95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB2003

 

Introduced 2/26/2007, by Rep. Michael K. Smith

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/21-1a   from Ch. 122, par. 21-1a
105 ILCS 5/21-2   from Ch. 122, par. 21-2
105 ILCS 5/21-10   from Ch. 122, par. 21-10
105 ILCS 5/21-14   from Ch. 122, par. 21-14

    Amends the Teacher Certification Article of the School Code. Removes a provision that provides that a person who holds a valid and comparable out-of-state certificate is not required to take the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge. Removes a provision that requires a provisional certificate holder to pass the examinations set forth by the State Board of Education within 9 months. Removes a provision that provides that a failure to pass the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall result in cancellation of a provisional certificate. With respect to Standard Teaching Certificates, removes a provision that provides that continuing professional development activities may include continuing education units; makes related changes.


LRB095 08114 NHT 28278 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2003 LRB095 08114 NHT 28278 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
5 21-1a, 21-2, 21-10, and 21-14 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/21-1a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 21-1a)
7     Sec. 21-1a. Tests required for certification and teacher
8 preparation.
9     (a) After July 1, 1988, in addition to all other
10 requirements, early childhood, elementary, special, high
11 school, school service personnel, or, except as provided in
12 Section 34-6, administrative certificates shall be issued to
13 persons who have satisfactorily passed a test of basic skills
14 and subject matter knowledge. A person who holds a valid and
15 comparable out-of-state certificate, however, is not required
16 to take a test of basic skills and is not required to take a
17 test of subject matter knowledge, provided that the person has
18 successfully passed a test of subject matter knowledge in
19 another state or territory of the United States that is
20 directly related in content to the specific subject area of
21 certification. The tests of basic skills and subject matter
22 knowledge shall be the tests which from time to time are
23 designated by the State Board of Education in consultation with

 

 

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1 the State Teacher Certification Board and may be tests prepared
2 by an educational testing organization or tests designed by the
3 State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
4 Certification Board. The areas to be covered by the test of
5 basic skills shall include the basic skills of reading,
6 writing, grammar and mathematics. The test of subject matter
7 knowledge shall assess content knowledge in the specific
8 subject field. The tests shall be designed to be racially
9 neutral to assure that no person in taking the tests is thereby
10 discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national
11 origin or other factors unrelated to the person's ability to
12 perform as a certificated employee. The score required to pass
13 the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall be
14 fixed by the State Board of Education in consultation with the
15 State Teacher Certification Board. The tests shall be held not
16 fewer than 3 times a year at such time and place as may be
17 designated by the State Board of Education in consultation with
18 the State Teacher Certification Board.
19     (b) Except as provided in Section 34-6, the provisions of
20 subsection (a) of this Section shall apply equally in any
21 school district subject to Article 34, provided that the State
22 Board of Education shall determine which certificates issued
23 under Sections 34-8.1 and 34-83 prior to July 1, 1988 are
24 comparable to any early childhood certificate, elementary
25 school certificate, special certificate, high school
26 certificate, school service personnel certificate or

 

 

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1 administrative certificate issued under this Article as of July
2 1, 1988.
3     (c) A person who holds an early childhood, elementary,
4 special, high school or school service personnel certificate
5 issued under this Article on or at any time before July 1,
6 1988, including a person who has been issued any such
7 certificate pursuant to Section 21-11.1 or in exchange for a
8 comparable certificate theretofore issued under Section 34-8.1
9 or Section 34-83, shall not be required to take or pass the
10 tests in order to thereafter have such certificate renewed.
11     (d) The State Board of Education in consultation with the
12 State Teacher Certification Board shall conduct a pilot
13 administration of the tests by administering the test to
14 students completing teacher education programs in the 1986-87
15 school year for the purpose of determining the effect and
16 impact of testing candidates for certification.
17     Beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year, a student may
18 not enroll in a teacher preparation program at a recognized
19 teacher training institution until he or she has passed the
20 basic skills test.
21     Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
22 the 94th General Assembly, prior to completing an approved
23 teacher preparation program, a preservice education candidate
24 must satisfactorily pass the test of subject matter knowledge
25 in the discipline in which he or she will be certified to
26 teach. The teacher preparation program may require passage of

 

 

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1 the test of subject matter knowledge at any time during the
2 program, including prior to student teaching.
3     (e) The rules and regulations developed to implement the
4 required test of basic skills and subject matter knowledge
5 shall include the requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (c)
6 and shall include specific regulations to govern test
7 selection; test validation and determination of a passing
8 score; administration of the tests; frequency of
9 administration; applicant fees; frequency of applicants'
10 taking the tests; the years for which a score is valid; and,
11 waiving certain additional tests for additional certificates
12 to individuals who have satisfactorily passed the test of basic
13 skills and subject matter knowledge as required in subsection
14 (a). The State Board of Education shall provide, by rule,
15 specific policies that assure uniformity in the difficulty
16 level of each form of the basic skills test and each subject
17 matter knowledge test from test-to-test and year-to-year. The
18 State Board of Education shall also set a passing score for the
19 tests.
20     (f) The State Teacher Certification Board may issue a
21 nonrenewable temporary certificate between July 1, 1988 and
22 August 31, 1988 to individuals who have taken the tests of
23 basic skills and subject matter knowledge prescribed by this
24 Section but have not received such test scores by August 31,
25 1988. Such temporary certificates shall expire on December 31,
26 1988.

