| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | AN ACT concerning education. | |||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | |||||||||||||||||||||
3 | represented in the General Assembly: | |||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 21B-20 and 21B-30 as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | (105 ILCS 5/21B-20) | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of | |||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Education shall implement a system of educator licensure, | |||||||||||||||||||||
9 | whereby individuals employed in school districts who are | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 | required to be licensed must have one of the following | |||||||||||||||||||||
11 | licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2028, a short-term | |||||||||||||||||||||
14 | substitute teaching license ; or (v) a provisional educator | |||||||||||||||||||||
15 | licensure . References in law regarding individuals certified | |||||||||||||||||||||
16 | or certificated or required to be certified or certificated | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | under Article 21 of this Code shall also include individuals | |||||||||||||||||||||
18 | licensed or required to be licensed under this Article. The | |||||||||||||||||||||
19 | first year of all licenses ends on June 30 following one full | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | year of the license being issued. | |||||||||||||||||||||
21 | The State Board of Education, in consultation with the | |||||||||||||||||||||
22 | State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | licenses and endorsements under this Section. | ||||||
2 | (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i) | ||||||
3 | have successfully completed an approved educator | ||||||
4 | preparation program and are recommended for licensure by | ||||||
5 | the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation | ||||||
6 | program, (ii) have successfully completed the required | ||||||
7 | testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code or has held a | ||||||
8 | Provisional Educator License under paragraph (5) of this | ||||||
9 | Section for 2 years , (iii) have successfully completed | ||||||
10 | coursework on the psychology of, the identification of, | ||||||
11 | and the methods of instruction for the exceptional child, | ||||||
12 | including, without limitation, children with learning | ||||||
13 | disabilities, (iv) have successfully completed coursework | ||||||
14 | in methods of reading and reading in the content area, and | ||||||
15 | (v) have met all other criteria established by rule of the | ||||||
16 | State Board of Education shall be issued a Professional | ||||||
17 | Educator License. All Professional Educator Licenses are | ||||||
18 | valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the | ||||||
19 | license being issued. The Professional Educator License | ||||||
20 | shall be endorsed with specific areas and grade levels in | ||||||
21 | which the individual is eligible to practice. For an early | ||||||
22 | childhood education endorsement, an individual may satisfy | ||||||
23 | the student teaching requirement of his or her early | ||||||
24 | childhood teacher preparation program through placement in | ||||||
25 | a setting with children from birth through grade 2, and | ||||||
26 | the individual may be paid and receive credit while |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | student teaching. The student teaching experience must | ||||||
2 | meet the requirements of and be approved by the | ||||||
3 | individual's early childhood teacher preparation program. | ||||||
4 | Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the | ||||||
5 | Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements | ||||||
6 | shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework | ||||||
7 | in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable | ||||||
8 | content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule. | ||||||
9 | (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator | ||||||
10 | License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement | ||||||
11 | that limits the license holder to one particular position | ||||||
12 | or does not require completion of an approved educator | ||||||
13 | program or both. | ||||||
14 | An individual with an Educator License with | ||||||
15 | Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or | ||||||
16 | any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher | ||||||
17 | who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason. | ||||||
18 | An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued | ||||||
19 | with the following endorsements: | ||||||
20 | (A) (Blank). | ||||||
21 | (B) Alternative provisional educator. An | ||||||
22 | alternative provisional educator endorsement on an | ||||||
23 | Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an | ||||||
24 | applicant who, at the time of applying for the | ||||||
25 | endorsement, has done all of the following: | ||||||
26 | (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | college or university with a minimum of a | ||||||
2 | bachelor's degree. | ||||||
3 | (ii) Successfully completed the first phase of | ||||||
4 | the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for | ||||||
5 | Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this | ||||||
6 | Code. | ||||||
7 | (iii) Passed a content area test, as required | ||||||
8 | under Section 21B-30 of this Code. | ||||||
