Senate Sponsors: WATSON-MAITLAND-SIEBEN-CRONIN. House Sponsors: BASSI-MCCARTHY-WOOLARD-RIGHTER-DAVIS,MONIQUE Short description: SCH CD-MASTER CERTIFICATE Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the School Code. Provides that with respect to a Master Certificate, the State Board of Education shall adopt rules concerning reciprocity, fee supports, incentives, and the application process. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/21-27 new Removes the requirement that the State Board of Education adopt rules concerning reciprocity, fee supports, incentives, and the application process. Provides instead that each teacher who holds a Master Certificate shall be eligible for a teaching position in this State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal background checks. Provides that a teacher who holds a Master Certificate shall be deemed to meet State certification renewal requirements for the 7-year term of the teacher's Master Certificate. Establishes the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program to provide categorical funding for monetary incentives and bonuses for teachers who are employed by school districts and who hold a Master Certificate. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Provides that a Master Certificate is valid for 10 (instead of 7) years and is renewable every 10 (instead of 7) years. Makes changes concerning the amounts of the incentives, to whom they are given, and the requirements that a person must comply with to receive an incentive. Requires each regional superintendent of schools to provide information about the Master Certificate program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the amendatory Act to each individual seeking to register or renew a certificate. Adds an immediate effective date. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Removes the provision that allows mentoring to include developing awareness of the standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Replaces the provision concerning mentoring to classroom teachers in schools with a low-income pupil concentration level of 50% or greater with a provision concerning mentoring to classroom teachers in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches. Makes other changes. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 91-0606 Last action date: 99-08-16 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 2 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status