HB0781 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 07644 NHT 27795 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB0781

Introduced 2/7/2007, by Rep. Kevin A. McCarthy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/21-21

from Ch. 122, par. 21-21

Amends the Teacher Certification Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning recognition of higher education institutions as teacher education institutions.

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 Section 21-21 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-21)

Sec. 21-21. Definitions; granting of recognition; regional accreditation.

(a) "Recognized", as used in this Article in connection with the the word "school" or "institution", means such school, college, university, private junior college, public community college or special or technical school as maintains a course of study, a standard of scholarship and other requirements set by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Application for recognition of such school or institution as a teacher education institution shall be made to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall set the criteria by which the school or institution shall be judged and through the Secretary of the Board shall arrange for an official inspection and shall grant recognition of such school or institution as may meet the required standards. If such standards include requirements with regard to education in acquiring skills in working with culturally distinctive students, as defined by the State Board of Education, then the rules of the State Board of Education shall include the criteria used to evaluate compliance with this requirement. No school or institution shall make assignments of student teachers or teachers for practice teaching so as to promote segregation on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex or national origin.

All recommendations for initial or standard certification shall be made by a recognized teacher training institution operating a program of preparation for the certificate approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall have the power to define a major or minor when used as a basis for recognition and certification purposes.

(b) "Regionally accredited" or "accredited" as used in this Article in connection with a university or institution shall mean an institution of higher education accredited by the North Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting association.

(Source: P.A. 91-102, eff. 7-12-99.)