9 | The alternative provisional educator endorsement is | ||||||
10 | valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a | ||||||
11 | third year by an individual meeting the requirements set | ||||||
12 | forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code. | ||||||
13 | (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An | ||||||
14 | alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on | ||||||
15 | an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the | ||||||
16 | holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant | ||||||
17 | superintendent in a school district's central office. | ||||||
18 | This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant | ||||||
19 | who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has | ||||||
20 | done all of the following: | ||||||
21 | (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited | ||||||
22 | college or university with a minimum of a master's | ||||||
23 | degree in a management field other than education. | ||||||
24 | (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5 | ||||||
25 | years in a management level position in a field | ||||||
26 | other than education. |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (iii) Successfully completed the first phase | ||||||
2 | of an alternative route to superintendent | ||||||
3 | endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55 | ||||||
4 | of this Code. | ||||||
5 | (iv) Passed a content area test required under | ||||||
6 | Section 21B-30 of this Code. | ||||||
7 | The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in | ||||||
8 | order to complete one full year of serving as a | ||||||
9 | superintendent or assistant superintendent. | ||||||
10 | (D) (Blank). | ||||||
11 | (E) Career and technical educator. A career and | ||||||
12 | technical educator endorsement on an Educator License | ||||||
13 | with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who | ||||||
14 | has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a | ||||||
15 | regionally accredited institution of higher education | ||||||
16 | or an accredited trade and technical institution and | ||||||
17 | has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of | ||||||
18 | education in each area to be taught. | ||||||
19 | The career and technical educator endorsement on | ||||||
20 | an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until | ||||||
21 | June 30 immediately following 5 years of the | ||||||
22 | endorsement being issued and may be renewed. | ||||||
23 | An individual who holds a valid career and | ||||||
24 | technical educator endorsement on an Educator License | ||||||
25 | with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's | ||||||
26 | degree may substitute teach in career and technical |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | education classrooms. | ||||||
2 | (F) (Blank). | ||||||
3 | (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A | ||||||
4 | transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an | ||||||
5 | Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for | ||||||
6 | the purpose of providing instruction in accordance | ||||||
7 | with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who | ||||||
8 | provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets | ||||||
9 | all of the following requirements: | ||||||
10 | (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and | ||||||
11 | writing ability in the language other than English | ||||||
12 | in which transitional bilingual education is | ||||||
13 | offered. | ||||||
14 | (ii) Has the ability to successfully | ||||||
15 | communicate in English. | ||||||
16 | (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years | ||||||
17 | previous to his or her applying for a transitional | ||||||
18 | bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and | ||||||
19 | comparable teaching certificate or comparable | ||||||
20 | authorization issued by a foreign country or holds | ||||||
21 | a degree from an institution of higher learning in | ||||||
22 | a foreign country that the State Educator | ||||||
23 | Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be | ||||||
24 | the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a | ||||||
25 | regionally accredited institution of higher | ||||||
26 | learning in the United States. |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | A transitional bilingual educator endorsement | ||||||
2 | shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12, | ||||||
3 | is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years | ||||||
4 | of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be | ||||||
5 | renewed. | ||||||
6 | Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator | ||||||
7 | endorsement shall not be employed to replace any | ||||||
8 | presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be | ||||||
9 | replaced for any reason. | ||||||
10 | (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to | ||||||
11 | alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language | ||||||
12 | other than English in the public schools, an | ||||||
13 | individual who holds an Educator License with | ||||||
14 | Stipulations may also apply for a language | ||||||
15 | endorsement, provided that the applicant provides | ||||||
16 | satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the | ||||||
17 | following requirements: | ||||||
18 | (i) Holds a transitional bilingual | ||||||
19 | endorsement. | ||||||
20 | (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the | ||||||
