105 ILCS 5/ School+Code

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑1.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑1.1)

Sec. 19b‑1.1. Energy conservation measure. "Energy conservation measure" means any improvement, repair, alteration, or betterment of any building or facility owned or operated by a school district or area vocational center or any equipment, fixture, or furnishing to be added to or used in any such building or facility, subject to the building code authorized in Section 2‑3.12 of this Code, that is designed to reduce energy consumption or operating costs, and may include, without limitation, one or more of the following:

(1) Insulation of the building structure or systems within the building.

(2) Storm windows or doors, caulking or weatherstripping, multiglazed windows or doors, heat absorbing or heat reflective glazed and coated window or door systems, additional glazing, reductions in glass area, or other window and door system modifications that reduce energy consumption.

(3) Automated or computerized energy control systems.

(4) Heating, ventilating, or air conditioning system modifications or replacements.

(5) Replacement or modification of lighting fixtures to increase the energy efficiency of the lighting system without increasing the overall illumination of a facility, unless an increase in illumination is necessary to conform to the applicable State or local building code for the lighting system after the proposed modifications are made.

(6) Energy recovery systems.

(7) Energy conservation measures that provide long‑term operating cost reductions.

(Source: P.A. 95‑612, eff. 9‑11‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑1.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑1.2)

Sec. 19b‑1.2. Guaranteed energy savings contract. "Guaranteed energy savings contract" means a contract for: (i) the implementation of an energy audit, data collection, and other related analyses preliminary to the undertaking of energy conservation measures; (ii) the evaluation and recommendation of energy conservation measures; (iii) the implementation of one or more energy conservation measures; and (iv) the implementation of project monitoring and data collection to verify post‑installation energy consumption and energy‑related operating costs. The contract shall provide that all payments, except obligations on termination of the contract before its expiration, are to be made over time and that the savings are guaranteed to the extent necessary to pay the costs of the energy conservation measures.

(Source: P.A. 87‑1106.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑1.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑1.3)

Sec. 19b‑1.3. Qualified provider. "Qualified provider" means a person or business whose employees are experienced and trained in the design, implementation, or installation of energy conservation measures. The minimum training required for any person or employee under this Section shall be the satisfactory completion of at least 40 hours of course instruction dealing with energy conservation measures. A qualified provider to whom the contract is awarded shall give a sufficient bond to the school district or area vocational center for its faithful performance.

(Source: P.A. 92‑767, eff. 8‑6‑02.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑1.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑1.4)

Sec. 19b‑1.4. Request for proposals. "Request for proposals" means a competitive selection achieved by negotiated procurement. The request for proposals shall be announced in the Illinois Procurement Bulletin and through at least one public notice, at least 14 days before the request date in a newspaper published in the district or vocational center area, or if no newspaper is published in the district or vocational center area, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the district or vocational center, from a school district or area vocational center that will administer the program, requesting innovative solutions and proposals for energy conservation measures. Proposals submitted shall be sealed. The request for proposals shall include all of the following:

(1) The name and address of the school district or area vocation center.

(2) The name, address, title, and phone number of a contact person.

(3) Notice indicating that the school district or area vocational center is requesting qualified providers to propose energy conservation measures through a guaranteed energy savings contract.

(4) The date, time, and place where proposals must be received.

(5) The evaluation criteria for assessing the proposals.

(6) Any other stipulations and clarifications the school district or area vocational center may require.

(Source: P.A. 95‑612, eff. 9‑11‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑2) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑2)

Sec. 19b‑2. Evaluation of proposal. Before entering into a guaranteed energy savings contract under Section 19b‑3, a school district or area vocational center shall submit a request for proposals. The school district or area vocational center shall evaluate any sealed proposal from a qualified provider. The evaluation shall analyze the estimates of all costs of installations, modifications or remodeling, including, without limitation, costs of a pre‑installation energy audit or analysis, design, engineering, installation, maintenance, repairs, debt service, conversions to a different energy or fuel source, or post‑installation project monitoring, data collection, and reporting. The evaluation shall include a detailed analysis of whether either the energy consumed or the operating costs, or both, will be reduced. If technical assistance is not available by a licensed architect or registered professional engineer on the school district or area vocational center staff, then the evaluation of the proposal shall be done by a registered professional engineer or architect, who is retained by the school district or area vocational center. A licensed architect or registered professional engineer evaluating a proposal under this Section must not have any financial or contractual relationship with a qualified provider or other source that would constitute a conflict of interest. The school district or area vocational center may pay a reasonable fee for evaluation of the proposal or include the fee as part of the payments made under Section 19b‑4.

(Source: P.A. 95‑612, eff. 9‑11‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑3) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑3)

Sec. 19b‑3. Award of guaranteed energy savings contract. Sealed proposals must be opened by a member or employee of the school board or governing board of the area vocational center, whichever is applicable, at a public opening at which the contents of the proposals must be announced. Each person or entity submitting a sealed proposal must receive at least 13 days notice of the time and place of the opening. The school district or area vocational center shall select the qualified provider that best meets the needs of the district or area vocational center. The school district or area vocational center shall provide public notice of the meeting at which it proposes to award a guaranteed energy savings contract of the names of the parties to the proposed contract and of the purpose of the contract. The public notice shall be made at least 10 days prior to the meeting. After evaluating the proposals under Section 19b‑2, a school district or area vocational center may enter into a guaranteed energy savings contract with a qualified provider if it finds that the amount it would spend on the energy conservation measures recommended in the proposal would not exceed the amount to be saved in either energy or operational costs, or both, within a 20‑year period from the date of installation, if the recommendations in the proposal are followed. Contracts let or awarded must be published in the next available subsequent Illinois Procurement Bulletin.

(Source: P.A. 95‑612, eff. 9‑11‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑4) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑4)

Sec. 19b‑4. Guarantee. The guaranteed energy savings contract shall include a written guarantee of the qualified provider that either the energy or operational cost savings, or both, will meet or exceed within 20 years the costs of the energy conservation measures. The qualified provider shall reimburse the school district or area vocational center for any shortfall of guaranteed energy savings projected in the contract. A qualified provider shall provide a sufficient bond to the school district or area vocational center for the installation and the faithful performance of all the measures included in the contract. The guaranteed energy savings contract may provide for payments over a period of time, not to exceed 20 years from the date of final installation of the measures.

(Source: P.A. 92‑767, eff. 8‑6‑02.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑5) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑5)

Sec. 19b‑5. Installment payment; lease purchase. A school district or school districts in combination or an area vocational center may enter into an installment payment contract or lease purchase agreement with a qualified provider or with a third‑party lender, as authorized by law, for the purchase and installation of energy conservation measures by a qualified provider. Every school district or area vocational center may issue certificates evidencing the indebtedness incurred pursuant to the contracts or agreements. Any such contract or agreement shall be valid whether or not an appropriation with respect thereto is first included in any annual or supplemental budget adopted by the school district or area vocational center. Each contract or agreement entered into by a school district or area vocational center pursuant to this Section shall be authorized by resolution of the school board or governing board of the area vocational center, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 95‑612, eff. 9‑11‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑6) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑6)

Sec. 19b‑6. Term; budget and appropriations. Guaranteed energy savings contracts may extend beyond the fiscal year in which they become effective. The school district or area vocational center shall include in its annual budget and appropriations measures for each subsequent fiscal year any amounts payable under guaranteed energy savings contracts during that fiscal year. Sections 2‑3.12, 3‑14.20, and 10‑22.36 of the School Code shall apply to this Article 19b.

(Source: P.A. 92‑767, eff. 8‑6‑02.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑7) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑7)

Sec. 19b‑7. Operational and energy cost savings. The school district or area vocational center shall document the operational and energy cost savings specified in the guaranteed energy savings contract and designate and appropriate that amount for an annual payment of the contract. If the annual energy savings are less than projected under the guaranteed energy savings contract the qualified provider shall pay the difference as provided in Section 19b‑4.

(Source: P.A. 92‑767, eff. 8‑6‑02.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑8) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑8)

Sec. 19b‑8. Available funds. A school district or area vocational center may use funds designated for operating or capital expenditures for any guaranteed energy savings contract including purchases using installment payment contracts or lease purchase agreements. A school district or area vocational center that enters into such a contract or agreement may covenant in such contract or agreement that payments made thereunder shall be payable from the first funds legally available in each fiscal year.

(Source: P.A. 92‑767, eff. 8‑6‑02.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑9) (from Ch. 122, par. 19b‑9)

Sec. 19b‑9. Funding. State aid and other amounts appropriated for distribution to or reimbursement of a school district or area vocational center shall not be reduced as a result of energy savings realized from a guaranteed energy savings contract or a lease purchase agreement for the purchase and installation of energy conservation measures.

(Source: P.A. 92‑767, eff. 8‑6‑02.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑10)

Sec. 19b‑10. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89‑397, eff. 8‑20‑95. Repealed by P.A. 92‑767, eff. 8‑6‑02.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑15)

Sec. 19b‑15. Applicable laws. Other State laws and related administrative requirements apply to this Article, including, but not limited to, the following laws and related administrative requirements: the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Prevailing Wage Act, the Public Construction Bond Act, the Public Works Preference Act, the Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989, the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act, and the Contractor Unified License and Permit Bond Act.

