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92_HB2208
LRB9202485NTsbA
1 AN ACT regarding education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act
5 is amended by adding Sections 65.65, 65.66, and 65.67 as
6 follows:
7 (110 ILCS 947/65.65 new)
8 Sec. 65.65. Mathematics or science teacher scholarships.
9 (a) Each year, the Commission shall receive and consider
10 applications for scholarship assistance under this Section
11 and award scholarships to eligible applicants. The
12 Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and
13 administer this Section.
14 An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under this
15 Section if the applicant (i) is a resident of this State and
16 a citizen or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United
17 States and (ii) is pursuing full-time undergraduate studies
18 at an institution of higher learning that will prepare him or
19 her to teach mathematics or science at the elementary or
20 secondary school level, with a major in mathematics, physics,
21 chemistry, biology, zoology, astronomy, engineering, computer
22 science, or any other mathematics or science discipline as
23 determined by the Commission.
24 All applications for scholarship assistance under this
25 Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as set
26 forth by the Commission. The form of application and the
27 information required to be set forth in the application shall
28 be determined by the Commission. The Commission shall
29 require applicants for scholarship assistance under this
30 Section to submit with their applications any supporting
31 documents that the Commission deems necessary.
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1 (b) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance under this
2 Section, the recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
3 Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
4 agreement under which the recipient pledges that immediately
5 following completion of the studies for which the recipient
6 was awarded a scholarship under this Section, the recipient
7 shall teach mathematics or science at the elementary or
8 secondary school level for at least 5 years in a school
9 district in this State that is financially or academically
10 troubled, as designated by the State Superintendent of
11 Education. Each year, the State Superintendent of Education
12 shall compile a list of school districts that are financially
13 or academically troubled, which shall be provided to the
14 Commission. As long as a school district is on this list
15 when the recipient accepts employment with the school
16 district, the recipient may fulfill his or her teaching
17 obligation with that school district even though the school
18 district is no longer on this list. The Commission, with the
19 cooperation of the State Board of Education, shall assist
20 scholarship recipients in finding employment with financially
21 or academically troubled school districts in order to fulfill
22 the teaching obligation. The recipient shall, upon request
23 of the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that
24 he or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the
25 teaching agreement.
26 (c) A scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
27 good for a period of 4 years while the recipient is enrolled
28 for credit at an institution of higher learning. The
29 scholarship shall cover in-state tuition and fees for the 4
30 years of study and a stipend of $200 per month during the
31 third and fourth years of study. However, in calculating
32 scholarship assistance under this Section for recipients
33 attending private colleges or universities, tuition and fees
34 for students at private colleges and universities shall not
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1 exceed the average tuition and fees for students at 4-year
2 public universities in this State for the academic year in
3 which the scholarship is made.
4 (d) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
5 Section fails to maintain a cumulative grade point average of
6 at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the end of any term during
