Public Act 100-0584
 
SB0863 EnrolledLRB100 08009 MLM 18091 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
21B-35 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-35)
    Sec. 21B-35. Minimum requirements for educators trained in
other states or countries.
    (a) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education applying for a Professional
Educator License endorsed in a teaching field or school support
personnel area must meet all of the following requirements:
        (1) Provide evidence of completing a comparable
    state-approved educator preparation program, as defined by
    the State Superintendent of Education, or hold Hold a
    comparable and valid educator license or certificate with
    similar grade level and subject matter credentials from
    another state. The State Board of Education shall have the
    authority to determine what constitutes similar grade
    level and subject matter credentials from another state. A
    comparable educator license or certificate is one that
    demonstrates that the license or certificate holder meets
    similar requirements as candidates entitled by an
    Illinois-approved educator preparation program in teaching
    or school support personnel areas concerning coursework
    aligned to standards concerning methods of instruction of
    the exceptional child, methods of reading and reading in
    the content area, and instructional strategies for English
    learners. An applicant who holds a comparable and valid
    educator license or certificate from another state must
    submit verification to the State Board of Education that
    the applicant has completed coursework concerning methods
    of instruction of the exceptional child, methods of reading
    and reading in the content area, and instructional
    strategies for English learners.
        (2) Have a degree from a regionally accredited
    institution of higher education.
        (3) (Blank).
        (4) (Blank).
        (5) (Blank).
        (6) Have successfully met all Illinois examination
    requirements. Applicants who have successfully completed a
    test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at the time of
    initial licensure in another state shall not be required to
    complete a test of basic skills. Applicants who have
    successfully completed a test of content, as defined by
    rules, at the time of initial licensure in another state
    shall not be required to complete a test of content.
    Applicants for a teaching endorsement who have
    successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of
    teacher effectiveness, as defined by rules, at the time of
    initial licensure in another state shall not be required to
    complete an evidence-based assessment of teacher
    effectiveness.
        (7) For applicants for a teaching endorsement, have
    completed student teaching or an equivalent experience or,
    for applicants for a school service personnel endorsement,
    have completed an internship or an equivalent experience.
    If one or more of the criteria in this subsection (a) are
not met, then applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education who hold a valid, comparable
certificate from another state may qualify for a provisional
educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations,
in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code.
    (b) In order to receive a Professional Educator License
endorsed in a teaching field, 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) Have a degree comparable to a degree from a
    regionally accredited institution of higher education.
        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
    and instructional strategies for English learners.
        (5) (Blank).
        (6) (Blank).
        (7) Have successfully met all State licensure
    examination requirements. Applicants who have successfully
    completed a test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at
    the time of initial licensure in another country shall not
    be required to complete a test of basic skills. Applicants
    who have successfully completed a test of content, as
    defined by rules, at the time of initial licensure in
    another country shall not be required to complete a test of
    content. Applicants for a teaching endorsement who have
    successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of
    teacher effectiveness, as defined by rules, at the time of
    initial licensure in another country shall not be required
    to complete an evidence-based assessment of teacher
    effectiveness.
        (8) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent
    experience.
    (b-5) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education and applicants trained in
another country applying for a Professional Educator License
endorsed for principal or superintendent must meet all of the
following requirements:
        (1) Have completed an educator preparation program
    approved by another state or comparable educator program in
    another country leading to the receipt of a license or
    certificate for the Illinois endorsement sought.
        (2) Have successfully met all State licensure
    examination requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of
    this Code. Applicants who have successfully completed a
    test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at the time of
    initial licensure in another state or country shall not be
    required to complete a test of basic skills. Applicants who
    have successfully completed a test of content, as defined
    by rules, at the time of initial licensure in another state
    or country shall not be required to complete a test of
    content.
        (3) (Blank).
        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
    and instructional strategies for English learners.
        (5) Have completed a master's degree.
        (6) Have successfully completed teaching, school
    support, or administrative experience as defined by rule.
    A provisional educator endorsement to serve as a
superintendent or principal may be affixed to an Educator
License with Stipulations in accordance with Section 21B-20 of
this Code.
    (b-7) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education applying for a Professional
Educator License endorsed for Director of Special Education
must meet all of the following requirements:
        (1) Have completed a master's degree.
        (2) Have 2 years of full-time experience providing
    special education services.
        (3) Have successfully completed all examination
    requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
    Applicants who have successfully completed a test of
    content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial
    licensure in another state or country shall not be required
    to complete a test of content.
        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
    and instructional strategies for English learners.
    A provisional educator endorsement to serve as Director of
Special Education may be affixed to an Educator License with
Stipulations in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code.
    (b-10) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education applying for a Professional
Educator License endorsed for chief school business official
must meet all of the following requirements:
        (1) Have completed a master's degree in school business
    management, finance, or accounting.
        (2) Have successfully completed an internship in
    school business management or have 2 years of experience as
    a school business administrator.
        (3) Have successfully met all State examination
    requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
    Applicants who have successfully completed a test of
    content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial
    licensure in another state or country shall not be required
    to complete a test of content.
        (4) Have completed modules aligned to standards
    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
    and instructional strategies for English learners.
    A provisional educator endorsement to serve as a chief
school business official may be affixed to an Educator License
with Stipulations.
    (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. 99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-920, eff. 1-6-17; 100-13,
eff. 7-1-17.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.