105 ILCS 5/ School Code.

(105 ILCS 5/21A-15)

Sec. 21A-15. When program is to be established and implemented. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, by the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year (or by the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year for a public school that has been given an extension of time to develop a program under Section 21A-10 of this Code), each public school or 2 or more public schools acting jointly shall establish and implement, in conjunction with its exclusive representative or their exclusive representatives, if any, the new teacher induction and mentoring program required to be developed under Section 21A-10 of this Code, provided that funding is made available by the State Board of Education, from an appropriation made for this purpose, as described in Section 21A-25 of this Code. A public school may contract with an institution of higher education or other independent party to assist in implementing the program.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-20)

Sec. 21A-20. Program requirements. Each new teacher induction and mentoring program must be based on a plan that at least does all of the following:

(1) Assigns a mentor teacher to each new teacher for a period of at least 2 school years.

(2) Aligns with the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, content area standards, and applicable local school improvement and professional development plans, if any.

(3) Addresses all of the following elements and how they will be provided:

(A) Mentoring and support of the new teacher.

(B) Professional development specifically designed to ensure the growth of the new teacher's knowledge and skills.

(C) Formative assessment designed to ensure feedback and reflection, which must not be used in any evaluation of the new teacher.

(4) Describes the role of mentor teachers, the criteria and process for their selection, and how they will be trained, provided that each mentor teacher shall demonstrate the best practices in teaching his or her respective field of practice. 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 public school.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-25)

Sec. 21A-25. Funding. From a separate appropriation made for the purposes of this Article, for each new teacher participating in a new teacher induction and mentoring program that meets the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code or in an existing program that is in the process of transition to a program that meets those requirements, the State Board of Education shall pay the public school $1,200 annually for each of 2 school years for the purpose of providing one or more of the following:

(1) Mentor teacher compensation.

(2) Mentor teacher training or new teacher training or both.

(3) Release time.

However, if a new teacher, after participating in the new teacher induction and mentoring program for one school year, becomes employed by another public school, the State Board of Education shall pay the teacher's new school $1,200 for the second school year and the teacher shall continue to be a new teacher as defined in this Article. Each public school shall determine, in conjunction with its exclusive representative, if any, how the $1,200 per school year for each new teacher shall be used, provided that if a mentor teacher receives additional release time to support a new teacher, the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the public school shall not increase in any substantial manner. If the appropriation is insufficient to cover the $1,200 per school year for each new teacher, public schools are not required to develop or implement the program established by this Article. In the event of an insufficient appropriation, a public school or 2 or more schools acting jointly may submit an application for a grant administered by the State Board of Education and awarded on a competitive basis to establish a new teacher induction and mentoring program that meets the criteria set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code. The State Board of Education may retain up to $1,000,000 of the appropriation for new teacher induction and mentoring programs to train mentor teachers, administrators, and other personnel, to provide best practices information, and to conduct an evaluation of these programs' impact and effectiveness.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-30)

Sec. 21A-30. Evaluation of programs. The State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board shall jointly contract with an independent party to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of new teacher induction and mentoring programs established pursuant to this Article. The first report of this evaluation shall be presented to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2009. Subsequent evaluations shall be conducted and reports presented to the General Assembly on or before January 1 of every third year thereafter.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/21A-35)

Sec. 21A-35. Rules. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall adopt rules for the implementation of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 21B heading) ARTICLE 21B. EDUCATOR LICENSURE (Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-5)

Sec. 21B-5. Licensure powers of the State Board of Education.

(a) Recognizing that the education of our citizens is the single most important influence on the prosperity and success of this State and recognizing that new developments in education require a flexible approach to our educational system, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall have the power and authority to do all of the following:

(1) Set standards for teaching, supervising, or otherwise holding licensed employment in the public schools of this State and administer the licensure process as provided in this Article.

(2) Approve, evaluate, and sanction educator preparation programs.

(3) Enter into agreements with other states relative to reciprocal approval of educator preparation programs.

(4) Establish standards for the issuance of new types of educator licenses.

(5) Establish a code of ethics for all educators.

(6) Maintain a system of licensure examination aligned with standards determined by the State Board of Education.

(7) Take such other action relating to the improvement of instruction in the public schools as is appropriate and consistent with applicable laws.

(b) Only the State Superintendent of Education, acting in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article and rules, shall have the authority to issue or endorse any license required for teaching, supervising, or otherwise holding licensed 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 license or (ii) to establish or prescribe any licensure or equivalent requirement that must be satisfied in order to teach, supervise, or hold licensed employment in the public schools.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-10)

Sec. 21B-10. State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

(a) The State Teacher Certification Board, which had been established under Section 21-13 of the School Code prior to this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, shall be renamed the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. References in law to the State Teacher Certification Board shall mean the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall consist of the State Superintendent of Education or a representative appointed by him or her, who shall be ex-officio chairperson, 5 administrative or faculty members of public or private colleges or universities located in this State, 3 administrators and 10 classroom teachers employed in the public schools (5 of whom must be members of and nominated by a statewide professional teachers' organization and 5 of whom must be members of and nominated by a different statewide professional teachers' organization), and one regional superintendent of schools, all of whom shall be appointed by the State Board of Education; provided that at least one of the administrators and at least 3 of the classroom teachers so appointed must be employees of a school district that is subject to the provisions of Article 34 of this Code. A statewide professional teachers' organization and a different statewide professional teachers' organization shall submit to the State Board of Education for consideration at least 3 names of accomplished teachers for every one vacancy or expiring term in a classroom teacher position. The nominations submitted to the State Board of Education under this Section to fill a vacancy or an expiring term shall be advisory. Nomination for State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board members must be submitted to the State Board of Education within 30 days after the vacancy or vacancies occur. Nominations to fill an expiring term must be submitted to the State Board of Education at least 30 days before the expiration of that term. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if a sufficient number of nominations are not received by the State Board of Education for a vacancy or expiring term within the 30-day period, then the State Board of Education may appoint any qualified person, in the same manner as the original appointment, to fill the vacancy or expiring term. The regular term of each member is 3 years, and an individual may be appointed for no more than 2 consecutive terms. The term of an appointed member of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall expire on June 30 of his or her final year.

(b) The State Board of Education shall appoint a secretary of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

(c) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall hold regular meetings at least quarterly and such other special meetings as may be necessary.

(d) The necessary expenses of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall be provided through the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary for the administration of this Article.

(e) Individuals serving on the State Teacher Certification Board on June 30, 2011 under Section 21-13 of this Code shall continue to serve on the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board until the scheduled expiration of their respective terms.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-15)

Sec. 21B-15. Qualifications of educators.

(a) No one may be licensed to teach or supervise or be otherwise employed in the public schools of this State who is not of good character and at least 20 years of age.

In determining good character under this Section, the State Superintendent of Education shall take into consideration the disciplinary actions of other states or national entities against certificates or licenses issued by those states and held by individuals from those states. In addition, any felony conviction of the applicant may be taken into consideration; however, no one may be licensed to teach or supervise in the public schools of this State who has been convicted of an offense set forth in Section 21B-80 of this Code. Unless the conviction is for an offense set forth in Section 21B-80 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.

(b) No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the right to be licensed or to receive training for the purpose of becoming an educator 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 or she applies.

(c) No person may be granted or continue to hold an educator license who has knowingly altered or misrepresented his or her qualifications, in this State or any other state, in order to acquire or renew the license. Any other license issued under this Article held by the person may be suspended or revoked by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, depending upon the severity of the alteration or misrepresentation.

(d) 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 an educator license granted by the State Superintendent of Education as provided in this Article. 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 Officers' Training Corps of any school, nor to an individual teaching a dual credit course as provided for in the Dual Credit Quality Act.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the school board of a 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 the 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 the leave of absence may employ, with or without pay, a national of the foreign state wherein the teacher on the leave of absence is to teach if the national is qualified to teach in that foreign state and if that national is to teach in a grade level similar to the one that was taught in the foreign state. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt rules as may be necessary to implement this subsection (e).

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-20)

Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. Before July 1, 2013, the State Board of Education shall implement a system of educator licensure, whereby individuals employed in school districts who are required to be licensed must have one of the following licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) a professional educator license with stipulations; or (iii) a substitute teaching license. References in law regarding individuals certified or certificated or required to be certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June 30 following one full year of the license being issued.

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for licenses and endorsements under this Section.

(1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i) have successfully completed an approved educator preparation program and are recommended for licensure by the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation program, (ii) have successfully completed the required testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have successfully completed coursework on the psychology of, the identification of, and the methods of instruction for the exceptional child, including without limitation the learning disabled, (iv) have successfully completed coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other criteria established by rule of the State Board of Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License. All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued. The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is eligible to practice.

Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in the endorsement area, unless otherwise specified by rule, and passage of the applicable content area test.

(2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement that (i) is non-renewable, (ii) limits the license holder to one particular position, or (iii) does not require completion of an approved educator program or any combination of items (i) through (iii) of this paragraph (2).

An individual with an Educator License with Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.

An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued with the following endorsements:

(A) Provisional educator. A provisional educator endorsement in a specific content area or areas on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds an educator license with a minimum of 15 semester hours in content coursework from another state, U.S. territory, or foreign country and who, at the time of applying for an Illinois license, does not meet the minimum requirements under Section 21B-35 of this Code, but does, at a minimum, meet both of the following requirements:

(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a bachelor's degree, unless a master's degree is required for the endorsement, from a regionally accredited college or university or, for individuals educated in a country other than the United States, the equivalent of a minimum of a bachelor's degree issued in the United States, unless a master's degree is required for the endorsement.