21 | language for which the endorsement is to be issued | ||||||
22 | by passing the applicable language content test | ||||||
23 | required by the State Board of Education. | ||||||
24 | (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from | ||||||
25 | a regionally accredited institution of higher | ||||||
26 | education or, for individuals educated in a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | country other than the United States, holds a | ||||||
2 | degree from an institution of higher learning in a | ||||||
3 | foreign country that the State Educator | ||||||
4 | Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be | ||||||
5 | the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a | ||||||
6 | regionally accredited institution of higher | ||||||
7 | learning in the United States. | ||||||
8 | (iv) (Blank). | ||||||
9 | A language endorsement on an Educator License with | ||||||
10 | Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through | ||||||
11 | grade 12 for the same validity period as the | ||||||
12 | individual's transitional bilingual educator | ||||||
13 | endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations | ||||||
14 | and shall not be renewed. | ||||||
15 | (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting | ||||||
16 | international educator endorsement on an Educator | ||||||
17 | License with Stipulations may be issued to an | ||||||
18 | individual who is being recruited by a particular | ||||||
19 | school district that conducts formal recruitment | ||||||
20 | programs outside of the United States to secure the | ||||||
21 | services of qualified teachers and who meets all of | ||||||
22 | the following requirements: | ||||||
23 | (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a | ||||||
24 | bachelor's degree issued in the United States. | ||||||
25 | (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the | ||||||
26 | grade level for which he or she will be employed. |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the | ||||||
2 | subject to be taught. | ||||||
3 | (iv) Has an adequate command of the English | ||||||
4 | language. | ||||||
5 | A holder of a visiting international educator | ||||||
6 | endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations | ||||||
7 | shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education | ||||||
8 | programs in the language that was the medium of | ||||||
9 | instruction in his or her teacher preparation program, | ||||||
10 | provided that he or she passes the English Language | ||||||
11 | Proficiency Examination or another test of writing | ||||||
12 | skills in English identified by the State Board of | ||||||
13 | Education, in consultation with the State Educator | ||||||
14 | Preparation and Licensure Board. | ||||||
15 | A visiting international educator endorsement on | ||||||
16 | an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5 | ||||||
17 | years and shall not be renewed. | ||||||
18 | (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional | ||||||
19 | educator endorsement on an Educator License with | ||||||
20 | Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a | ||||||
21 | high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and | ||||||
22 | (i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60 | ||||||
23 | semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited | ||||||
24 | institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a | ||||||
25 | paraprofessional competency test under subsection | ||||||
26 | (c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | of age and will be using the Educator License with | ||||||
2 | Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten | ||||||
3 | through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age | ||||||
4 | of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a | ||||||
5 | paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this | ||||||
6 | subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator | ||||||
7 | endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately | ||||||
8 | following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and | ||||||
9 | may be renewed through application and payment of the | ||||||
10 | appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of | ||||||
11 | this Code. An individual who holds only a | ||||||
12 | paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject | ||||||
13 | to additional requirements in order to renew the | ||||||
14 | endorsement. | ||||||
15 | (K) Chief school business official. A chief school | ||||||
16 | business official endorsement on an Educator License | ||||||
17 | with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who | ||||||
18 | qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2 | ||||||
19 | years of full-time administrative experience in school | ||||||
20 | business management or 2 years of university-approved | ||||||
21 | practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester | ||||||
22 | hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the | ||||||
23 | State Board of Education for the preparation of school | ||||||
24 | business administrators and by passage of the | ||||||
25 | applicable State tests, including an applicable | ||||||
26 | content area test. |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | The chief school business official endorsement may | ||||||
2 | also be affixed to the Educator License with | ||||||
3 | Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a | ||||||
