102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3839

 

Introduced 1/21/2022, by Sen. Jil Tracy

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/21B-45
105 ILCS 5/24A-5  from Ch. 122, par. 24A-5
105 ILCS 5/24A-7  from Ch. 122, par. 24A-7
105 ILCS 5/24A-15

    Amends the School Code. Provides that for any 5-year renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school year, each professional educator licensee shall complete a total of 100 hours of professional development during the 5-year renewal cycle in order to renew the license (rather than being required to complete a total of 120 hours). For the 2021-2022 school year only, provides that a licensee with an administrative endorsement who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day is not required to complete an Illinois Administrators' Academy course (rather than being required to complete one course). In provisions related to the content of evaluation plans, allows a school district to waive, for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any teacher in contractual continued service whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". In regard to rules adopted by the State Board of Education concerning educator evaluations, for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, provides that factors related to methods of measuring student growth may not be used in any educator evaluation. In regard to the development of an evaluation plan for principals and assistant principals, allows a school district to waive, for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any principal or assistant principal whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". Effective immediately.


LRB102 23967 CMG 33171 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3839LRB102 23967 CMG 33171 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 Sections
521B-45, 24A-5, 24A-7, and 24A-15 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,
14unless otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds
15a license 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
4(i) payment by the applicant of a $500 penalty to the State
5Board of 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
9endorsement areas. Any and all back fees, including without
10limitation registration fees owed from the time of expiration
11of the license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid
12and kept in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this
13Code concerning an institute fund and the provisions in
14Article 21B of this Code concerning fees and requirements for
15registration. Licenses not registered in accordance with
16Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6
17months from the expiration of the last year of registration or
18on January 1 of the fiscal year following initial issuance of
19the license. An unregistered license is invalid after
20September 1 for employment and performance of services in an
21Illinois public or State-operated school or cooperative and in
22a charter school. Any license or endorsement may be
23voluntarily surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily
24surrendered license shall be treated as a revoked license. An
25Educator License with Stipulations with only a
26paraprofessional endorsement does not lapse.

 

 

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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    (c-5) All licenses issued by the State Board of Education
9under this Article that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not
10been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be
11extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021.
12    (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
13requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
14Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
15professional development plan each year. The plan shall
16address one or more of the endorsements that are required of
17his or her educator position if the licensee is employed and
18performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated
19school or cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a
20charter school, the plan shall address that endorsement or
21those endorsements most closely related to his or her educator
22position. Licensees employed and performing services in any
23other Illinois schools may participate in the renewal
24requirements by adhering to the same process.
25    Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the
26licensee's professional development activities shall align

 

 

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1with one or more of the following criteria:
2        (1) activities are of a type that engage participants
3    over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,
4    discovery, and application as they relate to student
5    learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
6        (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
7    performance;
8        (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student
9    growth or district improvement;
10        (4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
11        (5) higher education coursework.
12    (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
13licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
14Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into
15the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
16date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
17development hours, and the provider's name. The following
18provisions shall apply concerning professional development
19activities:
20        (1) For any 5-year renewal cycle that does not include
21    the 2021-2022 school year, each Each licensee shall
22    complete a total of 120 hours of professional development
23    per 5-year renewal cycle in order to renew the license,
24    except as otherwise provided in this Section. For any
25    5-year renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school
26    year, each licensee shall complete a total of 100 hours of

 

 

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1    professional development during the 5-year renewal cycle
2    in order to renew the license, except as otherwise
3    provided in this Section.
4        (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,
5    any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not
6    working in a position requiring such endorsement is not
7    required to complete Illinois Administrators' Academy
8    courses, as described in Article 2 of this Code. Such
9    licensees must complete one Illinois Administrators'
10    Academy course within one year after returning to a
11    position that requires the administrative endorsement.
12        (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement
13    who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
14    an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in
15    an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
16    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
17    described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
18    addition to 100 hours of professional development per
19    5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
20    However, for the 2021-2022 school year only, a licensee
21    under this paragraph (3) is not required to complete an
22    Illinois Administrators' Academy course.
23        (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
24    Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
25    designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of
26    professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order

 

 

