HB1112 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 03912 LNS 13936 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1112

Introduced 1/9/2025, by Rep. Jed Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/21A-5
105 ILCS 5/21B-20
110 ILCS 148/10
110 ILCS 148/15
110 ILCS 148/80

Amends the School Code. Allows a METT Educator District License for teaching a course in manufacturing, engineering, technology, or a trade (METT) to be issued to an applicant who has at least 10,000 working hours in a trade. Provides that a METT Educator District License may be issued to qualified individuals who have not obtained a bachelor's degree or an equivalent number of hours in an educational program at an institution of higher education. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued and may be renewed. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid only for the teaching of a course that the State Board of Education has identified as related to the work experience of the licensee. Sets forth other provisions regarding the license. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Provides that the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or the Department of Labor, shall expand a database to identify METT labor shortages. Provides that by July 1, 2028, school districts in identified regions shall be notified by the State Board and shall participate in a College and Career Pathway Endorsement program and offer a METT endorsement. Makes other changes.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 21A-5 and 21B-20 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21A-5)

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

"New teacher" means the holder of a professional educator license or METT educator district 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; 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-20)

Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of Education shall implement a system of educator licensure, whereby individuals employed in school districts who are required to be licensed must have one of the following licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2028, a short-term substitute teaching license, or (v) a METT educator district license. References in law regarding individuals certified or certificated or required to be certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June 30 following one full year of the license being issued.

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for licenses and endorsements under this Section.

(1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i) have successfully completed an approved educator preparation program and are recommended for licensure by the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation program, (ii) have successfully completed the required testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have successfully completed coursework on the psychology of, the identification of, and the methods of instruction for the exceptional child, including, without limitation, children with learning disabilities, (iv) have successfully completed coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other criteria established by rule of the State Board of Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License. All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued. The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is eligible to practice. For an early childhood education endorsement, an individual may satisfy the student teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher preparation program through placement in a setting with children from birth through grade 2, and the individual may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. The student teaching experience must meet the requirements of and be approved by the individual's early childhood teacher preparation program.

Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.

(2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement that limits the license holder to one particular position or does not require completion of an approved educator program or both.

An individual with an Educator License with Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.

An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued with the following endorsements:

(A) (Blank).

(B) Alternative provisional educator. An alternative provisional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of the following:

(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum of a bachelor's degree.

(ii) Successfully completed the first phase of the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this Code.

(iii) Passed a content area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.

The alternative provisional educator endorsement is valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a third year by an individual meeting the requirements set forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.

(C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant superintendent in a school district's central office. This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of the following:

(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum of a master's degree in a management field other than education.

(ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5 years in a management level position in a field other than education.

(iii) Successfully completed the first phase of an alternative route to superintendent endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55 of this Code.

(iv) Passed a content area test required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.

The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in order to complete one full year of serving as a superintendent or assistant superintendent.

(D) (Blank).

(E) Career and technical educator. A career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or an accredited trade and technical institution and has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of education in each area to be taught.

The career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed.

An individual who holds a valid career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in career and technical education classrooms.

An individual who holds a valid career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is entitled to all of the rights and privileges granted to a holder of a Professional Educator License.

(F) (Blank).

(G) Transitional bilingual educator. A transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for the purpose of providing instruction in accordance with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and writing ability in the language other than English in which transitional bilingual education is offered.

(ii) Has the ability to successfully communicate in English.

(iii) Either possessed, within 5 years previous to his or her applying for a transitional bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and comparable teaching certificate or comparable authorization issued by a foreign country or holds a degree from an institution of higher learning in a foreign country that the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in the United States.

A transitional bilingual educator endorsement shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12, is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be renewed.

Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator endorsement shall not be employed to replace any presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.

(H) Language endorsement. In an effort to alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language other than English in the public schools, an individual who holds an Educator License with Stipulations may also apply for a language endorsement, provided that the applicant provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Holds a transitional bilingual endorsement.

(ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the language for which the endorsement is to be issued by passing the applicable language content test required by the State Board of Education.

(iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or, for individuals educated in a country other than the United States, holds a degree from an institution of higher learning in a foreign country that the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in the United States.

(iv) (Blank).

A language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through grade 12 for the same validity period as the individual's transitional bilingual educator endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations and shall not be renewed.

(I) Visiting international educator. A visiting international educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an individual who is being recruited by a particular school district that conducts formal recruitment programs outside of the United States to secure the services of qualified teachers and who meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a bachelor's degree issued in the United States.

(ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the grade level for which he or she will be employed.

(iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the subject to be taught.

(iv) Has an adequate command of the English language.

A holder of a visiting international educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education programs in the language that was the medium of instruction in his or her teacher preparation program, provided that he or she passes the English Language Proficiency Examination or another test of writing skills in English identified by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

A visiting international educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5 years and shall not be renewed.