4 | master's degree in business administration, finance, | ||||||
5 | accounting, or public administration and who completes | ||||||
6 | an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school | ||||||
7 | business management from a regionally accredited | ||||||
8 | institution of higher education and passes the | ||||||
9 | applicable State tests, including an applicable | ||||||
10 | content area test. This endorsement shall be required | ||||||
11 | for any individual employed as a chief school business | ||||||
12 | official. | ||||||
13 | The chief school business official endorsement on | ||||||
14 | an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until | ||||||
15 | June 30 immediately following 5 years of the | ||||||
16 | endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the | ||||||
17 | license holder completes renewal requirements as | ||||||
18 | required for individuals who hold a Professional | ||||||
19 | Educator License endorsed for chief school business | ||||||
20 | official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such | ||||||
21 | rules as may be adopted by the State Board of | ||||||
22 | Education. | ||||||
23 | The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules | ||||||
24 | necessary to implement Public Act 100-288. | ||||||
25 | (L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional | ||||||
26 | in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has | ||||||
2 | completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation | ||||||
3 | program at an Illinois institution of higher education | ||||||
4 | and who has not successfully completed an | ||||||
5 | evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but | ||||||
6 | who meets all of the following requirements: | ||||||
7 | (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree. | ||||||
8 | (ii) Has completed an approved educator | ||||||
9 | preparation program at an Illinois institution. | ||||||
10 | (iii) Has passed an applicable content area | ||||||
11 | test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code. | ||||||
12 | (iv) Has attempted an evidence-based | ||||||
13 | assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a | ||||||
14 | minimum score on that assessment, as established | ||||||
15 | by the State Board of Education in consultation | ||||||
16 | with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure | ||||||
17 | Board. | ||||||
18 | A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an | ||||||
19 | Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one | ||||||
20 | full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not | ||||||
21 | be renewed. | ||||||
22 | (M) (Blank). | ||||||
23 | (N) Specialized services. A specialized services | ||||||
24 | endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations | ||||||
25 | may be issued as defined and specified by rule. | ||||||
26 | (O) Provisional career and technical educator. A |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | provisional career and technical educator endorsement | ||||||
2 | on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued | ||||||
3 | to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of | ||||||
4 | work experience in the skill for which the applicant | ||||||
5 | is seeking the endorsement. Each employing school | ||||||
6 | board and regional office of education shall provide | ||||||
7 | verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent | ||||||
8 | of Education at the time the application is submitted | ||||||
9 | that no qualified teacher holding a Professional | ||||||
10 | Educator License or an Educator License with | ||||||
11 | Stipulations with a career and technical educator | ||||||
12 | endorsement is available to teach and that actual | ||||||
13 | circumstances require such issuance. | ||||||
14 | A provisional career and technical educator | ||||||
15 | endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations | ||||||
16 | is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years | ||||||
17 | of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed. | ||||||
18 | An individual who holds a provisional career and | ||||||
19 | technical educator endorsement on an Educator License | ||||||
20 | with Stipulations may teach as a substitute teacher in | ||||||
21 | career and technical education classrooms. | ||||||
22 | (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching | ||||||
23 | License may be issued to qualified applicants for | ||||||
24 | substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, | ||||||
25 | prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching | ||||||
26 | Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's | ||||||
2 | degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution | ||||||
3 | of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved | ||||||
4 | educator preparation program in this State and have earned | ||||||
5 | at least 90 credit hours. | ||||||
6 | Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years. | ||||||
7 | Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute | ||||||
8 | teaching in every county of this State. If an individual | ||||||
9 | has had his or her Professional Educator License or | ||||||
10 | Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked, | ||||||
11 | then that individual is not eligible to obtain a | ||||||
12 | Substitute Teaching License. | ||||||
13 | A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a | ||||||
14 | licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing | ||||||
