093_HB0013

 
                                     LRB093 02201 NHT 02209 b

 1        AN   ACT   concerning  teacher  incentive  and  mentoring
 2    programs.

 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section 5.  The School Code is amended by adding Sections
 6    2-3.131 and 2-3.132 as follows:

 7        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.131 new)
 8        Sec. 2-3.131.  Quality teacher incentive program.
 9        (a)  This  Section and Section 2-3.132 of the School Code
10    may be referred to  as  the  Quality  Teacher  Incentive  and
11    Mentoring Law.
12        (b)  The  State  Board  of  Education shall implement and
13    administer a quality teacher incentive program.   Under  this
14    program,  the  State  Board  of Education shall provide, from
15    appropriations made for  the  purposes  of  this  Section,  a
16    signing bonus of $1,000 to each eligible teacher.
17        (c)  A  teacher  is  eligible  under  this program if the
18    person has graduated from a regionally accredited institution
19    in the top 10% of his or her class, has an  Initial  Teaching
20    Certificate,  and  agrees to teach in a public school in this
21    State for a minimum of 3 consecutive years.
22        (d)  A teacher who has received  a  signing  bonus  under
23    this  program  and  leaves  employment with the public school
24    before the end of the 3-year commitment  must  reimburse  the
25    State in the amount of $1,000, unless the teacher has left to
26    accept a teaching position with another public school in this
27    State.
28        (e)  A  teacher  who  receives a signing bonus under this
29    program shall not be deemed an employee of the State.
30        (f)  The State Board of Education  may  adopt  any  rules
31    necessary  to  carry  out  its  responsibilities  under  this
 
                            -2-      LRB093 02201 NHT 02209 b
 1    Section.

 2        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.132 new)
 3        Sec. 2-3.132.  Quality teacher mentoring program.
 4        (a)  This  Section and Section 2-3.131 of the School Code
 5    may be referred to  as  the  Quality  Teacher  Incentive  and
 6    Mentoring Law.
 7        (b)  The  State  Board  of  Education shall implement and
 8    administer a quality teacher mentoring program.   Under  this
 9    program,  the  State  Board  of Education shall award grants,
10    from appropriations made for the purposes of this Section, to
11    school  districts  that  meet  the   grant   award   criteria
12    established  by  the  State Board of Education to allow these
13    school districts  to  develop  or  expand  teacher  mentoring
14    programs.
15        (c)  Grants  under this program shall be awarded pursuant
16    to application.  The form and manner of application  and  the
17    criteria  for  the award of grants shall be prescribed by the
18    State Board of Education.  The  grant  award  criteria  shall
19    provide  that a school district receiving a grant shall, at a
20    minimum, have a mentoring program for new teachers  in  their
21    first  3  years  of employment.  The State Board of Education
22    shall give grant award priority to school districts in  which
23    50%  or more of the teachers have 5 years or less of teaching
24    experience.
25        (d)  The State Board of Education shall adopt any  rules,
26    consistent  with  the  requirements of this Section, that are
27    necessary to implement and administer this program.

28        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act  takes  effect  on
29    July 1, 2003.