly or indirectly participate in the evaluation of a new teacher pursuant to Article 24A of this Code or the evaluation procedure of the public school.

(5) Is designed to be available for both in-person and virtual participation.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-20.5 new)

Sec. 21A-20.5. Program standards.

(a) The State Board of Education shall establish standards for new teacher induction and mentoring programs. In establishing these standards, the State Board shall seek input and feedback from stakeholders, including parents, students, and educators, who reflect the diversity of this State.

(b) Any changes made to the standards established under subsection (a) must be approved by the Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group pursuant to Section 21A-25.5.

(105 ILCS 5/21A-25)

Sec. 21A-25. Funding.

(a) From a separate appropriation made for the purposes of this Article, for each new teacher participating in a new teacher induction and mentoring program that meets the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code or in an existing program that is in the process of transition to a program that meets those requirements, the State Board of Education shall pay the eligible entity for the duration of the grant public school $1,200 annually for each of 2 school years for the purpose of providing one or more of the following:

(1) Mentor teacher compensation and new teacher compensation.

(2) Mentor teacher professional learning training or new teacher learning training or both.

(3) (Blank). Release time.

(b) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, which eligible applicant offers the most suitable program. If a mentor teacher receives release time to support a new teacher, the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the public school shall not increase in any substantial manner. If the appropriation is not included in the State budget, the State Board of Education is not required to implement programs established by this Article. However, if a new teacher, after participating in the new teacher induction and mentoring program for one school year, becomes employed by another public school, the State Board of Education shall pay the teacher's new school $1,200 for the second school year and the teacher shall continue to be a new teacher as defined in this Article. Each public school shall determine, in conjunction with its exclusive representative, if any, how the $1,200 per school year for each new teacher shall be used, provided that if a mentor teacher receives additional release time to support a new teacher, the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the public school shall not increase in any substantial manner. If the appropriation is insufficient to cover the $1,200 per school year for each new teacher, public schools are not required to develop or implement the program established by this Article. In the event of an insufficient appropriation, a public school or 2 or more schools acting jointly may submit an application for a grant administered by the State Board of Education and awarded on a competitive basis to establish a new teacher induction and mentoring program that meets the criteria set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code. The State Board of Education may retain up to $1,000,000 of the appropriation for new teacher induction and mentoring programs to train mentor teachers, administrators, and other personnel, to provide best practices information, and to conduct an evaluation of these programs' impact and effectiveness.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-25.5 new)

Sec. 21A-25.5. Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group.

(a) The State Board of Education shall create a Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group. Members of the Advisory Group must represent the diversity of this State and possess the expertise needed to perform the work required to meet the goals of the programs set forth under Section 21A-20.

(b) The members of the Advisory Group shall by appointed by the State Superintendent of Education and shall include all of the following members:

(1) Four members representing teachers recommended by a statewide professional teachers' organization.

(2) Four members representing teachers recommended by a different statewide professional teachers' organization.

(3) Two members representing principals recommended by a statewide organization that represents principals.

(4) One member representing district superintendents recommended by a statewide organization that represents district superintendents.

(5) One member representing regional superintendents of schools recommended by a statewide association that represents regional superintendents of schools.

(6) One member representing a State-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education recommended by the institution of higher education.

The majority of the membership of the Advisory Group shall consist of practicing teachers.

(c) The Advisory Group is responsible for approving any changes made to the standards established under Section 21A-20.5.

(105 ILCS 5/21A-30)

Sec. 21A-30. Evaluation of programs. The State Board of Education shall contract with an independent party, using funds from the relevant appropriation for new teacher induction and mentoring programs, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the new teacher induction and mentoring programs established pursuant to this Article. Reports from the evaluation shall be made available to stakeholders after 3 years of program implementation. The State Board of Education and the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall jointly contract with an independent party to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of new teacher induction and mentoring programs established pursuant to this Article. The first report of this evaluation shall be presented to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2009. Subsequent evaluations shall be conducted and reports presented to the General Assembly on or before January 1 of every third year thereafter.

(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

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