 

 

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1     (g) Beginning February 15, 2000, the State Board of
2 Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
3 Certification Board, shall implement and administer a new
4 system of certification for teachers in the State of Illinois.
5 The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
6 Teacher Certification Board, shall design and implement a
7 system of examinations and various other criteria which shall
8 be required prior to the issuance of Initial Teaching
9 Certificates and Standard Teaching Certificates. These
10 examinations and indicators shall be based on national and
11 State professional teaching standards, as determined by the
12 State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
13 Teacher Certification Board. The State Board of Education may
14 adopt any and all regulations necessary to implement and
15 administer this Section.
16     (h) The State Board of Education shall report to the
17 Illinois General Assembly and the Governor with
18 recommendations for further changes and improvements to the
19 teacher certification system no later than July 1, 1999 and on
20 an annual basis until July 1, 2001.
21 (Source: P.A. 93-679, eff. 6-30-04; 94-208, eff. 7-14-05.)
 
22     (105 ILCS 5/21-2)  (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2)
23     Sec. 21-2. Grades of certificates.
24     (a) All certificates issued under this Article shall be
25 State certificates valid, except as limited in Section 21-1, in

 

 

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1 every school district coming under the provisions of this Act
2 and shall be limited in time and designated as follows:
3 Provisional vocational certificate, temporary provisional
4 vocational certificate, early childhood certificate,
5 elementary school certificate, special certificate, secondary
6 certificate, school service personnel certificate,
7 administrative certificate, provisional certificate, and
8 substitute certificate. The requirement of student teaching
9 under close and competent supervision for obtaining a teaching
10 certificate may be waived by the State Teacher Certification
11 Board upon presentation to the Board by the teacher of evidence
12 of 5 years successful teaching experience on a valid
13 certificate and graduation from a recognized institution of
14 higher learning with a bachelor's degree.
15     (b) Initial Teaching Certificate. Persons who (1) have
16 completed an approved teacher preparation program, (2) are
17 recommended by an approved teacher preparation program, (3)
18 have successfully completed the Initial Teaching Certification
19 examinations required by the State Board of Education, and (4)
20 have met all other criteria established by the State Board of
21 Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
22 Board, shall be issued an Initial Teaching Certificate valid
23 for 4 years of teaching, as defined in Section 21-14 of this
24 Code. Initial Teaching Certificates shall be issued for
25 categories corresponding to Early Childhood, Elementary,
26 Secondary, and Special K-12, with special certification

 

 

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1 designations for Special Education, Bilingual Education,
2 fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading,
3 Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and
4 Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas
5 designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation
6 with the State Teacher Certification Board. Notwithstanding
7 any other provision of this Article, an Initial Teaching
8 Certificate shall be automatically extended for one year for
9 all persons who (i) have been issued an Initial Teaching
10 Certificate that expires on June 30, 2004 and (ii) have not
11 met, prior to July 1, 2004, the Standard Certificate
12 requirements under paragraph (c) of this Section. An
13 application and fee shall not be required for this extension.
14     (b-5) A person who holds an out-of-state certificate and
15 who is otherwise eligible for a comparable Illinois certificate
16 may be issued an Initial Certificate if that person has not
17 completed 4 years of teaching. Upon completion of 4 years of
18 teaching, the person is eligible for a Standard Certificate.
19 Beginning July 1, 2004, an out-of-state candidate who has
20 already earned a second-tier certificate in another state is
21 not subject to any Standard Certificate eligibility
22 requirements stated in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this
23 Section other than completion of the 4 years of teaching. An
24 out-of-state candidate who has completed less than 4 years of
25 teaching and does not hold a second-tier certificate from
26 another state must meet the requirements stated in paragraph

 

 

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1 (2) of subsection (c) of this Section, proportionately reduced
2 by the amount of time remaining to complete the 4 years of
3 teaching.
4     (c) Standard Certificate.
5     (1) Persons who (i) have completed 4 years of teaching, as
6 defined in Section 21-14 of this Code, with an Initial
7 Certificate or an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate and
8 have met all other criteria established by the State Board of
9 Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
10 Board, (ii) have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid
11 equivalent certificate in another State or territory of the
12 United States, or have completed 4 years of teaching in a
13 nonpublic Illinois elementary or secondary school with an
14 Initial Certificate or an Initial Alternative Teaching
15 Certificate, and have met all other criteria established by the
16 State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
17 Teacher Certification Board, or (iii) were issued teaching
18 certificates prior to February 15, 2000 and are renewing those
19 certificates after February 15, 2000, shall be issued a
20 Standard Certificate valid for 5 years, which may be renewed
21 thereafter every 5 years by the State Teacher Certification
22 Board based on proof of continuing education or professional
23 development. Beginning July 1, 2003, persons who have completed
24 4 years of teaching, as described in clauses (i) and (ii) of
25 this paragraph (1), have successfully completed the
26 requirements of paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection

 

 

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1 (c), and have met all other criteria established by the State
2 Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
3 Certification Board, shall be issued Standard Certificates.
4 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section,
5 beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold valid out-of-state
6 certificates and have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid
7 equivalent certificate in another State or territory of the
8 United States shall be issued comparable Standard
9 Certificates. Beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold valid
10 out-of-state certificates as described in subsection (b-5) of
11 this Section are subject to the requirements of paragraphs (2)
12 through (4) of this subsection (c), as required in subsection
13 (b-5) of this Section, in order to receive a Standard
14 Certificate. Standard Certificates shall be issued for
15 categories corresponding to Early Childhood, Elementary,
16 Secondary, and Special K-12, with special certification
17 designations for Special Education, Bilingual Education,
18 fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading,
19 Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and
20 Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas
21 designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation
22 with the State Teacher Certification Board.
23     (2) This paragraph (2) applies only to those persons
24 required to successfully complete the requirements of this
25 paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). In order
26 to receive a Standard Teaching Certificate, a person must

 

 