(ii) Has passed a test of basic skills and content area test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.

However, a provisional educator endorsement for principals may not be issued, nor may any person with a provisional educator endorsement serve as a principal in a public school in this State. In addition, out-of-state applicants shall not receive a provisional educator endorsement if the person completed an alternative licensure program in another state, unless the program has been determined to be equivalent to Illinois program requirements.

Notwithstanding any other requirements of this Section, a service member or spouse of a service member may obtain a Professional Educator License with Stipulations, and a provisional educator endorsement in a specific content area or areas, if he or she holds a valid teaching certificate or license in good standing from another state, meets the qualifications of educators outlined in Section 21B-15 of this Code, and has not engaged in any misconduct that would prohibit an individual from obtaining a license pursuant to Illinois law, including without limitation any administrative rules of the State Board of Education; however, the service member or spouse may not serve as a principal under the Professional Educator License with Stipulations or provisional educator endorsement.

In this Section, "service member" means any person who, at the time of application under this Section, is an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces or any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state, commonwealth, or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

A provisional educator endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 2 years of the license being issued, during which time any remaining testing and coursework deficiencies must be met. Failure to satisfy all stated deficiencies shall mean the individual, including any service member or spouse who has obtained a Professional Educator License with Stipulations and a provisional educator endorsement in a specific content area or areas, is ineligible to receive a Professional Educator License at that time. A provisional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations shall not be renewed.

(B) Alternative provisional educator. An alternative provisional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of the following:

(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum of a bachelor's degree.

(ii) Successfully completed the first phase of the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this Code.

(iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.

The alternative provisional educator endorsement is valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a third year by an individual meeting the requirements set forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.

(C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant superintendent in a school district's central office. This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of the following:

(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum of a master's degree in a management field other than education.

(ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5 years in a management level position in a field other than education.

(iii) Successfully completed the first phase of an alternative route to superintendent endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55 of this Code.

(iv) Passed a test of basic skills and content area tests required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.

The endorsement may be registered for 2 fiscal years in order to complete one full year of serving as a superintendent or assistant superintendent.

(D) Resident teacher endorsement. A resident teacher endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of the following:

(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a minimum of a bachelor's degree.

(ii) Enrolled in an approved Illinois educator preparation program.

(iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.

The resident teacher endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 4 years of teaching and shall not be renewed.

A resident teacher may teach only under the direction of a licensed teacher, who shall act as the resident mentor teacher, and may not teach in place of a licensed teacher. A resident teacher endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations shall no longer be valid after June 30, 2017.

(E) Career and technical educator. A career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, has passed a test of basic skills required under Section 21B-30 of this Code, and has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience in the last 10 years outside of education in each area to be taught.

The career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued.

(F) Provisional career and technical educator. A Provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill for which the applicant is seeking the endorsement. It is the responsibility of each employing school board and regional office of education to provide verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent of Education at the time the application is submitted that no qualified teacher holding a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations with a career and technical educator endorsement is available and that actual circumstances require such issuance.

The provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed only one time for 5 years if the individual passes a test of basic skills, as required under Section 21B-30 of this Code, and has completed a minimum of 20 semester hours from a regionally accredited institution.

(G) Transitional bilingual educator. A transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for the purpose of providing instruction in accordance with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and writing ability in the language other than English in which transitional bilingual education is offered.

(ii) Has the ability to successfully communicate in English.

(iii) Either possessed, within 5 years previous to his or her applying for a transitional bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and comparable teaching certificate or comparable authorization issued by a foreign country or holds a degree from an institution of higher learning in a foreign country that the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in the United States.

A transitional bilingual educator endorsement shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12, is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be renewed.

Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator endorsement shall not be employed to replace any presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.

(H) Language endorsement. In an effort to alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language other than English in the public schools, an individual who holds an Educator License with Stipulations may also apply for a language endorsement, provided that the applicant provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Holds a transitional bilingual endorsement.

(ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the language for which the endorsement is to be issued by passing the applicable language content test required by the State Board of Education.

(iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or, for individuals educated in a country other than the United States, holds a degree from an institution of higher learning in a foreign country that the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in the United States.

(iv) Has passed a test of basic skills, as required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.

A language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through grade 12 for the same validity period as the individual's transitional bilingual educator endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations and shall not be renewed.

(I) Visiting international educator. A visiting international educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an individual who is being recruited by a particular school district that conducts formal recruitment programs outside of the United States to secure the services of qualified teachers and who meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a bachelor's degree issued in the United States.

(ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the grade level for which he or she will be employed.

(iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the subject to be taught.

(iv) Has an adequate command of the English language.

A holder of a visiting international educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education programs in the language that was the medium of instruction in his or her teacher preparation program, provided that he or she passes the English Language Proficiency Examination or another test of writing skills in English identified by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

A visiting international educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 3 years and shall not be renewed.

(J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and either holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or has passed a test of basic skills required under Section 21B-30 of this Code. The paraprofessional educator endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed through application and payment of the appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of this Code. An individual who holds only a paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject to additional requirements in order to renew the endorsement.

(3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching License may be issued to qualified applicants for substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years and may be renewed if the individual has passed a test of basic skills, as authorized under Section 21B-30 of this Code. An individual who has passed a test of basic skills for the first licensure renewal is not required to retake the test again for further renewals.

Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an individual has had his or her Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked or has not met the renewal requirements for licensure, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a Substitute Teaching License.

A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under contract because of an emergency situation, then a district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the district if the district notifies the appropriate regional office of education within 5 business days after the employment of the substitute teacher in the emergency situation. An emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy has occurred and (i) a teacher is unable to fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications, and the district is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the vacant position.

There is no limit on the number of days that a substitute teacher may teach in a single school district, provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer than 90 school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 97-710, eff. 1-1-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-25)

Sec. 21B-25. Endorsement on licenses. All licenses issued under paragraph (1) of Section 21B-20 of this Code shall be specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each content area, school support area, and administrative area for which the holder of the license is qualified. Recognized institutions approved to offer educator preparation programs shall be trained to add endorsements to licenses issued to applicants who meet all of the requirements for the endorsement or endorsements, including passing any required tests. The State Superintendent of Education shall randomly audit institutions to ensure that all rules and standards are being followed for entitlement or when endorsements are being recommended.

(1) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall establish, by rule, the grade level and subject area endorsements to be added to the Professional Educator License. These rules shall outline the requirements for obtaining each endorsement.

(2) In addition to any and all grade level and content area endorsements developed by rule, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall develop the requirements for the following endorsements:

(A) General administrative endorsement. A general administrative endorsement shall be added to a Professional Educator License, provided that an approved program has been completed. An individual holding a general administrative endorsement may work only as a principal or assistant principal or in a related or similar position, as determined by the State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

Beginning on September 1, 2014, the general administrative endorsement shall no longer be issued. Individuals who hold a valid and registered administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement issued under Section 21-7.1 of this Code or a Professional Educator License with a general administrative endorsement issued prior to September 1, 2014 and who have served for at least one full year during the 5 years prior in a position requiring a general administrative endorsement shall, upon request to the State Board of Education and through July 1, 2015, have their respective general administrative endorsement converted to a principal endorsement on the Professional Educator License. Candidates shall not be admitted to an approved general administrative preparation program after September 1, 2012.

All other individuals holding a valid and registered administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or a general administrative endorsement on a Professional Educator License issued prior to September 1, 2014 shall have the general administrative endorsement converted to a principal endorsement on a Professional Educator License upon request to the State Board of Education and by completing one of the following pathways:

(i) Passage of the State principal assessment developed by the State Board of Education.

(ii) Through July 1, 2019, completion of an Illinois Educators' Academy course designated by the State Superintendent of Education.

(iii) Completion of a principal preparation program established and approved pursuant to Section 21B-60 of this Code and applicable rules.

Individuals who do not choose to convert the general administrative endorsement on the administrative certificate issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or on the Professional Educator License shall continue to be able to serve in any position previously allowed under paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 21-7.1 of this Code.

The general administrative endorsement on the Professional Educator License is available only to individuals who, prior to September 1, 2014, had such an endorsement on the administrative certificate issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or who already have a Professional Educator License and have completed a general administrative program and who do not choose to convert the general administrative endorsement to a principal endorsement pursuant to the options in this Section.

(B) Principal endorsement. A principal endorsement shall be affixed to a Professional Educator License of any holder who qualifies by having all of the following:

(i) Successful completion of a principal preparation program approved in accordance with Section 21B-60 of this Code and any applicable rules.

(ii) Four years of teaching in a public school or nonpublic school recognized by the State Board of Education; however, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall allow, by rules, for fewer than 4 years of experience based on meeting standards set forth in such rules, including without limitation a review of performance evaluations or other evidence of demonstrated qualifications.

(iii) A master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.

