HB2007eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2007 Engrossed LRB095 09479 NHT 29677 b

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 21-5b, 21-5c, 21-5e, and 21-7.5 and by adding Section 21-5f as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21-5b)

Sec. 21-5b. Alternative certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an alternative certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued an alternative teaching certificate for teaching in the schools. The program shall be limited to not more than 260 new participants during each year that the program is in effect. The State Board of Education, in cooperation with a partnership formed with a university that offers 4-year baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a recognized institution as defined in Section 21-21 and one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State which support excellence in teaching, shall within 30 days after submission by the partnership approve a course of study developed by the partnership that persons in the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of an alternative certificate under this Section. The Alternative Teacher Certification program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in the university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as the requirement for State teacher certification.

The alternative certification program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Teacher Certification program. The Alternative Teacher Certification Program shall be offered by the submitting partnership and may be offered in conjunction with one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State which support excellence in teaching. The program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) the first phase is the course of study offered on an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the second phase is the person's assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school year; and (c) the third phase is a comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance by school officials and the partnership participants and a recommendation by the partner institution of higher education to the State Board of Education that the person be issued a standard alternative teaching certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Teacher Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.

A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21-5b to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching certificate under this Section:

(1) have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree;

(2) have successfully completed the first phase of the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section;

(3) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a; and

(4) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years in an area requiring application of the individual's education; however, this requirement does not apply with respect to a provisional alternative teaching certificate for teaching in schools situated in a school district that is located in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.

A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining representative, if any.

Until February 15, 2000, a standard alternative teaching certificate, valid for 4 years for teaching in the schools and renewable as provided in Section 21-14, shall be issued under this Section 21-5b to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for a standard alternative teaching certificate under this Section have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section. Alternatively, beginning February 15, 2000, at the end of the 4-year validity period, persons who were issued a standard alternative teaching certificate shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code and further provided that a person who does not apply for and receive a Standard Teaching Certificate shall be able to teach only in schools situated in a school district that is located in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.

Beginning February 15, 2000, persons who have completed the requirements for a standard alternative teaching certificate under this Section shall be issued an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching and not renewable. At the end of the 4-year validity period, these persons shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21-2.

This alternative certification program shall be implemented so that the first provisional alternative teaching certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1997-1998 academic year and the first standard alternative teaching certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1998-1999 academic year.

The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the partnership establishing the Alternative Teacher Certification program, shall adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and implement the program.

On July 1, 2007, candidates completing the one-year teaching assignment under a provisional alternative teaching certificate shall receive an Initial Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching, as provided under Section 21-2 of this Code.

No new candidates may be admitted under this Section on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly. Beginning on July 1, 2007, all new candidates for alternative certification shall complete the program requirements under Section 21-5f of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 91-609, eff. 1-1-00.)

(105 ILCS 5/21-5c)

Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an alternative route to teacher certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching in schools in this State. The State Board of Education shall approve a course of study that persons in the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in a university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as the requirement for State teacher certification.

The program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program. The program may be offered in conjunction with one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State. The program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school year, including the designation of a mentor teacher to advise and assist the person with that teaching assignment; and (c) a comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance by school officials and program participants and a recommendation by the institution of higher education to the State Board of Education that the person be issued an initial teaching certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.

A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21-5c to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching certificate under this Section:

(1) have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree;

(2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years in an area requiring application of the individual's education;

(3) have successfully completed the first phase of the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section; and

(4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.

An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section.

A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate or an initial teaching certificate earned under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining representative, if any.

The State Board of Education may adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the program.

No new candidates may be admitted under this Section on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly. Beginning on July 1, 2007, all new candidates for alternative certification shall complete the program requirements under Section 21-5f of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

(105 ILCS 5/21-5e)

Sec. 21-5e. Alternative Route to Administrative Certification for National Board Certified Teachers.

(a) It shall be the policy of the State of Illinois to improve the recruitment and preparation of instructional leaders.

(b) On or before July 1, 2007, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an alternative route to administrative certification for teacher leaders, to be known as the Alternative Route to an Administrative Certificate for National Board Certified Teachers. "Teacher leader" means a certified teacher who has already received National Board certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who has a teacher leader endorsement under Section 21-7.5 of this Code. Persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued a standard administrative certificate for serving in schools in this State. The State Board shall approve a course of study that persons must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of the administrative certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to an Administrative Certificate for National Board Certified Teachers must include the current content and skills contained in a college's or university's courses and the Illinois Professional School Leader Standards for State certification, with the exception of courses that contain the competency areas and the Illinois Professional School Leader Standards that a candidate has already met through National Board certification or through a teacher leadership master's degree program.