(Source: P.A. 95‑612, eff. 9‑11‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/19b‑20)

Sec. 19b‑20. Historic preservation. In order to protect the integrity of historic buildings, no provision of this Article shall be interpreted to require the implementation of energy conservation measures that conflict with respect to any property eligible for, nominated to, or entered on the National Register of Historic Places, pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, or the Illinois Register of Historic Places, pursuant to the Illinois Historic Preservation Act.

(Source: P.A. 95‑612, eff. 9‑11‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 20 heading) ARTICLE 20. WORKING CASH FUND

(105 ILCS 5/20‑1) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑1)

Sec. 20‑1. Authority to create working cash fund. In each school district, whether organized under general law or special charter, having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants, a fund to be known as a "Working Cash Fund" may be created, maintained and administered in the manner prescribed in this Article, for the purpose of enabling the district to have in its treasury at all time sufficient money to meet demands thereon for ordinary and necessary expenditures for corporate purposes.

(Source: P.A. 80‑272.)

(105 ILCS 5/20‑2) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑2)

Sec. 20‑2. Indebtedness and bonds. For the purpose of creating a working cash fund, the school board of any such district may incur an indebtedness and issue bonds as evidence thereof in an amount or amounts not exceeding in the aggregate 85% of the taxes permitted to be levied for educational purposes for the then current year to be determined by multiplying the maximum educational tax rate or rates applicable to such school district by the last assessed valuation or assessed valuations as determined at the time of the issue of said bonds plus 85% of the last known entitlement of such district to taxes as by law now or hereafter enacted or amended, imposed by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois to replace revenue lost by units of local government and school districts as a result of the abolition of ad valorem personal property taxes, pursuant to Article IX, Section 5, paragraph (c) of the Constitution of the State of Illinois. The bonds shall bear interest at not more than the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, if issued before January 1, 1972 and not more than the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, if issued after January 1, 1972 and shall mature within 20 years from the date thereof. Subject to the foregoing limitations as to amount, the bonds may be issued in an amount including existing indebtedness which will not exceed the constitutional limitation as to debt, notwithstanding any statutory debt limitation to the contrary. The school board shall before or at the time of issuing the bonds provide for the collection of a direct annual tax upon all the taxable property within the district sufficient to pay the principal thereof at maturity and to pay the interest thereon as it falls due, which tax shall be in addition to the maximum amount of all other taxes, either educational; transportation; operations and maintenance; or fire prevention and safety fund taxes, now or hereafter authorized and in addition to any limitations upon the levy of taxes as provided by Sections 17‑2 through 17‑9. The bonds may be issued redeemable at the option of the school board of the district issuing them on any interest payment date on or after 5 years from date of issue.

With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.

(Source: P.A. 94‑234, eff. 7‑1‑06; 94‑1019, eff. 7‑10‑06.)

(105 ILCS 5/20‑3) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑3)

Sec. 20‑3. Tax levy. For the purpose of providing moneys for a working cash fund, the school board of any such school district may also levy annually upon all the taxable property of their district a tax, known as the "working cash fund tax," not to exceed 0.05% of value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue; provided that no such tax shall be levied if bonds are issued in amount or amounts equal in the aggregate to the limitation set forth in Section 20‑2 for the creation of a working cash fund. The collection of the tax shall not be anticipated by the issuance of any warrants drawn against it. The tax shall be levied and collected, except as otherwise provided in this Section, in like manner as the general taxes of the district, and shall be in addition to the maximum of all other taxes, either educational; transportation; operations and maintenance; or fire prevention and safety fund taxes, now or hereafter to be levied for school purposes. It may be levied by separate resolution by the last Tuesday in September in each year or it may be included in the certificate of tax levy filed under Section 17‑11.

(Source: P.A. 94‑234, eff. 7‑1‑06.)

(105 ILCS 5/20‑4) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑4)

Sec. 20‑4. Use and reimbursement of fund. This Section shall not apply in any school district which does not operate a working cash fund.

Moneys derived from the issuance of bonds as authorized by Section 20‑2, or from any tax levied pursuant to Section 20‑3, shall be used only for the purposes and in the manner hereinafter provided. Moneys in the fund shall not be regarded as current assets available for school purposes. The school board may appropriate moneys to the working cash fund up to the maximum amount allowable in the fund, and the working cash fund may receive such appropriations and any other contributions. Moneys in the fund shall not be used by the school board in any manner other than to provide moneys with which to meet ordinary and necessary disbursements for salaries and other school purposes and may be transferred in whole or in part to the general funds or both of the school district and disbursed therefrom in anticipation of the collection of taxes lawfully levied for any or all purposes, or in anticipation of such taxes as by law now or hereafter enacted or amended are imposed by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois to replace revenue lost by units of local government and school districts as a result of the abolition of ad valorem personal property taxes, pursuant to Article IX, Section 5(c) of the Constitution of the State of Illinois. Moneys so transferred to any other fund shall be deemed to be transferred in anticipation of the collection of that part of the taxes so levied or to be received which is in excess of the amount thereof required to pay any warrants or notes and the interest thereon theretofore and thereafter issued in anticipation of the collection thereof and such taxes when collected shall be applied to the payment of any such warrants and the interest thereon, the amount estimated to be required to satisfy debt service and pension or retirement obligations, as set forth in Section 12 of the State Revenue Sharing Act and then to the reimbursement of such working cash fund as hereinafter provided.

Upon receipt by the school district of any taxes in anticipation of the collection whereof moneys of the working cash fund have been so transferred for disbursement, the fund shall immediately be reimbursed therefrom until the full amount so transferred has been retransferred to the fund. Unless the taxes so received and applied to the reimbursement of the working cash fund prior to the first day of the eighth month following the month in which due and unpaid real property taxes begin to bear interest are sufficient to effect a complete reimbursement of such fund for any moneys transferred therefrom in anticipation of the collection of such taxes, the working cash fund shall be reimbursed for the amount of the deficiency therein from any other revenues accruing to the educational fund, and the school board shall make provisions for the immediate reimbursement of the amount of any such deficiency in its next annual tax levy.

(Source: P.A. 87‑984; 87‑1168; 88‑45.)

(105 ILCS 5/20‑5) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑5)

Sec. 20‑5. Transfer to other fund. This Section shall not apply in any school district which does not operate a working cash fund.

Moneys, including interest earned from investment of the working cash fund as in this Section provided, shall be transferred from the working cash fund to another fund of the district only upon the authority of the school board which shall from time to time by separate resolution direct the school treasurer to make transfers of such sums as may be required for the purposes herein authorized.

The resolution shall set forth (a) the taxes in anticipation of which such transfer is to be made and from which the working cash fund is to be reimbursed; (b) the entire amount of taxes extended, or which the school board estimates will be extended or received, for any year in anticipation of the collection of all or part of which such transfer is to be made; (c) the aggregate amount of warrants or notes theretofore issued in anticipation of the collection of such taxes together with the amount of interest accrued and which the school board estimates will accrue thereon; (d) the aggregate amount of receipts from taxes imposed to replace revenue lost by units of local government and school districts as a result of the abolition of ad valorem personal property taxes, pursuant to Article IX, Section 5(c) of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, which the corporate authorities estimate will be set aside for the payment of the proportionate amount of debt service and pension or retirement obligations, as required by Section 12 of the State Revenue Sharing Act; and (e) the aggregate amount of money theretofore transferred from the working cash fund to the other fund in anticipation of the collection of such taxes. The amount which any such resolution shall direct the treasurer so to transfer, in anticipation of the collection of taxes levied or to be received for any year, together with the aggregate amount of such anticipation tax warrants or notes theretofore drawn against such taxes and the amount of interest accrued and estimated to accrue thereon and the aggregate amount of such transfers to be made in anticipation of the collection of such taxes and the amount estimated to be required to satisfy debt service and pension or retirement obligations, as set forth in Section 12 of the State Revenue Sharing Act, shall not exceed 85% of the actual or estimated amount of such taxes extended or to be extended or to be received as set forth in such resolution. At any time moneys are available in the working cash fund they shall be transferred to the educational fund and disbursed for the payment of salaries and other school expenses so as to avoid, whenever possible, the issuance of anticipation tax warrants or notes.

Moneys earned as interest from the investment of the working cash fund, or any portion thereof, may be transferred from the working cash fund to another fund of the district without any requirement of repayment to the working cash fund, upon the authority of the school board by separate resolution directing the school treasurer to make such transfer and stating the purpose therefore as one herein authorized.

(Source: P.A. 94‑234, eff. 7‑1‑06.)

(105 ILCS 5/20‑6) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑6)

Sec. 20‑6. Willful violation of law. Any member of the school board of any school district to which this Article is applicable, or any other person holding any office, trust, or employment under such school district who wilfully violates any of the provisions of this Article shall be guilty of a business offense and fined not exceeding $10,000, and shall forfeit his right to his office, trust or employment and shall be removed therefrom. Any such member or other person shall be liable for any sum that may be unlawfully diverted from the working cash fund or otherwise used, to be recovered by such school district or by any taxpayer in the name and for the benefit of such school district in an appropriate civil action; provided that the taxpayer shall file a bond for all costs and be liable for all costs taxed against the school district in such suit, and judgment shall be rendered accordingly. Nothing herein shall bar any other remedies.

(Source: P.A. 79‑1366.)