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1    to renew the license.
2        (5) Licensees working in a position that does not
3    require educator licensure or working in a position for
4    less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
5    exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration
6    fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
7    license.
8        (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits
9    from a State of Illinois retirement system shall notify
10    the State Board of Education using ELIS, and the license
11    shall be maintained in retired status. For any renewal
12    cycle in which a licensee retires during the renewal
13    cycle, the licensee must complete professional development
14    activities on a prorated basis depending on the number of
15    years during the renewal cycle the educator held an active
16    license. If a licensee retires during a renewal cycle, the
17    licensee must notify the State Board of Education using
18    ELIS that the licensee wishes to maintain the license in
19    retired status and must show proof of completion of
20    professional development activities on a prorated basis
21    for all years of that renewal cycle for which the license
22    was active. An individual with a license in retired status
23    shall not be required to complete professional development
24    activities or pay registration fees until returning to a
25    position that requires educator licensure. Upon returning
26    to work in a position that requires the Professional

 

 

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1    Educator License, the licensee shall immediately pay a
2    registration fee and complete renewal requirements for
3    that year. A license in retired status cannot lapse.
4    Beginning on January 6, 2017 (the effective date of Public
5    Act 99-920) through December 31, 2017, any licensee who
6    has retired and whose license has lapsed for failure to
7    renew as provided in this Section may reinstate that
8    license and maintain it in retired status upon providing
9    proof to the State Board of Education using ELIS that the
10    licensee is retired and is not working in a position that
11    requires a Professional Educator License.
12        (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
13    development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
14    licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
15    minimum professional development hours required in this
16    Section prior to September 1 of that year. Professional
17    development hours used to fulfill the minimum required
18    hours for a renewal cycle may be used for only one renewal
19    cycle. For any fiscal year or renewal cycle in which an
20    Illinois Administrators' Academy course was required but
21    not completed, the licensee shall complete any missed
22    Illinois Administrators' Academy courses prior to
23    September 1 of that year. The licensee may complete all
24    deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' Academy
25    courses while continuing to work in a position that
26    requires that license until September 1 of that year.

 

 

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1        (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the
2    professional development renewal requirements set forth in
3    this Section at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is
4    ineligible to register his or her license and may submit
5    an appeal to the State Superintendent of Education for
6    reinstatement of the license.
7        (9) If professional development opportunities were
8    unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were
9    unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
10    August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be
11    submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
12    State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an
13    extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
14    during the extension period.
15        (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
16    December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act
17    98-610) shall commence the annual renewal process with the
18    first scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013
19    (the effective date of Public Act 98-610).
20        (11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
21    subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required
22    number of professional development hours during a renewal
23    cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned
24    from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the
25    renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must
26    be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois

 

 

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1    Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those
2    courses may not be carried over.
3    (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
4the required questions under penalty of perjury.
5    (f-5) The State Board of Education shall conduct random
6audits of licensees to verify a licensee's fulfillment of the
7professional development hours required under this Section.
8Upon completion of a random audit, if it is determined by the
9State Board of Education that the licensee did not complete
10the required number of professional development hours or did
11not provide sufficient proof of completion, the licensee shall
12be notified that his or her license has lapsed. A license that
13has lapsed under this subsection may be reinstated as provided
14in subsection (b).
15    (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
16to provide professional development activities for the renewal
17of Professional Educator Licenses:
18        (1) The State Board of Education.
19        (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
20    service centers.
21        (3) Illinois professional associations representing
22    the following groups that are approved by the State
23    Superintendent of Education:
24            (A) school administrators;
25            (B) principals;
26            (C) school business officials;

 

 

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1            (D) teachers, including special education
2        teachers;
3            (E) school boards;
4            (F) school districts;
5            (G) parents; and
6            (H) school service personnel.
7        (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher
8    education that offer Illinois-approved educator
9    preparation programs and public community colleges subject
10    to the Public Community College Act.
11        (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
12    authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
13    educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
14    Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
15    education or special education services.
16        (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December
17    31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has
18    had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board
19    of Education to provide professional development services
20    in the area of English Learning to Illinois school
21    districts, teachers, or administrators.
22        (7) State agencies, State boards, and State
23    commissions.
24        (8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum
25    Disposition of Property Act.
26    (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this

 

 