(C) Chief school business official endorsement. A chief school business official endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional Educator License of any holder who qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2 years of full-time administrative experience in school business management or 2 years of university-approved practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the State Board of Education for the preparation of school business administrators and by passage of the applicable State tests. The chief school business official endorsement may also be affixed to the Professional Educator License of any holder who qualifies by having a master's degree in business administration, finance, or accounting and who completes an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school business management from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and passes the applicable State tests. This endorsement shall be required for any individual employed as a chief school business official.

(D) Superintendent endorsement. A superintendent endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional Educator License of any holder who has completed a program approved by the State Board of Education for the preparation of superintendents of schools, has had at least 2 years of experience employed as a full-time principal, director of special education, or chief school business official in the public schools or in a State-recognized nonpublic school in which the chief administrator is required to have the licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in this State and where a majority of the teachers are required to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in this State, and has passed the required State tests; or of any holder who has completed a program from out-of-state that has a program with recognition standards comparable to those approved by the State Superintendent of Education and holds the general administrative, principal, or chief school business official endorsement and who has had 2 years of experience as a principal, director of special education, or chief school business official while holding a valid educator license or certificate comparable in validity and educational and experience requirements and has passed the appropriate State tests, as provided in Section 21B-30 of this Code. The superintendent endorsement shall allow individuals to serve only as a superintendent or assistant superintendent.

(E) Teacher leader endorsement. It shall be the policy of this State to improve the quality of instructional leaders by providing a career pathway for teachers interested in serving in leadership roles, but not as principals. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may issue a teacher leader endorsement under this subdivision (E). Persons who meet and successfully complete the requirements of the endorsement shall be issued a teacher leader endorsement on the Professional Educator License for serving in schools in this State. Teacher leaders may qualify to serve in such positions as department chairs, coaches, mentors, curriculum and instruction leaders, or other leadership positions as defined by the district. The endorsement shall be available to those teachers who (i) hold a Professional Educator License, (ii) hold a master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution, (iii) have completed a program of study that has been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and (iv) have taken coursework in all of the following areas:

(I) Leadership.

(II) Designing professional development to meet teaching and learning needs.

(III) Building school culture that focuses on student learning.

(IV) Using assessments to improve student learning and foster school improvement.

(V) Building collaboration with teachers and stakeholders.

A teacher who meets the requirements set forth in this Section and holds a teacher leader endorsement may evaluate teachers pursuant to Section 24A-5 of this Code, provided that the individual has completed the evaluation component required by Section 24A-3 of this Code and a teacher leader is allowed to evaluate personnel under the respective school district's collective bargaining agreement.

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish and implement the teacher leader endorsement program and to specify the positions for which this endorsement shall be required.

(F) Special education endorsement. A special education endorsement in one or more areas shall be affixed to a Professional Educator License for any individual that meets those requirements established by the State Board of Education in rules. Special education endorsement areas shall include without limitation the following:

(i) Learning Behavior Specialist I;

(ii) Learning Behavior Specialist II;

(iii) Speech Language Pathologist;

(iv) Blind or Visually Impaired;

(v) Deaf-Hard of Hearing; and

(vi) Early Childhood Special Education.

Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may add additional areas of special education by rule.

(G) School support personnel endorsement. School support personnel endorsement areas shall include, but are not limited to, school counselor, school psychologist, school speech and language pathologist, school nurse, and school social worker. This endorsement is for individuals who are not teachers or administrators, but still require licensure to work in an instructional support position in a public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control or a charter school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law. The school support personnel endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional Educator License and shall meet all of the requirements established in any rules adopted to implement this subdivision (G). The holder of such an endorsement is entitled to all of the rights and privileges granted holders of any other Professional Educator License, including teacher benefits, compensation, and working conditions.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-30)

Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing.

(a) This Section applies beginning on July 1, 2012.

(b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design and implement a system of examinations, which shall be required prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These examinations and indicators must be based on national and State professional teaching standards, as determined by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of Education may adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement and administer this Section. No score on a test required under this Section, other than a test of basic skills, shall be more than 5 years old at the time that an individual makes application for an educator license or endorsement.

(c) Applicants seeking a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations shall be required to pass a test of basic skills, unless the endorsement the individual is seeking does not require passage of the test.

No candidate may be fully admitted into an educator preparation program at a recognized Illinois institution until he or she has passed a test of basic skills. An individual who passes a test of basic skills does not need to do so again for subsequent endorsements or other educator licenses.

(d) All applicants seeking a State license shall be required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. There shall be no exception to this requirement. No candidate shall be allowed to student teach, serve as the teacher of record, or begin an internship or residency required for licensure until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.

(e) All applicants seeking a State license endorsed in a teaching field shall pass the assessment of professional teaching (APT). Passage of the APT is required for completion of an approved Illinois educator preparation program.

(f) Beginning on September 1, 2015, all candidates completing teacher preparation programs in this State are required to pass an evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. All recognized institutions offering approved teacher preparation programs must begin phasing in the approved teacher performance assessment no later than July 1, 2013.

(g) Tests of basic skills and content area knowledge and the assessment of professional teaching shall be the tests that from time to time are designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure 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 Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The areas to be covered by a test of basic skills shall include reading, language arts, and mathematics. The test of content area knowledge shall assess content knowledge in a specific subject field. The tests must be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no person taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to the person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The score required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The tests shall be administered 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 Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this Code in the English language and in the language of the transitional bilingual education program requested by the applicant.

(h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school district subject to Article 34 of this Code.

(i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the testing requirements under this Section shall include provisions governing 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 appropriate special accommodations. The State Board of Education shall develop such rules as may be needed to ensure uniformity from year to year in the level of difficulty for each form of an assessment.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-35)

Sec. 21B-35. Minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries.

(a) All out-of-state applicants applying for a Professional Educator License must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Have completed a comparable state-approved education program, as defined by the State Superintendent of Education.

(2) Have a degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and the degreed major or a constructed major must directly correspond to the license or endorsement sought.

(3) Have completed a minimum of one course in the methods of instruction of the exceptional child.

(4) Have completed a minimum of 6 semester hours of coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content area.

(5) Have completed a minimum of one course in instructional strategies for English language learners.

(6) Have successfully met all Illinois examination requirements.

(7) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent experience.

If one or more of the criteria in subsection (a) of this Section are not met, then out-of-state applicants who hold a valid, comparable certificate from another state and have passed a test of basic skills and content area test, as required by Section 21B-20 of this Code, may qualify for a provisional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations, in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code, with the exception that an individual shall not serve as a principal or assistant principal while holding the provisional educator endorsement.

(b) In order to receive a Professional Educator License, applicants trained in another country must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Have completed a comparable education program in another country.

(2) Have had transcripts evaluated by an evaluation service approved by the State Superintendent of Education.

(3) Hold a degreed major that must directly correspond to the license or endorsement sought.

(4) Have completed a minimum of one course in the methods of instruction of the exceptional child.

(5) Have completed a minimum of 6 semester hours of coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content area.

(6) Have completed a minimum of one course in instructional strategies for English language learners.

(7) Have successfully met all State licensure examination requirements.

(8) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent experience.

If one or more of these criteria are not met, then an applicant trained in another country who has passed a test of basic skills and content area test, as required by Section 21B-20 of this Code, may qualify for a provisional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations, with the exception that an individual shall not serve as a principal or assistant principal while holding the provisional educator endorsement.

(c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-40)

Sec. 21B-40. Fees.

(a) Beginning with the start of the new licensure system established pursuant to this Article, the following fees shall be charged to applicants:

(1) A $75 application fee for a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations and for individuals seeking a Substitute Teaching License. However, beginning on January 1, 2015, the application fee for a Professional Educator License, Educator License with Stipulations, or Substitute Teaching License shall be $100.

(2) A $150 application fee for individuals who have completed an approved educator preparation program outside of this State or who hold a valid, comparable credential from another state or country and are seeking any of the licenses set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection (a).

(3) A $50 application fee for each endorsement or approval an individual holding a license wishes to add to that license.

(4) A $10 per year registration fee for the course of the validity cycle to register the license, which shall be paid to the regional office of education having supervision and control over the school in which the individual holding the license is to be employed. If the individual holding the license is not yet employed, then the license may be registered in any county in this State. The registration fee must be paid in its entirety the first time the individual registers the license for a particular validity period in a single region. No additional fee may be charged for that validity period should the individual subsequently register the license in additional regions. An individual must register the license (i) immediately after initial issuance of the license and (ii) at the beginning of each renewal cycle if the individual has satisfied the renewal requirements required under this Code.

(b) All application fees paid pursuant to subdivisions (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section shall be deposited into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund and shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board of Education to provide the technology and human resources necessary for the timely and efficient processing of applications. 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, and moneys in the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund shall not revert back to the General Revenue Fund at any time.

The regional superintendent of schools shall deposit the registration fees paid pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this Section into the institute fund established pursuant to Section 3-11 of this Code.

(c) 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 license fees. This service or convenience fee shall 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.

(d) If, at the time a certificate issued under Article 21 of this Code is exchanged for a license issued under this Article, a person has paid registration fees for any years of the validity period of the certificate and these years have not expired when the certificate is exchanged, then those fees must be applied to the registration of the new license.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-45)

Sec. 21B-45. Licensure renewal. All licenses with endorsements are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this Code.