(105 ILCS 5/20‑7) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑7)

Sec. 20‑7. Resolution for issuance of bonds ‑ Submission to voters ‑ Ballot. No school district may issue bonds under this Article unless it adopts a resolution declaring its intention to issue bonds for the purpose therein provided and directs that notice of such intention be published at least once in a newspaper published and having a general circulation in the district, if there be one, but if there is no newspaper published in such district then by publishing such notice in a newspaper having a general circulation in the district. The notice shall set forth (1) the intention of the district to issue bonds in accordance with this Article; (2) the time within which a petition may be filed requesting the submission of the proposition to issue the bonds; (3) the specific number of voters required to sign the petition; and (4) the date of the prospective referendum. At the time of publication of the notice and for 30 days thereafter, the recording officer of the district shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one. If within 30 days after the publication a petition is filed with the recording officer of the district, signed by the voters of the district equal to 10% or more of the registered voters of the district requesting that the proposition to issue bonds as authorized by this Article be submitted to the voters thereof, then the district shall not be authorized to issue such bonds until the proposition has been certified to the proper election authorities and has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition at a regular scheduled election in accordance with the general election law. If no such petition is so filed, or if any and all petitions filed are invalid, the district may issue the bonds. In addition to the requirements of the general election law the notice of the election shall set forth the intention of the district to issue bonds under this Article. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form: OFFICIAL BALLOT ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

Shall the board of....

of School district number.... YES

County, Illinois, be authorized

to issue bonds for a working ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

cash fund as provided for

by Article 20 of the NO

School Code?

‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

(Source: P.A. 87‑767.)

(105 ILCS 5/20‑8) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑8)

Sec. 20‑8. Abolishment of working cash fund. Any school district may abolish its working cash fund, upon the adoption of a resolution so providing, and direct the transfer of any balance in such fund to the educational fund at the close of the then current school year. Any outstanding loans to the transportation; operations and maintenance; or fire prevention and safety fund shall be paid or become payable to the educational fund at the close of the then current school year. Thereafter, all outstanding taxes of such school district levied pursuant to Section 20‑3 shall be collected and paid into the educational fund.

Any balance in any working cash fund that is created in any school district on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 (including all outstanding loans from any such working cash fund to the educational, transportation, operations and maintenance, or fire prevention and safety fund of the district and all outstanding taxes levied by the district under Section 20‑3 to provide moneys for any such working cash fund) may, when such working cash fund is abolished, be used and applied for the purpose of reducing, by the balance in that working cash fund at the close of the school year in which the fund so created is abolished, the amount of the taxes that the school board of the school district otherwise would be authorized or required to levy for educational purposes for the immediately succeeding school year.

Any obligation incurred by any school district pursuant to Section 20‑2 shall be discharged as therein provided.

(Source: P.A. 86‑970; 87‑643; 87‑984.)

(105 ILCS 5/20‑9) (from Ch. 122, par. 20‑9)

Sec. 20‑9. Nothing in this Article prevents a school district which has abolished or abated its working cash fund from again creating a working cash fund in the manner provided in this Article.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 642.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 21 heading) ARTICLE 21. CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

(105 ILCS 5/21‑0.01)

Sec. 21‑0.01. Powers after January 1, 1998. Beginning on January 1, 1998 and thereafter, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall have the power and authority to do all of the following:

(1) set standards for teaching, supervising, or holding other certificated employment in the public schools, and administer the certification process as provided in this Article; provided, however, that the State Teacher Certification Board shall be solely responsible for the renewal of Standard Teaching Certificates as provided in Sections 21‑2 and 21‑14 of this Code;

(2) approve and evaluate teacher and administrator preparation programs;

(3) enter into agreements with other states relative to reciprocal approval of teacher and administrator preparation programs;

(4) establish standards for the issuance of new types of certificates; and

(5) take such other action relating to the improvement of instruction in the public schools through teacher education and professional development and that attracts qualified candidates into teacher training programs as is appropriate and consistent with applicable laws.

(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑1)

Sec. 21‑1. Qualification of teachers. No one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools of this State who is not of good character, of good health, a citizen of the United States or legally present and authorized for employment, and at least 19 years of age. No one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools of this State who has been convicted of an offense set forth in Section 21‑23a of this Code. An applicant for a certificate who is not a citizen of the United States must sign and file with the State Board of Education a letter of intent indicating that either (i) within 10 years after the date that the letter is filed or (ii) at the earliest opportunity after the person becomes eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, the person will apply for U.S. citizenship.

Citizenship is not required for the issuance of a temporary part‑time certificate to participants in approved training programs for exchange students as described in Section 21‑10.2. A certificate issued under this plan shall expire on June 30 following the date of issue. One renewal for one year is authorized if the holder remains as an official participant in an approved exchange program.

In determining good character under this Section, any felony conviction of the applicant may be taken into consideration, but, unless the conviction is an offense set forth in Section 21‑23a of this Code, an applicant must be permitted to submit character references or other written material before such a conviction or other information regarding the applicant's character may be used by the State Superintendent of Education as a basis for denying the application.

No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the right to be certified, to receive training for the purpose of becoming a teacher or to engage in practice teaching in any school because of a physical disability including but not limited to visual and hearing disabilities; nor shall any school district refuse to employ a teacher on such grounds, provided that the person is able to carry out the duties of the position for which he applies.

No person may be granted or continue to hold a teaching certificate who has knowingly altered or misrepresented his or her teaching qualifications in order to acquire the certificate. Any other certificate held by such person may be suspended or revoked by the State Teacher Certification Board, depending upon the severity of the alteration or misrepresentation.

No one may teach or supervise in the public schools nor receive for teaching or supervising any part of any public school fund, who does not hold a certificate of qualification granted by the State Board of Education or by the State Teacher Certification Board and a regional superintendent of schools as hereinafter provided, or by the board of education of a city having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants except as provided in Section 34‑6 and in Section 10‑22.34 or Section 10‑22.34b. However, the provisions of this Article do not apply to a member of the armed forces who is employed as a teacher of subjects in the Reserve Officer's Training Corps of any school. Sections 21‑2 through 21‑24 do not apply to cities having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants, until July 1, 1988.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the board of education of any school district may grant to a teacher of the district a leave of absence with full pay for a period of not more than one year to permit such teacher to teach in a foreign state under the provisions of the Exchange Teacher Program established under Public Law 584, 79th Congress, and Public Law 402, 80th Congress, as amended. The school board granting such leave of absence may employ with or without pay a national of the foreign state wherein the teacher on leave of absence will teach, if the national is qualified to teach in that foreign state, and if that national will teach in a grade level similar to the one which was taught in such foreign state. The State Board of Education shall promulgate and enforce such reasonable rules as may be necessary to effectuate this paragraph.

(Source: P.A. 96‑431, eff. 8‑13‑09.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑1a) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑1a)

Sec. 21‑1a. Tests required for certification and teacher preparation.

(a) After July 1, 1988, in addition to all other requirements, early childhood, elementary, special, high school, school service personnel, or, except as provided in Section 34‑6, administrative certificates shall be issued to persons who have satisfactorily passed a test of basic skills, an assessment of professional teaching, and a test of subject matter knowledge, provided that a person who passed another state's test of basic skills as a condition of certification or of admission to a teacher preparation program shall not be required to pass this State's test of basic skills. The tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall be the tests which from time to time are designated by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and may be tests prepared by an educational testing organization or tests designed by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The areas to be covered by the test of basic skills shall include the basic skills of reading, writing, grammar and mathematics. The test of subject matter knowledge shall assess content knowledge in the specific subject field. The tests shall be designed to be racially neutral to assure that no person in taking the tests is thereby discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin or other factors unrelated to the person's ability to perform as a certificated employee. The score required to pass the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall be fixed by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The tests shall be held not fewer than 3 times a year at such time and place as may be designated by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(b) Except as provided in Section 34‑6, the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section shall apply equally in any school district subject to Article 34, provided that the State Board of Education shall determine which certificates issued under Sections 34‑8.1 and 34‑83 prior to July 1, 1988 are comparable to any early childhood certificate, elementary school certificate, special certificate, high school certificate, school service personnel certificate or administrative certificate issued under this Article as of July 1, 1988.

(c) A person who holds an early childhood, elementary, special, high school or school service personnel certificate issued under this Article on or at any time before July 1, 1988, including a person who has been issued any such certificate pursuant to Section 21‑11.1 or in exchange for a comparable certificate theretofore issued under Section 34‑8.1 or Section 34‑83, shall not be required to take or pass the tests in order to thereafter have such certificate renewed.

(d) The State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall conduct a pilot administration of the tests by administering the test to students completing teacher education programs in the 1986‑87 school year for the purpose of determining the effect and impact of testing candidates for certification.

Beginning with the 2002‑2003 academic year, a student may not enroll in a teacher preparation program at a recognized teacher training institution until he or she has passed the basic skills test.

Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, prior to completing an approved teacher preparation program, a preservice education candidate must satisfactorily pass the test of subject matter knowledge in the discipline in which he or she will be certified to teach. The teacher preparation program may require passage of the test of subject matter knowledge at any time during the program, including prior to student teaching.

(e) The rules and regulations developed to implement the required test of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall include the requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (c) and shall include specific regulations to govern test selection; test validation and determination of a passing score; administration of the tests; frequency of administration; applicant fees; frequency of applicants' taking the tests; the years for which a score is valid; and, waiving certain additional tests for additional certificates to individuals who have satisfactorily passed the test of basic skills and subject matter knowledge as required in subsection (a). The State Board of Education shall provide, by rule, specific policies that assure uniformity in the difficulty level of each form of the basic skills test and each subject matter knowledge test from test‑to‑test and year‑to‑year. The State Board of Education shall also set a passing score for the tests.

