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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
521-5b, 21-5c, and 21B-50 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/21-5b)
7    (Section scheduled to be repealed on September 1, 2013)
8    Sec. 21-5b. Alternative certification. The State Board of
9Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
10Certification Board, shall establish and implement an
11alternative certification program under which persons who meet
12the requirements of and successfully complete the program
13established by this Section shall be issued an alternative
14teaching certificate for teaching in the schools. The program
15shall be limited to not more than 260 new participants during
16each year that the program is in effect. The State Board of
17Education, in cooperation with one or more not-for-profit
18organizations in the State that support excellence in teaching,
19which may be in partnership with a university that offers
204-year baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a
21recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this
22Code, may within 30 days after submission by the program
23sponsor approve a course of study developed by the program

 

 

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1sponsor that persons in the program must successfully complete
2in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of an
3alternative certificate under this Section. The Alternative
4Teacher Certification program course of study must include
5content and skills which have been approved by the State Board
6of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
7Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for State
8teacher certification.
9    The alternative certification program established under
10this Section shall be known as the Alternative Teacher
11Certification program. The Alternative Teacher Certification
12Program shall be offered by the submitting partnership, and
13such partnership may be offered by one or more not-for-profit
14organizations in the State which support excellence in
15teaching. The program shall be comprised of the following 3
16phases: (a) the first phase is the course of study offered on
17an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods,
18and practice teaching; (b) the second phase is the person's
19assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school
20year; and (c) the third phase is a comprehensive assessment of
21the person's teaching performance by school officials and the
22partnership participants and a recommendation by the program
23sponsor to the State Board of Education that the person be
24issued a standard alternative teaching certificate. Successful
25completion of the Alternative Teacher Certification program
26shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student

 

 

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1teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.
2    A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for
3one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable,
4shall be issued under this Section 21-5b to persons who at the
5time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching
6certificate under this Section:
7        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
8    university with a bachelor's degree;
9        (2) have successfully completed the first phase of the
10    Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in
11    this Section;
12        (3) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject
13    matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a; and
14        (4) (i) have been employed for a period of at least 5
15    years in an area requiring application of the individual's
16    education or (ii) have attained at least a cumulative grade
17    average of a "B" if the individual is assigned either to a
18    school district that has not met the annual measurable
19    objective for highly qualified teachers required by the
20    Illinois Revised Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) Plan or to
21    a school district whose data filed with the State Board of
22    Education indicates that the district's poor and minority
23    students are taught by teachers who are not highly
24    qualified at a higher rate than other students; however,
25    this item (4) does not apply with respect to a provisional
26    alternative teaching certificate for teaching in schools

 

 

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1    situated in a school district that is located in a city
2    having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
3    Assignment may be made under clause (ii) of this item (4)
4    only if the district superintendent and the exclusive
5    bargaining representative of the district's teachers, if
6    any, jointly agree to permit the assignment.
7    A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate
8under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified
9teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms
10and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school
11who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an
12exclusive bargaining representative, if any.
13    Until February 15, 2000, a standard alternative teaching
14certificate, valid for 4 years for teaching in the schools and
15renewable as provided in Section 21-14, shall be issued under
16this Section 21-5b to persons who first complete the
17requirements for the provisional alternative teaching
18certificate and who at the time of applying for a standard
19alternative teaching certificate under this Section have
20successfully completed the second and third phases of the
21Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this
22Section. Alternatively, beginning February 15, 2000, at the end
23of the 4-year validity period, persons who were issued a
24standard alternative teaching certificate shall be eligible,
25on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate
26issued under subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this Code, to

 

 

