SB0862 Enrolled

LRB094 04497 NHT 34526 b






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    AN ACT concerning education.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
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represented in the General Assembly: 


 
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    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 
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21-2.1 as follows:

 



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    (105 ILCS 5/21-2.1)  (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2.1)



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    Sec. 21-2.1. Early childhood certificate. 

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    (a) An early childhood certificate
shall be valid for 4 
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years for teaching children up to 6 years of age,
exclusive
of 
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children enrolled in kindergarten, in facilities approved by 
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the State
Superintendent of Education.
Beginning July 1, 1988, 
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such certificate shall be valid for 4 years for
Teaching 
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children through grade 3 in facilities approved by the State

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Superintendent of Education.  Subject to the provisions of 
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Section 21-1a,
it shall be issued to persons who have graduated

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from a recognized institution of higher learning with a 
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bachelor's degree
and with not fewer than 120 semester hours 
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including professional education
or human development or, 
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until July 1, 1992, to persons who have early
childhood 
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education instruction and practical
experience involving 
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supervised work with children under 6 years of age
or with 
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children through grade 3.
Such persons shall be recommended for 
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the early childhood certificate by
a recognized institution as 
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having completed an approved program of preparation
which 
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includes the requisite hours and academic and professional 
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courses
and practical experience approved by the State 
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Superintendent of Education
in consultation with the State 
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Teacher Certification Board. The student teaching portion of 
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such practical experience may be satisfied through placement in 
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any of grades pre-kindergarten (which consists of children from 
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3 years through 5 years of age) through 3, provided that the 
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student is under the active supervision of a cooperating 
 


 






SB0862 Enrolled
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LRB094 04497 NHT 34526 b




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teacher who is certified and qualified (i) in early childhood 
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education or (ii) in self-contained, general elementary 
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education.  Candidates for the early childhood certificate 
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(including paraprofessionals)
Paraprofessionals with at least 
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one year of experience in a school or community-based early 
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childhood setting who are enrolled in early-childhood teacher 
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preparation programs may be paid and receive credit while 
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student teaching with their current employer, provided that 
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their student teaching experience meets the requirements of 
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their early-childhood teacher preparation program.


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    (b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard
Early

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Childhood
Education
Certificates shall be issued to persons who 
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meet the criteria established by
the State Board of Education.

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(Source: P.A. 94-1034, eff. 1-1-07.)

 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
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1, 2007.