(f) The State Teacher Certification Board may issue a nonrenewable temporary certificate between July 1, 1988 and August 31, 1988 to individuals who have taken the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge prescribed by this Section but have not received such test scores by August 31, 1988. Such temporary certificates shall expire on December 31, 1988.

(g) Beginning February 15, 2000, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall implement and administer a new system of certification for teachers in the State of Illinois. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall design and implement a system of examinations and various other criteria which shall be required prior to the issuance of Initial Teaching Certificates and Standard Teaching Certificates. These examinations and indicators shall be based on national and State professional teaching standards, as determined by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The State Board of Education may adopt any and all regulations necessary to implement and administer this Section.

(h) The State Board of Education shall report to the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor with recommendations for further changes and improvements to the teacher certification system no later than July 1, 1999 and on an annual basis until July 1, 2001.

(Source: P.A. 96‑689, eff. 8‑25‑09.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑1b) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑1b)

Sec. 21‑1b. Subject endorsement on certificates. All certificates initially issued under this Article after June 30, 1986, shall be specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each subject the holder of the certificate is legally qualified to teach, such endorsements to be made in accordance with standards promulgated by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The regional superintendent of schools, however, has the duty, after appropriate training, to accept and review all transcripts for new initial certificate applications and ensure that each applicant has met all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with with the State Teacher Certification Board. All certificates which are issued under this Article prior to July 1, 1986 may, by application to the State Board of Education, be specifically endorsed for each subject the holder is legally qualified to teach. Endorsements issued under this Section shall not apply to substitute teacher's certificates issued under Section 21‑9 of this Code.

Commencing July 1, 1999, each application for endorsement of an existing teaching certificate shall be accompanied by a $30 nonrefundable fee. There is hereby created a Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund as a special fund within the State Treasury. The proceeds of each $30 fee shall be paid into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund; and the moneys in that Fund shall be appropriated and used to provide the technology and other resources necessary for the timely and efficient processing of certification requests. The Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund is not subject to administrative charge transfers authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act from the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund into any other fund of this State.

The State Board of Education and each regional office of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not exceed the amount required by the credit card processing company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the State Board or regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.

(Source: P.A. 95‑331, eff. 8‑21‑07; 96‑403, eff. 8‑13‑09.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑1c) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑1c)

Sec. 21‑1c. Exclusive certificate authority. Only the State Board of Education and State Teacher Certification Board, acting in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Act and the rules, regulations and standards promulgated thereunder, shall have the authority to issue or endorse any certificate required for teaching, supervising or holding certificated employment in the public schools; and no other State agency shall have any power or authority (i) to establish or prescribe any qualifications or other requirements applicable to the issuance or endorsement of any such certificate, or (ii) to establish or prescribe any licensure or equivalent requirement which must be satisfied in order to teach, supervise or hold certificated employment in the public schools. The regional superintendent of schools, however, has the duty, after appropriate training, to accept and review all transcripts for new initial certificate applications and ensure that each applicant has met all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. This Section does not prohibit the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, from delegating to regional superintendents of schools the authority to grant temporary employment authorizations to teacher applicants whose qualifications have been confirmed by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(Source: P.A. 93‑1036, eff. 9‑14‑04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑2) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑2)

Sec. 21‑2. Grades of certificates.

(a) All certificates issued under this Article shall be State certificates valid, except as limited in Section 21‑1, in every school district coming under the provisions of this Act and shall be limited in time and designated as follows: Provisional vocational certificate, temporary provisional vocational certificate, early childhood certificate, elementary school certificate, special certificate, secondary certificate, school service personnel certificate, administrative certificate, provisional certificate, and substitute certificate. The requirement of student teaching under close and competent supervision for obtaining a teaching certificate may be waived by the State Teacher Certification Board upon presentation to the Board by the teacher of evidence of 5 years successful teaching experience on a valid certificate and graduation from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree.

(b) Initial Teaching Certificate. Persons who (1) have completed an approved teacher preparation program, (2) are recommended by an approved teacher preparation program, (3) have successfully completed the Initial Teaching Certification examinations required by the State Board of Education, and (4) have met all other criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall be issued an Initial Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching, as defined in Section 21‑14 of this Code. Initial Teaching Certificates shall be issued for categories corresponding to Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, and Special K‑12, with special certification designations for Special Education, Bilingual Education, fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, an Initial Teaching Certificate shall be automatically extended for one year for all persons who (i) have been issued an Initial Teaching Certificate that expires on June 30, 2004 and (ii) have not met, prior to July 1, 2004, the Standard Certificate requirements under paragraph (c) of this Section. An application and fee shall not be required for this extension.

(b‑5) A person who holds an out‑of‑state certificate and who is otherwise eligible for a comparable Illinois certificate may be issued an Initial Certificate if that person has not completed 4 years of teaching. Upon completion of 4 years of teaching, the person is eligible for a Standard Certificate. Beginning July 1, 2004, an out‑of‑state candidate who has already earned a second‑tier certificate in another state is not subject to any Standard Certificate eligibility requirements stated in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this Section other than completion of the 4 years of teaching. An out‑of‑state candidate who has completed less than 4 years of teaching and does not hold a second‑tier certificate from another state must meet the requirements stated in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this Section, proportionately reduced by the amount of time remaining to complete the 4 years of teaching.

(c) Standard Certificate.

(1) Persons who (i) have completed 4 years of teaching, as defined in Section 21‑14 of this Code, with an Initial Certificate or an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate and have met all other criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, (ii) have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid equivalent certificate in another State or territory of the United States, or have completed 4 years of teaching in a nonpublic Illinois elementary or secondary school with an Initial Certificate or an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate, and have met all other criteria established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, or (iii) were issued teaching certificates prior to February 15, 2000 and are renewing those certificates after February 15, 2000, shall be issued a Standard Certificate valid for 5 years, which may be renewed thereafter every 5 years by the State Teacher Certification Board based on proof of continuing education or professional development. Beginning July 1, 2003, persons who have completed 4 years of teaching, as described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph (1), have successfully completed the requirements of paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection (c), and have met all other criteria established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall be issued Standard Certificates. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold valid out‑of‑state certificates and have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid equivalent certificate in another State or territory of the United States shall be issued comparable Standard Certificates. Beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold valid out‑of‑state certificates as described in subsection (b‑5) of this Section are subject to the requirements of paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection (c), as required in subsection (b‑5) of this Section, in order to receive a Standard Certificate. Standard Certificates shall be issued for categories corresponding to Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, and Special K‑12, with special certification designations for Special Education, Bilingual Education, fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(2) This paragraph (2) applies only to those persons required to successfully complete the requirements of this paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). In order to receive a Standard Teaching Certificate, a person must satisfy one of the following requirements:

(A) Completion of a program of induction and mentoring for new teachers that is based upon a specific plan approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Nothing in this Section, however, prohibits an induction or mentoring program from operating prior to approval. Holders of Initial Certificates issued before September 1, 2007 must complete, at a minimum, an approved one‑year induction and mentoring program. Holders of Initial Certificates issued on or after September 1, 2007 must complete an approved 2‑year induction and mentoring program. The plan must describe the role of mentor teachers, the criteria and process for their selection, and how all the following components are to be provided:

(i) Assignment of a formally trained mentor teacher to each new teacher for a specified period of time, which shall be established by the employing school or school district, provided that a mentor teacher may not directly or indirectly participate in the evaluation of a new teacher pursuant to Article 24A of this Code or the evaluation procedure of the school.

(ii) Formal mentoring for each new teacher.

(iii) Support for each new teacher in relation to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, the content‑area standards applicable to the new teacher's area of certification, and any applicable local school improvement and professional development plans.

(iv) Professional development specifically designed to foster the growth of each new teacher's knowledge and skills.

(v) Formative assessment that is based on the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and designed to provide feedback to the new teacher and opportunities for reflection on his or her performance, which must not be used directly or indirectly in any evaluation of a new teacher pursuant to Article 24A of this Code or the evaluation procedure of the school and which must include the activities specified in clauses (B)(i), (B)(ii), and (B)(iii) of this paragraph (2).

(vi) Assignment of responsibility for coordination of the induction and mentoring program within each school district participating in the program.

(B) Successful completion of 4 semester hours of graduate‑level coursework on the assessment of one's own performance in relation to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. The coursework must be approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board; must be offered either by an institution of higher education, by such an institution in partnership with a teachers' association or union or with a regional office of education, or by another entity authorized to issue college credit; and must include demonstration of performance through all of the following activities for each of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards:

(i) Observation, by the course instructor or another experienced teacher, of the new teacher's classroom practice (the observation may be recorded for later viewing) for the purpose of identifying and describing how the new teacher made content meaningful for students; how the teacher motivated individuals and the group and created an environment conducive to positive social interactions, active learning, and self‑motivation; what instructional strategies the teacher used to encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance; how the teacher communicated using written, verbal, nonverbal, and visual communication techniques; and how the teacher maintained standards of professional conduct and provided leadership to improve students' learning.

(ii) Review and analysis, by the course instructor or another experienced teacher, of written documentation (i.e., lesson plans, assignments, assessment instruments, and samples of students' work) prepared by the new teacher for at least 2 lessons. The documentation must provide evidence of classroom performance related to Illinois Professional Teaching Standards 1 through 9, with an emphasis on how the teacher used his or her understanding of students, assessment data, and subject matter to decide on learning goals; how the teacher designed or selected activities and instructional materials and aligned instruction to the relevant Illinois Learning Standards; how the teacher adapted or modified curriculum to meet individual students' needs; and how the teacher sequenced instruction and designed or selected student assessment strategies.