(J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and (i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a paraprofessional competency test under subsection (c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years of age and will be using the Educator License with Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed through application and payment of the appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of this Code. An individual who holds only a paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject to additional requirements in order to renew the endorsement.

(K) Chief school business official. A chief school business official endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2 years of full-time administrative experience in school business management or 2 years of university-approved practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the State Board of Education for the preparation of school business administrators and by passage of the applicable State tests, including an applicable content area test.

The chief school business official endorsement may also be affixed to the Educator License with Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a master's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or public administration and who completes an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school business management from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and passes the applicable State tests, including an applicable content area test. This endorsement shall be required for any individual employed as a chief school business official.

The chief school business official endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the license holder completes renewal requirements as required for individuals who hold a Professional Educator License endorsed for chief school business official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such rules as may be adopted by the State Board of Education.

The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.

(L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education and who has not successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but who meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.

(ii) Has completed an approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution.

(iii) Has passed an applicable content area test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.

(iv) Has attempted an evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a minimum score on that assessment, as established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not be renewed.

(M) (Blank).

(N) Specialized services. A specialized services endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued as defined and specified by rule.

(O) Provisional career and technical educator. A provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill for which the applicant is seeking the endorsement. Each employing school board and regional office of education shall provide verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent of Education at the time the application is submitted that no qualified teacher holding a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations with a career and technical educator endorsement is available to teach and that actual circumstances require such issuance.

A provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed.

An individual who holds a provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may teach as a substitute teacher in career and technical education classrooms.

An individual who holds a provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is entitled to all of the rights and privileges granted to a holder of a Professional Educator License.

(3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching License may be issued to qualified applicants for substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program in this State and have earned at least 90 credit hours.

Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.

Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an individual has had his or her Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a Substitute Teaching License.

A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under contract because of an emergency situation, then a district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the district if the district notifies the appropriate regional office of education within 5 business days after the employment of the substitute teacher in that vacant position. A district may continue to employ that same substitute teacher in that same vacant position for 90 calendar days or until the end of the semester, whichever is greater, if, prior to the expiration of the 30-calendar-day period then current, the district files a written request with the appropriate regional office of education for a 30-calendar-day extension on the basis that the position remains vacant and the district continues to actively seek qualified candidates and provides documentation that it has provided training specific to the position, including training on meeting the needs of students with disabilities and English learners if applicable. Each extension request shall be granted in writing by the regional office of education. An emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy has occurred and (i) a teacher is unexpectedly unable to fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications or vacancies are unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates, and the district is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the vacant position.

There is no limit on the number of days that a substitute teacher may teach in a single school district, provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of this Code.

A school district may not require an individual who holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.

(4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2028, applicants may apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. A Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may be issued to a qualified applicant for substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must hold an associate's degree or have completed at least 60 credit hours from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an individual has had his or her Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.

The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.

An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who is under contract, a school district may not hire an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or 34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public school. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses under this Section are valid for 5 years.

(5) METT Educator District License. A METT Educator District License for teaching a course in manufacturing, engineering, technology, or a trade may be issued to an applicant who has at least 10,000 working hours in a trade, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(A) Manufacturing.

(B) Fabrication.

(C) Welding.

(D) Vehicle mechanics.

(E) Carpentry.

(F) Masonry.

(G) Plumbing.

A METT Educator District License may be issued to qualified individuals who have not obtained a bachelor's degree or an equivalent number of hours in an educational program at an institution of higher education.

A METT Educator District License is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued and may be renewed.

A METT Educator District License is valid only for the teaching of a course that the State Board of Education has identified as related to the work experience of the licensee. A METT Educator District License is valid only for teaching in the school district where the licensee was teaching immediately after the METT Educator District License was issued. However, the licensee may transfer to another district to teach without having to apply for a new license upon approval of the State Board of Education, the sending district, and the receiving district.

A license holder who does not hold a bachelor's degree or has not completed at least 60 hours of coursework at an institution of higher education shall successfully complete at least one course in teacher education outside of the school year as directed by the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Illinois Community College Board, to ensure that the license holder is continuing to learn proper teaching methods, lesson planning, and other classroom-essential knowledge.

(Source: P.A. 102-711, eff. 1-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22; 102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717, eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-193, eff. 1-1-24; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23; 103-617, eff. 7-1-24.)

Section 10. The Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 80 as follows:

(110 ILCS 148/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Adaptive Competencies" means foundational skills needed for success in college, careers, and life, such as, but not limited to, work ethic, professionalism, communication, collaboration and interpersonal skills, and problem-solving.

"Career Exploration Activity" means an activity such as a job shadow, attendance at a career exposition, or employer site visit providing a student with the ability to engage directly with employers for the purpose of gaining knowledge of one or more industry sectors or occupations.