15 | board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under | ||||||
16 | contract because of an emergency situation, then a | ||||||
17 | district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer | ||||||
18 | than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the | ||||||
19 | district if the district notifies the appropriate regional | ||||||
20 | office of education within 5 business days after the | ||||||
21 | employment of the substitute teacher in that vacant | ||||||
22 | position. A district may continue to employ that same | ||||||
23 | substitute teacher in that same vacant position for 90 | ||||||
24 | calendar days or until the end of the semester, whichever | ||||||
25 | is greater, if, prior to the expiration of the | ||||||
26 | 30-calendar-day period then current, the district files a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | written request with the appropriate regional office of | ||||||
2 | education for a 30-calendar-day extension on the basis | ||||||
3 | that the position remains vacant and the district | ||||||
4 | continues to actively seek qualified candidates and | ||||||
5 | provides documentation that it has provided training | ||||||
6 | specific to the position, including training on meeting | ||||||
7 | the needs of students with disabilities and English | ||||||
8 | learners if applicable. Each extension request shall be | ||||||
9 | granted in writing by the regional office of education. An | ||||||
10 | emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy | ||||||
11 | has occurred and (i) a teacher is unexpectedly unable to | ||||||
12 | fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher | ||||||
13 | capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications | ||||||
14 | or vacancies are unfilled due to a lack of qualified | ||||||
15 | candidates, and the district is actively engaged in | ||||||
16 | advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the | ||||||
17 | vacant position. | ||||||
18 | There is no limit on the number of days that a | ||||||
19 | substitute teacher may teach in a single school district, | ||||||
20 | provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer | ||||||
21 | than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year | ||||||
22 | through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school | ||||||
23 | days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the | ||||||
24 | same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a | ||||||
25 | Professional Educator License or Educator License with | ||||||
26 | Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same | ||||||
2 | school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the | ||||||
3 | number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not | ||||||
4 | apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of | ||||||
5 | this Code. | ||||||
6 | A school district may not require an individual who | ||||||
7 | holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator | ||||||
8 | License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute | ||||||
9 | Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher. | ||||||
10 | (4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning | ||||||
11 | on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2028, applicants may | ||||||
12 | apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a | ||||||
13 | Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. A Short-Term | ||||||
14 | Substitute Teaching License may be issued to a qualified | ||||||
15 | applicant for substitute teaching in all grades of the | ||||||
16 | public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12. | ||||||
17 | Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible | ||||||
18 | for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term Substitute | ||||||
19 | Teaching License must hold an associate's degree or have | ||||||
20 | completed at least 60 credit hours from a regionally | ||||||
21 | accredited institution of higher education. | ||||||
22 | Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for | ||||||
23 | substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an | ||||||
24 | individual has had his or her Professional Educator | ||||||
25 | License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or | ||||||
26 | revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. | ||||||
2 | The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this | ||||||
3 | Code apply to short-term substitute teachers. | ||||||
4 | An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching | ||||||
5 | License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per | ||||||
6 | licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher | ||||||
7 | absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who | ||||||
8 | is under contract, a school district may not hire an | ||||||
9 | individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching | ||||||
10 | License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due | ||||||
11 | to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the | ||||||
12 | Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual | ||||||
13 | holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must | ||||||
14 | complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or | ||||||
15 | 34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public | ||||||
16 | school. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses under this | ||||||
17 | Section are valid for 5 years. | ||||||
18 | (5) Provisional Educator License. Persons who have | ||||||