Individuals holding a Professional Educator License endorsed in a teaching field shall meet the renewal requirements set forth in subsection (e) of Section 21-14 of this Code. An individual holding a Professional Educator License with a general administrative, principal, chief school business official, or superintendent endorsement issued under this Article who is also working in a position using or requiring that endorsement is subject to the renewal requirements in subsection (c-10) of Section 21-7.1 of this Code. An individual holding a Professional Educator License with a school personnel support endorsement and working in a position for which that endorsement is required must complete the licensure renewal requirements under Section 21-25 of this Code. If an individual holds licensure in more than one area that has different renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal requirements for the position for which he or she spends the majority of his or her time working.

All licenses not renewed as provided in this Section or registered in accordance with Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6 months from the expiration of the last year of registration. The license may be reinstated once the applicant has demonstrated proficiency by completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the content area that most aligns with the educator's endorsement area or areas. Before the license may be reinstated, the applicant shall pay all back fees owed from the time of expiration of the license until the date of reinstatement. Any license may be voluntarily surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily surrendered license shall be treated as a revoked license.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-50)

Sec. 21B-50. Alternative educator licensure program.

(a) There is established an alternative educator licensure program, to be known as the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers.

(b) Beginning on January 1, 2013, the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers may be offered by a recognized institution approved to offer educator preparation programs by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Any program offered by a not-for-profit entity also must be approved by the Board of Higher Education.

The program shall be comprised of 4 phases:

(1) A course of study that at a minimum includes instructional planning; instructional strategies, including special education, reading, and English language learning; classroom management; and the assessment of students and use of data to drive instruction.

(2) A year of residency, which is a candidate's assignment to a full-time teaching position or as a co-teacher for one full school year. An individual must hold an Educator License with Stipulations with an alternative provisional educator endorsement in order to enter the residency and must complete additional program requirements that address required State and national standards, pass the assessment of professional teaching before entering the second residency year, as required under phase (3) of this subsection (b), and be recommended by the principal and program coordinator to continue with the second year of the residency.

(3) A second year of residency, which shall include the candidate's assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school year. The candidate must be assigned an experienced teacher to act as a mentor and coach the candidate through the second year of residency.

(4) A comprehensive assessment of the candidate's teaching effectiveness, as evaluated by the principal and the program coordinator, at the end of the second year of residency. If there is disagreement between the 2 evaluators about the candidate's teaching effectiveness, the candidate may complete one additional year of residency teaching under a professional development plan developed by the principal and preparation program. At the completion of the third year, a candidate must have positive evaluations and a recommendation for full licensure from both the principal and the program coordinator or no Professional Educator License shall be issued.

Successful completion of the program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and content matter requirements established by law.

(c) An alternative provisional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 2 years of teaching in the public schools, including without limitation a charter school, or in a State-recognized nonpublic school in which the chief administrator is required to have the licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in this State and in which a majority of the teachers are required to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in this State, but may be renewed for a third year if needed to complete the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers. The endorsement shall be issued only once to an individual who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Has graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree or higher.

(2) Has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent on another scale.

(3) Has completed a major in the content area if seeking a middle or secondary level endorsement or, if seeking an early childhood, elementary, or special education endorsement, has completed a major in the content area of reading, English/language arts, mathematics, or one of the sciences. If the individual does not have a major in a content area for any level of teaching, he or she must submit transcripts to the State Superintendent of Education to be reviewed for equivalency.

(4) Has successfully completed phase (1) of subsection (b) of this Section.

(5) Has passed a test of basic skills and content area test required for the specific endorsement for admission into the program, as required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.

A candidate possessing the alternative provisional educator endorsement may receive a salary, benefits, and any other terms of employment offered to teachers in the school who are members of an exclusive bargaining representative, if any, but a school is not required to provide these benefits during the years of residency if the candidate is serving only as a co-teacher. If the candidate is serving as the teacher of record, the candidate must receive a salary, benefits, and any other terms of employment. Residency experiences must not be counted towards tenure.

(d) The recognized institution offering the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers must partner with a school district, including without limitation a charter school, or a State-recognized, nonpublic school in this State in which the chief administrator is required to have the licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in this State and in which a majority of the teachers are required to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in this State. The program presented for approval by the State Board of Education must demonstrate the supports that are to be provided to assist the provisional teacher during the 2-year residency period. These supports must provide additional contact hours with mentors during the first year of residency.

(e) Upon completion of the 4 phases outlined in subsection (b) of this Section and all assessments required under Section 21B-30 of this Code, an individual shall receive a Professional Educator License.

(f) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish and implement the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 97-702, eff. 6-25-12.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-55)

Sec. 21B-55. Alternative route to superintendent endorsement.

(a) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may approve programs designed to provide an alternative route to superintendent endorsement on a Professional Educator License.

(b) Entities offering an alternative route to superintendent endorsement program must have the program approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

(c) All programs approved under this Section shall be comprised of the following 3 phases:

(1) A course of study offered on an intensive basis in education management, governance, organization, and instructional and district planning.

(2) The person's assignment to a full-time position for one school year as a superintendent.

(3) A comprehensive assessment of the person's performance by school officials and a recommendation to the State Superintendent of Education that the person be issued a superintendent endorsement on a Professional Educator License.

(d) In order to be admitted to an alternative route to superintendent endorsement program, a candidate shall pass a test of basic skills, as required under Section 21B-30 of this Code. In order to serve as a superintendent under phase (2) of subsection (c) of this Section, an individual must be issued an alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations, to be valid for only one year of serving as a superintendent. In order to receive the provisional alternative superintendent endorsement under this Section, an individual must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Have graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum of a master's degree in a management field other than education.

(2) Have been employed for a period of at least 5 years in a management level position other than education.

(3) Have successfully completed phase (1) of subsection (c) of this Section.

(4) Have passed examinations required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.

(e) Successful completion of an alternative route to superintendent endorsement program shall be deemed to satisfy any other supervisory, administrative, or management experience requirements established by law, and, once completed, an individual shall be eligible for a superintendent endorsement on a Professional Educator License.

(f) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be needed to establish and implement these alternative route to superintendent endorsement programs.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-60)

Sec. 21B-60. Principal preparation programs.

(a) It is the policy of this State that an essential element of improving student learning is supporting and employing highly effective school principals in leadership roles who improve teaching and learning and increase academic achievement and the development of all students.

(b) No later than September 1, 2014, recognized institutions approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, to offer principal preparation programs must do all of the following:

(1) Meet the standards and requirements for such programs in accordance with this Section and any rules adopted by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

(2) Prepare candidates to meet required standards for principal skills, knowledge, and responsibilities, which shall include a focus on instruction and student learning and which must be used for principal professional development, mentoring, and evaluation.

(3) Include specific requirements for (i) the selection and assessment of candidates, (ii) training in the evaluation of staff, (iii) an internship, and (iv) a partnership with one or more school districts or State-recognized, nonpublic schools in which the chief administrator is required to have the licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in this State and in which a majority of the teachers are required to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in this State.

Any principal preparation program offered in whole or in part by a not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the Board of Higher Education.

(c) Candidates successfully completing a principal preparation program established pursuant to this Section shall obtain a principal endorsement on a Professional Educator License and are eligible to work as a principal or an assistant principal or in related or similar positions, as determined by the State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

(d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement and administer principal preparation programs under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-65)

Sec. 21B-65. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Individuals holding certification issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be issued a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation on an existing Professional Educator License. The designation shall be issued automatically and added to an individual's Professional Educator License, and individuals need not submit an application.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation must be issued only for the same validity period as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, and the designation must be removed from the Professional Educator License when the educator no longer holds the certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Beginning on July 1, 2013, individuals holding an Illinois National Board for Professional Teaching Standards endorsement issued pursuant to the requirements of Section 21-2 of this Code must have a current certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in order to maintain the Illinois National Board for Professional Teaching Standards endorsement.

Any individual who, on or after July 1, 2012, has been issued a Master Certificate pursuant to Section 21-2 of this Code or a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation on a Professional Educator License pursuant to this Section may work as a teacher only in an area for which he or she holds the required Illinois endorsement. Any individual who, prior to June 30, 2012, has been issued an endorsement for a particular area on a Master Certificate may work as a teacher in that area even without having been issued the required Illinois endorsement.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-70)

Sec. 21B-70. Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Poverty or low-performing school" means a school in academic early warning status or academic watch status or a school in which 50% or more of its students are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches.

"Qualified educator" means a teacher or school counselor currently employed in a school district who is in the process of obtaining certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or who has completed certification and holds a current Professional Educator License with a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation or a retired teacher or school counselor who holds a Professional Educator License with a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation.

(b) Beginning on July 1, 2011, any funds appropriated for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program must be used to provide monetary assistance and incentives for qualified educators who are employed by school districts and who have or are in the process of obtaining licensure through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The goal of the program is to improve instruction and student performance.

The State Board of Education shall allocate an amount as annually appropriated by the General Assembly for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program for (i) application fees for each qualified educator seeking to complete certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, to be paid directly to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and (ii) incentives for each qualified educator to be distributed to the respective school district. The school district shall distribute this payment to each eligible teacher or school counselor as a single payment.

The State Board of Education's annual budget must set out by separate line item the appropriation for the program. Unless otherwise provided by appropriation, qualified educators are eligible for monetary assistance and incentives based on the priorities outlined in subsection (c) of this Section.