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1 satisfy one of the following requirements:
2         (A) Completion of a program of induction and mentoring
3     for new teachers that is based upon a specific plan
4     approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation
5     with the State Teacher Certification Board. Nothing in this
6     Section, however, prohibits an induction or mentoring
7     program from operating prior to approval. Holders of
8     Initial Certificates issued before September 1, 2007 must
9     complete, at a minimum, an approved one-year induction and
10     mentoring program. Holders of Initial Certificates issued
11     on or after September 1, 2007 must complete an approved
12     2-year induction and mentoring program. The plan must
13     describe the role of mentor teachers, the criteria and
14     process for their selection, and how all the following
15     components are to be provided:
16             (i) Assignment of a formally trained mentor
17         teacher to each new teacher for a specified period of
18         time, which shall be established by the employing
19         school or school district, provided that a mentor
20         teacher may not directly or indirectly participate in
21         the evaluation of a new teacher pursuant to Article 24A
22         of this Code or the evaluation procedure of the school.
23             (ii) Formal mentoring for each new teacher.
24             (iii) Support for each new teacher in relation to
25         the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, the
26         content-area standards applicable to the new teacher's

 

 

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1         area of certification, and any applicable local school
2         improvement and professional development plans.
3             (iv) Professional development specifically
4         designed to foster the growth of each new teacher's
5         knowledge and skills.
6             (v) Formative assessment that is based on the
7         Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and designed
8         to provide feedback to the new teacher and
9         opportunities for reflection on his or her
10         performance, which must not be used directly or
11         indirectly in any evaluation of a new teacher pursuant
12         to Article 24A of this Code or the evaluation procedure
13         of the school and which must include the activities
14         specified in clauses (B)(i), (B)(ii), and (B)(iii) of
15         this paragraph (2).
16             (vi) Assignment of responsibility for coordination
17         of the induction and mentoring program within each
18         school district participating in the program.
19         (B) Successful completion of 4 semester hours of
20     graduate-level coursework on the assessment of one's own
21     performance in relation to the Illinois Professional
22     Teaching Standards. The coursework must be approved by the
23     State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
24     Teacher Certification Board; must be offered either by an
25     institution of higher education, by such an institution in
26     partnership with a teachers' association or union or with a

 

 

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1     regional office of education, or by another entity
2     authorized to issue college credit; and must include
3     demonstration of performance through all of the following
4     activities for each of the Illinois Professional Teaching
5     Standards:
6             (i) Observation, by the course instructor or
7         another experienced teacher, of the new teacher's
8         classroom practice (the observation may be recorded
9         for later viewing) for the purpose of identifying and
10         describing how the new teacher made content meaningful
11         for students; how the teacher motivated individuals
12         and the group and created an environment conducive to
13         positive social interactions, active learning, and
14         self-motivation; what instructional strategies the
15         teacher used to encourage students' development of
16         critical thinking, problem solving, and performance;
17         how the teacher communicated using written, verbal,
18         nonverbal, and visual communication techniques; and
19         how the teacher maintained standards of professional
20         conduct and provided leadership to improve students'
21         learning.
22             (ii) Review and analysis, by the course instructor
23         or another experienced teacher, of written
24         documentation (i.e., lesson plans, assignments,
25         assessment instruments, and samples of students' work)
26         prepared by the new teacher for at least 2 lessons. The

 

 

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1         documentation must provide evidence of classroom
2         performance related to Illinois Professional Teaching
3         Standards 1 through 9, with an emphasis on how the
4         teacher used his or her understanding of students,
5         assessment data, and subject matter to decide on
6         learning goals; how the teacher designed or selected
7         activities and instructional materials and aligned
8         instruction to the relevant Illinois Learning
9         Standards; how the teacher adapted or modified
10         curriculum to meet individual students' needs; and how
11         the teacher sequenced instruction and designed or
12         selected student assessment strategies.
13             (iii) Demonstration of professional expertise on
14         the part of the new teacher in reflecting on his or her
15         practice, which was observed under clause (B)(i) of
16         this paragraph (2) and documented under clause (B)(ii)
17         of this paragraph (2), in terms of teaching strengths,
18         weaknesses, and implications for improvement according
19         to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.
20         (C) Successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester
21     hours of graduate-level coursework addressing preparation
22     to meet the requirements for certification by the National
23     Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The
24     coursework must be approved by the State Board of
25     Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
26     Certification Board, and must be offered either by an

 

 

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1     institution of higher education, by such an institution in
2     partnership with a teachers' association or union or with a
3     regional office of education, or by another entity
4     authorized to issue college credit. The course must address
5     the 5 NBPTS Core Propositions and relevant standards
6     through such means as the following:
7             (i) Observation, by the course instructor or
8         another experienced teacher, of the new teacher's
9         classroom practice (the observation may be recorded
10         for later viewing) for the purpose of identifying and
11         describing how the new teacher made content meaningful
12         for students; how the teacher motivated individuals
13         and the group and created an environment conducive to
14         positive social interactions, active learning, and
15         self-motivation; what instructional strategies the
16         teacher used to encourage students' development of
17         critical thinking, problem solving, and performance;
18         how the teacher communicated using written, verbal,
19         nonverbal, and visual communication techniques; and
20         how the teacher maintained standards of professional
21         conduct and provided leadership to improve students'
22         learning.
23             (ii) Review and analysis, by the course instructor
24         or another experienced teacher, of written
25         documentation (i.e., lesson plans, assignments,
26         assessment instruments, and samples of students' work)

 

 

