Public Act 097-0702
Public Act 0702 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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Public Act 097-0702
| | SB0638 Enrolled | LRB097 04402 NHT 44441 b |
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| AN ACT concerning education.
| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | represented in the General Assembly:
| Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections | 21-5b, 21-5c, and 21B-50 as follows:
| (105 ILCS 5/21-5b) | (Section scheduled to be repealed on September 1, 2013) | Sec. 21-5b. Alternative certification. The State Board of | Education, in
consultation with the State Teacher | Certification Board, shall
establish and implement an | alternative certification program under which
persons who meet | the requirements of and successfully complete the program
| established by this Section shall be issued an alternative | teaching certificate
for teaching in the schools. The program | shall be
limited to not more than 260 new participants during | each year that the program
is in effect. The State Board of | Education, in cooperation with one or more not-for-profit | organizations in the State that support excellence in teaching, | which may be in partnership
with a university that offers | 4-year baccalaureate and masters degree
programs and that is a | recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this | Code, may within
30 days after submission by the program | sponsor approve
a course of study developed by the program |
| sponsor that persons
in the program must successfully complete | in order to satisfy one
criterion for issuance of an | alternative certificate under this Section.
The Alternative | Teacher Certification program course of study must include | content and skills which have been approved by the State Board | of Education,
in consultation with the State Teacher | Certification Board, as meeting the requirement
for State | teacher certification. | The alternative certification program established under | this Section shall be
known as the Alternative Teacher | Certification program. The Alternative
Teacher Certification | Program shall be offered by the submitting partnership,
and | such partnership may be offered by one or more not-for-profit
| organizations in the State which support excellence in | teaching. The program
shall be
comprised of the following 3 | phases: (a) the first phase is the
course of study offered on | an intensive basis in education theory,
instructional methods, | and
practice
teaching; (b) the second phase is the person's | assignment to a full-time
teaching position for one school | year; and (c) the third phase is a
comprehensive assessment of | the person's teaching performance by school
officials and the | partnership participants
and a recommendation by the program | sponsor to the
State Board of Education that the person be | issued a standard alternative
teaching certificate. Successful | completion of the Alternative Teacher
Certification program | shall be deemed to satisfy any other
practice or student |
| teaching and subject matter requirements established by
law. | A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for | one year of
teaching
in the common schools and not renewable, | shall be issued under this Section
21-5b to persons who at the | time of applying for the provisional alternative
teaching | certificate under this Section: | (1) have graduated from an accredited college or | university with a
bachelor's degree; | (2) have successfully completed the first phase of the | Alternative Teacher
Certification program as provided in | this Section; | (3) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject | matter knowledge
required by Section
21-1a; and | (4) (i) have been employed for a period of at least 5 | years in an area
requiring application of the individual's | education or (ii) have attained at least a cumulative grade | average of a "B" if the individual is assigned either to a | school district that has not met the annual measurable | objective for highly qualified teachers required by the | Illinois Revised Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) Plan or to | a school district whose data filed with the State Board of | Education indicates that the district's poor and minority | students are taught by teachers who are not highly | qualified at a higher rate than other students; however, | this item (4)
does not apply with respect to a provisional | alternative teaching certificate
for
teaching in schools |
| situated in a school district that is located in a city
| having a
population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants. | Assignment may be made under clause (ii) of this item (4) | only if the district superintendent and the exclusive | bargaining representative of the district's teachers, if | any, jointly agree to permit the assignment.
| A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate | under this Section
shall be treated as a regularly certified | teacher for purposes of compensation,
benefits, and other terms | and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the
school | who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an | exclusive
bargaining representative, if any. | Until February 15, 2000, a standard alternative teaching | certificate,
valid for 4 years for teaching
in the schools and | renewable as provided in
Section 21-14, shall be
issued under | this Section 21-5b to persons who first complete the | requirements
for the provisional alternative teaching | certificate
and who at the time of applying for a standard | alternative teaching certificate
under this Section have | successfully completed the second and third phases of
the | Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this | Section.