"College-level mathematics course" means a mathematics course that bears credit leading to a baccalaureate degree, a certificate, or an associate degree from a postsecondary institution.

"Community college" means a public community college organized under the Public Community College Act.

"DCEO" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Early college credit course" means a course through which a high school student can receive postsecondary institution course credit and includes dual credit courses, dual enrollment courses, International Baccalaureate courses, Advanced Placement courses, and courses with articulated credit with a postsecondary institution.

"Eligible School District" means a school district that has satisfied the requirements set forth in Section 80 of this Act and is eligible to award one or more College and Career Pathway Endorsements.

"Endorsement Area" means an industry sector or grouping of sectors as organized and established pursuant to Section 80 of this Act.

"GECC" means the General Education Core Curriculum developed by the IAI and adopted by IBHE and ICCB.

"IAI" means the Illinois Articulation Initiative.

"IBHE" means the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

"ICCB" means the Illinois Community College Board.

"IMACC" means the Illinois Mathematics Association of Community Colleges.

"Integrated courses" means courses that include substantial instruction focused on both academic and career-oriented competencies.

"Intensive Career Exploration Experience" means a structured, multi-day student experience, such as a career exploration camp, that provides students with the opportunity to explore various occupations relating to an Endorsement Area with hands-on training and orientation activities.

"IPIC" means the Illinois Pathways Interagency Committee formed by intergovernmental agreement among at least the following agencies: ISBE, ICCB, IBHE, ISAC, DCEO, and the Department of Employment Security.

"IPIC Agency" means a State agency participating in the IPIC.

"ISAC" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"ISBE" means the Illinois State Board of Education.

"Local Community College" means, with respect to an Eligible School District, a community college whose district territory includes all or any portion of the district territory of the Eligible School District.

"Local school district" means, with respect to a partnership agreement with a community college for transitional mathematics instruction, a school district whose district territory includes all or any portion of the district territory of the community college.

"Local Workforce Board" means the governing board of a local workforce development area established pursuant to the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law 113-128).

"METT" means manufacturing, engineering, technology, and the trades.

"METT endorsement" means a College and Career Pathway Endorsement in manufacturing, engineering, technology, and the trades based on the successful completion of METT courses as determined by ISBE.

"Postsecondary institution" means a community college or public university.

"Professional Skills Assessment" means an observational assessment of a student's performance in a Supervised Career Development Experience given by an adult supervisor that addresses, at minimum, the Adaptive Competencies of work ethic, professionalism, communication, collaboration and interpersonal skills, and problem-solving. The Professional Skills Assessment is to be used as a feedback tool and student development strategy and not for a grade or credit determination.

"Public university" means a public university listed in the definition of "public institutions of higher education" under the Board of Higher Education Act.

"School district" means a public school district organized and operating pursuant to the provisions of the School Code.

"Statewide portability" means, with respect to transitional mathematics instruction, all community colleges other than the community college transcripting credit for successful completion of the instruction provide the same completion recognition for college-level mathematics course placement purposes as the transcripting community college provides.

"Supervised Career Development Experience" means an experience in which students obtain authentic and relevant work experience relating to an Endorsement Area, such as an internship, a school-based enterprise, a supervised agricultural experience, cooperative education, or a research apprenticeship, where the student either receives compensation from an employer or credit by the school district and that involves a Professional Skills Assessment.

"Team-based Challenge" means a group problem-based learning project relating to a student's Endorsement Area that involves a problem relevant to employers within that Endorsement Area, including mentoring from adults with expertise in that Endorsement Area, and requires student presentation of the outcomes of the project.

"Transitional mathematics instruction" means instruction delivered to a student during 12th grade for the purpose of enabling the student to attain the transitional mathematics competencies associated with the student's postsecondary institution mathematics pathway and demonstrate readiness for a college-level mathematics course. Transitional mathematics instruction may be delivered through a mathematics course or an integrated course or through a competency-based learning system that includes a set of transitional mathematics competencies.

(Source: P.A. 99-674, eff. 7-29-16.)

(110 ILCS 148/15)

Sec. 15. Postsecondary and career expectations.

(a) By no later than July 1, 2017, ISBE, ICCB, IBHE, and ISAC, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall jointly adopt and publicize model postsecondary and career expectations for public school students in grades 8 through 12. The model postsecondary and career expectations shall define activities that school districts, parents, and community-based organizations should support students in completing and related knowledge students should possess by no later than the end of each grade level. The model postsecondary and career expectations must address the following categories:

(1) career exploration and development;

(2) postsecondary institution exploration, preparation, and selection; and

(3) financial aid and financial literacy.

(b) By July 1, 2023, ISBE, ICCB, IBHE, and ISAC, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall jointly adopt and publicize an update to the model postsecondary and career expectations that extends the expectations to grade 6 and includes such other revisions and updates as the agencies deem appropriate.