19 | completed the required education coursework in a | ||||||
20 | State-approved educator preparation program, an educator | ||||||
21 | preparation program approved by another state, or a | ||||||
22 | comparable educator program in another country, have | ||||||
23 | completed 2 years of student teaching with a satisfactory | ||||||
24 | evaluation of performance, and completed any other | ||||||
25 | requirements set by the State Board of Education, but have | ||||||
26 | failed to pass a content area knowledge test under Section |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | 21B-30 of this Code, shall be issued a Provisional | ||||||
2 | Educator License. A Provisional Educator License shall be | ||||||
3 | valid for 2 years from the date of issuance and may not be | ||||||
4 | renewed. | ||||||
5 | (Source: P.A. 102-711, eff. 1-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22; | ||||||
6 | 102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717, eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff. | ||||||
7 | 5-20-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; | ||||||
8 | 103-193, eff. 1-1-24; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23 .) | ||||||
9 | (105 ILCS 5/21B-30) | ||||||
10 | Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing. | ||||||
11 | (a) (Blank). | ||||||
12 | (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the | ||||||
13 | State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design | ||||||
14 | and implement a system of examinations, which shall be | ||||||
15 | required prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These | ||||||
16 | examinations and indicators must be based on national and | ||||||
17 | State professional teaching standards, as determined by the | ||||||
18 | State Board of Education, in consultation with the State | ||||||
19 | Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of | ||||||
20 | Education may adopt such rules as may be necessary to | ||||||
21 | implement and administer this Section. | ||||||
22 | (c) (Blank). | ||||||
23 | (c-5) The State Board must adopt rules to implement a | ||||||
24 | paraprofessional competency test. This test would allow an | ||||||
25 | applicant seeking an Educator License with Stipulations with a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | paraprofessional educator endorsement to obtain the | ||||||
2 | endorsement if he or she passes the test and meets the other | ||||||
3 | requirements of subparagraph (J) of paragraph (2) of Section | ||||||
4 | 21B-20 other than the higher education requirements. | ||||||
5 | (d) Except as provided in subsection (j), all All | ||||||
6 | applicants seeking a State license shall be required to pass a | ||||||
7 | test of content area knowledge for each area of endorsement | ||||||
8 | for which there is an applicable test. There shall be no | ||||||
9 | exception to this requirement. No candidate shall be allowed | ||||||
10 | to student teach or serve as the teacher of record until he or | ||||||
11 | she has passed the applicable content area test. | ||||||
12 | (d-5) The State Board shall consult with any applicable | ||||||
13 | vendors within 90 days after July 28, 2023 ( the effective date | ||||||
14 | of Public Act 103-402) this amendatory Act of the 103rd | ||||||
15 | General Assembly to develop a plan to transition the test of | ||||||
16 | content area knowledge in the endorsement area of elementary | ||||||
17 | education, grades one through 6, by July 1, 2026 to a content | ||||||
18 | area test that contains testing elements that cover | ||||||
19 | bilingualism, biliteracy, oral language development, | ||||||
20 | foundational literacy skills, and developmentally appropriate | ||||||
21 | higher-order comprehension and on which a valid and reliable | ||||||
22 | language and literacy subscore can be determined. The State | ||||||
23 | Board shall base its rules concerning the passing subscore on | ||||||
24 | the language and literacy portion of the test on the | ||||||
25 | recommended cut-score determined in the formal | ||||||
26 | standard-setting process. Candidates need not achieve a |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | particular subscore in the area of language and literacy. The | ||||||
2 | State Board shall aggregate and publish the number of | ||||||
3 | candidates in each preparation program who take the test and | ||||||
4 | the number who pass the language and literacy portion. | ||||||
5 | (e) (Blank). | ||||||
6 | (f) Beginning on August 4, 2023 ( the effective date of | ||||||
7 | Public Act 103-488) this amendatory Act of the 103rd General | ||||||
8 | Assembly through August 31, 2025, no candidate completing a | ||||||
9 | teacher preparation program in this State or candidate subject | ||||||
10 | to Section 21B-35 of this Code is required to pass a teacher | ||||||
11 | performance assessment. Except as otherwise provided in this | ||||||
12 | Article, beginning on September 1, 2015 until August 4, 2023 | ||||||
13 | ( the effective date of Public Act 103-488) this amendatory Act | ||||||
14 | of the 103rd General Assembly and beginning again on September | ||||||
15 | 1, 2025, all candidates completing teacher preparation | ||||||
16 | programs in this State and all candidates subject to Section | ||||||
17 | 21B-35 of this Code are required to pass a teacher performance | ||||||
18 | assessment approved by the State Board of Education, in | ||||||
19 | consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure | ||||||