(iii) Demonstration of professional expertise on the part of the new teacher in reflecting on his or her practice, which was observed under clause (B)(i) of this paragraph (2) and documented under clause (B)(ii) of this paragraph (2), in terms of teaching strengths, weaknesses, and implications for improvement according to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.

(C) Successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester hours of graduate‑level coursework addressing preparation to meet the requirements for certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The coursework must be approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and must be offered either by an institution of higher education, by such an institution in partnership with a teachers' association or union or with a regional office of education, or by another entity authorized to issue college credit. The course must address the 5 NBPTS Core Propositions and relevant standards through such means as the following:

(i) Observation, by the course instructor or another experienced teacher, of the new teacher's classroom practice (the observation may be recorded for later viewing) for the purpose of identifying and describing how the new teacher made content meaningful for students; how the teacher motivated individuals and the group and created an environment conducive to positive social interactions, active learning, and self‑motivation; what instructional strategies the teacher used to encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance; how the teacher communicated using written, verbal, nonverbal, and visual communication techniques; and how the teacher maintained standards of professional conduct and provided leadership to improve students' learning.

(ii) Review and analysis, by the course instructor or another experienced teacher, of written documentation (i.e., lesson plans, assignments, assessment instruments, and samples of students' work) prepared by the new teacher for at least 2 lessons. The documentation must provide evidence of classroom performance, including how the teacher used his or her understanding of students, assessment data, and subject matter to decide on learning goals; how the teacher designed or selected activities and instructional materials and aligned instruction to the relevant Illinois Learning Standards; how the teacher adapted or modified curriculum to meet individual students' needs; and how the teacher sequenced instruction and designed or selected student assessment strategies.

(iii) Demonstration of professional expertise on the part of the new teacher in reflecting on his or her practice, which was observed under clause (C)(i) of this paragraph (2) and documented under clause (C)(ii) of this paragraph (2), in terms of teaching strengths, weaknesses, and implications for improvement.

(C‑5) Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 12 semester hours of graduate credit towards an advanced degree in an education‑related field from an accredited institution of higher education.

(D) Receipt of an advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in an education‑related field that is earned by a person either while he or she holds an Initial Teaching Certificate or prior to his or her receipt of that certificate.

(E) Accumulation of 60 continuing professional development units (CPDUs), earned by completing selected activities that comply with paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection (c). However, for an individual who holds an Initial Teaching Certificate on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the number of CPDUs shall be reduced to reflect the teaching time remaining on the Initial Teaching Certificate.

(F) Completion of a nationally normed, performance‑based assessment, if made available by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, provided that the cost to the person shall not exceed the cost of the coursework described in clause (B) of this paragraph (2).

(G) Completion of requirements for meeting the Illinois criteria for becoming "highly qualified" (for purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public Law 107‑110) in an additional teaching area.

(H) Receipt of a minimum 12‑hour, post‑baccalaureate, education‑related professional development certificate issued by an Illinois institution of higher education and developed in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(I) Completion of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) process.

(J) Receipt of a subsequent Illinois certificate or endorsement pursuant to Article 21 of this Code.

(3) This paragraph (3) applies only to those persons required to successfully complete the requirements of this paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Persons who seek to satisfy the requirements of clause (E) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c) through accumulation of CPDUs may earn credit through completion of coursework, workshops, seminars, conferences, and other similar training events that are pre‑approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, for the purpose of reflection on teaching practices in order to address all of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards necessary to obtain a Standard Teaching Certificate. These activities must meet all of the following requirements:

(A) Each activity must be designed to advance a person's knowledge and skills in relation to one or more of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or in relation to the content‑area standards applicable to the teacher's field of certification.

(B) Taken together, the activities completed must address each of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards as provided in clauses (B)(i), (B)(ii), and (B)(iii) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).

(C) Each activity must be provided by an entity approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, for this purpose.

(D) Each activity, integral to its successful completion, must require participants to demonstrate the degree to which they have acquired new knowledge or skills, such as through performance, through preparation of a written product, through assembling samples of students' or teachers' work, or by some other means that is appropriate to the subject matter of the activity.

(E) One CPDU shall be available for each hour of direct participation by a holder of an Initial Teaching Certificate in a qualifying activity. An activity may be attributed to more than one of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, but credit for any activity shall be counted only once.

(4) This paragraph (4) applies only to those persons required to successfully complete the requirements of this paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Persons who seek to satisfy the requirements of clause (E) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c) through accumulation of CPDUs may earn credit from the following, provided that each activity is designed to advance a person's knowledge and skills in relation to one or more of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or in relation to the content‑area standards applicable to the person's field or fields of certification:

(A) Collaboration and partnership activities related to improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all of the following:

(i) Peer review and coaching.

(ii) Mentoring in a formal mentoring program, including service as a consulting teacher participating in a remediation process formulated under Section 24A‑5 of this Code.

(iii) Facilitating parent education programs directly related to student achievement for a school, school district, or regional office of education.

(iv) Participating in business, school, or community partnerships directly related to student achievement.

(B) Teaching college or university courses in areas relevant to a teacher's field of certification, provided that the teaching may only be counted once during the course of 4 years.

(C) Conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, and symposiums related to improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all of the following:

(i) Completing non‑university credit directly related to student achievement, the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, or content‑area standards.

(ii) Participating in or presenting at workshops, seminars, conferences, institutes, and symposiums.

(iii) (Blank).

(iv) Training as reviewers of university teacher preparation programs.

An activity listed in this clause (C) is creditable only if its provider is approved for this purpose by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(D) Other educational experiences related to improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all of the following:

(i) Participating in action research and inquiry projects.

(ii) Observing programs or teaching in schools, related businesses, or industry that is systematic, purposeful, and relevant to a teacher's field of certification.

(iii) Participating in study groups related to student achievement, the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, or content‑area standards.

(iv) Participating in work/learn programs or internships.

(v) Developing a portfolio of students' and teacher's work.

(E) Professional leadership experiences related to improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all of the following:

(i) Participating in curriculum development or assessment activities at the school, school district, regional office of education, State, or national level.

(ii) Participating in team or department leadership in a school or school district.

(iii) (Blank).

(iv) Publishing educational articles, columns, or books relevant to a teacher's field of certification.

(v) Participating in non‑strike related activities of a professional association or labor organization that are related to professional development.

(5) A person must complete the requirements of this subsection (c) before the expiration of his or her Initial Teaching Certificate and must submit assurance of having done so to the regional superintendent of schools or a local professional development committee authorized by the regional superintendent to submit recommendations to him or her for this purpose.

Within 30 days after receipt, the regional superintendent of schools shall review the assurance of completion submitted by a person and, based upon compliance with all of the requirements for receipt of a Standard Teaching Certificate, shall forward to the State Board of Education a recommendation for issuance of the Standard Certificate or non‑issuance. The regional superintendent of schools shall notify the affected person if the recommendation is for non‑issuance of the Standard Certificate. A person who is considered not to be eligible for a Standard Certificate and who has received the notice of non‑issuance may appeal this determination to the Regional Professional Development Review Committee (RPDRC). The recommendation of the regional superintendent and the RPDRC, along with all supporting materials, must then be forwarded to the State Board of Education for a final determination.

Upon review of a regional superintendent of school's recommendations, the State Board of Education shall issue Standard Teaching Certificates to those who qualify and shall notify a person, in writing, of a decision denying a Standard Teaching Certificate. Any decision denying issuance of a Standard Teaching Certificate to a person may be appealed to the State Teacher Certification Board.

(6) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, may adopt rules to implement this subsection (c) and may periodically evaluate any of the methods of qualifying for a Standard Teaching Certificate described in this subsection (c).

(7) The changes made to paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subsection (c) by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall apply to those persons who hold or are eligible to hold an Initial Certificate on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and shall be given effect upon their application for a Standard Certificate.

(8) Beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold a Standard Certificate and have acquired one master's degree in an education‑related field are eligible for certificate renewal upon completion of two‑thirds of the continuing professional development units specified in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section 21‑14 of this Code. Persons who hold a Standard Certificate and have acquired a second master's degree, an education specialist, or a doctorate in an education‑related field or hold a Master Certificate are eligible for certificate renewal upon completion of one‑third of the continuing professional development units specified in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section 21‑14 of this Code.

(d) Master Certificate. Persons who have successfully achieved National Board certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be issued a Master Certificate, valid for 10 years and renewable thereafter every 10 years through compliance with requirements set forth by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. However, each teacher who holds a Master Certificate shall be eligible for a teaching position in this State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal background checks. A holder of a Master Certificate in an area of science or social science is eligible to teach in any of the subject areas within those fields, including those taught at the advanced level, as defined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A teacher who holds a Master Certificate shall be deemed to meet State certification renewal requirements in the area or areas for which he or she holds a Master Certificate for the 10‑year term of the teacher's Master Certificate.

(Source: P.A. 95‑793, eff. 1‑1‑09.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑2.1)

Sec. 21‑2.1. Early childhood certificate.