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1         prepared by the new teacher for at least 2 lessons. The
2         documentation must provide evidence of classroom
3         performance, including how the teacher used his or her
4         understanding of students, assessment data, and
5         subject matter to decide on learning goals; how the
6         teacher designed or selected activities and
7         instructional materials and aligned instruction to the
8         relevant Illinois Learning Standards; how the teacher
9         adapted or modified curriculum to meet individual
10         students' needs; and how the teacher sequenced
11         instruction and designed or selected student
12         assessment strategies.
13             (iii) Demonstration of professional expertise on
14         the part of the new teacher in reflecting on his or her
15         practice, which was observed under clause (C)(i) of
16         this paragraph (2) and documented under clause (C)(ii)
17         of this paragraph (2), in terms of teaching strengths,
18         weaknesses, and implications for improvement.
19         (C-5) Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 12
20     semester hours of graduate credit towards an advanced
21     degree in an education-related field from an accredited
22     institution of higher education.
23         (D) Receipt of an advanced degree from an accredited
24     institution of higher education in an education-related
25     field that is earned by a person either while he or she
26     holds an Initial Teaching Certificate or prior to his or

 

 

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1     her receipt of that certificate.
2         (E) Accumulation of 60 continuing professional
3     development units (CPDUs), earned by completing selected
4     activities that comply with paragraphs (3) and (4) of this
5     subsection (c). However, for an individual who holds an
6     Initial Teaching Certificate on the effective date of this
7     amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the number of
8     CPDUs shall be reduced to reflect the teaching time
9     remaining on the Initial Teaching Certificate.
10         (F) Completion of a nationally normed,
11     performance-based assessment, if made available by the
12     State Board of Education in consultation with the State
13     Teacher Certification Board, provided that the cost to the
14     person shall not exceed the cost of the coursework
15     described in clause (B) of this paragraph (2).
16         (G) Completion of requirements for meeting the
17     Illinois criteria for becoming "highly qualified" (for
18     purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public
19     Law 107-110) in an additional teaching area.
20         (H) Receipt of a minimum 12-hour, post-baccalaureate,
21     education-related professional development certificate
22     issued by an Illinois institution of higher education and
23     developed in accordance with rules adopted by the State
24     Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
25     Certification Board.
26         (I) Completion of the National Board for Professional

 

 

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1     Teaching Standards (NBPTS) process.
2         (J) Receipt of a subsequent Illinois certificate or
3     endorsement pursuant to Article 21 of this Code.
4     (3) This paragraph (3) applies only to those persons
5 required to successfully complete the requirements of this
6 paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Persons
7 who seek to satisfy the requirements of clause (E) of paragraph
8 (2) of this subsection (c) through accumulation of CPDUs may
9 earn credit through completion of coursework, workshops,
10 seminars, conferences, and other similar training events that
11 are pre-approved by the State Board of Education, in
12 consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, for
13 the purpose of reflection on teaching practices in order to
14 address all of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards
15 necessary to obtain a Standard Teaching Certificate. These
16 activities must meet all of the following requirements:
17         (A) Each activity must be designed to advance a
18     person's knowledge and skills in relation to one or more of
19     the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or in
20     relation to the content-area standards applicable to the
21     teacher's field of certification.
22         (B) Taken together, the activities completed must
23     address each of the Illinois Professional Teaching
24     Standards as provided in clauses (B)(i), (B)(ii), and
25     (B)(iii) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).
26         (C) Each activity must be provided by an entity

 

 

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1     approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation
2     with the State Teacher Certification Board, for this
3     purpose.
4         (D) Each activity, integral to its successful
5     completion, must require participants to demonstrate the
6     degree to which they have acquired new knowledge or skills,
7     such as through performance, through preparation of a
8     written product, through assembling samples of students'
9     or teachers' work, or by some other means that is
10     appropriate to the subject matter of the activity.
11         (E) One CPDU shall be available for each hour of direct
12     participation by a holder of an Initial Teaching
13     Certificate in a qualifying activity. An activity may be
14     attributed to more than one of the Illinois Professional
15     Teaching Standards, but credit for any activity shall be
16     counted only once.
17     (4) This paragraph (4) applies only to those persons
18 required to successfully complete the requirements of this
19 paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Persons
20 who seek to satisfy the requirements of clause (E) of paragraph
21 (2) of this subsection (c) through accumulation of CPDUs may
22 earn credit from the following, provided that each activity is
23 designed to advance a person's knowledge and skills in relation
24 to one or more of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards
25 or in relation to the content-area standards applicable to the
26 person's field or fields of certification:

 

 

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1         (A) Collaboration and partnership activities related
2     to improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher,
3     including all of the following:
4             (i) Peer review and coaching.
5             (ii) Mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
6         including service as a consulting teacher
7         participating in a remediation process formulated
8         under Section 24A-5 of this Code.
9             (iii) Facilitating parent education programs
10         directly related to student achievement for a school,
11         school district, or regional office of education.
12             (iv) Participating in business, school, or
13         community partnerships directly related to student
14         achievement.
15         (B) Teaching college or university courses in areas
16     relevant to a teacher's field of certification, provided
17     that the teaching may only be counted once during the
18     course of 4 years.
19         (C) Conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, and
20     symposiums related to improving a person's knowledge and
21     skills as a teacher, including all of the following:
22             (i) Completing non-university credit directly
23         related to student achievement, the Illinois
24         Professional Teaching Standards, or content-area
25         standards.
26             (ii) Participating in or presenting at workshops,

 

 