7 the first or second year of study, the recipient may not
8 receive any additional scholarship assistance under this
9 Section. If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
10 Section (i) fails to maintain a cumulative grade point
11 average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the end of any
12 term during the third or fourth year of study or (ii) fails
13 to complete the studies for which the recipient was awarded a
14 scholarship under this Section the recipient may not receive
15 any additional scholarship assistance under this Section and
16 the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the
17 scholarship assistance he or she has received under this
18 Section, plus interest at a rate no greater than the highest
19 rate applicable for educational loans made pursuant to Title
20 IV, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended,
21 and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. If the
22 recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section fails
23 to fulfill the teaching obligation agreed to under subsection
24 (b) of this Section, the Commission shall require the
25 recipient to repay the scholarship assistance he or she has
26 received under this Section, prorated according to the
27 fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus
28 interest at a rate no greater than the highest rate
29 applicable for educational loans made pursuant to Title IV,
30 Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and,
31 if applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
32 authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
33 activities for repayment of scholarship assistance under this
34 Section.
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1 (e) A recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
2 Section shall not be in violation of the teaching agreement
3 entered into under subsection (b) of this Section if the
4 recipient (i) enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate
5 student in a course of study related to the field of teaching
6 at an institution of higher learning, (ii) is serving as a
7 member of the armed services of the United States, (iii) is
8 temporarily totally disabled, as established by sworn
9 affidavit of a qualified physician, or (iv) is seeking and
10 unable to find full-time employment as a mathematics or
11 science teacher with a school district that is financially or
12 academically troubled and is able to provide evidence of that
13 fact. Any such extension of the period during which the
14 teaching obligation under subsection (b) of this Section must
15 be fulfilled shall be subject to limitations of duration as
16 established by the Commission.
17 (110 ILCS 947/65.66 new)
18 Sec. 65.66. The Excellence Around Teaching Scholarship
19 Program and Quality Bonus.
20 (a) Each year, the Commission shall receive and consider
21 applications for scholarship assistance under this Section
22 and award scholarships, to be known as Excellence Around
23 Teaching Scholarships, to eligible applicants. The
24 Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and
25 administer this Section.
26 An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under this
27 Section if the applicant is a resident of this State and a
28 citizen or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United
29 States and (i) is pursuing full-time undergraduate studies at
30 an institution of higher learning that will prepare him or
31 her to teach in the public schools of this State and shows
32 outstanding promise for success as a teacher, as determined
33 by the Commission, or (ii) is pursuing full-time graduate
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1 studies at an institution of higher learning that will
2 prepare him or her to administer or supervise in the public
3 schools of this State and shows outstanding promise for
4 success as a principal or superintendent, as determined by
5 the Commission.
6 All applications for scholarship assistance under this
7 Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as set
8 forth by the Commission. The form of application and the
9 information required to be set forth in the application shall
10 be determined by the Commission. The Commission shall
11 require applicants for scholarship assistance under this
12 Section to submit with their applications any supporting
13 documents that the Commission deems necessary.
14 (b) Before receiving scholarship assistance under this
15 Section, the recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
16 Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
17 agreement under which the recipient pledges that immediately
18 following completion of the studies for which the recipient
19 was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall teach or shall
20 administer or supervise, whichever is applicable, in the
21 State's public school system for a period of not less than
22 one year for each year of scholarship assistance he or she is
23 awarded under this Section. The recipient shall, upon
24 request by the Commission, provide the Commission with
25 evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the
26 terms of the agreement provided for in this subsection (b).
27 (c) A scholarship awarded under this Section shall be in
28 an amount sufficient to pay the recipient's tuition and fees
29 at the institution of higher learning at which the recipient
30 is enrolled for 2 semesters or 3 quarters. However, in
31 calculating scholarship assistance under this Section for
32 recipients attending private colleges or universities,
33 tuition and fees for recipients enrolled at private colleges
34 and universities shall not exceed the average tuition and
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1 fees for students at 4-year public universities in this State
2 for the academic year in which the scholarship is made. The
3 maximum number of academic terms for which a recipient may
4 receive scholarship assistance under this Section is (i) 8
5 semesters or 12 quarters of undergraduate study or (ii)
6 whatever number of semesters or quarters of graduate study
7 that the Commission determines is proper, whichever is
8 applicable.
9 (d) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
10 Section (i) fails to maintain a cumulative grade point
11 average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the end of any
12 academic term for which the recipient is receiving
13 scholarship assistance or (ii) fails to complete the studies
14 for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship under this
15 Section, the recipient may not receive any additional
16 scholarship assistance under this Section and the Commission
17 shall require the recipient to repay the scholarship
18 assistance he or she has received under this Section, plus
19 interest at a rate no greater than the highest rate
20 applicable for educational loans made pursuant to Title IV,
21 Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and,
22 if applicable, reasonable collection fees. If the recipient
23 of a scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill
24 the obligation agreed to under subsection (b) of this
25 Section, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay
26 the scholarship assistance he or she has received under this
27 Section, prorated according to the fraction of the teaching
28 obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate no greater
29 than the highest rate applicable for educational loans made
30 pursuant to Title IV, Part B of the Higher Education Act of
31 1965, as amended, and, if applicable, reasonable collection
32 fees. The Commission is authorized to establish rules
33 relating to its collection activities for repayment of
34 scholarship assistance under this Section.
