HB4308eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4308 Engrossed LRB094 15677 NHT 50886 b

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 Section 21-27 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21-27)

Sec. 21-27. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program is hereby established to provide categorical funding for monetary incentives and bonuses for teachers and school counselors who are employed by school districts and who hold a Master Certificate. The State Board of Education shall allocate and distribute to each school district an amount as annually appropriated by the General Assembly from federal funds for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. The State Board of Education's annual budget must set out by separate line item the appropriation for the program. Unless otherwise provided by appropriation, each school district's annual allocation shall be the sum of the amounts earned for the following incentives and bonuses:

(1) An annual payment of $3,000 to be paid to (A) each teacher who successfully completes the program leading to and who receives a Master Certificate and is employed as a teacher by a school district and (B) each school counselor who successfully completes the program leading to and who receives a Master Certificate and is employed as a school counselor by a school district. The school district shall distribute this payment to each eligible teacher or school counselor as a single payment or in not more than 3 payments.

(2) An annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be paid to each teacher who holds a Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher by a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide 60 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers. This mentoring may include, either singly or in combination, (i) providing high quality professional development for new and experienced teachers, and (ii) assisting National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) candidates through the NBPTS certification process. The school district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive payment upon completion of 30 hours of the required mentoring and the remaining 50% of the incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school district for mentoring or related services provided during a regular school day or during the total number of days of required service for the school year.

(3) An annual incentive equal to $3,000 shall be paid to each teacher who holds a Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher by a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide 60 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers in schools on academic early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both. The school district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive payment upon completion of 30 hours of the required mentoring and the remaining 50% of the incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school district for mentoring or related services provided during a regular school day or during the total number of days of required service for the school year.

Each regional superintendent of schools shall provide information about the Master Certificate Program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly to each individual seeking to register or renew a certificate under Section 21-14 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03; 94-105, eff. 7-1-05.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.