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1         seminars, conferences, institutes, and symposiums.
2             (iii) (Blank).
3             (iv) Training as reviewers of university teacher
4         preparation programs.
5         An activity listed in this clause (C) is creditable
6     only if its provider is approved for this purpose by the
7     State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
8     Teacher Certification Board.
9         (D) Other educational experiences related to improving
10     a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all
11     of the following:
12             (i) Participating in action research and inquiry
13         projects.
14             (ii) Observing programs or teaching in schools,
15         related businesses, or industry that is systematic,
16         purposeful, and relevant to a teacher's field of
17         certification.
18             (iii) Participating in study groups related to
19         student achievement, the Illinois Professional
20         Teaching Standards, or content-area standards.
21             (iv) Participating in work/learn programs or
22         internships.
23             (v) Developing a portfolio of students' and
24         teacher's work.
25         (E) Professional leadership experiences related to
26     improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher,

 

 

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1     including all of the following:
2             (i) Participating in curriculum development or
3     assessment activities at the school, school district,
4     regional office of education, State, or national level.
5             (ii) Participating in team or department
6         leadership in a school or school district.
7             (iii) (Blank).
8             (iv) Publishing educational articles, columns, or
9         books relevant to a teacher's field of certification.
10             (v) Participating in non-strike related activities
11         of a professional association or labor organization
12         that are related to professional development.
13     (5) A person must complete the requirements of this
14 subsection (c) before the expiration of his or her Initial
15 Teaching Certificate and must submit assurance of having done
16 so to the regional superintendent of schools or a local
17 professional development committee authorized by the regional
18 superintendent to submit recommendations to him or her for this
19 purpose.
20     Within 30 days after receipt, the regional superintendent
21 of schools shall review the assurance of completion submitted
22 by a person and, based upon compliance with all of the
23 requirements for receipt of a Standard Teaching Certificate,
24 shall forward to the State Board of Education a recommendation
25 for issuance of the Standard Certificate or non-issuance. The
26 regional superintendent of schools shall notify the affected

 

 

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1 person if the recommendation is for non-issuance of the
2 Standard Certificate. A person who is considered not to be
3 eligible for a Standard Certificate and who has received the
4 notice of non-issuance may appeal this determination to the
5 Regional Professional Development Review Committee (RPDRC).
6 The recommendation of the regional superintendent and the
7 RPDRC, along with all supporting materials, must then be
8 forwarded to the State Board of Education for a final
9 determination.
10     Upon review of a regional superintendent of school's
11 recommendations, the State Board of Education shall issue
12 Standard Teaching Certificates to those who qualify and shall
13 notify a person, in writing, of a decision denying a Standard
14 Teaching Certificate. Any decision denying issuance of a
15 Standard Teaching Certificate to a person may be appealed to
16 the State Teacher Certification Board.
17     (6) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
18 State Teacher Certification Board, may adopt rules to implement
19 this subsection (c) and may periodically evaluate any of the
20 methods of qualifying for a Standard Teaching Certificate
21 described in this subsection (c).
22     (7) The changes made to paragraphs (1) through (5) of this
23 subsection (c) by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General
24 Assembly shall apply to those persons who hold or are eligible
25 to hold an Initial Certificate on or after the effective date
26 of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and shall

 

 

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1 be given effect upon their application for a Standard
2 Certificate.
3     (8) Beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold a Standard
4 Certificate and have acquired one master's degree in an
5 education-related field are eligible for certificate renewal
6 upon completion of two-thirds of the continuing education units
7 specified in subdivision (C) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e)
8 of Section 21-14 of this Code or of the continuing professional
9 development units specified in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3)
10 of subsection (e) of Section 21-14 of this Code. Persons who
11 hold a Standard Certificate and have acquired a second master's
12 degree, an education specialist, or a doctorate in an
13 education-related field or hold a Master Certificate are
14 eligible for certificate renewal upon completion of one-third
15 of the continuing education units specified in subdivision (C)
16 of paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section 21-14 of this
17 Code or of the continuing professional development units
18 specified in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e)
19 of Section 21-14 of this Code.
20     (d) Master Certificate. Persons who have successfully
21 achieved National Board certification through the National
22 Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be issued a
23 Master Certificate, valid for 10 years and renewable thereafter
24 every 10 years through compliance with requirements set forth
25 by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
26 Teacher Certification Board. However, each teacher who holds a

 

 

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1 Master Certificate shall be eligible for a teaching position in
2 this State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master
3 Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this
4 Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal
5 background checks. A holder of a Master Certificate in an area
6 of science or social science is eligible to teach in any of the
7 subject areas within those fields, including those taught at
8 the advanced level, as defined by the State Board of Education
9 in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A
10 teacher who holds a Master Certificate shall be deemed to meet
11 State certification renewal requirements in the area or areas
12 for which he or she holds a Master Certificate for the 10-year
13 term of the teacher's Master Certificate.
14 (Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-796, eff. 8-10-02;
15 93-679, eff. 6-30-04.)
 
16     (105 ILCS 5/21-10)  (from Ch. 122, par. 21-10)
17     Sec. 21-10. Provisional certificate.
18     (A) Until July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification
19 Board may issue a provisional certificate valid for teaching in
20 elementary, high school or special subject fields subject to
21 the following conditions:
22     A provisional certificate may be issued to a person who
23 presents certified evidence of having earned a bachelor's
24 degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. The
25 academic and professional courses offered as a basis of the

 

 

