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Public Act 91-0606
SB1054 Enrolled LRB9106132NTks
AN ACT to amend the School Code by changing Section 21-2
and adding Section 21-27.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing
Section 21-2 and adding Section 21-27 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/21-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2)
Sec. 21-2. Grades of certificates.
(a) Until July 1, 1999, all certificates issued under
this Article shall be State certificates valid, except as
limited in Section 21-1, in every school district coming
under the provisions of this Act and shall be limited in time
and designated as follows: Provisional vocational
certificate, temporary provisional vocational certificate,
early childhood certificate, elementary school certificate,
special certificate, high school certificate, school service
personnel certificate, administrative certificate,
provisional certificate, and substitute certificate. The
requirement of student teaching under close and competent
supervision for obtaining a teaching certificate may be
waived by the State Teacher Certification Board upon
presentation to the Board by the teacher of evidence of 5
years successful teaching experience on a valid certificate
and graduation from a recognized institution of higher
learning with a bachelor's degree with not less than 120
semester hours and a minimum of 16 semester hours in
professional education.
(b) Initial Teaching Certificate. Beginning July 1,
1999, persons who (1) have completed an approved teacher
preparation program, (2) are recommended by an approved
teacher preparation program, (3) have successfully completed
the Initial Teaching Certification examinations required by
the State Board of Education, and (4) have met all other
criteria established by the State Board of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board,
shall be issued an Initial Teaching Certificate valid for 4
years of teaching. Initial Teaching Certificates shall be
issued for categories corresponding to Early Childhood,
Elementary, Secondary, and Special K-12, with special
certification designations for Special Education, Bilingual
Education, fundamental learning areas (including Language
Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical
Development and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and
other areas designated by the State Board of Education, in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
(c) Standard Certificate. Beginning July 1, 1999,
persons who (1) have completed 4 years of teaching with an
Initial Certificate, have successfully completed the Standard
Teaching Certificate examinations, and have met all other
criteria established by the State Board of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, or
(2) were issued teaching certificates prior to July 1, 1999
and are renewing those certificates after July 1, 1999, shall
be issued a Standard Certificate valid for 5 years, which may
be renewed thereafter every 5 years by the State Teacher
Certification Board based on proof of continuing education or
professional development. Standard Certificates shall be
issued for categories corresponding to Early Childhood,
Elementary, Secondary, and Special K-12, with special
certification designations for Special Education, Bilingual
Education, fundamental learning areas (including Language
Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical
Development and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and
other areas designated by the State Board of Education, in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
(d) Master Certificate. Beginning July 1, 1999, persons
who have successfully achieved National Board certification
through the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards shall be issued a Master Certificate, valid for 10
7 years and renewable thereafter every 10 7 years through
compliance with requirements set forth by the State Board of
Education. However, each teacher who holds a Master
Certificate shall be eligible for a teaching position in this
State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master
Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this
Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal
background checks. A teacher who holds a Master Certificate
shall be deemed to meet State certification renewal
requirements in the area or areas for which he or she holds a
Master Certificate for the 10-year term of the teacher's
Master Certificate.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-653, eff. 7-29-98;
90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-27 new)
Sec. 21-27. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.
The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program is hereby
established to provide categorical funding for monetary
incentives and bonuses for teachers who are employed by
school districts and who hold a Master Certificate. The
State Board of Education shall allocate and distribute to
each school district an amount as annually appropriated by
the General Assembly for the Illinois Teaching Excellence
Program. Unless otherwise provided by appropriation, each
school district's annual allocation shall be the sum of the
amounts earned for the following incentives and bonuses:
(1) A one-time payment of $3,000 to be paid to each
teacher who successfully completes the program leading to
and who receives a Master Certificate and is employed by
a school district. The school district shall distribute
this payment to each eligible teacher as a single payment
or in not more than 3 payments.
(2) An annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be
paid to each teacher who holds a Master Certificate, who
is employed by a school district, and who agrees, in
writing, to provide 60 hours of mentoring during that
year to classroom teachers. This mentoring may include,
either singly or in combination, (i) providing high
quality professional development for new and experienced
teachers, and (ii) assisting National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) candidates
through the NBPTS certification process. The school
district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive
payment upon completion of 30 hours of the required
mentoring and the remaining 50% of the incentive upon
completion of the required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit
may not be granted by a school district for mentoring or
related services provided during a regular school day or
during the total number of days of required service for
the school year.
(3) An annual incentive equal to $3,000 shall be
paid to each teacher who holds a Master Certificate, who
is employed by a school district, and who agrees, in
writing, to provide 60 hours of mentoring during that
year to classroom teachers in schools on the Academic
Early Warning List or in schools in which 50% or more of
the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or
both. The school district shall distribute 50% of each
annual incentive payment upon completion of 30 hours of
the required mentoring and the remaining 50% of the
incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours of
mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school
district for mentoring or related services provided
during a regular school day or during the total number of
days of required service for the school year.
Each regional superintendent of schools shall provide
information about the Master Certificate Program of the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
and this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly to each
individual seeking to register or renew a certificate under
Section 21-14 of this Code.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
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