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1Section shall make available professional development
2opportunities that satisfy at least one of the following:
3        (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
4    district leaders who guide continuous professional
5    development;
6        (2) improve the learning of students;
7        (3) organize adults into learning communities whose
8    goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
9        (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
10        (5) provide educators with research-based
11    instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
12    rigorous academic standards;
13        (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
14    types of classroom assessments;
15        (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
16    intended goals;
17        (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to
18    collaborate;
19        (9) prepare educators to apply research to decision
20    making;
21        (10) provide educators with training on inclusive
22    practices in the classroom that examines instructional and
23    behavioral strategies that improve academic and
24    social-emotional outcomes for all students, with or
25    without disabilities, in a general education setting; or
26        (11) beginning on July 1, 2022, provide educators with

 

 

SB3839- 12 -LRB102 23967 CMG 33171 b

1    training on the physical and mental health needs of
2    students, student safety, educator ethics, professional
3    conduct, and other topics that address the well-being of
4    students and improve the academic and social-emotional
5    outcomes of students.
6    (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this
7Section shall do the following:
8        (1) align professional development activities to the
9    State-approved national standards for professional
10    learning;
11        (2) meet the professional development criteria for
12    Illinois licensure renewal;
13        (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains
14    how it aligns to State standards and identify the
15    assessment for determining the expected impact on student
16    learning or school improvement;
17        (4) maintain original documentation for completion of
18    activities;
19        (5) provide license holders with evidence of
20    completion of activities;
21        (6) request an Illinois Educator Identification Number
22    (IEIN) for each educator during each professional
23    development activity; and
24        (7) beginning on July 1, 2019, register annually with
25    the State Board of Education prior to offering any
26    professional development opportunities in the current

 

 

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1    fiscal year.
2    (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
3audits of a subset of approved providers, except for school
4districts, which shall be audited by regional offices of
5education and intermediate service centers. The State Board of
6Education shall ensure that each approved provider, except for
7a school district, is audited at least once every 5 years. The
8State Board of Education may conduct more frequent audits of
9providers if evidence suggests the requirements of this
10Section or administrative rules are not being met.
11        (1) (Blank).
12        (2) Approved providers shall comply with the
13    requirements in subsections (h) and (i) of this Section by
14    annually submitting data to the State Board of Education
15    demonstrating how the professional development activities
16    impacted one or more of the following:
17            (A) educator and student growth in regards to
18        content knowledge or skills, or both;
19            (B) educator and student social and emotional
20        growth; or
21            (C) alignment to district or school improvement
22        plans.
23        (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
24    the annual data collected by the State Board of Education,
25    regional offices of education, and intermediate service
26    centers in audits to determine if the approved provider

 

 

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1    has met the criteria and should continue to be an approved
2    provider or if further action should be taken as provided
3    in rules.
4    (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
5cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
65-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
7development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed
8and entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
9registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
10debit card.
11    (l) Any professional educator licensee endorsed for school
12support personnel who is employed and performing services in
13Illinois public schools and who holds an active and current
14professional license issued by the Department of Financial and
15Professional Regulation or a national certification board, as
16approved by the State Board of Education, related to the
17endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License shall
18be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional
19development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
20individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to
21renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who
22does not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial
23and Professional Regulation shall complete professional
24development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
25Educator License provided for in this Section.
26    (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and

 

 

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1Licensure Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of
2notice from the State Superintendent of Education that a
3license will not be renewed based upon failure to complete the
4requirements of this Section. A licensee may appeal that
5decision to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
6in a manner prescribed by rule.
7        (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
8    Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
9    sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
10    State Board of Education.
11        (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
12    shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
13    within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to
14    determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of
15    this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
16    Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
17    determination based upon the record of review, which shall
18    consist of the following:
19            (A) the regional superintendent of education's
20        rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,
21        if applicable;
22            (B) any evidence submitted to the State
23        Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
24        statement of assurance for renewal; and
25            (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
26        nonrenewal of the license.

 

 

SB3839- 16 -LRB102 23967 CMG 33171 b

1        (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
2    shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding
3    license renewal by certified mail, return receipt
4    requested, no later than 30 days after reaching a
5    decision. Upon receipt of notification of renewal, the
6    licensee, using ELIS, shall pay the applicable
7    registration fee for the next cycle using a form of credit
8    or debit card.
9    (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
10necessary to implement this Section.
11(Source: P.A. 101-85, eff. 1-1-20; 101-531, eff. 8-23-19;
12101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-676, eff. 12-3-21.)
 
