HB0655 EngrossedLRB100 08123 NHT 18217 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
521B-45 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
7    Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.
8    (a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License
9are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as
10specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this
11Code.
12    Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall
13meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section, unless
14otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds a
15license endorsed in more than one area that has different
16renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal
17requirements for the position for which he or she spends the
18majority of his or her time working.
19    (b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as
20provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that
21year. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if
22a license holder's electronic mail address is available, the
23State Board of Education shall send him or her notification

 

 

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1electronically that his or her license will lapse if not
2renewed, to be sent no more than 6 months prior to the license
3lapsing. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon (i)
4payment by the applicant of a $500 penalty to the State Board
5of Education or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by
6completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally
7accredited institution of higher education in the content area
8that most aligns with one or more of the educator's endorsement
9areas. Any and all back fees, including without limitation
10registration fees owed from the time of expiration of the
11license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid and kept
12in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this Code
13concerning an institute fund and the provisions in Article 21B
14of this Code concerning fees and requirements for registration.
15Licenses not registered in accordance with Section 21B-40 of
16this Code shall lapse after a period of 6 months from the
17expiration of the last year of registration. An unregistered
18license is invalid after September 1 for employment and
19performance of services in an Illinois public or State-operated
20school or cooperative and in a charter school. Any license or
21endorsement may be voluntarily surrendered by the license
22holder. A voluntarily surrendered license, except a substitute
23teaching license issued under Section 21B-20 of this Code,
24shall be treated as a revoked license. An Educator License with
25Stipulations with only a paraprofessional endorsement does not
26lapse.

 

 

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1    (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to
2satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in
3this Section, each professional educator licensee with an
4administrative endorsement who is working in a position
5requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois
6Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of
7this Code, per fiscal year.
8    (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
9requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
10Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
11professional development plan each year. The plan shall address
12one or more of the endorsements that are required of his or her
13educator position if the licensee is employed and performing
14services in an Illinois public or State-operated school or
15cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a charter school,
16the plan shall address that endorsement or those endorsements
17most closely related to his or her educator position. Licensees
18employed and performing services in any other Illinois schools
19may participate in the renewal requirements by adhering to the
20same process.
21    Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the
22licensee's professional development activities shall align
23with one or more of the following criteria:
24        (1) activities are of a type that engage participants
25    over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,
26    discovery, and application as they relate to student

 

 

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1    learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
2        (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
3    performance;
4        (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student
5    growth or district improvement;
6        (4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
7        (5) higher education coursework.
8    (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
9licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
10Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into
11the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
12date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
13development hours, and the provider's name. The following
14provisions shall apply concerning professional development
15activities:
16        (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours
17    of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in
18    order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided in
19    this Section.
20        (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,
21    any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not
22    working in a position requiring such endorsement shall
23    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
24    described in Article 2 of this Code, in each 5-year renewal
25    cycle in which the administrative endorsement was held for
26    at least one year. The Illinois Administrators' Academy

 

 

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1    course may count toward the total of 120 hours per 5-year
2    cycle.
3        (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement
4    who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
5    an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in
6    an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
7    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
8    described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
9    addition to 100 hours of professional development per
10    5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
11        (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
12    Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
13    designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of
14    professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order
15    to renew the license.
16        (5) Licensees working in a position that does not
17    require educator licensure or working in a position for
18    less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
19    exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration
20    fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
21    license.
22        (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits
23    from a State retirement system shall notify the State Board
24    of Education using ELIS, and the license shall be
25    maintained in retired status. An individual with a license
26    in retired status shall not be required to complete

 

 

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1    professional development activities or pay registration
2    fees until returning to a position that requires educator
3    licensure. Upon returning to work in a position that
4    requires the Professional Educator License, the licensee
5    shall immediately pay a registration fee and complete
6    renewal requirements for that year. A license in retired
7    status cannot lapse.
8        (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
9    development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
10    licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
11    minimum professional development hours required in this
12    Section prior to September 1 of that year. For any fiscal
13    year or renewal cycle in which an Illinois Administrators'
14    Academy course was required but not completed, the licensee
15    shall complete any missed Illinois Administrators' Academy
16    courses prior to September 1 of that year. The licensee may
17    complete all deficient hours and Illinois Administrators'
18    Academy courses while continuing to work in a position that
19    requires that license until September 1 of that year.
20        (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the professional
21    development renewal requirements set forth in this Section
22    at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is ineligible to
23    register his or her license and may submit an appeal to the
24    State Superintendent of Education for reinstatement of the
25    license.
26        (9) If professional development opportunities were

 

 