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1 (e) A recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
2 Section shall not be in violation of the agreement entered
3 into under subsection (b) of this Section if the recipient
4 (i) enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a
5 course of study related to the field of teaching at an
6 institution of higher learning, (ii) is serving as a member
7 of the armed services of the United States, or (iii) is
8 temporarily totally disabled, as established by sworn
9 affidavit of a qualified physician. Any such extension of
10 the period during which the obligation under subsection (b)
11 of this Section must be fulfilled shall be subject to
12 limitations of duration as established by the Commission.
13 (f) If a school district offers a bonus to a recipient
14 of a scholarship awarded under this Section who successfully
15 works in a high-need area for 3 years, the State, through a
16 Excellence Around Teaching Quality Bonus, shall match the
17 amount of the school district bonus. A "high-need area"
18 means an under-served subject or location or a low-achieving
19 school, as determined by the State Superintendent of
20 Education.
21 (110 ILCS 947/65.67 new)
22 Sec. 65.67. The Excellence Around Teaching National
23 Board Certification Scholarship Program.
24 (a) Each year, the Commission shall receive and consider
25 applications for scholarship assistance under this Section
26 and award scholarships, to be known as Excellence Around
27 Teaching National Board Certification Scholarships, to
28 exceptional teachers, as determined by the Commission, for
29 the costs of undertaking the National Board for Professional
30 Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification process.
31 All applications for scholarship assistance under this
32 Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as set
33 forth by the Commission. The form of application and the
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1 information required to be set forth in the application shall
2 be determined by the Commission. The Commission shall
3 require applicants for scholarship assistance under this
4 Section to submit with their applications any supporting
5 documents that the Commission deems necessary.
6 (b) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance under this
7 Section, the recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
8 Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
9 agreement under which the recipient pledges that immediately
10 following completion of the NBPTS certification process, for
11 2 years the recipient shall assist other NBPTS candidates
12 through the NBPTS certification process. The recipient
13 shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the Commission
14 with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled
15 the terms of the agreement provided for in this subsection
16 (b).
17 (c) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
18 Section fails to complete the NBPTS certification process,
19 the recipient may not receive any additional scholarship
20 assistance under this Section and the Commission shall
21 require the recipient to repay the scholarship assistance he
22 or she has received under this Section plus interest at a
23 rate no greater than the highest rate applicable for
24 educational loans made pursuant to Title IV, Part B of the
25 Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and, if applicable,
26 reasonable collection fees. If the recipient of a
27 scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the
28 obligation agreed to under subsection (b) of this Section,
29 the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the
30 scholarship assistance he or she has received under this
31 Section, prorated according to the fraction of the obligation
32 not completed, plus interest at a rate no greater than the
33 highest rate applicable for educational loans made pursuant
34 to Title IV, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
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1 amended, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. The
2 Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to its
3 collection activities for repayment of scholarship assistance
4 under this Section.
5 (d) A recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
6 Section shall not be in violation of the agreement entered
7 into under subsection (b) of this Section if the recipient
8 (i) enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a
9 course of study related to the field of teaching at an
10 institution of higher learning, (ii) is serving as a member
11 of the armed services of the United States, or (iii) is
12 temporarily totally disabled, as established by sworn
13 affidavit of a qualified physician. Any such extension of
14 the period during which the obligation under subsection (b)
15 of this Section must be fulfilled shall be subject to
16 limitations of duration as established by the Commission.
17 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on
18 July 1, 2001.