(a) An early childhood certificate shall be valid for 4 years for teaching children up to 6 years of age, exclusive of children enrolled in kindergarten, in facilities approved by the State Superintendent of Education. Beginning July 1, 1988, such certificate shall be valid for 4 years for Teaching children through grade 3 in facilities approved by the State Superintendent of Education. Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours including professional education or human development or, until July 1, 1992, to persons who have early childhood education instruction and practical experience involving supervised work with children under 6 years of age or with children through grade 3. Such persons shall be recommended for the early childhood certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an approved program of preparation which includes the requisite hours and academic and professional courses and practical experience approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The student teaching portion of such practical experience may be satisfied through placement in any of grades pre‑kindergarten (which consists of children from 3 years through 5 years of age) through 3, provided that the student is under the active supervision of a cooperating teacher who is certified and qualified (i) in early childhood education or (ii) in self‑contained, general elementary education. Candidates for the early childhood certificate (including paraprofessionals) with at least one year of experience in a school or community‑based early childhood setting who are enrolled in early‑childhood teacher preparation programs may be paid and receive credit while student teaching with their current employer, provided that their student teaching experience meets the requirements of their early‑childhood teacher preparation program.

(b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard Early Childhood Education Certificates shall be issued to persons who meet the criteria established by the State Board of Education.

(Source: P.A. 94‑1034, eff. 1‑1‑07; 94‑1110, eff. 2‑23‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑2a)

Sec. 21‑2a. Required instruction for all teachers. After September 1, 1981 and until January 1, 1999, in addition to all other requirements, the successful completion of course work which includes instruction on the psychology of the exceptional child, the identification of the exceptional child, including, but not limited to the learning disabled and methods of instruction for the exceptional child, including, but not limited to the learning disabled shall be a prerequisite to a person receiving any of the following certificates: early childhood, elementary, special and high school.

After January 1, 1999, the State Board of Education shall ensure that the curriculum for all approved teacher preparation programs includes, and that all prospective teachers pursuing Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, or Special certificates receive, instruction on the psychology of, the identification of, and the methods of instruction for the exceptional child, including without limitation the learning disabled. This instruction on exceptional children may be provided in one concentrated course or may be integrated among other courses within the teacher preparation program as shall be determined by the State Board of Education.

(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑653, eff. 7‑29‑98; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑2b) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑2b)

Sec. 21‑2b. Teacher education program entrance. In consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board the State Board of Education shall develop procedures which ensure that all students entering approved teacher education programs are proficient in the areas of reading, mathematics and language arts. Each institution of higher learning shall submit to the State Teacher Certification Board a plan which sets forth procedures for implementation of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 84‑126.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑3) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑3)

Sec. 21‑3. Elementary certificate.

(a) An elementary school certificate shall be valid for 4 years for teaching in the kindergarten and lower 9 grades of the common schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours and with a minimum of 16 semester hours in professional education, including 5 semester hours in student teaching under competent and close supervision. Such persons shall be recommended for the elementary certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an approved program of preparation which includes intensive preservice training in the humanities, natural sciences, mathematics and the academic and professional courses approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard Elementary Certificates shall be issued to persons who meet all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education for elementary education.

(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑811, eff. 1‑26‑99; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑4) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑4)

Sec. 21‑4. Special certificate.

(a) A special certificate shall be valid for 4 years for teaching the special subjects named therein in all grades of the common schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours including a minimum of 16 semester hours in professional education, 5 of which shall be in student teaching under competent and close supervision. When the holder of such certificate has earned a master's degree, including eight semester hours of graduate professional education from a recognized institution of higher learning and with two years' teaching experience, it may be endorsed for supervision.

Such persons shall be recommended for the special certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an approved program of preparation which includes academic and professional courses approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(b) Those persons holding special certificates on February 15, 2000 shall be eligible for one of the following:

(1) The issuance of Standard Elementary and Standard Secondary Certificates with appropriate special certification designations as determined by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and consistent with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. These certificates shall be renewed as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21‑2.

(2) The issuance of Standard Special K‑12 Certificates with appropriate special certification designations, which shall be renewed as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21‑2. These certificates shall not be eligible for additional certification designations except as approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(c) Those persons eligible to receive K‑12 certification after February 15, 2000 shall be issued Initial Elementary and Initial Secondary Certificates with appropriate special certification designations pursuant to this Section or Initial Special K‑12 Certificates with appropriate special certification designations pursuant to this Section. These Initial K‑12 Special Certificates shall not be eligible for additional certification designations except as approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(d) All persons holding a special certificate with a special education endorsement are exempt from the provisions of Section 2‑3.71 of this Code, provided they meet all the other requirements for teaching as established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

Beginning February 15, 2000, all persons exchanging a special certificate pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section with a special education endorsement or receiving a special education designation on either a special certificate or an elementary certificate issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section are exempt from the provisions of Section 2‑3.71 of this Code, provided they meet all the other requirements for teaching as established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

Certificates exchanged or issued pursuant to this subsection (d) shall be valid for teaching children with disabilities, as defined in Section 14‑1.02 of this Code, and these special certificates shall be called Initial or Standard Special Preschool ‑ Age 21 Certificates. Nothing in this subsection (d) shall be construed to adversely affect the rights of any person presently certificated, any person whose certification is currently pending, or any person who is currently enrolled or enrolls prior to February 15, 2000 in an approved Special K‑12 certification program.

(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑653, eff. 7‑29‑98; 90‑811, eff. 1‑26‑99; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99; 91‑765, eff. 6‑9‑00.)

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

Sec. 21‑5. High school certificate.

(a) A high school certificate shall be valid for 4 years for teaching in grades 6 to 12 inclusive of the common schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours including 16 semester hours in professional education, 5 of which shall be in student teaching under competent and close supervision and with one or more teaching fields. Such persons shall be recommended for the high school certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an approved program of preparation which includes the academic and professional courses approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard Secondary Certificates shall be issued to persons who meet all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education for secondary education.

(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑811, eff. 1‑26‑99; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

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

Sec. 21‑5a. Alternative math‑science 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 qualify for admission to, and who successfully complete the program and meet the additional requirements established by this Section shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching mathematics, science or mathematics and science in grades 9 through 12 of the common schools. In establishing an alternative certification program under this Section, the State Board of Education shall designate an appropriate area within the State where the program shall be offered and made available to persons qualified for admission to the program. In addition, the State Board of Education, in cooperation with one or more recognized institutions of higher learning, shall develop a comprehensive course of study that persons admitted to the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of an initial certificate under this Section. The comprehensive course of study so developed shall include one semester of practice teaching.

An initial teaching certificate, valid for 4 years for teaching mathematics, science or mathematics and science in grades 9 through 12 of the common schools and renewable as provided in Section 21‑14, shall be issued under this Section 21‑5a to persons who qualify for admission to the alternative certification program and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate under this Section:

(1) have graduated with a master's degree in mathematics or any science discipline from an institution of higher learning whose scholarship standards are approved by the State Board of Education for purposes of the alternative certification program;

(2) have been employed for at least 10 years in an area requiring knowledge and practical application of their academic background in mathematics or a science discipline;

(3) have successfully completed the alternative certification program and the course of comprehensive study, including one semester of practice teaching, developed as part of the program as provided in this Section and approved by the State Board of Education; and

(4) have passed the examinations required by Section 21‑1a.

The alternative certification program shall be implemented at the commencement of the 1992‑1993 academic year.

The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for admission to the alternative certification program and 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.

(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

(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) (i) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years in an area requiring application of the individual's education or (ii) have attained at least a cumulative grade average of a "B" if the individual is assigned either to a school district that has not met the annual measurable objective for highly qualified teachers required by the Illinois Revised Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) Plan or to a school district whose data filed with the State Board of Education indicates that the district's poor and minority students are taught by teachers who are not highly qualified at a higher rate than other students; however, this item (4) 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. Assignment may be made under clause (ii) of this item (4) only if the district superintendent and the exclusive bargaining representative of the district's teachers, if any, jointly agree to permit the assignment.

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.

(Source: P.A. 95‑270, eff. 8‑17‑07.)

(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.

(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑5d)

Sec. 21‑5d. Alternative route to administrative certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and an advisory panel consisting of no less than 7 administrators appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, shall establish and implement an alternative route to administrative certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued a standard administrative certificate for serving as an administrator in schools in this State. For the purposes of this Section only, "administrator" means a person holding any administrative position for which a standard administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement, chief school business official endorsement, or superintendent endorsement is required, except a principal or an assistant principal. 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 Administrative 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 administrative certification.

The program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program. The program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on an intensive basis in education management, governance, organization, and planning; (b) the person's assignment to a full‑time position for one school year as an administrator; and (c) a comprehensive assessment of the person's performance by school officials and a recommendation to the State Board of Education that the person be issued a standard administrative certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other supervisory, administrative, or management experience requirements established by law.

A provisional alternative administrative certificate, valid for one year of serving as an administrator in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21‑5d to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative administrative certificate under this Section:

(1) have graduated from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in a management field or with a bachelor's degree and the life experience equivalent of a master's degree in a management field as determined by the State Board of Education;

(2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years in a management level position;

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

(4) have passed any examination required by the State Board of Education.

A standard administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement, chief school business official endorsement, or superintendent endorsement, renewable as provided in Section 21‑14, shall be issued under Section 21‑7.1 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative administrative certificate and who at the time of applying for a standard administrative certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program as provided in this Section.

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.