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1 provisional certificate shall be courses approved by the State
2 Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
3 Certification Board.
4     A certificate earned under this plan may be renewed at the
5 end of each two-year period upon evidence filed with the State
6 Teacher Certification Board that the holder has earned 8
7 semester hours of credit within the period; provided the
8 requirements for the certificate of the same type issued for
9 the teaching position for which the teacher is employed shall
10 be met by the end of the second renewal period. A second
11 provisional certificate shall not be issued. The credits so
12 earned must be approved by the State Board of Education in
13 consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and
14 must meet the general pattern for a similar type of certificate
15 issued on the basis of credit. No more than 4 semester hours
16 shall be chosen from elective subjects.
17     (B) After July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification
18 Board may issue a provisional certificate valid for teaching in
19 early childhood, elementary, high school or special subject
20 fields, or for providing service as school service personnel or
21 for administering schools subject to the following conditions:
22 A provisional certificate may be issued to a person who meets
23 the requirements for a regular teaching, school service
24 personnel or administrative certificate in another State and
25 who presents certified evidence of having earned a bachelor's
26 degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. The

 

 

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1 academic and professional courses offered as a basis of the
2 provisional certificate shall be courses approved by the State
3 Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
4 Certification Board. A certificate earned under this plan is
5 valid for a period of 2 years and shall not be renewed;
6 however, the individual to whom this certificate is issued
7 shall have passed or shall pass the examinations set forth by
8 the State Board of Education within 9 months of the date of
9 issuance of the provisional certificate. Failure to pass the
10 tests, required in Section 21-1a, shall result in the
11 cancellation of the provisional certificate.
12     (C) The State Teacher Certification Board may also issue a
13 provisional vocational certificate and a temporary provisional
14 vocational certificate.
15         (1) The requirements for a provisional vocational
16     certificate shall be determined by the State Board of
17     Education in consultation with the State Teacher
18     Certification Board; provided, the following minimum
19     requirements are met: (a) after July 1, 1972, at least 30
20     semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of
21     higher learning; and (b) after July 1, 1974, at least 60
22     semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of
23     higher learning.
24         (2) The requirements for a temporary provisional
25     vocational certificate shall be determined by the State
26     Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher

 

 

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1     Certification Board; provided, the following minimum
2     requirements are met: (a) after July 1, 1973, at least
3     4,000 hours of work experience in the skill to be certified
4     for teaching; and (b) after July 1, 1975, at least 8,000
5     hours of work experience in the skill to be certified for
6     teaching. Any certificate issued under the provisions of
7     this paragraph shall expire on June 30 following the date
8     of issue. Renewals may be granted on a yearly basis, but
9     shall not be granted to any person who does not file with
10     the State Teacher Certification Board a transcript showing
11     at least 3 semester hours of credit earned during the
12     previous year in a recognized institution of learning. No
13     such certificate shall be issued except upon certification
14     by the employing board, subject to the approval of the
15     regional superintendent of schools, that no qualified
16     teacher holding a regular certificate or a provisional
17     vocational certificate is available and that actual
18     circumstances and need require such issuance.
19     The courses or work experience offered as a basis for the
20 issuance of the provisional vocational certificate or the
21 temporary provisional vocational certificate shall be approved
22 by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State
23 Teacher Certification Board.
24     (D) Until July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification
25 Board may also issue a provisional foreign language certificate
26 valid for 4 years for teaching the foreign language named

 

 

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1 therein in all grades of the common schools and shall be issued
2 to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of
3 higher learning with not fewer than 120 semester hours of
4 credit and who have met other requirements as determined by the
5 State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
6 Certification Board. If the holder of a provisional foreign
7 language certificate is not a citizen of the United States
8 within 6 years of the date of issuance of the original
9 certificate, such certificate shall be suspended by the
10 regional superintendent of schools of the region in which the
11 holder is engaged to teach and shall not be reinstated until
12 the holder is a citizen of the United States.
13     (E) Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary,
14 the State Teacher Certification Board shall issue part-time
15 provisional certificates to eligible individuals who are
16 professionals and craftsmen.
17     The requirements for a part-time provisional teachers
18 certificate shall be determined by the State Board of Education
19 in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board,
20 provided the following minimum requirements are met: 60
21 semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of
22 higher learning or 4000 hours of work experience in the skill
23 to be certified for teaching.
24     A part-time provisional certificate may be issued for
25 teaching no more than 2 courses of study for grades 6 through
26 12.

 

 

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1     A part-time provisional teachers certificate shall be
2 valid for 2 years and may be renewed at the end of each 2 year
3 period.
4 (Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
 
5     (105 ILCS 5/21-14)  (from Ch. 122, par. 21-14)
6     Sec. 21-14. Registration and renewal of certificates.
7     (a) A limited four-year certificate or a certificate issued
8 after July 1, 1955, shall be renewable at its expiration or
9 within 60 days thereafter by the county superintendent of
10 schools having supervision and control over the school where
11 the teacher is teaching upon certified evidence of meeting the
12 requirements for renewal as required by this Act and prescribed
13 by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State
14 Teacher Certification Board. An elementary supervisory
15 certificate shall not be renewed at the end of the first
16 four-year period covered by the certificate unless the holder
17 thereof has filed certified evidence with the State Teacher
18 Certification Board that he has a master's degree or that he
19 has earned 8 semester hours of credit in the field of
20 educational administration and supervision in a recognized
21 institution of higher learning. The holder shall continue to
22 earn 8 semester hours of credit each four-year period until
23 such time as he has earned a master's degree.
24     All certificates not renewed or registered as herein
25 provided shall lapse after a period of 5 years from the

 

 