20 | Board. A candidate may not be required to submit test | ||||||
21 | materials by video submission. Subject to appropriation, an | ||||||
22 | individual who holds a Professional Educator License and is | ||||||
23 | employed for a minimum of one school year by a school district | ||||||
24 | designated as Tier 1 under Section 18-8.15 may, after | ||||||
25 | application to the State Board, receive from the State Board a | ||||||
26 | refund for any costs associated with completing the teacher |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | performance assessment under this subsection. | ||||||
2 | (f-5) The Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force is | ||||||
3 | created to evaluate potential performance-based and objective | ||||||
4 | teacher performance assessment systems for implementation | ||||||
5 | across all educator preparation programs in this State, with | ||||||
6 | the intention of ensuring consistency across programs and | ||||||
7 | supporting a thoughtful and well-rounded licensure system. | ||||||
8 | Members appointed to the Task Force must reflect the racial, | ||||||
9 | ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State. The Task Force | ||||||
10 | shall consist of all of the following members: | ||||||
11 | (1) One member of the Senate, appointed by the | ||||||
12 | President of the Senate. | ||||||
13 | (2) One member of the Senate, appointed by the | ||||||
14 | Minority Leader of the Senate. | ||||||
15 | (3) One member of the House of Representatives, | ||||||
16 | appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. | ||||||
17 | (4) One member of the House of Representatives, | ||||||
18 | appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of | ||||||
19 | Representatives. | ||||||
20 | (5) One member who represents a statewide professional | ||||||
21 | teachers' organization, appointed by the State | ||||||
22 | Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
23 | (6) One member who represents a different statewide | ||||||
24 | professional teachers' organization, appointed by the | ||||||
25 | State Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
26 | (7) One member from a statewide organization |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | representing school principals, appointed by the State | ||||||
2 | Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
3 | (8) One member from a statewide organization | ||||||
4 | representing regional superintendents of schools, | ||||||
5 | appointed by the State Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
6 | (9) One member from a statewide organization | ||||||
7 | representing school administrators, appointed by the State | ||||||
8 | Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
9 | (10) One member representing a school district | ||||||
10 | organized under Article 34 of this Code, appointed by the | ||||||
11 | State Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
12 | (11) One member of an association representing rural | ||||||
13 | and small schools, appointed by the State Superintendent | ||||||
14 | of Education. | ||||||
15 | (12) One member representing a suburban school | ||||||
16 | district, appointed by the State Superintendent of | ||||||
17 | Education. | ||||||
18 | (13) One member from a statewide organization | ||||||
19 | representing school districts in the southern suburbs of | ||||||
20 | the City of Chicago, appointed by the State Superintendent | ||||||
21 | of Education. | ||||||
22 | (14) One member from a statewide organization | ||||||
23 | representing large unit school districts, appointed by the | ||||||
24 | State Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
25 | (15) One member from a statewide organization | ||||||
26 | representing school districts in the collar counties of |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | the City of Chicago, appointed by the State Superintendent | ||||||
2 | of Education. | ||||||
3 | (16) Three members, each representing a different | ||||||
4 | public university in this State and each a current member | ||||||
5 | of the faculty of an approved educator preparation | ||||||
6 | program, appointed by the State Superintendent of | ||||||
7 | Education. | ||||||
8 | (17) Three members, each representing a different | ||||||
9 | 4-year nonpublic university or college in this State and | ||||||
10 | each a current member of the faculty of an approved | ||||||
11 | educator preparation program, appointed by the State | ||||||
12 | Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
13 | (18) One member of the Board of Higher Education, | ||||||
14 | appointed by the State Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
15 | (19) One member representing a statewide policy | ||||||
16 | organization advocating on behalf of multilingual students | ||||||
17 | and families, appointed by the State Superintendent of | ||||||
18 | Education. | ||||||
19 | (20) One member representing a statewide organization | ||||||
20 | focused on research-based education policy to support a | ||||||
21 | school system that prepares all students for college, a | ||||||
22 | career, and democratic citizenship, appointed by the State | ||||||
23 | Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
24 | (21) Two members representing an early childhood | ||||||
25 | advocacy organization, appointed by the State | ||||||
26 | Superintendent of Education. |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (22) One member representing a statewide organization | ||||||
2 | that partners with educator preparation programs and | ||||||