(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 4 phases:

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

(2) a master's degree in a teacher leader program;

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

(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 5/21‑7.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑7.1)

Sec. 21‑7.1. Administrative certificate.

(a) After July 1, 1999, an administrative certificate valid for 5 years of supervising and administering in the public common schools (unless changed under subsection (a‑5) of this Section) may be issued to persons who have graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning with a master's degree and who have been recommended by a recognized institution of higher learning as having completed a program of preparation for one or more of these endorsements. Such programs of academic and professional preparation required for endorsement shall be administered by the institution in accordance with standards set forth by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(a‑5) Beginning July 1, 2003, if an administrative certificate holder holds a Standard Teaching Certificate, the validity period of the administrative certificate shall be changed, if necessary, so that the validity period of the administrative certificate coincides with the validity period of the Standard Teaching Certificate. Beginning July 1, 2003, if an administrative certificate holder holds a Master Teaching Certificate, the validity period of the administrative certificate shall be changed so that the validity period of the administrative certificate coincides with the validity period of the Master Teaching Certificate.

(b) No administrative certificate shall be issued for the first time after June 30, 1987 and no endorsement provided for by this Section shall be made or affixed to an administrative certificate for the first time after June 30, 1987 unless the person to whom such administrative certificate is to be issued or to whose administrative certificate such endorsement is to be affixed has been required to demonstrate as a part of a program of academic or professional preparation for such certification or endorsement: (i) an understanding of the knowledge called for in establishing productive parent‑school relationships and of the procedures fostering the involvement which such relationships demand; and (ii) an understanding of the knowledge required for establishing a high quality school climate and promoting good classroom organization and management, including rules of conduct and instructional procedures appropriate to accomplishing the tasks of schooling; and (iii) a demonstration of the knowledge and skills called for in providing instructional leadership. The standards for demonstrating an understanding of such knowledge shall be set forth by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and shall be administered by the recognized institutions of higher learning as part of the programs of academic and professional preparation required for certification and endorsement under this Section. As used in this subsection: "establishing productive parent‑school relationships" means the ability to maintain effective communication between parents and school personnel, to encourage parental involvement in schooling, and to motivate school personnel to engage parents in encouraging student achievement, including the development of programs and policies which serve to accomplish this purpose; and "establishing a high quality school climate" means the ability to promote academic achievement, to maintain discipline, to recognize substance abuse problems among students and utilize appropriate law enforcement and other community resources to address these problems, to support teachers and students in their education endeavors, to establish learning objectives and to provide instructional leadership, including the development of policies and programs which serve to accomplish this purpose; and "providing instructional leadership" means the ability to effectively evaluate school personnel, to possess general communication and interpersonal skills, and to establish and maintain appropriate classroom learning environments. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to or affect the initial issuance or making on or before June 30, 1987 of any administrative certificate or endorsement provided for under this Section, nor shall such provisions apply to or affect the renewal after June 30, 1987 of any such certificate or endorsement initially issued or made on or before June 30, 1987.

(c) Administrative certificates shall be renewed every 5 years with the first renewal being 5 years following the initial receipt of an administrative certificate, unless the validity period for the administrative certificate has been changed under subsection (a‑5) of this Section, in which case the certificate shall be renewed at the same time that the Standard or Master Teaching Certificate is renewed.

(c‑5) Before July 1, 2003, renewal requirements for administrators whose positions require certification shall be based upon evidence of continuing professional education which promotes the following goals: (1) improving administrators' knowledge of instructional practices and administrative procedures; (2) maintaining the basic level of competence required for initial certification; and (3) improving the mastery of skills and knowledge regarding the improvement of teaching performance in clinical settings and assessment of the levels of student performance in their schools. Evidence of continuing professional education must include verification of biennial attendance in a program developed by the Illinois Administrators' Academy and verification of annual participation in a school district approved activity which contributes to continuing professional education.

(c‑10) Beginning July 1, 2003, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c‑15) of this Section, persons holding administrative certificates must follow the certificate renewal procedure set forth in this subsection (c‑10), provided that those persons holding administrative certificates on June 30, 2003 who are renewing those certificates on or after July 1, 2003 shall be issued new administrative certificates valid for 5 years (unless changed under subsection (a‑5) of this Section), which may be renewed thereafter as set forth in this subsection (c‑10).

A person holding an administrative certificate and employed in a position requiring administrative certification, including a regional superintendent of schools, must satisfy the continuing professional development requirements of this Section to renew his or her administrative certificate. The continuing professional development must include without limitation the following continuing professional development purposes:

(1) To improve the administrator's knowledge of instructional practices and administrative procedures in accordance with the Illinois Professional School Leader Standards.

(2) To maintain the basic level of competence required for initial certification.

(3) To improve the administrator's mastery of skills and knowledge regarding the improvement of teaching performance in clinical settings and assessment of the levels of student performance in the schools.

The continuing professional development must include the following in order for the certificate to be renewed:

(A) Participation in continuing professional development activities, which must total a minimum of 100 hours of continuing professional development. The participation must consist of a minimum of 5 activities per validity period of the certificate, and the certificate holder must maintain documentation of completion of each activity.

(B) Participation every year in an Illinois Administrators' Academy course, which participation must total a minimum of 30 continuing professional development hours during the period of the certificate's validity and which must include completion of applicable required coursework, including completion of a communication, dissemination, or application component, as defined by the State Board of Education.

The certificate holder must complete a verification form developed by the State Board of Education and certify that 100 hours of continuing professional development activities and 5 Administrators' Academy courses have been completed. The regional superintendent of schools shall review and validate the verification form for a certificate holder. Based on compliance with all of the requirements for renewal, the regional superintendent of schools shall forward a recommendation for renewal or non‑renewal to the State Superintendent of Education and shall notify the certificate holder of the recommendation. The State Superintendent of Education shall review the recommendation to renew or non‑renew and shall notify, in writing, the certificate holder of a decision denying renewal of his or her certificate. Any decision regarding non‑renewal of an administrative certificate may be appealed to the State Teacher Certification Board.

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall adopt rules to implement this subsection (c‑10).

The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor the process for renewal of administrative certificates established in this subsection (c‑10).

(c‑15) This subsection (c‑15) applies to the first period of an administrative certificate's validity during which the holder becomes subject to the requirements of subsection (c‑10) of this Section if the certificate has less than 5 years' validity or has less than 5 years' validity remaining when the certificate holder becomes subject to the requirements of subsection (c‑10) of this Section. With respect to this period, the 100 hours of continuing professional development and 5 activities per validity period specified in clause (A) of subsection (c‑10) of this Section shall instead be deemed to mean 20 hours of continuing professional development and one activity per year of the certificate's validity or remaining validity and the 30 continuing professional development hours specified in clause (B) of subsection (c‑10) of this Section shall instead be deemed to mean completion of at least one course per year of the certificate's validity or remaining validity. Certificate holders who evaluate certified staff must complete a 2‑day teacher evaluation course, in addition to the 30 continuing professional development hours.

(c‑20) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall develop procedures for implementing this Section and shall administer the renewal of administrative certificates. Failure to submit satisfactory evidence of continuing professional education which contributes to promoting the goals of this Section shall result in a loss of administrative certification.

(d) Any limited or life supervisory certificate issued prior to July 1, 1968 shall continue to be valid for all administrative and supervisory positions in the public schools for which it is valid as of that date as long as its holder meets the requirements for registration or renewal as set forth in the statutes or until revoked according to law.

(e) The administrative or supervisory positions for which the certificate shall be valid shall be determined by one or more of 3 endorsements: general supervisory, general administrative and superintendent.

Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, endorsements shall be made under conditions set forth in this Section. The State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, adopt rules pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, establishing requirements for obtaining administrative certificates where the minimum administrative or supervisory requirements surpass those set forth in this Section.

The State Teacher Certification Board shall file with the State Board of Education a written recommendation when considering additional administrative or supervisory requirements. All additional requirements shall be based upon the requisite knowledge necessary to perform those tasks required by the certificate. The State Board of Education shall in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, establish standards within its rules which shall include the academic and professional requirements necessary for certification. These standards shall at a minimum contain, but not be limited to, those used by the State Board of Education in determining whether additional knowledge will be required. Additionally, the State Board of Education shall in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, establish provisions within its rules whereby any member of the educational community or the public may file a formal written recommendation or inquiry regarding requirements.

(1) Until July 1, 2003, the general supervisory endorsement shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who has at least 16 semester hours of graduate credit in professional education including 8 semester hours of graduate credit in curriculum and research and who has at least 2 years of full‑time teaching experience or school service personnel experience in public schools, schools under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, schools under the administration of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the standards established by the State Superintendent of Education or comparable out‑of‑state recognition standards approved by the State Superintendent of Education.

Such endorsement shall be required for supervisors, curriculum directors and for such similar and related positions as determined by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(2) The general administrative endorsement shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who has at least 20 semester hours of graduate credit in educational administration and supervision and who has at least 2 years of full‑time teaching experience or school service personnel experience in public schools, schools under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, schools under the administration of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the standards established by the State Superintendent of Education or comparable out‑of‑state recognition standards approved by the State Superintendent of Education.