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1 expiration of the last year of registration. Such certificates
2 may be reinstated for a one year period upon payment of all
3 accumulated registration fees. Such reinstated certificates
4 shall only be renewed: (1) by earning 5 semester hours of
5 credit in a recognized institution of higher learning in the
6 field of professional education or in courses related to the
7 holder's contractual teaching duties; or (2) by presenting
8 evidence of holding a valid regular certificate of some other
9 type. Any certificate may be voluntarily surrendered by the
10 certificate holder. A voluntarily surrendered certificate
11 shall be treated as a revoked certificate.
12     (b) When those teaching certificates issued before
13 February 15, 2000 are renewed for the first time after February
14 15, 2000, all such teaching certificates shall be exchanged for
15 Standard Teaching Certificates as provided in subsection (c) of
16 Section 21-2. All Initial and Standard Teaching Certificates,
17 including those issued to persons who previously held teaching
18 certificates issued before February 15, 2000, shall be
19 renewable under the conditions set forth in this subsection
20 (b).
21     Initial Teaching Certificates are valid for 4 years of
22 teaching, as provided in subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this
23 Code, and are renewable every 4 years until the person
24 completes 4 years of teaching. If the holder of an Initial
25 Certificate has completed 4 years of teaching but has not
26 completed the requirements set forth in paragraph (2) of

 

 

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1 subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code, then the Initial
2 Certificate may be reinstated for one year, during which the
3 requirements must be met. A holder of an Initial Certificate
4 who has not completed 4 years of teaching may continuously
5 register the certificate for additional 4-year periods without
6 penalty. Initial Certificates that are not registered shall
7 lapse consistent with subsection (a) of this Section and may be
8 reinstated only in accordance with subsection (a). Standard
9 Teaching Certificates are renewable every 5 years as provided
10 in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 and subsection (c) of this
11 Section. For purposes of this Section, "teaching" is defined as
12 employment and performance of services in an Illinois public or
13 State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
14 cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
15 of control, in a certificated teaching position, or a charter
16 school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law.
17     (c) In compliance with subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
18 this Code, which provides that a Standard Teaching Certificate
19 may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification Board based
20 upon proof of continuing professional development, the State
21 Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board
22 shall jointly:
23         (1) establish a procedure for renewing Standard
24     Teaching Certificates, which shall include but not be
25     limited to annual timelines for the renewal process and the
26     components set forth in subsections (d) through (k) of this

 

 

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1     Section;
2         (2) establish the standards for certificate renewal;
3         (3) approve or disapprove the providers of continuing
4     professional development activities;
5         (4) determine the maximum credit for each category of
6     continuing professional development activities, based upon
7     recommendations submitted by a continuing professional
8     development activity task force, which shall consist of 6
9     staff members from the State Board of Education, appointed
10     by the State Superintendent of Education, and 6 teacher
11     representatives, 3 of whom are selected by the Illinois
12     Education Association and 3 of whom are selected by the
13     Illinois Federation of Teachers;
14         (5) designate the type and amount of documentation
15     required to show that continuing professional development
16     activities have been completed; and
17         (6) provide, on a timely basis to all Illinois
18     teachers, certificate holders, regional superintendents of
19     schools, school districts, and others with an interest in
20     continuing professional development, information about the
21     standards and requirements established pursuant to this
22     subsection (c).
23     (d) Any Standard Teaching Certificate held by an individual
24 employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
25 State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
26 cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board

 

 

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1 of control in a certificated teaching position or a charter
2 school in compliance with the Charter Schools Law must be
3 maintained Valid and Active through certificate renewal
4 activities specified in the certificate renewal procedure
5 established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section,
6 provided that a holder of a Valid and Active certificate who is
7 only employed on either a part-time basis or day-to-day basis
8 as a substitute teacher shall pay only the required
9 registration fee to renew his or her certificate and maintain
10 it as Valid and Active. All other Standard Teaching
11 Certificates held may be maintained as Valid and Exempt through
12 the registration process provided for in the certificate
13 renewal procedure established pursuant to subsection (c) of
14 this Section. A Valid and Exempt certificate must be
15 immediately activated, through procedures developed jointly by
16 the State Board of Education and the State Teacher
17 Certification Board, upon the certificate holder becoming
18 employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
19 State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
20 cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
21 of control in a certificated teaching position or a charter
22 school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law. A
23 holder of a Valid and Exempt certificate may activate his or
24 her certificate through procedures provided for in the
25 certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to
26 subsection (c) of this Section.

 

 

HB2003 - 34 - LRB095 08114 NHT 28278 b

1     (e)(1) A Standard Teaching Certificate that has been
2 maintained as Valid and Active for the 5 years of the
3 certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid and Active
4 upon the certificate holder: (i) completing an advanced degree
5 from an approved institution in an education-related field;
6 (ii) completing at least 8 semester hours of coursework as
7 described in subdivision (B) of paragraph (3) of this
8 subsection (e); (iii) (blank); earning at least 24 continuing
9 education units as described in subdivision (C) of paragraph
10 (3) of this subsection (e); (iv) completing the National Board
11 for Professional Teaching Standards process as described in
12 subdivision (D) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e); or (v)
13 earning 120 continuing professional development units ("CPDU")
14 as described in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of this
15 subsection (e). The maximum continuing professional
16 development units for each continuing professional development
17 activity identified in subdivisions (F) through (J) of
18 paragraph (3) of this subsection (e) shall be jointly
19 determined by the State Board of Education and the State
20 Teacher Certification Board. If, however, the certificate
21 holder has maintained the certificate as Valid and Exempt for a
22 portion of the 5-year period of validity, the number of
23 continuing professional development units needed to renew the
24 certificate as Valid and Active shall be proportionately
25 reduced by the amount of time the certificate was Valid and
26 Exempt. Furthermore, if a certificate holder is employed and

 

 