(c) The Alternative Route to an Administrative Certificate for National Board Certified Teachers shall be comprised of the following 5 components 4 phases:

(1) two years of teaching experience;

(2) (1) National Board certification and an endorsement in teacher leadership in accordance with Section 21-7.5 of this Code;

(3) (2) a master's degree in an education-related field a teacher leader program;

(4) A minimum of (3) 15 hours of coursework in which the candidate must show evidence of meeting competencies for foundations of educational administration, organizational management and development, finance, supervision and evaluation, policy and legal issues, supervision of special education programs, and leadership, as stated in the Illinois Professional School Leader Standards for principals; and

(5) passage of applicable certification tests.

(4) a passing score on the Illinois Administrator Assessment.

(d) Successful completion of the Alternative Route to an Administrative Certificate for National Board Certified Teachers shall be deemed to satisfy all requirements to receive an administrative certificate established by law. The State Board shall adopt rules that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary for the establishment and implementation of the program.

(Source: P.A. 94-1039, eff. 7-20-06.)

(105 ILCS 5/21-5f new)

Sec. 21-5f. Alternative route to teacher certification.

(a) On July 1, 2007, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall discontinue the programs under Sections 21-5b and 21-5c of this Code and shall establish and implement an Alternative Route to Teacher Certification pursuant to this Section. Persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued an initial teaching certificate.

(b) The program may be offered by a recognized institution that offers 4-year baccalaureate and master's degree programs, as defined in Section 21-21 of this Code. A partnership may be formed with one or more school districts and one or more not-for-profit organizations in this State that support excellence in teaching. The program course of study must include the content and skills contained in the recognized institution's current program for State certification that has been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(c) The program must be comprised of the following 3 phases:

(1) the first phase is the course of study offered on an intensive basis in educational theory, instructional methods, and practice teaching;

(2) the second phase is the person's assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school year, including the designation of a trained mentor teacher to advise and assist the person with that teaching assignment; and

(3) the third phase is a comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance by school officials and program participants, including passage of the assessment of professional teaching test, and a recommendation by the institution of higher education to the State Board of Education that the person be issued an initial teaching certificate.

Successful completion of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.

(d) An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-2 of this Code to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program, as provided in subsection (c) of this Section.

(e) A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section to persons who have done the following:

(1) graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree;

(2) successfully completed the first phase of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program, as provided in subsection (c) of this Section; and

(3) passed the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a of this Code.

A person possessing a provisional alternative teaching certificate under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining representative, if any.

(f) The institution of higher education shall submit an annual report to the State Board of Education on the status of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program, including data on program candidates and program completers for 5 years following completion of the program and recommendation for the initial teaching certificate.

(g) Each person who was issued a standard alternative teaching certificate under Section 21-5b of this Code may apply, on the same basis as holders of an initial teaching certificate issued under subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this Code, for a standard teaching certificate. An individual who continues to hold a standard alternative teaching certificate is eligible to teach only in schools situated in a school district that is located in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.

(h) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and implement the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program.

(105 ILCS 5/21-7.5)

Sec. 21-7.5. Teacher leader endorsement. It shall be the policy of the State of Illinois to improve the quality of instructional leaders by providing a career pathway for teachers interested in serving in leadership roles. Beginning on July 1, 2007, the State Board, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement a teacher leader endorsement, to be known as a teacher leader endorsement. Persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the requirements of the endorsement established under this Section shall be issued a teacher leader endorsement for serving in schools in this State. The endorsement shall be a career path endorsement but not a restrictive endorsement available to: (i) teachers who are certified through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and complete a specially designed strand of teacher leadership courses; (ii) teachers who have completed a master's degree program in teacher leadership; and (iii) proven teacher leaders with a master's degree who complete a specially designed strand of teacher leadership courses. Colleges and universities shall have the authority to qualify the proficiency of proven teacher leaders under clause (iii) of this Section. A teacher who meets any of clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements for the teacher leader endorsement. The teacher leadership courses shall articulate to a master's degree in educational administration at the same institution of higher learning. The State Board may adopt rules that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement this teacher leadership endorsement program.

(Source: P.A. 94-1039, eff. 7-20-06.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2007.