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1    unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were
2    unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
3    August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be
4    submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
5    State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an
6    extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
7    during the extension period.
8        (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
9    December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-610)
10    shall commence the annual renewal process with the first
11    scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013 (the
12    effective date of Public Act 98-610).
13        (11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
14    subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required
15    number of professional development hours during a renewal
16    cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned
17    from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the
18    renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must
19    be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois
20    Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those
21    courses may not be carried over.
22    (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
23the required questions under penalty of perjury.
24    (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
25to provide professional development activities for the renewal
26of Professional Educator Licenses:

 

 

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1        (1) The State Board of Education.
2        (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
3    service centers.
4        (3) Illinois professional associations representing
5    the following groups that are approved by the State
6    Superintendent of Education:
7            (A) school administrators;
8            (B) principals;
9            (C) school business officials;
10            (D) teachers, including special education
11        teachers;
12            (E) school boards;
13            (F) school districts;
14            (G) parents; and
15            (H) school service personnel.
16        (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher
17    education that offer Illinois-approved educator
18    preparation programs and public community colleges subject
19    to the Public Community College Act.
20        (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
21    authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
22    educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
23    Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
24    education or special education services.
25        (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December
26    31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has

 

 

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1    had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board
2    of Education to provide professional development services
3    in the area of English Learning to Illinois school
4    districts, teachers, or administrators.
5        (7) State agencies, State boards, and State
6    commissions.
7        (8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum
8    Disposition of Property Act.
9    (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section
10shall make available professional development opportunities
11that satisfy at least one of the following:
12        (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
13    district leaders who guide continuous professional
14    development;
15        (2) improve the learning of students;
16        (3) organize adults into learning communities whose
17    goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
18        (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
19        (5) provide educators with research-based
20    instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
21    rigorous academic standards;
22        (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
23    types of classroom assessments;
24        (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
25    intended goals;
26        (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to

 

 

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1    collaborate; or
2        (9) prepare educators to apply research to
3    decision-making.
4    (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section
5shall do the following:
6        (1) align professional development activities to the
7    State-approved national standards for professional
8    learning;
9        (2) meet the professional development criteria for
10    Illinois licensure renewal;
11        (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains
12    how it aligns to State standards and identify the
13    assessment for determining the expected impact on student
14    learning or school improvement;
15        (4) maintain original documentation for completion of
16    activities; and
17        (5) provide license holders with evidence of
18    completion of activities.
19    (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
20audits of approved providers, except for school districts,
21which shall be audited by regional offices of education and
22intermediate service centers. The State Board of Education
23shall complete random audits of licensees.
24        (1) Approved providers shall annually submit to the
25    State Board of Education a list of subcontractors used for
26    delivery of professional development activities for which

 

 

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1    renewal credit was issued and other information as defined
2    by rule.
3        (2) Approved providers shall annually submit data to
4    the State Board of Education demonstrating how the
5    professional development activities impacted one or more
6    of the following:
7            (A) educator and student growth in regards to
8        content knowledge or skills, or both;
9            (B) educator and student social and emotional
10        growth; or
11            (C) alignment to district or school improvement
12        plans.
13        (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
14    the annual data collected by the State Board of Education,
15    regional offices of education, and intermediate service
16    centers in audits to determine if the approved provider has
17    met the criteria and should continue to be an approved
18    provider or if further action should be taken as provided
19    in rules.
20    (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
21cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
225-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
23development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed and
24entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
25registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
26debit card.

 

 

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1    (l) Beginning July 1, 2014, any professional educator
2licensee endorsed for school support personnel who is employed
3and performing services in Illinois public schools and who
4holds an active and current professional license issued by the
5Department of Financial and Professional Regulation related to
6the endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License
7shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional
8development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
9individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to
10renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who does
11not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial and
12Professional Regulation shall complete professional
13development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
14Educator License provided for in this Section.
15    (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
16Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of notice from
17the State Superintendent of Education that a license will not
18be renewed based upon failure to complete the requirements of
19this Section. A licensee may appeal that decision to the State
20Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in a manner prescribed
21by rule.
22        (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
23    Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
24    sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
25    State Board of Education.
26        (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board

 

 

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1    shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
2    within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to
3    determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of
4    this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
5    Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
6    determination based upon the record of review, which shall
7    consist of the following:
8            (A) the regional superintendent of education's
9        rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,
10        if applicable;
11            (B) any evidence submitted to the State
12        Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
13        statement of assurance for renewal; and
14            (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
15        nonrenewal of the license.
16        (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
17    shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding license
18    renewal by certified mail, return receipt requested, no
19    later than 30 days after reaching a decision. Upon receipt
20    of notification of renewal, the licensee, using ELIS, shall
21    pay the applicable registration fee for the next cycle
22    using a form of credit or debit card.
23    (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
24necessary to implement this Section.
25(Source: P.A. 98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 98-1147, eff. 12-31-14;
2699-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-130, eff. 7-24-15; 99-591, eff. 1-1-17;

 

 

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199-642, eff. 7-28-16.)
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.