13    (105 ILCS 5/24A-5)  (from Ch. 122, par. 24A-5)
14    Sec. 24A-5. Content of evaluation plans. This Section
15does not apply to teachers assigned to schools identified in
16an agreement entered into between the board of a school
17district operating under Article 34 of this Code and the
18exclusive representative of the district's teachers in
19accordance with Section 34-85c of this Code.
20    Each school district to which this Article applies shall
21establish a teacher evaluation plan which ensures that each
22teacher in contractual continued service is evaluated at least
23once in the course of every 2 or 3 school years as provided in
24this Section.
25    Each school district shall establish a teacher evaluation

 

 

SB3839- 17 -LRB102 23967 CMG 33171 b

1plan that ensures that:
2        (1) each teacher not in contractual continued service
3    is evaluated at least once every school year; and
4        (2) except as otherwise provided in this Section, each
5    teacher in contractual continued service is evaluated at
6    least once in the course of every 2 school years. However,
7    any teacher in contractual continued service whose
8    performance is rated as either "needs improvement" or
9    "unsatisfactory" must be evaluated at least once in the
10    school year following the receipt of such rating.
11    No later than September 1, 2022, each school district must
12establish a teacher evaluation plan that ensures that each
13teacher in contractual continued service whose performance is
14rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" is evaluated at
15least once in the course of the 3 school years after receipt of
16the rating and implement an informal teacher observation plan
17established by agency rule and by agreement of the joint
18committee established under subsection (b) of Section 24A-4 of
19this Code that ensures that each teacher in contractual
20continued service whose performance is rated as either
21"excellent" or "proficient" is informally observed at least
22once in the course of the 2 school years after receipt of the
23rating.
24    For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, a
25school district may waive the evaluation requirement of any
26teacher in contractual continued service whose performance was

 

 

SB3839- 18 -LRB102 23967 CMG 33171 b

1rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" during the last
2school year in which the teacher was evaluated under this
3Section.
4    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
5or any other Section of the School Code, a principal shall not
6be prohibited from evaluating any teachers within a school
7during his or her first year as principal of such school. If a
8first-year principal exercises this option in a school
9district where the evaluation plan provides for a teacher in
10contractual continued service to be evaluated once in the
11course of every 2 or 3 school years, as applicable, then a new
122-year or 3-year evaluation plan must be established.
13    The evaluation plan shall comply with the requirements of
14this Section and of any rules adopted by the State Board of
15Education pursuant to this Section.
16    The plan shall include a description of each teacher's
17duties and responsibilities and of the standards to which that
18teacher is expected to conform, and shall include at least the
19following components:
20        (a) personal observation of the teacher in the
21    classroom by the evaluator, unless the teacher has no
22    classroom duties.
23        (b) consideration of the teacher's attendance,
24    planning, instructional methods, classroom management,
25    where relevant, and competency in the subject matter
26    taught.

 

 

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1        (c) by no later than the applicable implementation
2    date, consideration of student growth as a significant
3    factor in the rating of the teacher's performance.
4        (d) prior to September 1, 2012, rating of the
5    performance of teachers in contractual continued service
6    as either:
7            (i) "excellent", "satisfactory" or
8        "unsatisfactory"; or
9            (ii) "excellent", "proficient", "needs
10        improvement" or "unsatisfactory".
11        (e) on and after September 1, 2012, rating of the
12    performance of all teachers as "excellent", "proficient",
13    "needs improvement" or "unsatisfactory".
14        (f) specification as to the teacher's strengths and
15    weaknesses, with supporting reasons for the comments made.
16        (g) inclusion of a copy of the evaluation in the
17    teacher's personnel file and provision of a copy to the
18    teacher.
19        (h) within 30 school days after the completion of an
20    evaluation rating a teacher in contractual continued
21    service as "needs improvement", development by the
22    evaluator, in consultation with the teacher, and taking
23    into account the teacher's on-going professional
24    responsibilities including his or her regular teaching
25    assignments, of a professional development plan directed
26    to the areas that need improvement and any supports that

 

 

