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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-15 and 21B-20 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/21B-15)
7    Sec. 21B-15. Qualifications of educators.
8    (a) No one may be licensed to teach or supervise or be
9otherwise employed in the public schools of this State who is
10not of good character and at least 19 years of age, except as
11otherwise provided in subparagraph (J) of subsection (2) of
12Section 21B-20.
13    In determining good character under this Section, the
14State Superintendent of Education shall take into
15consideration the disciplinary actions of other states or
16national entities against certificates or licenses issued by
17those states and held by individuals from those states. In
18addition, any felony conviction of the applicant may be taken
19into consideration; however, no one may be licensed to teach
20or supervise in the public schools of this State who has been
21convicted of (i) an offense set forth in subsection (b) of
22Section 21B-80 of this Code until 7 years following the end of
23the sentence for the criminal offense or (ii) an offense set

 

 

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1forth in subsection (c) of Section 21B-80 of this Code. Unless
2the conviction is for an offense set forth in Section 21B-80 of
3this Code, an applicant must be permitted to submit character
4references or other written material before such a conviction
5or other information regarding the applicant's character may
6be used by the State Superintendent of Education as a basis for
7denying the application.
8    (b) No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the
9right to be licensed or to receive training for the purpose of
10becoming an educator because of a physical disability,
11including, but not limited to, visual and hearing
12disabilities; nor shall any school district refuse to employ a
13teacher on such grounds, provided that the person is able to
14carry out the duties of the position for which he or she
15applies.
16    (c) No person may be granted or continue to hold an
17educator license who has knowingly altered or misrepresented
18his or her qualifications, in this State or any other state, in
19order to acquire or renew the license. Any other license
20issued under this Article held by the person may be suspended
21or revoked by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
22Board, depending upon the severity of the alteration or
23misrepresentation.
24    (d) No one may teach or supervise in the public schools nor
25receive for teaching or supervising any part of any public
26school fund who does not hold an educator license granted by

 

 

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1the State Superintendent of Education as provided in this
2Article. However, the provisions of this Article do not apply
3to a member of the armed forces who is employed as a teacher of
4subjects in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of any
5school, nor to an individual teaching a dual credit course as
6provided for in the Dual Credit Quality Act.
7    (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the
8school board of a school district may grant to a teacher of the
9district a leave of absence with full pay for a period of not
10more than one year to permit the teacher to teach in a foreign
11state under the provisions of the Exchange Teacher Program
12established under Public Law 584, 79th Congress, and Public
13Law 402, 80th Congress, as amended. The school board granting
14the leave of absence may employ, with or without pay, a
15national of the foreign state wherein the teacher on the leave
16of absence is to teach if the national is qualified to teach in
17that foreign state and if that national is to teach in a grade
18level similar to the one that was taught in the foreign state.
19The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
20Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt rules as
21may be necessary to implement this subsection (e).
22    (f) No person shall be denied a license issued under this
23Article solely based on his or her citizenship status or
24immigration status. The General Assembly finds and declares
25that this subsection (f) is a State law within the meaning of
26subsection (d) of Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States

 

 

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1Code. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the requirements
2to obtain a license that are not directly related to
3citizenship status or immigration status. Nothing in this
4subsection shall be construed to grant eligibility for
5obtaining any public benefit other than a license issued under
6this Article.
7(Source: P.A. 99-667, eff. 7-29-16; 100-13, eff. 7-1-17;
8100-1078, eff. 1-1-19.)
 
9    (105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
10    Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of
11Education shall implement a system of educator licensure,
12whereby individuals employed in school districts who are
13required to be licensed must have one of the following
14licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an
15educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute
16teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2023, a short-term
17substitute teaching license. References in law regarding
18individuals certified or certificated or required to be
19certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall
20also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed
21under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June
2230 following one full year of the license being issued.
23    The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
24State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
25rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for

 

 

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1licenses and endorsements under this Section.
2        (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
3    have successfully completed an approved educator
4    preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
5    the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
6    program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
7    testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
8    successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
9    the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
10    the exceptional child, including without limitation
11    children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
12    successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
13    and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other
14    criteria established by rule of the State Board of
15    Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License.
16    All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30
17    immediately following 5 years of the license being issued.
18    The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with
19    specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is
20    eligible to practice. For an early childhood education
21    endorsement, an individual may satisfy the student
22    teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher
23    preparation program through placement in a setting with
24    children from birth through grade 2, and the individual
25    may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. The
26    student teaching experience must meet the requirements of

 

 

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1    and be approved by the individual's early childhood
2    teacher preparation program.
3        Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
4    Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
5    shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
6    in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable
7    content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
8        (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
9    License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
10    that limits the license holder to one particular position
11    or does not require completion of an approved educator
12    program or both.
13        An individual with an Educator License with
14    Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
15    any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
16    who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
17        An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
18    with the following endorsements:
19            (A) (Blank).
20            (B) Alternative provisional educator. An
21        alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
22        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
23        applicant who, at the time of applying for the
24        endorsement, has done all of the following:
25                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
26            college or university with a minimum of a