(c) By July 1, 2024, ISBE shall consult with a statewide organization representing businesses and manufacturing. After consultation, ISBE shall publish and maintain on its website a current database, organized by region, of employer champions for work-based learning and career readiness systems and programs. Each employer must consent to its designation as a champion and its information being published in the database. In addition, ISBE shall publish and maintain on its website an inventory of resources available to support school districts in implementing College and Career Pathway Endorsements, including sector-specific resources and applications for State funding for career and technical education as it relates to METT courses.

By July 1, 2027, ISBE, in conjunction with DCEO or the Department of Labor, shall expand the database to include the regions of this State that are facing METT labor shortages and update this information at least once every 2 years thereafter.

By July 1, 2028, ISBE shall, in conjunction with DCEO or the Department of Labor, use the data collected under this subsection (c) to identify regions of this State where there is a shortage of METT professionals and notify school districts in those regions that they must participate in a College and Career Pathway Endorsement program and offer a METT endorsement as required under Section 80 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-917, eff. 1-1-23.)

(110 ILCS 148/80)

Sec. 80. College and Career Pathway Endorsements.

(a) College and Career Pathway Endorsements are established to recognize public high school graduates who complete the requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this Section.

(b) School district participation in this program is voluntary. However, if a school district is in a region of this State that has been identified by ISBE under subsection (c) of Section 15 of this Act as experiencing a shortage of METT professionals, the district must participate in the program and must offer a METT endorsement.

(c) As of the 2019-2020 school year, Eligible School Districts may award one or more College and Career Pathway Endorsements on high school diplomas in Endorsement Areas established by ISBE in consultation with the other IPIC Agencies and appropriate stakeholders, including postsecondary institutions and employers. When establishing the Endorsement Areas, the agencies shall consider the Illinois career cluster framework, prevalent models for comprehensive pathway systems in Illinois high schools that articulate to postsecondary institutions and career training programs, prevalent models for guided pathway systems at postsecondary institutions, and the postsecondary institution mathematics pathways established pursuant to this Act. The Endorsement Areas shall also provide for a multidisciplinary endorsement for students that change career pathways during high school while meeting the individualized plan, professional learning, and academic readiness requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this Section.

ISBE shall establish a METT endorsement to be awarded beginning with the 2028-2029 school year.

(d) To earn a College and Career Pathway Endorsement, a student shall satisfy all of the following requirements:

(1) Develop and periodically update an individualized plan for postsecondary education or training, careers, and financial aid. This individualized plan shall also include student development of a resume and personal statement with student reflection on attainment of Adaptive Competencies. The Eligible School District shall certify to ISBE that its individualized planning process spans grades 9 through 12 and includes an annual process for updating the plan.

(2) Complete a career-focused instructional sequence, including at least 2 years of coursework or equivalent competencies within an Endorsement Area or, for students attaining a multidisciplinary endorsement, multiple Endorsement Areas. An Eligible School District must consult with its regional education for employment director on the establishment of the career-focused instructional sequence. For all areas other than for multidisciplinary endorsements, the Eligible School District and a Local Community College shall certify to ISBE and ICCB that the career-focused instructional sequence is articulated to a certificate or degree program with labor market value, with opportunities for ongoing student advancement. ISBE and ICCB may adopt requirements for certifying that the instructional sequence meets the requirements of this paragraph (2). This certification must be re-certified at least once every 5 years thereafter. Commencing in the 2022-2023 school year, students must earn at least 6 hours of credit through early college credit courses within the career-focused instructional sequence.

(3) Complete a minimum of 2 Career Exploration Activities or one Intensive Career Exploration Experience, a minimum of 2 Team-based Challenges, and at least 60 cumulative hours of participation in one or more Supervised Career Development Experiences.

(4) Demonstrate readiness for non-remedial coursework in reading and mathematics by high school graduation through criteria certified by the Eligible School District and a Local Community College to ISBE and ICCB. The criteria shall align to any local partnership agreement established pursuant to Section 55 of this Act and may allow the demonstration of readiness through various methods, including assessment scores, grade point average, course completions, or other locally adopted criteria.

(e) To become an Eligible School District and award College and Careers Pathway Endorsements, a school district shall submit information in a form determined by ISBE and ICCB that indicates the school district's intent to award College and Career Pathway Endorsements in one or more Endorsement Areas and includes the certifications described in subsection (d) of this Section. Either ISBE or ICCB may require supporting evidence for any certification made by the school district in the submission. An Eligible School District must participate in any quality review process adopted by ISBE for College and Career Pathway Endorsement systems, provided that the quality review process is at no cost to the Eligible School District.

(Source: P.A. 99-674, eff. 7-29-16.)