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.