3 | school districts to support the growth and development of | ||||||
4 | preservice teachers, appointed by the State Superintendent | ||||||
5 | of Education. | ||||||
6 | (23) One member representing a statewide organization | ||||||
7 | that advocates for educational equity and racial justice | ||||||
8 | in schools, appointed by the State Superintendent of | ||||||
9 | Education. | ||||||
10 | (24) One member representing a statewide organization | ||||||
11 | that represents school boards, appointed by the State | ||||||
12 | Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
13 | (25) One member who has, within the last 5 years, | ||||||
14 | served as a cooperating teacher, appointed by the State | ||||||
15 | Superintendent of Education. | ||||||
16 | Members of the Task Force shall serve without | ||||||
17 | compensation. The Task Force shall first meet at the call of | ||||||
18 | the State Superintendent of Education, and each subsequent | ||||||
19 | meeting shall be called by the chairperson of the Task Force, | ||||||
20 | who shall be designated by the State Superintendent of | ||||||
21 | Education. The State Board of Education shall provide | ||||||
22 | administrative and other support to the Task Force. | ||||||
23 | On or before August 1, 2024, the Task Force shall report on | ||||||
24 | its work, including recommendations on a teacher performance | ||||||
25 | assessment system in this State, to the State Board of | ||||||
26 | Education and the General Assembly. The Task Force is |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | dissolved upon submission of this report. | ||||||
2 | (g) The content area knowledge test and the teacher | ||||||
3 | performance assessment shall be the tests that from time to | ||||||
4 | time are designated by the State Board of Education, in | ||||||
5 | consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure | ||||||
6 | Board, and may be tests prepared by an educational testing | ||||||
7 | organization or tests designed by the State Board of | ||||||
8 | Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation | ||||||
9 | and Licensure Board. The test of content area knowledge shall | ||||||
10 | assess content knowledge in a specific subject field. The | ||||||
11 | tests must be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no | ||||||
12 | person taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis | ||||||
13 | of race, color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to | ||||||
14 | the person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The | ||||||
15 | score required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State | ||||||
16 | Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator | ||||||
17 | Preparation and Licensure Board. The tests shall be | ||||||
18 | administered not fewer than 3 times a year at such time and | ||||||
19 | place as may be designated by the State Board of Education, in | ||||||
20 | consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure | ||||||
21 | Board. | ||||||
22 | The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess | ||||||
23 | the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of | ||||||
24 | applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under | ||||||
25 | subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this | ||||||
26 | Code in the English language and in the language of the |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | transitional bilingual education program requested by the | ||||||
2 | applicant. | ||||||
3 | (h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the | ||||||
4 | provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school | ||||||
5 | district subject to Article 34 of this Code. | ||||||
6 | (i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the | ||||||
7 | testing requirements under this Section shall include, without | ||||||
8 | limitation, provisions governing test selection, test | ||||||
9 | validation, and determination of a passing score, | ||||||
10 | administration of the tests, frequency of administration, | ||||||
11 | applicant fees, frequency of applicants taking the tests, the | ||||||
12 | years for which a score is valid, and appropriate special | ||||||
13 | accommodations. The State Board of Education shall develop | ||||||
14 | such rules as may be needed to ensure uniformity from year to | ||||||
15 | year in the level of difficulty for each form of an assessment. | ||||||
16 | (j) A candidate seeking licensure is not required to pass | ||||||
17 | a test of content area knowledge: | ||||||
18 | (1) in the circumstances provided for issuing a | ||||||
19 | Provisional Educator License under paragraph (5) of | ||||||
20 | Section 21B-20; | ||||||
21 | (2) in the circumstances where the candidate has held | ||||||
22 | a Provisional Educator License for 2 years and is seeking | ||||||
23 | a Provisional Educator License under paragraph (1) of | ||||||
24 | Section 21B-20. | ||||||
25 | (Source: P.A. 102-301, eff. 8-26-21; 103-402, eff. 7-28-23; | ||||||
26 | 103-488, eff. 8-4-23; revised 9-1-23.) |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes | ||||||
2 | changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text | ||||||
3 | that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section | ||||||
4 | represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does | ||||||
5 | not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes | ||||||
6 | made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other | ||||||
7 | Public Act. |