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1    the district will provide to address the areas identified
2    as needing improvement.
3        (i) within 30 school days after completion of an
4    evaluation rating a teacher in contractual continued
5    service as "unsatisfactory", development and commencement
6    by the district of a remediation plan designed to correct
7    deficiencies cited, provided the deficiencies are deemed
8    remediable. In all school districts the remediation plan
9    for unsatisfactory, tenured teachers shall provide for 90
10    school days of remediation within the classroom, unless an
11    applicable collective bargaining agreement provides for a
12    shorter duration. In all school districts evaluations
13    issued pursuant to this Section shall be issued within 10
14    days after the conclusion of the respective remediation
15    plan. However, the school board or other governing
16    authority of the district shall not lose jurisdiction to
17    discharge a teacher in the event the evaluation is not
18    issued within 10 days after the conclusion of the
19    respective remediation plan.
20        (j) participation in the remediation plan by the
21    teacher in contractual continued service rated
22    "unsatisfactory", an evaluator and a consulting teacher
23    selected by the evaluator of the teacher who was rated
24    "unsatisfactory", which consulting teacher is an
25    educational employee as defined in the Educational Labor
26    Relations Act, has at least 5 years' teaching experience,

 

 

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1    and a reasonable familiarity with the assignment of the
2    teacher being evaluated, and who received an "excellent"
3    rating on his or her most recent evaluation. Where no
4    teachers who meet these criteria are available within the
5    district, the district shall request and the applicable
6    regional office of education shall supply, to participate
7    in the remediation process, an individual who meets these
8    criteria.
9        In a district having a population of less than 500,000
10    with an exclusive bargaining agent, the bargaining agent
11    may, if it so chooses, supply a roster of qualified
12    teachers from whom the consulting teacher is to be
13    selected. That roster shall, however, contain the names of
14    at least 5 teachers, each of whom meets the criteria for
15    consulting teacher with regard to the teacher being
16    evaluated, or the names of all teachers so qualified if
17    that number is less than 5. In the event of a dispute as to
18    qualification, the State Board shall determine
19    qualification.
20        (k) a mid-point and final evaluation by an evaluator
21    during and at the end of the remediation period,
22    immediately following receipt of a remediation plan
23    provided for under subsections (i) and (j) of this
24    Section. Each evaluation shall assess the teacher's
25    performance during the time period since the prior
26    evaluation; provided that the last evaluation shall also

 

 

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1    include an overall evaluation of the teacher's performance
2    during the remediation period. A written copy of the
3    evaluations and ratings, in which any deficiencies in
4    performance and recommendations for correction are
5    identified, shall be provided to and discussed with the
6    teacher within 10 school days after the date of the
7    evaluation, unless an applicable collective bargaining
8    agreement provides to the contrary. These subsequent
9    evaluations shall be conducted by an evaluator. The
10    consulting teacher shall provide advice to the teacher
11    rated "unsatisfactory" on how to improve teaching skills
12    and to successfully complete the remediation plan. The
13    consulting teacher shall participate in developing the
14    remediation plan, but the final decision as to the
15    evaluation shall be done solely by the evaluator, unless
16    an applicable collective bargaining agreement provides to
17    the contrary. Evaluations at the conclusion of the
18    remediation process shall be separate and distinct from
19    the required annual evaluations of teachers and shall not
20    be subject to the guidelines and procedures relating to
21    those annual evaluations. The evaluator may but is not
22    required to use the forms provided for the annual
23    evaluation of teachers in the district's evaluation plan.
24        (l) reinstatement to the evaluation schedule set forth
25    in the district's evaluation plan for any teacher in
26    contractual continued service who achieves a rating equal

 

 

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1    to or better than "satisfactory" or "proficient" in the
2    school year following a rating of "needs improvement" or
3    "unsatisfactory".
4        (m) dismissal in accordance with subsection (d) of
5    Section 24-12 or Section 24-16.5 or 34-85 of this Code of
6    any teacher who fails to complete any applicable
7    remediation plan with a rating equal to or better than a
8    "satisfactory" or "proficient" rating. Districts and
9    teachers subject to dismissal hearings are precluded from
10    compelling the testimony of consulting teachers at such
11    hearings under subsection (d) of Section 24-12 or Section
12    24-16.5 or 34-85 of this Code, either as to the rating
13    process or for opinions of performances by teachers under
14    remediation.
15        (n) After the implementation date of an evaluation
16    system for teachers in a district as specified in Section
17    24A-2.5 of this Code, if a teacher in contractual
18    continued service successfully completes a remediation
19    plan following a rating of "unsatisfactory" in an overall
20    performance evaluation received after the foregoing
21    implementation date and receives a subsequent rating of
22    "unsatisfactory" in any of the teacher's overall
23    performance evaluation ratings received during the
24    36-month period following the teacher's completion of the
25    remediation plan, then the school district may forego
26    remediation and seek dismissal in accordance with

