103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5414

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Laura Faver Dias - Joyce Mason, Mary Beth Canty, Sharon Chung, William "Will" Davis, et al.

 

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 reduce financial barriers into the teaching profession and increase the quality of the student teaching experience in order to better prepare teaching candidates for the classroom and increase teacher retention. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1. Provides that all eligible students shall be enrolled in the stipend program. 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 for one academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning funding if the amount appropriated for the program is insufficient to fund all eligible students. 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 $1,500 per academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that a cooperating teacher may receive professional development hours for completing cooperating teacher training that counts towards the cooperating teacher's license renewal or Gateways credential. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible teacher from participating in the program or receiving a stipend from the program. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the State Board of Educations shall report and evaluate about the program to the Governor and General Assembly on or before June 30, 2028 and each June 30 thereafter. Provides for rulemaking.


LRB103 38484 RJT 68620 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5414LRB103 38484 RJT 68620 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    "Cooperating teacher" means a licensed teacher or a
10teacher who has attained a Gateways Credential in Level 5 or
11higher and who is qualified to teach in the subject area
12assigned. "Educator preparation program" means an approved
13educator preparation program offered by a recognized school or
14institution under Article 21B of the School Code.
15    "Eligible student" means a student who is enrolled in an
16educator preparation program, who is maintaining satisfactory
17academic progress, who is in a student teaching placement, and
18who is not contracted as the teacher of record for the student
19teaching placement. "Student teaching" means a supervised
20clinical experience that prepares a candidate to take full
21responsibility in an instructional setting.
22    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Board shall create a
23student teaching stipend program to reduce financial barriers

 

 

HB5414- 2 -LRB103 38484 RJT 68620 b

1into the teaching profession and increase the quality of the
2student teaching experience in order to better prepare
3teaching candidates for the classroom and increase teacher
4retention.
5    (c) To participate in the stipend program, an eligible
6student must be placed as a student teacher. An educator
7preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible
8students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1. All
9eligible students shall be enrolled in the stipend program.
10    (d) Under the stipend program and subject to available
11appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator
12preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible
13student a stipend of up to $10,000 for one academic semester,
14plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the
15stipend program. The educator preparation program shall
16distribute stipend funds using the standard methods for
17allocating State-based financial aid or as wages for
18employment to each eligible student in monthly installments.
19    (e) If the amount appropriated in a fiscal year is
20insufficient to fully fund stipends for the total number of
21eligible students for that fiscal year, the Board shall
22prioritize granting stipend funds to students in the following
23order:
24        (1) Fully funding stipends for all eligible students
25    who demonstrate financial need based on federal Pell Grant
26    eligibility, Monetary Award Program eligibility, Free

 

 

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1    Application for Federal Student Aid eligibility, or as
2    otherwise determined by the Board.
3        (2) Fully funding stipends for all eligible students
4    pursuing credentials in high-need certification areas, as
5    determined by the State Board of Education.
6        (3) Fully funding stipends for all other eligible
7    students.
8    If the appropriated funds are insufficient to fully fund
9all eligible students, the remaining funds shall be prorated
10across all members of the last unfunded group under this
11subsection (e).
12    (f) Under the stipend program and subject to available
13appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator
14preparation program funds to distribute to each student
15teacher or cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $1,500 per
16academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct
17costs of operating the stipend program. The educator
18preparation program shall distribute stipend funds to each
19cooperating teacher in one payment.
20    (g) To participate in the stipend program, the Board shall
21require a cooperating teacher to complete evidence-based
22training that covers basic responsibilities of a cooperating
23teacher, practices in supporting student teachers in school
24and early childhood education-based settings, including an
25evidence-based model of coaching, and the effective assessment
26of student teachers that aligns with relevant State educator

 

 

HB5414- 4 -LRB103 38484 RJT 68620 b

1performance evaluation requirements.
2    (h) A cooperating teacher may receive professional
3development hours for completing cooperating teacher training
4that counts towards the cooperating teacher's license renewal
5or Gateways credential.
6    (i) An educator preparation program may not prohibit an
7eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from
8participating in the program or receiving a stipend from the
9program.
10    (j) No institution of higher education may establish or
11maintain a policy which requires student teaching for
12preservice teachers to be unpaid.
13    (k) Subject to available appropriations, the Board shall
14report and evaluate the impact of the student teaching stipend
15program created by this Section. The evaluation shall include
16an analysis of the impact of the program on enrollment and
17completions in State educator preparation programs, the racial
18and ethnic diversity of educator preparation programs, hiring
19rates of students who complete educator preparation programs
20and work in public schools and early childhood programs in the
21State, and the classroom effectiveness and retention of early
22career teachers, State educator preparation, and retention
23efforts. The Board shall write this report in collaboration
24with the State Board of Education. The Board shall deliver
25this report to the General Assembly and Governor on or before
26June 30, 2028 and each June 30 thereafter.

 

 

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1    (l) The Board shall adopt rules regarding the
2administration of the stipend program.