Public Act 0153 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1922 Enrolled LRB095 09875 NHT 30086 b

Public Act 095-0153

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 adding Section 2-3.80a as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.80a new)

Sec. 2-3.80a. Agriculture science teacher education.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall develop an agricultural science teacher education training continuum beginning at the secondary level and shall provide incentive funding grants to the agriculture science teacher education programs located at Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University, the University of Illinois, and Western Illinois University. Public community colleges in this State that provide an articulated agriculture science teacher education course of study are also eligible for funding.

(b) The funds provided by the State Board of Education under subsection (a) of this Section may be used to support the following activities:

(1) Teacher education candidate recruitment and retention incentives.

(2) Having Master teachers and practitioners assist with the preparation, coordination, and supervision of student teachers.

(3) Establishing and delivering professional development experiences for new teachers during their first 5 years of teaching.

(4) Professional development for university agriculture education teacher education staff.