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1apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet
2the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code
3and further provided that a person who does not apply for and
4receive a Standard Teaching Certificate shall be able to teach
5only in schools situated in a school district that is located
6in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
7    Beginning February 15, 2000, persons who have completed the
8requirements for a standard alternative teaching certificate
9under this Section shall be issued an Initial Alternative
10Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching and not
11renewable. At the end of the 4-year validity period, these
12persons shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an
13Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of
14Section 21-2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching
15Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection
16(c) of Section 21-2.
17    Such alternative certification program shall be
18implemented so that the first provisional alternative teaching
19certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the
20commencement of the 1997-1998 academic year and the first
21standard alternative teaching certificates issued under this
22Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1998-1999
23academic year.
24    The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the
25partnership or partnerships establishing such Alternative
26Teacher Certification programs, shall adopt rules and

 

 

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1regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the
2State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and
3implement the program.
4    No one may be admitted to an alternative certification
5program under this Section after September 1, 2013 2012, and
6those candidates who are admitted on or before September 1,
72013 2012 must complete the program before January 1, 2015
8September 1, 2013.
9    This Section is repealed on January 1, 2015 September 1,
102013.
11(Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 
12    (105 ILCS 5/21-5c)
13    (Section scheduled to be repealed on September 1, 2013)
14    Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification.
15The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
16Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement one
17or more alternative route to teacher certification programs
18under which persons who meet the requirements of and
19successfully complete the programs established by this Section
20shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching in
21schools in this State. The State Board of Education may approve
22a course of study that persons in such programs must
23successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for
24issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative
25Route to Teacher Certification programs course of study must

 

 

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1include content and skills which have been approved by the
2State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
3Teacher Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for
4State teacher certification.
5    Programs established under this Section shall be known as
6Alternative Route to Teacher Certification programs. The
7programs may be offered by a university that offers 4-year
8baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a
9recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this
10Code, by one or more not-for-profit organizations in the State,
11or a combination thereof. The programs shall be comprised of
12the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on an
13intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods,
14and practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment to a
15full-time teaching position for one school year, including the
16designation of a mentor teacher to advise and assist the person
17with that teaching assignment; and (c) a comprehensive
18assessment of the person's teaching performance by school
19officials and program participants and a recommendation by the
20program sponsor to the State Board of Education that the person
21be issued an initial teaching certificate. Successful
22completion of Alternative Route to Teacher Certification
23programs shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or
24student teaching and subject matter requirements established
25by law.
26    A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for

 

 

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1one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable,
2shall be issued under this Section 21-5c to persons who at the
3time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching
4certificate under this Section:
5        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
6    university with a bachelor's degree;
7        (2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years
8    in an area requiring application of the individual's
9    education;
10        (3) have successfully completed the first phase of the
11    Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in
12    this Section; and
13        (4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject
14    matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.
15    An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the
16common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to
17persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional
18alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of
19applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully
20completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route
21to Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section.
22    A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate
23or an initial teaching certificate earned under this Section
24shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes
25of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of
26employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a

 

 

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1bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining
2representative, if any.
3    The State Board of Education may adopt rules and
4regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the
5State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the
6program.
7    No one may be admitted to an alternative certification
8program under this Section after September 1, 2013 2012, and
9those candidates who are admitted on or before September 1,
102013 2012 must complete the program before January 1, 2015
11September 1, 2013.
12    This Section is repealed on January 1, 2015 September 1,
132013.
14(Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 
15    (105 ILCS 5/21B-50)
16    Sec. 21B-50. Alternative educator licensure program.
17    (a) There is established an alternative educator licensure
18program, to be known as the Alternative Educator Licensure
19Program for Teachers.
20    (b) Beginning on January 1, 2013, the Alternative Educator
21Licensure Program for Teachers may be offered by a recognized
22institution approved to offer educator preparation programs by
23the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
24Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Any program offered
25by a not-for-profit entity also must be approved by the Board

 

 