 

 

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1            bachelor's degree.
2                (ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
3            the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
4            Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
5            Code.
6                (iii) Passed a content area test, as required
7            under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
8        The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
9    valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a
10    third year by an individual meeting the requirements set
11    forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
12            (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
13        alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
14        an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
15        holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
16        superintendent in a school district's central office.
17        This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
18        who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
19        done all of the following:
20                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
21            college or university with a minimum of a master's
22            degree in a management field other than education.
23                (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
24            years in a management level position in a field
25            other than education.
26                (iii) Successfully completed the first phase

 

 

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1            of an alternative route to superintendent
2            endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
3            of this Code.
4                (iv) Passed a content area test required under
5            Section 21B-30 of this Code.
6            The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
7        order to complete one full year of serving as a
8        superintendent or assistant superintendent.
9            (D) (Blank).
10            (E) Career and technical educator. A career and
11        technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
12        with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
13        has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
14        regionally accredited institution of higher education
15        or an accredited trade and technical institution and
16        has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of
17        education in each area to be taught.
18            The career and technical educator endorsement on
19        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
20        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
21        endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
22            An individual who holds a valid career and
23        technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
24        with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's
25        degree may substitute teach in career and technical
26        education classrooms.

 

 

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1            (F) Part-time provisional career and technical
2        educator or provisional career and technical educator.
3        A part-time provisional career and technical educator
4        endorsement or a provisional career and technical
5        educator endorsement on an Educator License with
6        Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a
7        minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill
8        for which the applicant is seeking the endorsement. It
9        is the responsibility of each employing school board
10        and regional office of education to provide
11        verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent
12        of Education at the time the application is submitted
13        that no qualified teacher holding a Professional
14        Educator License or an Educator License with
15        Stipulations with a career and technical educator
16        endorsement is available and that actual circumstances
17        require such issuance.
18            The provisional career and technical educator
19        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
20        is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
21        of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed for
22        5 years.
23            A part-time provisional career and technical
24        educator endorsement on an Educator License with
25        Stipulations may be issued for teaching no more than 2
26        courses of study for grades 6 through 12. The

 

 

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1        part-time provisional career and technical educator
2        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
3        is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
4        of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed for
5        5 years if the individual makes application for
6        renewal.
7            An individual who holds a provisional or part-time
8        provisional career and technical educator endorsement
9        on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not
10        hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in
11        career and technical education classrooms.
12            (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
13        transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
14        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
15        the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
16        with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
17        provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets
18        all of the following requirements:
19                (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
20            writing ability in the language other than English
21            in which transitional bilingual education is
22            offered.
23                (ii) Has the ability to successfully
24            communicate in English.
25                (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
26            previous to his or her applying for a transitional

 

 

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1            bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
2            comparable teaching certificate or comparable
3            authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
4            a degree from an institution of higher learning in
5            a foreign country that the State Educator
6            Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
7            the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
8            regionally accredited institution of higher
9            learning in the United States.
10            A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
11        shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12,
12        is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
13        of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be
14        renewed.
15            Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
16        endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
17        presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
18        replaced for any reason.
19            (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
20        alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
21        other than English in the public schools, an
22        individual who holds an Educator License with
23        Stipulations may also apply for a language
24        endorsement, provided that the applicant provides
25        satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the
26        following requirements:

 

 

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1                (i) Holds a transitional bilingual
2            endorsement.
3                (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
4            language for which the endorsement is to be issued
5            by passing the applicable language content test
6            required by the State Board of Education.
7                (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
8            a regionally accredited institution of higher
9            education or, for individuals educated in a
10            country other than the United States, holds a
11            degree from an institution of higher learning in a
12            foreign country that the State Educator
13            Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
14            the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
15            regionally accredited institution of higher
16            learning in the United States.
17                (iv) (Blank).
18            A language endorsement on an Educator License with
19        Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
20        grade 12 for the same validity period as the
21        individual's transitional bilingual educator
22        endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
23        and shall not be renewed.
24            (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
25        international educator endorsement on an Educator
26        License with Stipulations may be issued to an

 

 

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1        individual who is being recruited by a particular
2        school district that conducts formal recruitment
3        programs outside of the United States to secure the
4        services of qualified teachers and who meets all of
5        the following requirements:
6                (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
7            bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
8                (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
9            grade level for which he or she will be employed.
10                (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
11            subject to be taught.
12                (iv) Has an adequate command of the English
13            language.
14            A holder of a visiting international educator
15        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
16        shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
17        programs in the language that was the medium of
18        instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
19        provided that he or she passes the English Language
20        Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
21        skills in English identified by the State Board of
22        Education, in consultation with the State Educator
23        Preparation and Licensure Board.
24            A visiting international educator endorsement on
25        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5
26        years and shall not be renewed.