(c) When there are adequate funds available, priorities (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), as outlined in this subsection (c), must be funded. If full funding to meet all priorities as outlined in this subsection (c) is not available, funding must be distributed in the order of the priorities listed in this subsection (c). If funding is insufficient to fund a priority in full, then funding for that priority must be prorated and no further priorities shall be funded.

Priorities for monetary assistance and incentives shall be as follows:

(1) Priority 1: A maximum of $2,000 towards the application fee for up to 750 teachers or school counselors in a poverty or low-performing school who apply on a first-come, first-serve basis for National Board certification.

(2) Priority 2: A maximum of $2,000 towards the application fee for up to 250 teachers or school counselors in a school other than a poverty or low-performing school who apply on a first-come, first-serve basis for National Board certification. However, if there were fewer than 750 individuals supported in priority (1), then the number supported in priority (2) may be increased as such that the combination of priority (1) and priority (2) shall equal 1,000 applicants.

(3) Priority 3: The fee for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' Take One! (the test for National Board certification) for up to 500 qualified educators who apply on a first-come, first-serve basis.

(4) Priority 4: An annual incentive equal to $1,500, which shall be paid to each qualified educator who holds both a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation and a current corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, who is employed in a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide 30 hours of mentoring or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards professional development or both during the school year to teachers or school counselors in a poverty or low-performing school, as applicable.

(5) Priority 5: An annual incentive equal to $1,500, which shall be paid to each qualified educator currently employed in a school district who holds both a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation and a current corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees, in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring or National Board for Professional Teaching Standards professional development or both during the school year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable.

Mentoring for all priorities shall include, either singly or in combination, mentoring of the following:

(A) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification candidates.

(B) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards re-take candidates.

(C) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards renewal candidates.

(D) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Take One! participants.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-75)

Sec. 21B-75. Suspension or revocation of license.

(a) As used in this Section, "teacher" means any school district employee regularly required to be licensed, as provided in this Article, in order to teach or supervise in the public schools.

(b) The State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority, in accordance with this Section and any rules adopted by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any license issued pursuant to this Article for abuse or neglect of a child, immorality, a condition of health detrimental to the welfare of pupils, incompetency, unprofessional conduct (which includes the failure to disclose on an employment application any previous conviction for a sex offense, as defined in Section 21B-80 of this Code, or any other offense committed in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed in this State, would be punishable as a sex offense, as defined in Section 21B-80 of this Code), the neglect of any professional duty, willful failure to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, failure to establish satisfactory repayment on an educational loan guaranteed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, or other just cause. Unprofessional conduct shall include the refusal to attend or participate in institutes, teachers' meetings, or professional readings or to meet other reasonable requirements of the regional superintendent of schools or State Superintendent of Education. Unprofessional conduct also includes conduct that violates the standards, ethics, or rules applicable to the security, administration, monitoring, or scoring of or the reporting of scores from any assessment test or examination administered under Section 2-3.64 of this Code or that is known or intended to produce or report manipulated or artificial, rather than actual, assessment or achievement results or gains from the administration of those tests or examinations. Unprofessional conduct shall also include neglect or unnecessary delay in the making of statistical and other reports required by school officers. Incompetency shall include, without limitation, 2 or more school terms of service for which the license holder has received an unsatisfactory rating on a performance evaluation conducted pursuant to Article 24A of this Code within a period of 7 school terms of service. In determining whether to initiate action against one or more licenses based on incompetency and the recommended sanction for such action, the State Superintendent shall consider factors that include without limitation all of the following:

(1) Whether the unsatisfactory evaluation ratings occurred prior to June 13, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-8).

(2) Whether the unsatisfactory evaluation ratings occurred prior to or after the implementation date, as defined in Section 24A-2.5 of this Code, of an evaluation system for teachers in a school district.

(3) Whether the evaluator or evaluators who performed an unsatisfactory evaluation met the pre-licensure and training requirements set forth in Section 24A-3 of this Code.

(4) The time between the unsatisfactory evaluation ratings.

(5) The quality of the remediation plans associated with the unsatisfactory evaluation ratings and whether the license holder successfully completed the remediation plans.

(6) Whether the unsatisfactory evaluation ratings were related to the same or different assignments performed by the license holder.

(7) Whether one or more of the unsatisfactory evaluation ratings occurred in the first year of a teaching or administrative assignment.

When initiating an action against one or more licenses, the State Superintendent may seek required professional development as a sanction in lieu of or in addition to suspension or revocation. Any such required professional development must be at the expense of the license holder, who may use, if available and applicable to the requirements established by administrative or court order, training, coursework, or other professional development funds in accordance with the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement entered into after June 13, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-8), unless that agreement specifically precludes use of funds for such purpose.

(c) The State Superintendent of Education shall, upon receipt of evidence of abuse or neglect of a child, immorality, a condition of health detrimental to the welfare of pupils, incompetency (subject to subsection (b) of this Section), unprofessional conduct, the neglect of any professional duty, or other just cause, further investigate and, if and as appropriate, serve written notice to the individual and afford the individual opportunity for a hearing prior to suspension, revocation, or other sanction; provided that the State Superintendent is under no obligation to initiate such an investigation if the Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the same or substantially similar allegations and its child protective service unit has not made its determination, as required under Section 7.12 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. If the State Superintendent of Education does not receive from an individual a request for a hearing within 10 days after the individual receives notice, the suspension, revocation, or other sanction shall immediately take effect in accordance with the notice. If a hearing is requested within 10 days after notice of an opportunity for hearing, it shall act as a stay of proceedings until the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board issues a decision. Any hearing shall take place in the educational service region where the educator is or was last employed and in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and such rules shall include without limitation provisions for discovery and the sharing of information between parties prior to the hearing. The standard of proof for any administrative hearing held pursuant to this Section shall be by the preponderance of the evidence. The decision of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board is a final administrative decision and is subject to judicial review by appeal of either party.

The State Board of Education may refuse to issue or may suspend the license of any person who fails to file a return or to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as required by any tax Act administered by the Department of Revenue, until such time as the requirements of any such tax Act are satisfied.

The exclusive authority of the State Superintendent of Education to initiate suspension or revocation of a license pursuant to this Section does not preclude a regional superintendent of schools from cooperating with the State Superintendent or a State's Attorney with respect to an investigation of alleged misconduct.

(d) The State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee may initiate and conduct such investigations as may be reasonably necessary to establish the existence of any alleged misconduct. At any stage of the investigation, the State Superintendent may issue a subpoena requiring the attendance and testimony of a witness, including the license holder, and the production of any evidence, including files, records, correspondence, or documents, relating to any matter in question in the investigation. The subpoena shall require a witness to appear at the State Board of Education at a specified date and time and shall specify any evidence to be produced. The license holder is not entitled to be present, but the State Superintendent shall provide the license holder with a copy of any recorded testimony prior to a hearing under this Section. Such recorded testimony must not be used as evidence at a hearing, unless the license holder has adequate notice of the testimony and the opportunity to cross-examine the witness. Failure of a license holder to comply with a duly issued, investigatory subpoena may be grounds for revocation, suspension, or denial of a license.

(e) All correspondence, documentation, and other information so received by the regional superintendent of schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board of Education, or the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board under this Section is confidential and must not be disclosed to third parties, except (i) as necessary for the State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee to investigate and prosecute pursuant to this Article, (ii) pursuant to a court order, (iii) for disclosure to the license holder or his or her representative, or (iv) as otherwise required in this Article and provided that any such information admitted into evidence in a hearing is exempt from this confidentiality and non-disclosure requirement.

(f) The State Superintendent of Education or a person designated by him or her shall have the power to administer oaths to witnesses at any hearing conducted before the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board pursuant to this Section. The State Superintendent of Education or a person designated by him or her is authorized to subpoena and bring before the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board any person in this State and to take testimony either orally or by deposition or by exhibit, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as prescribed by law in judicial proceedings in civil cases in circuit courts of this State.

(g) Any circuit court, upon the application of the State Superintendent of Education or the license holder, may, by order duly entered, require the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers as part of any investigation or at any hearing the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board is authorized to conduct pursuant to this Section, and the court may compel obedience to its orders by proceedings for contempt.

(h) The State Board of Education shall receive an annual line item appropriation to cover fees associated with the investigation and prosecution of alleged educator misconduct and hearings related thereto.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; incorporates 97-8, eff. 6-13-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-80)

Sec. 21B-80. Conviction of certain offenses as grounds for revocation of license.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Narcotics offense" means any one or more of the following offenses:

(1) Any offense defined in the Cannabis Control Act, except those defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 4 and subdivision (a) of Section 5 of the Cannabis Control Act and any offense for which the holder of a license is placed on probation under the provisions of Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, provided that if the terms and conditions of probation required by the court are not fulfilled, the offense is not eligible for this exception.

(2) Any offense defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, except any offense for which the holder of a license is placed on probation under the provisions of Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, provided that if the terms and conditions of probation required by the court are not fulfilled, the offense is not eligible for this exception.

(3) Any offense defined in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, except any offense for which the holder of a license is placed on probation under the provision of Section 70 of that Act, provided that if the terms and conditions of probation required by the court are not fulfilled, the offense is not eligible for this exception.

(4) Any attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in items (1) through (3) of this definition.

(5) Any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the offenses listed in items (1) through (4) of this definition.