 

 

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1    subsection (d) of Section 24-12 or Section 34-85 of this
2    Code.
3    Nothing in this Section or Section 24A-4 shall be
4construed as preventing immediate dismissal of a teacher for
5deficiencies which are deemed irremediable or for actions
6which are injurious to or endanger the health or person of
7students in the classroom or school, or preventing the
8dismissal or non-renewal of teachers not in contractual
9continued service for any reason not prohibited by applicable
10employment, labor, and civil rights laws. Failure to strictly
11comply with the time requirements contained in Section 24A-5
12shall not invalidate the results of the remediation plan.
13    Nothing contained in this amendatory Act of the 98th
14General Assembly repeals, supersedes, invalidates, or
15nullifies final decisions in lawsuits pending on the effective
16date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly in
17Illinois courts involving the interpretation of Public Act
1897-8.
19    If the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public
20health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois
21Emergency Management Agency Act that suspends in-person
22instruction, the timelines in this Section connected to the
23commencement and completion of any remediation plan are
24waived. Except if the parties mutually agree otherwise and the
25agreement is in writing, any remediation plan that had been in
26place for more than 45 days prior to the suspension of

 

 

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1in-person instruction shall resume when in-person instruction
2resumes and any remediation plan that had been in place for
3fewer than 45 days prior to the suspension of in-person
4instruction shall be discontinued and a new remediation period
5shall begin when in-person instruction resumes. The
6requirements of this paragraph apply regardless of whether
7they are included in a school district's teacher evaluation
8plan.
9(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-252, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
10    (105 ILCS 5/24A-7)  (from Ch. 122, par. 24A-7)
11    Sec. 24A-7. Rules. The State Board of Education is
12authorized to adopt such rules as are deemed necessary to
13implement and accomplish the purposes and provisions of this
14Article, including, but not limited to, rules:
15        (1) relating to the methods for measuring student
16    growth (including, but not limited to, limitations on the
17    age of usable data; the amount of data needed to reliably
18    and validly measure growth for the purpose of teacher and
19    principal evaluations; and whether and at what time annual
20    State assessments may be used as one of multiple measures
21    of student growth);
22        (2) defining the term "significant factor" for
23    purposes of including consideration of student growth in
24    performance ratings;
25        (3) controlling for such factors as student

 

 

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1    characteristics (including, but not limited to, students
2    receiving special education and English Learner services),
3    student attendance, and student mobility so as to best
4    measure the impact that a teacher, principal, school and
5    school district has on students' academic achievement;
6        (4) establishing minimum requirements for district
7    teacher and principal evaluation instruments and
8    procedures; and
9        (5) establishing a model evaluation plan for use by
10    school districts in which student growth shall comprise
11    50% of the performance rating.
12    Notwithstanding any other rule or law to the contrary, for
13the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, student growth
14measures described under paragraph (1) of this Section and in
15administrative rules adopted by the State Board of Education
16may not be used as a factor in any evaluation under this
17Article.
18    Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section, such
19rules shall not preclude a school district having 500,000 or
20more inhabitants from using an annual State assessment as the
21sole measure of student growth for purposes of teacher or
22principal evaluations.
23    The State Superintendent of Education shall convene a
24Performance Evaluation Advisory Council, which shall be
25staffed by the State Board of Education. Members of the
26Council shall be selected by the State Superintendent and

 

 

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1include, without limitation, representatives of teacher unions
2and school district management, persons with expertise in
3performance evaluation processes and systems, as well as other
4stakeholders. The Council shall meet at least quarterly and
5may also meet at the call of the chairperson of the Council,
6following August 18, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act
7100-211) until June 30, 2024. The Council shall advise the
8State Board of Education on the ongoing implementation of
9performance evaluations in this State, which may include
10gathering public feedback, sharing best practices, consulting
11with the State Board on any proposed rule changes regarding
12evaluations, and other subjects as determined by the
13chairperson of the Council.
14    Prior to the applicable implementation date, these rules
15shall not apply to teachers assigned to schools identified in
16an agreement entered into between the board of a school
17district operating under Article 34 of this Code and the
18exclusive representative of the district's teachers in
19accordance with Section 34-85c of this Code.
20(Source: P.A. 102-252, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)
 