 

 

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1            (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
2        educator endorsement on an Educator License with
3        Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
4        high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
5        (i) either holds an associate's degree or a minimum of
6        60 semester hours of credit from a regionally
7        accredited institution of higher education; (ii) or
8        has passed a paraprofessional competency test under
9        subsection (c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at
10        least 18 years of age and will be using the Educator
11        License with Stipulations exclusively for grades
12        prekindergarten through grade 8, until the individual
13        reaches the age of 19 years and otherwise meets the
14        criteria for a paraprofessional educator endorsement
15        pursuant to this subparagraph (J). The
16        paraprofessional educator endorsement is valid until
17        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
18        endorsement being issued and may be renewed through
19        application and payment of the appropriate fee, as
20        required under Section 21B-40 of this Code. An
21        individual who holds only a paraprofessional educator
22        endorsement is not subject to additional requirements
23        in order to renew the endorsement.
24            (K) Chief school business official. A chief school
25        business official endorsement on an Educator License
26        with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who

 

 

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1        qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
2        years of full-time administrative experience in school
3        business management or 2 years of university-approved
4        practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
5        hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
6        State Board of Education for the preparation of school
7        business administrators and by passage of the
8        applicable State tests, including an applicable
9        content area test.
10            The chief school business official endorsement may
11        also be affixed to the Educator License with
12        Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
13        master's degree in business administration, finance,
14        accounting, or public administration and who completes
15        an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school
16        business management from a regionally accredited
17        institution of higher education and passes the
18        applicable State tests, including an applicable
19        content area test. This endorsement shall be required
20        for any individual employed as a chief school business
21        official.
22            The chief school business official endorsement on
23        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
24        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
25        endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the
26        license holder completes renewal requirements as

 

 

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1        required for individuals who hold a Professional
2        Educator License endorsed for chief school business
3        official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
4        rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
5        Education.
6            The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
7        necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
8            (L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
9        in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
10        with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
11        completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
12        program at an Illinois institution of higher education
13        and who has not successfully completed an
14        evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
15        who meets all of the following requirements:
16                (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
17                (ii) Has completed an approved educator
18            preparation program at an Illinois institution.
19                (iii) Has passed an applicable content area
20            test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
21                (iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
22            assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
23            minimum score on that assessment, as established
24            by the State Board of Education in consultation
25            with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
26            Board.

 

 

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1            A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
2        Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one
3        full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
4        be renewed.
5            (M) (Blank).
6            (N) Specialized services. A specialized services
7        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
8        may be issued as defined and specified by rule.
9        (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
10    License may be issued to qualified applicants for
11    substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
12    prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
13    Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
14    a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's
15    degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
16    of higher education.
17        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
18        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
19    teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
20    has had his or her Professional Educator License or
21    Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked,
22    then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
23    Substitute Teaching License.
24        A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
25    licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
26    board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under

 

 

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1    contract because of an emergency situation, then a
2    district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer
3    than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the
4    district if the district notifies the appropriate regional
5    office of education within 5 business days after the
6    employment of the substitute teacher in the emergency
7    situation. An emergency situation is one in which an
8    unforeseen vacancy has occurred and (i) a teacher is
9    unable to fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii)
10    teacher capacity needs of the district exceed previous
11    indications, and the district is actively engaged in
12    advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the
13    vacant position.
14        There is no limit on the number of days that a
15    substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
16    provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
17    than 90 school days for any one licensed teacher under
18    contract in the same school year. A substitute teacher who
19    holds a Professional Educator License or Educator License
20    with Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school
21    days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
22    same school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on
23    the number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do
24    not apply to any school district operating under Article
25    34 of this Code.
26        A school district may not require an individual who

 

 

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1    holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator
2    License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute
3    Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
4        (4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
5    on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2023, the State Board of
6    Education may issue a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
7    License. A Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may be
8    issued to a qualified applicant for substitute teaching in
9    all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through
10    grade 12. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not
11    eligible for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term
12    Substitute Teaching License must hold an associate's
13    degree or have completed at least 60 credit hours from a
14    regionally accredited institution of higher education.
15        Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
16    substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an
17    individual has had his or her Professional Educator
18    License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or
19    revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
20    Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.
21        The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this
22    Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.
23        An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
24    License may teach no more than 5 consecutive days per
25    licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher
26    absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who

 

 

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1    is under contract, a school district may not hire an
2    individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
3    License. An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute
4    Teaching License must complete the training program under
5    Section 10-20.67 or 34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible
6    to teach at a public school. This paragraph (4) is
7    inoperative on and after July 1, 2023.
8(Source: P.A. 100-8, eff. 7-1-17; 100-13, eff. 7-1-17;
9100-288, eff. 8-24-17; 100-596, eff. 7-1-18; 100-821, eff.
109-3-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-220,
11eff. 8-7-19; 101-594, eff. 12-5-19; 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)