Such endorsement shall be required for principal, assistant principal, assistant or associate superintendent, junior college dean and for related or similar positions as determined by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, after January 1, 1990 and until January 1, 1991, any teacher employed by a district subject to Article 34 shall be entitled to receive an administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement affixed thereto if he or she: (i) had at least 3 years of experience as a certified teacher for such district prior to August 1, 1985; (ii) obtained a Master's degree prior to August 1, 1985; (iii) completed at least 20 hours of graduate credit in education courses (including at least 12 hours in educational administration and supervision) prior to September 1, 1987; and (iv) has received a rating of superior for at least each of the last 5 years. Any person who obtains an administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement affixed thereto under this paragraph shall not be qualified to serve in any administrative position except assistant principal.

(3) The chief school business official endorsement shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who qualifies by having a Master's degree, 2 years of administrative experience in school business management or 2 years of university‑approved practical experience, and a minimum of 20 semester hours of graduate credit in a program established by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board for the preparation of school business administrators. Such endorsement shall also be affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who qualifies by having a Master's Degree in Business Administration, Finance or Accounting from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

After June 30, 1977, such endorsement shall be required for any individual first employed as a chief school business official.

(4) The superintendent endorsement shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who has completed 30 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master's degree in a program for the preparation of superintendents of schools including 16 semester hours of graduate credit in professional education and who has at least 2 years experience as an administrator or supervisor in the public schools or the State Board of Education or education service regions or in nonpublic schools meeting the standards established by the State Superintendent of Education or comparable out‑of‑state recognition standards approved by the State Superintendent of Education and holds general supervisory or general administrative endorsement, or who has had 2 years of experience as a supervisor or administrator while holding an all‑grade supervisory certificate or a certificate comparable in validity and educational and experience requirements.

After June 30, 1968, such endorsement shall be required for a superintendent of schools, except as provided in the second paragraph of this Section and in Section 34‑6.

Any person appointed to the position of superintendent between the effective date of this Act and June 30, 1993 in a school district organized pursuant to Article 32 with an enrollment of at least 20,000 pupils shall be exempt from the provisions of this paragraph (4) until June 30, 1996.

(f) All official interpretations or acts of issuing or denying administrative certificates or endorsements by the State Teacher's Certification Board, State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Education, from the passage of P.A. 81‑1208 on November 8, 1979 through September 24, 1981 are hereby declared valid and legal acts in all respects and further that the purported repeal of the provisions of this Section by P.A. 81‑1208 and P.A. 81‑1509 is declared null and void.

(Source: P.A. 96‑56, eff. 1‑1‑10.)

(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 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.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑7.10)

Sec. 21‑7.10. Master principal designation program.

(a) The General Assembly recognizes the important role a principal serves as a school's instructional leader and believes it is in the best interest of the State to establish a mechanism for training, mentoring, and recognizing master level principals.

(b) The State Board of Education shall certify statewide organizations representing principals, institutions of higher education, and regional offices of education and one school district or organization representing principals in a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code to establish a master principal designation program if these entities meet the criteria established by the State Board. These entities shall work with a statewide design team made up of institutions of higher education, regional offices of education, statewide organizations, and other appropriate entities, as determined by the State Board, to conceptualize the master principal designation program. The State Board shall select, through a competitive application process, a statewide entity or entities to receive funds appropriated for the purpose of providing a program under this Section. A master principal designation program aligned with the Illinois Professional Leadership Standards shall include at least the following components:

(1) Expansion of the principal's knowledge base and leadership.

(2) Application of strategies and collection of evidence of student learning and school processes.

(3) Demonstration of the ability and skills necessary to lead sustained academic improvement in a school or district.

(c) An individual serving as a principal for at least 3 years is eligible for participation in a master principal designation program. Each year, those entities approved to offer a master principal designation program must submit to the State Board a report indicating the number of individuals enrolled in the program, the progress of candidates, anticipated changes to the program, and any other relevant information requested by the State Board. All substantive changes to an entity's master principal designation program shall require prior written approval from the State Board. An entity that fails to meet the requirements of this Section or any other criteria established by the State Board by rule shall have its authority to offer a master principal designation program revoked pursuant to procedures established by rule by the State Board.

(d) In this Section, "master principal designation program" shall also be known as the Illinois Distinguished Principal Leadership Institute.

(Source: P.A. 96‑373, eff. 8‑13‑09.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑7.15)

Sec. 21‑7.15. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 94‑1039, eff. 7‑20‑06. Repealed internally, eff. 7‑2‑07.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑9) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑9)

Sec. 21‑9. Substitute certificates and substitute teaching.

(a) A substitute teacher's certificate may be issued for teaching in all grades of the common schools. Such certificate may be issued upon request of the regional superintendent of schools of any region in which the teacher is to teach. A substitute teacher's certificate is valid for teaching in the public schools of any county. Such certificate may be issued to persons who either (a) hold a certificate valid for teaching in the common schools as shown on the face of the certificate, (b) hold a bachelor of arts degree from an institution of higher learning accredited by the North Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting association or have been graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree, or (c) have had 2 years of teaching experience and meet such other rules and regulations as may be adopted by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Such certificate shall expire on June 30 in the fourth year from date of issue. Substitute teacher's certificates are not subject to endorsement as described in Section 21‑1b of this Code.

(b) A teacher holding a substitute teacher's certificate may teach only in the place of a certified teacher who is under contract with the employing board and may teach only when no appropriate fully certified teacher is available to teach in a substitute capacity. A teacher holding an early childhood certificate, an elementary certificate, a high school certificate, or a special certificate may also substitute teach in grades K‑12 but only in the place of a certified teacher who is under contract with the employing board. A substitute teacher may teach only for a period not to exceed 90 paid school days or 450 paid school hours in any one school district in any one school term. However, a teacher holding an early childhood, elementary, high school, or special certificate may substitute teach for a period not to exceed 120 paid school days or 600 paid school hours in any one school district in any one school term. Where such teaching is partly on a daily and partly on an hourly basis, a school day shall be considered as 5 hours. The teaching limitations imposed by this subsection upon teachers holding substitute certificates shall not apply in any school district operating under Article 34.

(Source: P.A. 92‑184, eff. 7‑27‑01; 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21‑10) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑10)

Sec. 21‑10. Provisional certificate.

(A) Until July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification Board may issue a provisional certificate valid for teaching in elementary, high school or special subject fields subject to the following conditions:

A provisional certificate may be issued to a person who presents certified evidence of having earned a bachelor's degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. The academic and professional courses offered as a basis of the provisional certificate shall be courses approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

A certificate earned under this plan may be renewed at the end of each two‑year period upon evidence filed with the State Teacher Certification Board that the holder has earned 8 semester hours of credit within the period; provided the requirements for the certificate of the same type issued for the teaching position for which the teacher is employed shall be met by the end of the second renewal period. A second provisional certificate shall not be issued. The credits so earned must be approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and must meet the general pattern for a similar type of certificate issued on the basis of credit. No more than 4 semester hours shall be chosen from elective subjects.

(B) After July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification Board may issue a provisional certificate valid for teaching in early childhood, elementary, high school or special subject fields, or for providing service as school service personnel or for administering schools subject to the following conditions: A provisional certificate may be issued to a person who meets the requirements for a regular teaching, school service personnel or administrative certificate in another State and who presents certified evidence of having earned a bachelor's degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. The academic and professional courses offered as a basis of the provisional certificate shall be courses approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A certificate earned under this plan is valid for a period of 2 years and shall not be renewed.

(C) The State Teacher Certification Board may also issue a provisional vocational certificate and a temporary provisional vocational certificate.

(1) The requirements for a provisional vocational certificate shall be determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board; provided, the following minimum requirements are met: (a) after July 1, 1972, at least 30 semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of higher learning; and (b) after July 1, 1974, at least 60 semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of higher learning.

(2) The requirements for a temporary provisional vocational certificate shall be determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board; provided, the following minimum requirements are met: (a) after July 1, 1973, at least 4,000 hours of work experience in the skill to be certified for teaching; and (b) after July 1, 1975, at least 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill to be certified for teaching. Any certificate issued under the provisions of this paragraph shall expire on June 30 following the date of issue. Renewals may be granted on a yearly basis, but shall not be granted to any person who does not file with the State Teacher Certification Board a transcript showing at least 3 semester hours of credit earned during the previous year in a recognized institution of learning. No such certificate shall be issued except upon certification by the employing board, subject to the approval of the regional superintendent of schools, that no qualified teacher holding a regular certificate or a provisional vocational certificate is available and that actual circumstances and need require such issuance.

The courses or work experience offered as a basis for the issuance of the provisional vocational certificate or the temporary provisional vocational certificate shall be approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.

(D) Until July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification Board may also issue a provisional foreign language certificate valid for 4 years for teaching the foreign language named therein in all grades of the common schools and shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with not fewer than 120 semester hours of credit and who have met other requirements as determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. If the holder of a provisional foreign language certificate is not a citizen of the United States within 6 years of the date of issuance of the original certificate, such certificate shall be suspended by the regional superintendent of schools of the region in which the holder is engaged to teach and shall not be reinstated until the holder is a citizen of the United States.

(E) Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, the State Teacher Certification Board shall issue part‑time provisional certificates to eligible individuals who are professionals and craftsmen.

The requirements for a part‑time provisional teachers certificate shall be determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, provided the following minimum requirements are met: 60 semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of higher learning or 4000 hours of work experience in the skill to be certified for teaching.

A part‑time provisional certificate may be issued for teaching no more than 2 courses of study for grades 6 through 12.

A part‑time provisional teachers certificate shall be valid for 2 years and may be renewed at the end of each 2 year period.

(Source: P.A. 96‑689, eff. 8‑25‑09.)