21    (105 ILCS 5/24A-15)
22    Sec. 24A-15. Development of evaluation plan for principals
23and assistant principals.
24    (a) Each school district, except for a school district
25organized under Article 34 of this Code, shall establish a

 

 

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1principal and assistant principal evaluation plan in
2accordance with this Section. The plan must ensure that each
3principal and assistant principal is evaluated as follows:
4        (1) For a principal or assistant principal on a
5    single-year contract, the evaluation must take place by
6    March 1 of each year.
7        (2) For a principal or assistant principal on a
8    multi-year contract under Section 10-23.8a of this Code,
9    the evaluation must take place by March 1 of the final year
10    of the contract.
11    On and after September 1, 2012, the plan must:
12        (i) rate the principal's or assistant principal's
13    performance as "excellent", "proficient", "needs
14    improvement" or "unsatisfactory"; and
15        (ii) ensure that each principal and assistant
16    principal is evaluated at least once every school year.
17    Nothing in this Section prohibits a school district from
18conducting additional evaluations of principals and assistant
19principals.
20    For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, a
21school district may waive the evaluation requirement of any
22principal or assistant principal whose performance was rated
23as either "excellent" or "proficient" during the last school
24year in which the principal or assistant principal was
25evaluated under this Section.
26    (b) The evaluation shall include a description of the

 

 

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1principal's or assistant principal's duties and
2responsibilities and the standards to which the principal or
3assistant principal is expected to conform.
4    (c) The evaluation for a principal must be performed by
5the district superintendent, the superintendent's designee,
6or, in the absence of the superintendent or his or her
7designee, an individual appointed by the school board who
8holds a registered Type 75 State administrative certificate.
9    Prior to September 1, 2012, the evaluation must be in
10writing and must at least do all of the following:
11        (1) Consider the principal's specific duties,
12    responsibilities, management, and competence as a
13    principal.
14        (2) Specify the principal's strengths and weaknesses,
15    with supporting reasons.
16        (3) Align with research-based standards established by
17    administrative rule.
18    On and after September 1, 2012, the evaluation must, in
19addition to the requirements in items (1), (2), and (3) of this
20subsection (c), provide for the use of data and indicators on
21student growth as a significant factor in rating performance.
22    (c-5) The evaluation of an assistant principal must be
23performed by the principal, the district superintendent, the
24superintendent's designee, or, in the absence of the
25superintendent or his or her designee, an individual appointed
26by the school board who holds a registered Type 75 State

 

 

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1administrative certificate. The evaluation must be in writing
2and must at least do all of the following:
3        (1) Consider the assistant principal's specific
4    duties, responsibilities, management, and competence as an
5    assistant principal.
6        (2) Specify the assistant principal's strengths and
7    weaknesses with supporting reasons.
8        (3) Align with the Illinois Professional Standards for
9    School Leaders or research-based district standards.
10    On and after September 1, 2012, the evaluation must, in
11addition to the requirements in items (1), (2), and (3) of this
12subsection (c-5), provide for the use of data and indicators
13on student growth as a significant factor in rating
14performance.
15    (d) One copy of the evaluation must be included in the
16principal's or assistant principal's personnel file and one
17copy of the evaluation must be provided to the principal or
18assistant principal.
19    (e) Failure by a district to evaluate a principal or
20assistant principal and to provide the principal or assistant
21principal with a copy of the evaluation at least once during
22the term of the principal's or assistant principal's contract,
23in accordance with this Section, is evidence that the
24principal or assistant principal is performing duties and
25responsibilities in at least a satisfactory manner and shall
26serve to automatically extend the principal's or assistant

 

 

SB3839- 31 -LRB102 23967 CMG 33171 b

1principal's contract for a period of one year after the
2contract would otherwise expire, under the same terms and
3conditions as the prior year's contract. The requirements in
4this Section are in addition to the right of a school board to
5reclassify a principal or assistant principal pursuant to
6Section 10-23.8b of this Code.
7    (f) Nothing in this Section prohibits a school board from
8ordering lateral transfers of principals or assistant
9principals to positions of similar rank and salary.
10(Source: P.A. 96-861, eff. 1-15-10; 97-217, eff. 7-28-11.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12becoming law.