The changes made by Public Act 96-431 to the definition of "narcotics offense" are declaratory of existing law.

"Sex offense" means any one or more of the following offenses:

(A) Any offense defined in Sections 11-6, 11-9 through 11-9.5, inclusive, and 11-30, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; Sections 11-14 through 11-21, inclusive, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; Sections 11-23 (if punished as a Class 3 felony), 11-24, 11-25, and 11-26 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; and Sections 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, 11-1.60, 12-4.9, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15, 12-16, 12-32, 12-33, and 12C-45 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.

(B) Any attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in item (A) of this definition.

(C) Any offense committed or attempted in any other state that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the offenses listed in items (A) and (B) of this definition.

(b) Whenever the holder of any license issued pursuant to this Article has been convicted of any sex offense or narcotics offense, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith suspend the license. If the conviction is reversed and the holder is acquitted of the offense in a new trial or the charges against him or her are dismissed, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith terminate the suspension of the license. When the conviction becomes final, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith revoke the license.

(c) Whenever the holder of a license issued pursuant to this Article has been convicted of attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, soliciting, or committing first degree murder or a Class X felony or any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the foregoing offenses, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith suspend the license. If the conviction is reversed and the holder is acquitted of that offense in a new trial or the charges that he or she committed that offense are dismissed, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith terminate the suspension of the license. When the conviction becomes final, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith revoke the license.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; incorporates 96-1551, eff. 7-1-11; 97-1109, eff. 1-1-13; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-85)

Sec. 21B-85. Conviction of felony.

(a) Whenever the holder of any license issued under this Article is employed by the school board of a school district, including a special charter district or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, and is convicted, either after a bench trial, trial by jury, or plea of guilty, of any offense for which a sentence to death or a term of imprisonment in a penitentiary for one year or more is provided, the school board shall promptly notify the State Superintendent of Education, in writing, of the name of the license holder, the fact of the conviction, and the name and location of the court in which the conviction occurred.

(b) Whenever the State Superintendent of Education receives notice of a conviction under subsection (a) of this Section or otherwise learns that any person who is a teacher, as that term is defined in Section 16-106 of the Illinois Pension Code, has been convicted, either after a bench trial, trial by jury, or plea of guilty, of any offense for which a sentence to death or a term of imprisonment in a penitentiary for one year or more is provided, the State Superintendent of Education shall promptly notify, in writing, the board of trustees of the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois and the board of trustees of the Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of the City of Chicago of the name of the license holder, the fact of the conviction, the name and location of the court in which the conviction occurred, and the number assigned in that court to the case in which the conviction occurred.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-90)

Sec. 21B-90. Administrative Review Law. In this Section, "administrative decision" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The provisions of the Administrative Review Law and the rules adopted pursuant to the Administrative Review Law shall apply to and govern all proceedings instituted for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of the State Board of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and the regional superintendent of schools under this Article. The commencement of any action for review shall operate as a stay of enforcement, and no action based on any decision of the State Board of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, or the regional superintendent of schools shall be taken pending final disposition of the review.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-95)

Sec. 21B-95. Denial of recommendation for licensure. Each college or university providing an educator preparation program approved and recognized pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall establish procedures and standards to ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to receive an institutional recommendation for licensure or entitlement for reasons that are not directly related to the candidate's anticipated performance as a licensed educator. These standards and procedures shall include the specific criteria used by the institution for admission, retention, and recommendation or entitlement for licensure; periodic evaluations of the candidate's progress towards an institutional recommendation; counseling and other supportive services to correct any deficiencies that are considered remedial; and provisions to ensure that no person is discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, or a disability unrelated to the person's ability to perform as a licensed educator. Each institution shall also establish a grievance procedure for those candidates who are denied the institutional recommendation or entitlement for licensure. Within 10 days after notification of such a denial, the college or university shall notify the candidate, in writing, of the reasons for the denial of recommendation for licensure. Within 30 days after notification of the denial, the candidate may request the college or university to review the denial.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-100)

Sec. 21B-100. Licensure officers at higher education institutions. Licensure officers at higher education institutions shall adhere to this Code and any administrative rules adopted to implement this Code when entitling candidates for licensure or when adding endorsements. Violations of this Code or implementing rules regarding the entitlement of candidates by a licensure officer shall place the employing institution's educator preparation program in jeopardy, specifically regarding the institution's right to offer programs and recommend or entitle candidates for licensure.

Licensure officers are required to attend training conducted by the State Superintendent of Education and review new legislation and administrative rules as such become available. The State Superintendent of Education shall communicate any policy changes to licensure officers when such changes occur.

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-105)

Sec. 21B-105. Granting of recognition; regional accreditation; definitions.

(a) "Recognized", as used in this Article in connection with the word "school" or "institution", means such college, university, or not-for-profit entity that meets requirements set by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Application for recognition of the school or institution as an educator preparation institution must be made to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall set the criteria by which the school or institution is to be judged and, through the secretary of the State Board, arrange for an official inspection and shall grant recognition of such school or institution as may meet the required standards. If the standards include requirements with regard to education in acquiring skills in working with culturally distinctive students, as defined by the State Board of Education, then the rules of the State Board of Education shall include the criteria used to evaluate compliance with this requirement. No school or institution may make assignments of student teachers or teachers for practice teaching so as to promote segregation on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Any not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the Board of Higher Education.

All recommendations or entitlements for educator licensure shall be made by a recognized institution operating a program of preparation for the license that is approved by the State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall have the power to define a major or minor when used as a basis for recognition and licensure purposes.

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

(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 22 heading) ARTICLE 22. GENERAL PROVISIONS--PENALTIES--LIABILITIES

(105 ILCS 5/22-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-1)

Sec. 22-1. Trustees and similar officers-No pecuniary compensation.

Trustees of schools, school directors or other school officers performing like duties shall receive no pecuniary compensation.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-2)

Sec. 22-2. Cost of official bonds.

Every school district shall be subject to the provisions of "An Act relating to the payment of the cost of corporate suretyship and indemnity upon official bonds", approved June 7, 1897, as amended.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-3)

Sec. 22-3. Enforcement of judgments - Service of process - Costs. If judgment is obtained against any county board of school trustees, trustees of schools or school board, the party entitled to the benefit of the judgment may have enforcement thereof as follows: the court in which the judgment is entered or to which it may be removed by transcript from the circuit court shall enter an order commanding the directors, trustees and school treasurer to cause the amount thereof with interest and costs to be paid to the party entitled to the benefit of the judgment, out of any moneys of the township or district unappropriated, or if there are no such moneys, out of the first moneys applicable to the payment of the kind of services or indebtedness for which the judgment is entered which shall be received for the use of the township or district. The court may enforce obedience to such order by body attachment or by mandamus, requiring such board to levy a tax for the payment of the judgment. All judicial processes to enforce payment, shall be served either on the president or the clerk of the board.

No official shall charge any costs in any action in which any school officer, school corporation or any agent of any school fund, suing for the recovery thereof, or any interest due thereon, is plaintiff, and is unsuccessful in the action; nor in case the costs cannot be recovered from the defendant by reason of his or her insolvency.

(Source: P.A. 83-346.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-4)

Sec. 22-4. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-5)

Sec. 22-5. Interest of officers or teachers in books, apparatus or furniture. No State, county, township, or district school officer or teacher shall be interested in the sale, proceeds or profits of any book, apparatus or furniture used or to be used in any school with which such officer or teacher may be connected, except when the interest of the teacher is based upon authorship or development of instructional materials listed with the State Board of Education in compliance with the provisions of Article 28 of this Act and adopted for use by a school board subject to Section 10-20.8 of this Act. Each teacher having an interest in instructional materials shall file an annual statement so certifying with the secretary of the board of the school district which employs him. Any such officer or teacher who violates the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-6)

Sec. 22-6. Conversion of funds by officers.

If any county superintendent, trustee of schools, township treasurer, director or other person entrusted with the care, control, management or disposition of any school, college, seminary or township fund for the use of any county, township, district or school converts such funds, or any part thereof, to his own use he shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-6.5)

Sec. 22-6.5. False statement or material omission; Class A misdemeanor. Any person who applies for employment as a teacher, principal, superintendent, or other certificated employee of a school board of any school district, including a special charter district and a district organized under Article 34 of the School Code, who willfully makes a false statement on his or her application for employment, material to his or her qualifications for employment, which he or she does not believe to be true, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

If a person's employment history or current or prior employers are required to be furnished on an application for employment, a person who makes a statement which he or she does not believe to be true or who knowingly omits or fails to include any employment history or employer required to be furnished on the application which is material to his or her qualifications for employment shall be deemed to have made a false statement on his or her application within the meaning of this Section.

Each application for employment for a certificated position used by a school district shall state that failure to provide requested employment or employer history which is material to the applicant's qualifications for employment or the provision of statements which the applicant does not believe to be true may be a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 88-102.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-7)

Sec. 22-7. Liability for loss of funds. County superintendents, trustees of schools, township treasurers and directors, or either of them, or any other officer having charge of school funds or property, shall be pecuniarily responsible for all losses sustained by any county or township fund by reason of any failure on his or their part to perform the duties required of him or them by this Act or by any rule authorized to be made by this Act, and each of such officers shall be liable for any such loss sustained, the amount of which may be recovered in a civil action brought in the circuit court, at the suit of the State of Illinois, for the use of the county, township or fund injured. The amount of the judgment obtained in such suit shall, when collected, be paid to the proper officer for the benefit of the county, township or fund injured.

