Public Act 0862 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0616 Enrolled LRB096 06682 NHT 16766 b

Public Act 096-0862

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 Sections 21-5a, 21-5b, 21-5c, 21-5d, and 21-5e as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for admission to the alternative certification program and shall adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and implement the program.

Alternative certification programs under Sections 21-5a through 21-5e may be provided by various types of qualified providers, including both institutions of higher education and other providers operating independently from institutions of higher education; provided however, that any and all programs must be approved by the State Board of Education in accordance with rules and regulations.

(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

(105 ILCS 5/21-5b)

Sec. 21-5b. Alternative certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an alternative certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued an alternative teaching certificate for teaching in the schools. The program shall be limited to not more than 260 new participants during each year that the program is in effect. The State Board of Education, in cooperation with one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State that support excellence in teaching, which may be in a partnership formed with a university that offers 4-year baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a recognized institution as defined in Section 21-21, may and one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State which support excellence in teaching, shall within 30 days after submission by the program sponsor partnership approve a course of study developed by the program sponsor partnership that persons in the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of an alternative certificate under this Section. The Alternative Teacher Certification program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in the university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for State teacher certification.

The alternative certification program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Teacher Certification program. The Alternative Teacher Certification Program shall be offered by the submitting partnership, and such partnership may be offered by in conjunction with one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State which support excellence in teaching. The program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) the first phase is the course of study offered on an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the second phase is the person's assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school year; and (c) the third phase is a comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance by school officials and the partnership participants and a recommendation by the program sponsor partner institution of higher education to the State Board of Education that the person be issued a standard alternative teaching certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Teacher Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.

A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21-5b to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching certificate under this Section:

(1) have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree;

(2) have successfully completed the first phase of the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section;

(3) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a; and

(4) (i) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years in an area requiring application of the individual's education or (ii) have attained at least a cumulative grade average of a "B" if the individual is assigned either to a school district that has not met the annual measurable objective for highly qualified teachers required by the Illinois Revised Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) Plan or to a school district whose data filed with the State Board of Education indicates that the district's poor and minority students are taught by teachers who are not highly qualified at a higher rate than other students; however, this item (4) does not apply with respect to a provisional alternative teaching certificate for teaching in schools situated in a school district that is located in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants. Assignment may be made under clause (ii) of this item (4) only if the district superintendent and the exclusive bargaining representative of the district's teachers, if any, jointly agree to permit the assignment.

A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining representative, if any.

Until February 15, 2000, a standard alternative teaching certificate, valid for 4 years for teaching in the schools and renewable as provided in Section 21-14, shall be issued under this Section 21-5b to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for a standard alternative teaching certificate under this Section have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section. Alternatively, beginning February 15, 2000, at the end of the 4-year validity period, persons who were issued a standard alternative teaching certificate shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code and further provided that a person who does not apply for and receive a Standard Teaching Certificate shall be able to teach only in schools situated in a school district that is located in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.

Beginning February 15, 2000, persons who have completed the requirements for a standard alternative teaching certificate under this Section shall be issued an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching and not renewable. At the end of the 4-year validity period, these persons shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21-2.

Such This alternative certification program shall be implemented so that the first provisional alternative teaching certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1997-1998 academic year and the first standard alternative teaching certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1998-1999 academic year.

The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the partnership or partnerships establishing such the Alternative Teacher Certification programs program, shall adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and implement the program.

(Source: P.A. 95-270, eff. 8-17-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/21-5c)

Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement one or more an alternative route to teacher certification programs program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the programs program established by this Section shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching in schools in this State. The State Board of Education may shall approve a course of study that persons in such programs the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to Teacher Certification programs program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in a university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for State teacher certification.

Programs The program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification programs program. The programs program may be offered by a university that offers 4-year baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a recognized institution as defined in Section 21-21, by in conjunction with one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State, or a combination thereof. The programs program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school year, including the designation of a mentor teacher to advise and assist the person with that teaching assignment; and (c) a comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance by school officials and program participants and a recommendation by the program sponsor institution of higher education to the State Board of Education that the person be issued an initial teaching certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification programs program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.

A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21-5c to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching certificate under this Section:

(1) have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree;

(2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years in an area requiring application of the individual's education;

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

(4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.

An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section.

A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate or an initial teaching certificate earned under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining representative, if any.

The State Board of Education may adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the program.

(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

(105 ILCS 5/21-5d)

Sec. 21-5d. Alternative route to administrative certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and an advisory panel consisting of no less than 7 administrators appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, shall establish and implement one or more an alternative route to administrative certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued a standard administrative certificate for serving as an administrator in schools in this State. For the purposes of this Section only, "administrator" means a person holding any administrative position for which a standard administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement, chief school business official endorsement, or superintendent endorsement is required, except a principal or an assistant principal. The State Board of Education may shall approve a course of study that persons in the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in a university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for administrative certification.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The State Board of Education may adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement those programs the program.

(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

(105 ILCS 5/21-5e)

Sec. 21-5e. Alternative Route to Administrative Certification for National Board Certified Teachers.

(a) It shall be the policy of the State of Illinois to improve the recruitment and preparation of instructional leaders.

(b) On or before July 1, 2007, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, may shall establish and implement one or more an alternative route to administrative certification for teacher leaders, to be known as the Alternative Route to an Administrative Certificate for National Board Certified Teachers. "Teacher leader" means a certified teacher who has already received National Board certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who has a teacher leader endorsement under Section 21-7.5 of this Code. Persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete a the program established by this Section shall be issued a standard administrative certificate for serving in schools in this State. The State Board may shall approve a course of study that persons must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of the administrative certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to an Administrative Certificate for National Board Certified Teachers must include the current content and skills contained in a college's or university's courses and the Illinois Professional School Leader Standards for State certification, with the exception of content and skills courses that contain the competency areas and the Illinois Professional School Leader Standards that a candidate has already demonstrated meeting met through National Board certification or through a teacher leadership master's degree program.

(c) The Alternative Route to an Administrative Certificate for National Board Certified Teachers shall be comprised of the following 4 phases:

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

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

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

(4) a passing score on the Illinois Administrator Assessment.

(d) Successful completion of the Alternative Route to an Administrative Certificate for National Board Certified Teachers shall be deemed to satisfy all requirements to receive an administrative certificate established by law. The State Board shall adopt rules that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary for the establishment and implementation of the program.

(Source: P.A. 94-1039, eff. 7-20-06.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.