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1of Higher Education.
2    The program shall be comprised of 4 phases:
3        (1) A course of study that at a minimum includes
4    instructional planning; instructional strategies,
5    including special education, reading, and English language
6    learning; classroom management; and the assessment of
7    students and use of data to drive instruction.
8        (2) A year of residency, which is a candidate's
9    assignment to a full-time teaching position or as a
10    co-teacher for one full school year. An individual must
11    hold an Educator License with Stipulations with an
12    alternative provisional educator endorsement in order to
13    enter the residency and must complete additional program
14    requirements that address required State and national
15    standards, pass the assessment of professional teaching
16    before entering the second residency year, as required
17    under phase (3) of this subsection (b), and be recommended
18    by the principal and program coordinator to continue with
19    the second year of the residency.
20        (3) A second year of residency, which shall include the
21    candidate's assignment to a full-time teaching position
22    for one school year. The candidate must be assigned an
23    experienced teacher to act as a mentor and coach the
24    candidate through the second year of residency.
25        (4) A comprehensive assessment of the candidate's
26    teaching effectiveness, as evaluated by the principal and

 

 

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1    the program coordinator, at the end of the second year of
2    residency. If there is disagreement between the 2
3    evaluators about the candidate's teaching effectiveness,
4    the candidate may complete one additional year of residency
5    teaching under a professional development plan developed
6    by the principal and preparation program. At the completion
7    of the third year, a candidate must have positive
8    evaluations and a recommendation for full licensure from
9    both the principal and the program coordinator or no
10    Professional Educator License shall be issued.
11    Successful completion of the program shall be deemed to
12satisfy any other practice or student teaching and content
13matter requirements established by law.
14    (c) An alternative provisional educator endorsement on an a
15Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 2 years of
16teaching in the public schools, including without limitation a
17charter school, or in a State-recognized nonpublic school in
18which the chief administrator is required to have the licensure
19necessary to be a principal in a public school in this State
20and in which a majority of the teachers are required to have
21the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in
22this State, but may be renewed for a third year if needed to
23complete the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
24Teachers. The endorsement shall be issued only once to an
25individual who meets all of the following requirements:
26        (1) Has graduated from a regionally accredited college

 

 

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1    or university with a bachelor's degree or higher.
2        (2) Has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or
3    greater on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent on another scale.
4        (3) Has completed a major in the content area if
5    seeking a middle or secondary level endorsement or, if
6    seeking an early childhood, elementary, or special
7    education endorsement, has completed a major in the content
8    area of reading, English/language arts, mathematics, or
9    one of the sciences. If the individual does not have a
10    major in a content area for any level of teaching, he or
11    she must submit transcripts to the State Superintendent of
12    Education to be reviewed for equivalency.
13        (4) Has successfully completed phase (1) of subsection
14    (b) of this Section.
15        (5) Has passed a test of basic skills and content area
16    test required for the specific endorsement for admission
17    into the program, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
18    Code.
19    A candidate possessing the alternative provisional
20educator endorsement may receive a salary, benefits, and any
21other terms of employment offered to teachers in the school who
22are members of an exclusive bargaining representative, if any,
23but a school is not required to provide these benefits during
24the years of residency if the candidate is serving only as a
25co-teacher. If the candidate is serving as the teacher of
26record, the candidate must receive a salary, benefits, and any

 

 

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1other terms of employment. Residency experiences must not be
2counted towards tenure.
3    (d) The recognized institution offering the Alternative
4Educator Licensure Program for Teachers must partner with a
5school district, including without limitation a charter
6school, or a State-recognized, nonpublic school in this State
7in which the chief administrator is required to have the
8licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in
9this State and in which a majority of the teachers are required
10to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public
11school in this State. The program presented for approval by the
12State Board of Education must demonstrate the supports that are
13to be provided to assist the provisional teacher during the
142-year residency period. These supports must provide
15additional contact hours with mentors during the first year of
16residency.
17    (e) Upon completion of the 4 phases outlined in subsection
18(b) of this Section and all assessments required under Section
1921B-30 of this Code, an individual shall receive a Professional
20Educator License.
21    (f) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
22State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
23rules as may be necessary to establish and implement the
24Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers.
25(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

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1becoming law.