(Source: P.A. 79-1366.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-8)

Sec. 22-8. Failure of officers to discharge duties.

If any county superintendent, trustee, director, or other officer negligently or wilfully fails or refuses to make, furnish or communicate statistics and information, or fails to discharge any other duties enjoined upon him, at the time and in the manner required by this Act, he shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall be liable to a fine of not less than $25, to be recovered before any circuit court at the suit of any person on complaint in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, and when collected the fine shall be paid to the county superintendent of schools.

(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-9)

Sec. 22-9. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 77-2267. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-10)

Sec. 22-10. Payments and grants in aid of church or sectarian purpose.

No county, city, town, township, school district or other public corporation shall make any appropriation, or pay from any school fund anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose or to support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university or other literary or scientific institution controlled by any church or sectarian denomination; nor shall any grant or donation of money or other personal property be made by any such corporation to any church or for any sectarian purpose. Any officer or other person having under his charge or direction school funds or property who perverts the same in the manner forbidden in this section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-11)

Sec. 22-11. Exclusion of children on account of color.

Any school officer or other person who excludes or aids in excluding from the public schools, on account of color, any child who is entitled to the benefits of such school shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall be fined not less than $5 nor more than $100.

(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-12)

Sec. 22-12. Preventing or interfering with a child's attendance at school. Whoever by threat, menace, or intimidation prevents any child entitled to attend a public or nonpublic school in this State from attending such school or interferes with any such child's attendance at that school shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 92-96, eff. 1-1-02.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-13)

Sec. 22-13. Use of Illinois mined coal.

School boards shall comply with the provisions of "An Act concerning the use of Illinois mined coal in certain plants and institutions", filed July 13, 1937, as amended.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-14)

Sec. 22-14. Scholastic records of discontinued districts.

If any school district is discontinued under this Act and is not made a distinct part of another school district that makes arrangements to safely keep all scholastic records of the former pupils of the discontinued district, the last governing authorities of the discontinued district shall turn over all scholastic records of its former pupils to the county superintendent of schools of the county in which the school building of the district is located; and such county superintendent of schools shall take possession of and arrange for the safekeeping of such records for the purpose of reference by said former pupils.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-15)

Sec. 22-15. Insurance on athletes.

The school board of any school district may, in its discretion, provide medical or hospital service, or both, through accident and health insurance on a group or individual basis, or through non-profit hospital service corporations or medical service plan corporations or both, for pupils of the district injured while participating in any athletic activity under the jurisdiction of or sponsored or controlled by the district or the authorities of any school thereof. The cost of such insurance or of subscriptions to such non-profit corporations, when paid from the funds of the district, shall, to the extent such moneys are sufficient, be paid from moneys derived from athletic activities. To the extent that moneys derived from athletic activities are insufficient, such cost may be paid from the educational fund of the district.

Such insurance may be purchased from or such subscriptions may be taken in only such companies or corporations as are authorized to do business in Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 77-1554.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-16)

Sec. 22-16. Acquisition of land outside school district. Whenever, in the opinion of the corporate authority of any school district, a lot or parcel of land situated not more than 2 miles outside of said school district or in the case of a building project under authority of Section 10-22.31b of this Act, within the boundaries of the joint agreement area or within 2 miles of the boundaries of any school district which is a party to the joint agreement, may be required for such school purposes, title to such lot or parcel of land may be acquired by such school district by purchase or in the manner provided by law for the exercise of the right of eminent domain.

(Source: P.A. 80-270.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-17)

Sec. 22-17. Leasing property from building commission.

In addition to other powers and authority now possessed by it, the corporate authority of any school district, including any special charter district, shall have power:

(1) To lease from any public building commission created pursuant to the provisions of the Public Building Commission Act, approved July 5, 1955, and as amended from time to time, any real or personal property for the purpose of securing office or other space for its administrative or educational functions for a period of time not exceeding 40 years;

(2) To pay for the use of this leased property in accordance with the terms of the lease; and

(3) To enter into such lease without making a previous appropriation or provision in the budget for the expense thereby incurred.

(Source: P.A. 77-1351.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-18)

Sec. 22-18. Apportionment of assets in district without property.

Whenever there is no property within a school district subject to taxation for ordinary operating purposes, the county clerk shall so notify the trustees of the township or townships or county board of school trustees wherein the school district is located who shall apportion the assets of such district among the remaining school districts of such township or townships in proportion to the last preceding apportionment from the common school fund to such townships and shall notify the school treasurer to note such apportionment in the proper account of each district.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-19)

Sec. 22-19. Upon the filing of a complaint with the State Board of Education, executed in duplicate and subscribed with the names and addresses of at least 50 residents of a school district or 10% of the residents, whichever is less, alleging that any pupil has been excluded from or segregated in any school on account of his or her color, race, nationality, sex, religion or religious affiliation, or that any employee of or applicant for employment or assignment with any such school district has been questioned concerning his or her color, race, nationality, sex, religion or religious affiliation or subjected to discrimination by reason thereof, by or on behalf of the school board of such district, the State Board of Education shall promptly mail a copy of such complaint to the secretary or clerk of such school board.

The State Board of Education shall fix a date, not less than 20 nor more than 30 days from the date of the filing of such complaint, for a hearing upon the allegations therein. The State Board of Education may also fix a date for a hearing whenever it has reason to believe that such discrimination may exist in any school district. Reasonable notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be mailed to the secretary or clerk of the school board and to the first signatory to such complaint.

The State Board of Education may designate an assistant to conduct such hearing and receive testimony concerning the situation complained of. The complainants may be represented at such hearing by one of their number or by counsel. Each party shall have the privilege of cross examining witnesses. The State Board of Education or the hearing officer appointed by it shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, and require the production of evidence relating to any relevant matter under this Act. Any circuit court of this State, upon the application of the State Board of Education or the hearing officer appointed by it, may, in its or his or her discretion, compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, records or memoranda and the giving of testimony before the State Board of Education or the hearing officer appointed by it conducting an investigation or holding a hearing authorized by this Act, by an attachment for contempt, or otherwise, in the same manner as production of evidence may be compelled before the court. The State Board of Education or the hearing officer appointed by it may cause the depositions of witnesses within the State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in courts of this State, and to that end compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, records or memoranda. All testimony shall be taken under oath administered by the hearing officer, but the formal rules pertaining to evidence in judicial proceedings shall not apply. The State Board of Education shall provide a competent reporter to record all testimony. Either party desiring a transcript of the hearing shall pay for the cost of such transcript. A continuance may be granted provided both parties agree. The hearing officer shall report a summary of the testimony within 60 days after the hearing commences, unless a continuance is granted, to the State Board of Education who shall determine whether the allegations of the complaint are substantially correct. If a continuance is granted, the summary of testimony shall be reported to the State Board of Education within 60 days after the hearing recommences. The State Board of Education shall notify both parties of its decision within 30 days after it receives a summary of the testimony from the hearing officer. If the State Board of Education determines that a violation exists, it shall request the Attorney General to apply to the appropriate circuit court for such injunctive or other relief as may be necessary to rectify the practice complained of.

The provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof and the rules adopted pursuant thereto shall apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of any final decision rendered by the State Board of Education pursuant to this Section.

(Source: P.A. 84-126.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-20)

Sec. 22-20. All courts and law enforcement agencies of the State of Illinois and its political subdivisions shall report to the principal of any public school in this State whenever a child enrolled therein is detained for proceedings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as heretofore and hereafter amended, or for any criminal offense or any violation of a municipal or county ordinance. The report shall include the basis for detaining the child, circumstances surrounding the events which led to the child's detention, and status of proceedings. The report shall be updated as appropriate to notify the principal of developments and the disposition of the matter.

The information derived thereby shall be kept separate from and shall not become a part of the official school record of such child and shall not be a public record. Such information shall be used solely by the appropriate school official or officials whom the school has determined to have a legitimate educational or safety interest to aid in the proper rehabilitation of the child and to protect the safety of students and employees in the school.

(Source: P.A. 97-1104, eff. 1-1-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-21)

Sec. 22-21. Elections-Use of school buildings.

(a) Every school board shall offer to the appropriate officer or board having responsibility for providing polling places for elections the use of any and all buildings under its jurisdiction for any and all elections to be held, if so requested by such appropriate officer or board.

(b) Election officers shall place 2 or more cones, small United States national flags, or some other marker a distance of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting, which shall be known as the polling room. If the polling room is located within a building that is a public or private school and the distance of 100 horizontal feet ends within the interior of the building, then the markers shall be placed outside of the building at each entrance used by voters to enter that building on the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfare or walkway. If the polling room is located within a public or private school building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the polling room used by voters to engage in voting. If the polling room is located in a public or private school building with 2 or more floors and the polling room is located on a floor above or below the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed a distance of 100 feet from the nearest elevator or staircase used by voters on the ground floor to access the floor where the polling room is located. The area within where the markers are placed shall be known as a campaign free zone, and electioneering is prohibited pursuant to this subsection.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone, whether publicly or privately owned, is a public forum for the time that the polls are open on an election day. At the request of election officers any publicly owned building must be made available for use as a polling place. A person shall have the right to congregate and engage in electioneering on any polling place property while the polls are open beyond the campaign free zone, including but not limited to, the placement of temporary signs. This subsection shall be construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in electioneering on all polling place property beyond the campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an election day.