Alternatively, beginning February 15, 2000, at the end | of the 4-year
validity
period,
persons who were issued a | standard alternative teaching certificate shall be
eligible, | on
the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate | issued under
subsection (b) of
Section 21-2 of this Code, to |
| apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate,
provided they
meet | the requirements of
subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code | and further provided that a
person who
does not
apply for and | receive a Standard Teaching Certificate shall be able to teach
| only in
schools situated in a school district that is located | in a city having a
population in excess
of 500,000 inhabitants. | Beginning February 15, 2000, persons who have completed the | requirements for
a
standard alternative teaching certificate | under this Section shall be issued an
Initial
Alternative | Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching and not
| renewable. At the end of the 4-year validity period, these | persons shall be
eligible, on the same
basis as
holders of an | Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of
| Section 21-2 of
this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching | Certificate, provided they meet the
requirements of subsection | (c) of Section 21-2. | Such alternative certification program shall be | implemented so that the first
provisional alternative teaching | certificates issued under this Section are
effective upon the | commencement of the 1997-1998 academic year and the first
| standard alternative teaching certificates issued under this | Section are
effective upon the commencement of the 1998-1999 | academic year. | The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the | partnership or partnerships
establishing such Alternative | Teacher Certification programs, shall adopt rules
and |
| regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the | State Board
of Education deems necessary to establish and | implement the program. | No one may be admitted to an alternative certification | program under this Section after September 1, 2013 2012, and | those candidates who are admitted on or before September 1, | 2013 2012 must complete the program before January 1, 2015 | September 1, 2013. | This Section is repealed on January 1, 2015 September 1, | 2013. | (Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
| (105 ILCS 5/21-5c) | (Section scheduled to be repealed on September 1, 2013) | Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification. | The State Board
of Education, in consultation with the State | Teacher Certification Board, shall
establish and implement one | or more alternative route to teacher certification programs
| under which persons who meet the requirements of and | successfully complete the programs
established by this Section | shall be issued an initial teaching
certificate for teaching in | schools in this State.
The State Board of Education may
approve | a course of study
that persons in such programs must | successfully complete in order to
satisfy one criterion for | issuance of a certificate under this Section. The
Alternative | Route to Teacher Certification programs course of study must |
| include
content and skills which have been approved by the | State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State | Teacher Certification Board, as meeting the
requirement for | State teacher certification. | Programs established under this Section shall be
known as | Alternative Route to Teacher Certification programs. The | programs
may be offered by a university that offers 4-year | baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a | recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this | Code, by one or more not-for-profit
organizations in the State, | or a combination thereof. The programs shall be comprised of | the following 3
phases: (a) a
course of study offered on an | intensive basis in education theory,
instructional methods, | and
practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment to a | full-time
teaching position for one school year, including the | designation of a
mentor teacher to advise and assist the person | with that
teaching assignment; and (c) a comprehensive | assessment of the person's
teaching performance by school | officials and program participants
and a recommendation by the | program sponsor to the
State Board of Education that the person | be issued an initial
teaching certificate. Successful | completion of Alternative Route to
Teacher
Certification | programs shall be deemed to satisfy any other
practice or | student teaching and subject matter requirements established | by
law. | A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for |
| one year of
teaching
in the common schools and not renewable, | shall be issued under this Section
21-5c to persons who at the | time of applying for the provisional alternative
teaching | certificate under this Section: | (1) have graduated from an accredited college or | university with a
bachelor's degree; | (2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years | in an area
requiring application of the individual's | education; | (3) have successfully completed the first phase of the | Alternative Teacher
Certification program as provided in | this Section; and | (4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject | matter knowledge
required by Section 21-1a. | An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching
in the | common schools,
shall be
issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to | persons who first complete the
requirements
for the provisional | alternative teaching certificate
and who at the time of | applying for an initial teaching certificate
have successfully | completed the second and third phases of
the Alternative Route | to Teacher Certification program as provided in this
Section. | A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate | or an initial
teaching certificate earned under this Section
| shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes | of compensation,
benefits, and other terms and conditions of | employment afforded teachers in the
school who are members of a |
| bargaining unit represented by an exclusive
bargaining | representative, if any. | The State Board of Education may adopt rules
and | regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the | State Board
deems necessary to establish and implement the | program. | No one may be admitted to an alternative certification | program under this Section after September 1, 2013 2012, and | those candidates who are admitted on or before September 1, | 2013 2012 must complete the program before January 1, 2015 | September 1, 2013. | This Section is repealed on January 1, 2015 September 1, | 2013. | (Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10; 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
