103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3215

 

Introduced 2/6/2024, by Sen. Doris Turner

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 205/9.44 new

    Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching, to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage, and to encourage teachers to be matched with student teachers. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $2,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning the distribution of funds to eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning cooperating teacher training. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, shall submit a report evaluating the impact of the stipend program on educator preparation programs to the General Assembly and Governor on or before June 30, 2028. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately.


LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3215LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 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 Board of Higher Education Act is amended by
5adding Section 9.44 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 205/9.44 new)
7    Sec. 9.44. Student teaching stipend program.
8    (a) As used in this Section:
9    "Educator preparation program" means an approved educator
10preparation program offered by a recognized school or
11institution under Article 21B of the School Code.
12    "Eligible cooperating teacher" means a teacher who is
13licensed under Article 21B of the School Code or has attained
14the Department of Human Services' Gateways to Opportunity
15Early Childhood Education Credential Level 5 or 6, who is
16qualified to teach in the subject area assigned, and who is
17matched with an eligible student.
18    "Eligible student" means a student who is enrolled in an
19educator preparation program, who is maintaining satisfactory
20academic progress, who is in a student teaching placement, and
21who is not contracted as the teacher of record for the student
22teaching placement.
23    "Student teaching" means a supervised clinical experience

 

 

SB3215- 2 -LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b

1that prepares a candidate to take full responsibility in an
2instructional setting.
3    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Board shall create a
4student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial
5burden of student teaching, to encourage students to pursue
6teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage,
7and to encourage teachers to be matched with student teachers.
8    (c) An educator preparation program shall notify the Board
9of all eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers who
10qualify for the stipend program.
11    (d) Under the stipend program and subject to available
12appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator
13preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible
14student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2
15consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct
16costs of operating the stipend program. The educator
17preparation program shall distribute stipend funds using the
18standard methods for allocating State-based financial aid or
19as wages for employment to each eligible student in monthly
20installments.
21    (e) Under the stipend program and subject to available
22appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator
23preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible
24cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $2,000 per semester for
25up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus
26additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the

 

 

SB3215- 3 -LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b

1stipend program. The educator preparation program shall
2distribute stipend funds to an eligible cooperating teacher in
3one payment.
4    (f) If there is a surplus appropriated in a fiscal year for
5the stipend program, then the Board shall increase the amount
6distributed to each educator preparation program by the same
7percentage that the surplus bears to the amount required to
8fully fund the total number of eligible students and eligible
9cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend program that
10fiscal year. An educator preparation program shall increase
11the stipend amount distributed to each eligible student or
12eligible cooperating teacher in proportion to the surplus.
13    (g) If the amount appropriated in a fiscal year for the
14stipend program is insufficient to fully fund stipends for the
15total number of eligible students and eligible cooperating
16teachers for that fiscal year, then the Board shall reduce the
17amount distributed to each educator preparation program by the
18same percentage that the deficit bears to the amount required
19to fully fund the total number of eligible students and
20eligible cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend
21program. An educator preparation program shall reduce the
22stipend amount distributed to each eligible student or
23eligible cooperating teacher in proportion to the deficit.
24    (h) Funds not distributed in a particular fiscal year by
25an educator preparation program under this Section shall be
26returned to the Board to be used for the subsequent fiscal

 

 

SB3215- 4 -LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b

1year's stipend program.
2    (i) An educator preparation program may not prohibit an
3eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from
4participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend
5from the stipend program.
6    (j) Nothing in this Section is intended to preclude an
7educator preparation program from providing an eligible
8cooperating teacher with additional incentives.
9    (k) An eligible cooperating teacher participating in the
10stipend program may receive professional development hours for
11completing cooperating teacher training that count toward the
12eligible cooperating teacher's license renewal or the
13equivalent for early childhood education. The State Board of
14Education shall provide guidance for the development and
15implementation of evidence-based cooperating teacher training
16for an eligible cooperating teacher that aligns with training
17for instructional coaches, covers basic responsibilities of a
18cooperating teacher, includes evidence-based practices in
19supporting student teachers in school or early childhood
20settings, and includes the effective assessment of student
21teachers that aligns with State educator performance
22evaluation requirements or the equivalent for early childhood
23education.
24    (l) Subject to available appropriations, the Board shall
25issue a report evaluating the impact of the stipend program on
26educator preparation programs, including enrollment and

 

 

SB3215- 5 -LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b

1completion rates, hiring rates, and retention rates. The Board
2shall issue this report in collaboration with the State Board
3of Education. The Board shall submit this report to the
4General Assembly and Governor on or before June 30, 2028.
5    (m) The Board shall adopt rules regarding the
6administration of the stipend program.
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.