(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-22)

Sec. 22-22. Secondary Education. The term "secondary education" means the curriculum offered by a school district or an attendance center or centers serving grades 9 through 12 or grades 10 through 12.

(Source: P.A. 84-814.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-23) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-23)

Sec. 22-23. Sprinkler systems.

(a) The provisions of this Section apply to the school board, board of education, board of school directors, board of school inspectors or other governing body of each school district in this State, including special charter districts and districts organized under Article 34.

(b) As used in this Section, the term "school construction" means (1) the construction of a new school building, or addition to an existing building, within any period of 30 months, having 7,200 or more square feet, and (2) any alteration, as defined in 71 Illinois Administrative Code, Section 400.210, within any period of 30 months, affecting one or more areas of a school building which cumulatively are equal to 50% or more of the square footage of the school building.

(c) New areas or uses of buildings not required to be sprinklered under this Section shall be protected with the installation of an automatic fire detection system.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, no school construction shall be commenced in any school district on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 unless sprinkler systems are required by, and are installed in accordance with approved plans and specifications in the school building, addition or project areas which constitute school construction as defined in subsection (b). Plans and specifications shall comply with rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education, and such rules and regulations shall be consistent so far as practicable with nationally recognized standards such as those established by the National Fire Protection Association.

(Source: P.A. 90-566, eff. 1-2-98.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-24) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-24)

Sec. 22-24. IHSA Liaison. To facilitate communication and coordination between the General Assembly and the Illinois High School Association on matters relative to the continuing development of interscholastic athletic and activity participation among secondary school students in Illinois, the Governor shall appoint, from the membership of the General Assembly, liaison representatives to meet with the Board of Directors of the Illinois High School Association at regular meetings of that Board. The Governor shall appoint one member from each chamber of the General Assembly to serve as a liaison representative and one member from each chamber to serve as the liaison representative's alternate. The 2 liaison representatives shall not be members of the same political party, nor shall a liaison representative's alternate be a member of the same political party as the liaison representative for whom he or she is an alternate. The terms of the liaison representatives and alternate liaison representatives appointed by the Governor shall be 2 years, commencing on the second Wednesday of January in odd numbered years, except that the terms of the liaison representatives and alternate liaison representatives initially appointed by the Governor under this Section shall commence on the date of their appointment and expire on the second Wednesday of January, 1993. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the Governor for the unexpired term, and the person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be a member of the same chamber of the General Assembly and the same political party as his or her predecessor in office. The liaison representatives, or their alternates who meet with the Board of Directors of the Illinois High School Association at any meetings of that Board which the liaison representatives are unable to attend, shall communicate to the members of the General Assembly information of importance to the cooperative relationship between the Illinois High School Association and the General Assembly. It shall be the responsibility of the Illinois High School Association to timely supply to both liaison representatives and both alternates all agenda materials and information that are customarily supplied by that Association to the members of its Board of Directors for use in connection with the meetings of that Board.

(Source: P.A. 87-239; 87-895.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-25)

Sec. 22-25. High School Quality Guarantees. The school board of any district that maintains grades 9-12, including special charter districts and any district organized under Article 34, may enter into agreements that guarantee the academic skills and performance of graduates of their high schools in the workforce or in higher education. Any quality guarantee agreements established shall be subject to such qualifications and restrictions as the school board may determine.

(Source: P.A. 89-610, eff. 8-6-96.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-26)

Sec. 22-26. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 91-491, eff. 8-13-99. Repealed internally, eff. 1-2-00; repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-27)

Sec. 22-27. World War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict veterans; diplomas.

(a) Upon request, the school board of any district that maintains grades 10 through 12 may award a diploma to any honorably discharged veteran who:

(1) served in the armed forces of the United States during World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam Conflict;

(2) resided within an area currently within the district;

(3) left high school before graduating in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States; and

(4) has not received a high school diploma.

(b) The State Board of Education and the Department of Veterans' Affairs may issue rules consistent with the provisions of this Section that are necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 96-88, eff. 7-27-09.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-30)

Sec. 22-30. Self-administration of medication and school nurse administration.

(a) In this Section:

"Asthma inhaler" means a quick reliever asthma inhaler.

"Epinephrine auto-injector" means a medical device for immediate self-administration by a person at risk of anaphylaxis.

"Medication" means a medicine, prescribed by (i) a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, (ii) a physician assistant who has been delegated the authority to prescribe asthma medications by his or her supervising physician, or (iii) an advanced practice registered nurse who has a written collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician that delegates the authority to prescribe asthma medications, for a pupil that pertains to the pupil's asthma and that has an individual prescription label.

"Self-administration" means a pupil's discretionary use of and ability to carry his or her prescribed asthma medication.

(b) A school, whether public or nonpublic, must permit the self-administration of medication by a pupil with asthma or the use of an epinephrine auto-injector by a pupil, provided that:

(1) the parents or guardians of the pupil provide to the school (i) written authorization from the parents or guardians for the self-administration of medication or (ii) for use of an epinephrine auto-injector, written authorization from the pupil's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse; and

(2) the parents or guardians of the pupil provide to the school (i) the prescription label, which must contain the name of the medication, the prescribed dosage, and the time at which or circumstances under which the medication is to be administered, or (ii) for use of an epinephrine auto-injector, a written statement from the pupil's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse containing the following information:

(A) the name and purpose of the epinephrine auto-injector;

(B) the prescribed dosage; and

(C) the time or times at which or the special circumstances under which the epinephrine auto-injector is to be administered.

The information provided shall be kept on file in the office of the school nurse or, in the absence of a school nurse, the school's administrator.

(b-5) A school district or nonpublic school may authorize the provision of an epinephrine auto-injector to a student or any personnel authorized under a student's Individual Health Care Action Plan, Illinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan and Treatment Authorization Form, or plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to administer an epinephrine auto-injector to the student, that meets the prescription on file.

(b-10) The school district or nonpublic school may authorize a school nurse do the following: (i) provide an epinephrine auto-injector to a student or any personnel authorized under a student's Individual Health Care Action Plan, Illinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan and Treatment Authorization Form, or plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to administer an epinephrine auto-injector to the student, that meets the prescription on file; (ii) administer an epinephrine auto-injector that meets the prescription on file to any student who has an Individual Health Care Action Plan, Illinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan and Treatment Authorization Form, or plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that authorizes the use of an Epinephrine auto-injector; and (iii) administer an epinephrine auto-injector to any student that the school nurse in good faith professionally believes is having an anaphylactic reaction.

(c) The school district or nonpublic school must inform the parents or guardians of the pupil, in writing, that the school district or nonpublic school and its employees and agents, including a physician providing standing protocol or prescription for school epinephrine auto-injectors, are to incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of medication or use of an epinephrine auto-injector regardless of whether authorization was given by the pupil's parents or guardians or by the pupil's physician, physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse. The parents or guardians of the pupil must sign a statement acknowledging that the school district or nonpublic school and its employees and agents are to incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of medication or use of an epinephrine auto-injector regardless of whether authorization was given by the pupil's parents or guardians or by the pupil's physician, physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse and that the parents or guardians must indemnify and hold harmless the school district or nonpublic school and its employees and agents against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of the self-administration of medication or use of an epinephrine auto-injector regardless of whether authorization was given by the pupil's parents or guardians or by the pupil's physician, physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse. When a school nurse administers an epinephrine auto-injector to a student whom the school nurse in good faith professionally believes is having an anaphylactic reaction, notwithstanding the lack of notice to the parents or guardians of the pupil or the absence of the parents or guardians signed statement acknowledging no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, the school district or nonpublic school and its employees and agents, including a physician providing standing protocol or prescription for school epinephrine auto-injectors, are to incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from the use of an epinephrine auto-injector regardless of whether authorization was given by the pupil's parents or guardians or by the pupil's physician, physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.

(d) The permission for self-administration of medication or use of an epinephrine auto-injector is effective for the school year for which it is granted and shall be renewed each subsequent school year upon fulfillment of the requirements of this Section.

(e) Provided that the requirements of this Section are fulfilled, a pupil with asthma may possess and use his or her medication or a pupil may possess and use an epinephrine auto-injector (i) while in school, (ii) while at a school-sponsored activity, (iii) while under the supervision of school personnel, or (iv) before or after normal school activities, such as while in before-school or after-school care on school-operated property.

(f) The school district or nonpublic school may maintain at a school in a locked, secure location a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors. A physician may prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors in the name of the school district or nonpublic school to be maintained for use when necessary. The school district or nonpublic school supply of epinephrine auto-injectors may be provided to and utilized by any student authorized to self-administer that meets the prescription on file or by any personnel authorized under a student's Individual Health Care Action Plan, Illinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan and Treatment Authorization Form, or plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to administer an epinephrine auto-injector to the student, that meets the prescription on file. When a student does not have an epinephrine auto-injector or a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector on file, the school nurse may utilize the school district or nonpublic school supply of epinephrine auto-injectors to respond to anaphylactic reaction, under a standing protocol from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches and the requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 96-1460, eff. 8-20-10; 97-361, eff. 8-15-11.)