| (105 ILCS 5/21B-50) | Sec. 21B-50. Alternative educator licensure program. | (a) There is established an alternative educator licensure | program, to be known as the Alternative Educator Licensure | Program for Teachers. | (b) Beginning on January 1, 2013, the Alternative Educator | Licensure Program for Teachers may be offered by a recognized | institution approved to offer educator preparation programs by | the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State | Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Any program offered | by a not-for-profit entity also must be approved by the Board |
| of Higher Education. | The program shall be comprised of 4 phases: | (1) A course of study that at a minimum includes | instructional planning; instructional strategies, | including special education, reading, and English language | learning; classroom management; and the assessment of | students and use of data to drive instruction. | (2) A year of residency, which is a candidate's | assignment to a full-time teaching position or as a | co-teacher for one full school year. An individual must | hold an Educator License with Stipulations with an | alternative provisional educator endorsement in order to | enter the residency and must complete additional program | requirements that address required State and national | standards, pass the assessment of professional teaching | before entering the second residency year, as required | under phase (3) of this subsection (b), and be recommended | by the principal and program coordinator to continue with | the second year of the residency. | (3) A second year of residency, which shall include the | candidate's assignment to a full-time teaching position | for one school year. The candidate must be assigned an | experienced teacher to act as a mentor and coach the | candidate through the second year of residency. | (4) A comprehensive assessment of the candidate's | teaching effectiveness, as evaluated by the principal and |
| the program coordinator, at the end of the second year of | residency. If there is disagreement between the 2 | evaluators about the candidate's teaching effectiveness, | the candidate may complete one additional year of residency | teaching under a professional development plan developed | by the principal and preparation program. At the completion | of the third year, a candidate must have positive | evaluations and a recommendation for full licensure from | both the principal and the program coordinator or no | Professional Educator License shall be issued. | Successful completion of the program shall be deemed to | satisfy any other practice or student teaching and content | matter requirements established by law. | (c) An alternative provisional educator endorsement on an a | Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 2 years of | teaching in the public schools, including without limitation a | charter school, or in a State-recognized nonpublic school in | which the chief administrator is required to have the licensure | necessary to be a principal in a public school in this State | and in which a majority of the teachers are required to have | the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in | this State, but may be renewed for a third year if needed to | complete the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for | Teachers. The endorsement shall be issued only once to an | individual who meets all of the following requirements: | (1) Has graduated from a regionally accredited college |
| or university with a bachelor's degree or higher. | (2) Has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or | greater on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent on another scale. | (3) Has completed a major in the content area if | seeking a middle or secondary level endorsement or, if | seeking an early childhood, elementary, or special | education endorsement, has completed a major in the content | area of reading, English/language arts, mathematics, or | one of the sciences. If the individual does not have a | major in a content area for any level of teaching, he or | she must submit transcripts to the State Superintendent of | Education to be reviewed for equivalency. | (4) Has successfully completed phase (1) of subsection | (b) of this Section. | (5) Has passed a test of basic skills and content area | test required for the specific endorsement for admission | into the program, as required under Section 21B-30 of this | Code. | A candidate possessing the alternative provisional | educator endorsement may receive a salary, benefits, and any | other terms of employment offered to teachers in the school who | are members of an exclusive bargaining representative, if any, | but a school is not required to provide these benefits during | the years of residency if the candidate is serving only as a | co-teacher. If the candidate is serving as the teacher of | record, the candidate must receive a salary, benefits, and any |
| other terms of employment. Residency experiences must not be | counted towards tenure. | (d) The recognized institution offering the Alternative | Educator Licensure Program for Teachers must partner with a | school district, including without limitation a charter | school, or a State-recognized, nonpublic school in this State | in which the chief administrator is required to have the | licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in | this State and in which a majority of the teachers are required | to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public | school in this State. The program presented for approval by the | State Board of Education must demonstrate the supports that are | to be provided to assist the provisional teacher during the | 2-year residency period. These supports must provide | additional contact hours with mentors during the first year of | residency. | (e) Upon completion of the 4 phases outlined in subsection | (b) of this Section and all assessments required under Section | 21B-30 of this Code, an individual shall receive a Professional | Educator License. | (f) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the | State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such | rules as may be necessary to establish and implement the | Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers.
| (Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)
| Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon |
Effective Date: 06/25/2012
|
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