HB2003 - 35 - LRB095 08114 NHT 28278 b

1 performs teaching services on a part-time basis for all or a
2 portion of the certificate's 5-year period of validity, the
3 number of continuing professional development units needed to
4 renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be reduced by
5 50% for the amount of time the certificate holder has been
6 employed and performed teaching services on a part-time basis.
7 Part-time shall be defined as less than 50% of the school day
8 or school term.
9     Notwithstanding any other requirements to the contrary, if
10 a Standard Teaching Certificate has been maintained as Valid
11 and Active for the 5 years of the certificate's validity and
12 the certificate holder has completed his or her certificate
13 renewal plan before July 1, 2002, the certificate shall be
14 renewed as Valid and Active.
15     (2) Beginning July 1, 2004, in order to satisfy the
16 requirements for continuing professional development provided
17 for in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code, each Valid
18 and Active Standard Teaching Certificate holder shall complete
19 professional development activities that address the
20 certificate or those certificates that are required of his or
21 her certificated teaching position, if the certificate holder
22 is employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
23 State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
24 cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
25 of control, or that certificate or those certificates most
26 closely related to his or her teaching position, if the

 

 

HB2003 - 36 - LRB095 08114 NHT 28278 b

1 certificate holder is employed in a charter school. Except as
2 otherwise provided in this subsection (e), the certificate
3 holder's activities must address purposes (A), (B), (C), or (D)
4 and must reflect purpose (E) of the following continuing
5 professional development purposes:
6         (A) Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
7     and skills as a teacher consistent with the Illinois
8     Professional Teaching Standards and the Illinois Content
9     Area Standards in the certificate holder's areas of
10     certification, endorsement, or teaching assignment in
11     order to keep the certificate holder current in those
12     areas.
13         (B) Develop the certificate holder's knowledge and
14     skills in areas determined to be critical for all Illinois
15     teachers, as defined by the State Board of Education, known
16     as "State priorities".
17         (C) Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the
18     certificate holder's local school improvement plan, if the
19     teacher is employed in an Illinois public or State-operated
20     elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or
21     joint agreement with a governing body or board of control.
22         (D) Expand the certificate holder's knowledge and
23     skills in an additional teaching field or toward the
24     acquisition of another teaching certificate, endorsement,
25     or relevant education degree.
26         (E) Address the needs of serving students with

 

 

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1     disabilities, including adapting and modifying the general
2     curriculum related to the Illinois Learning Standards to
3     meet the needs of students with disabilities and serving
4     such students in the least restrictive environment.
5     Teachers who hold certificates endorsed for special
6     education must devote at least 50% of their continuing
7     professional development activities to this purpose.
8     Teachers holding other certificates must devote at least
9     20% of their activities to this purpose.
10     A speech-language pathologist or audiologist who is
11 licensed under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and
12 Audiology Practice Act and who has met the continuing education
13 requirements of that Act and the rules promulgated under that
14 Act shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing
15 professional development requirements established by the State
16 Board of Education and the Teacher Certification Board to renew
17 a Standard Certificate.
18     (3) Continuing professional development activities may
19 include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
20         (A) completion of an advanced degree from an approved
21     institution in an education-related field;
22         (B) at least 8 semester hours of coursework in an
23     approved education-related program, of which at least 2
24     semester hours relate to the continuing professional
25     development purpose set forth in purpose (A) of paragraph
26     (2) of this subsection (e), completion of which means no

 

 

HB2003 - 38 - LRB095 08114 NHT 28278 b

1     other continuing professional development activities are
2     required;
3         (C) (blank); continuing education units that satisfy
4     the continuing professional development purposes set forth
5     in paragraph (2) of this subsection (e), with each
6     continuing education unit equal to 5 clock hours, provided
7     that a plan that includes at least 24 continuing education
8     units (or 120 clock/contact hours) need not include any
9     other continuing professional development activities;
10         (D) completion of the National Board for Professional
11     Teaching Standards ("NBPTS") process for certification or
12     recertification, completion of which means no other
13     continuing professional development activities are
14     required;
15         (E) completion of 120 continuing professional
16     development units that satisfy the continuing professional
17     development purposes set forth in paragraph (2) of this
18     subsection (e) and may include without limitation the
19     activities identified in subdivisions (F) through (J) of
20     this paragraph (3);
21         (F) collaboration and partnership activities related
22     to improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a
23     teacher, including the following:
24             (i) participating on collaborative planning and
25         professional improvement teams and committees;
26             (ii) peer review and coaching;

 

 

HB2003 - 39 - LRB095 08114 NHT 28278 b

1             (iii) mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
2         including service as a consulting teacher
3         participating in a remediation process formulated
4         under Section 24A-5 of this Code;
5             (iv) participating in site-based management or
6         decision making teams, relevant committees, boards, or
7         task forces directly related to school improvement
8         plans;
9             (v) coordinating community resources in schools,
10         if the project is a specific goal of the school
11         improvement plan;
12             (vi) facilitating parent education programs for a
13         school, school district, or regional office of
14         education directly related to student achievement or
15         school improvement plans;
16             (vii) participating in business, school, or
17         community partnerships directly related to student
18         achievement or school improvement plans; or
19             (viii) supervising a student teacher or teacher
20         education candidate in clinical supervision, provided
21         that the supervision may only be counted once during
22         the course of 5 years;
23         (G) college or university coursework related to
24     improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher
25     as follows:
26             (i) completing undergraduate or graduate credit

 

 

HB2003 - 40 - LRB095 08114 NHT 28278 b

1         earned from a regionally accredited institution in
2         coursework relevant to the certificate area being
3         renewed, including coursework that incorporates
4         induction activities and development of a portfolio of
5         both student and teacher work that provides experience
6         in reflective practices, provided the coursework meets
7         Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or Illinois
8         Content Area Standards and supports the essential
9         characteristics of quality professional development;
10         or
11             (ii) teaching college or university courses in
12         areas relevant to the certificate area being renewed,
13         provided that the teaching may only be counted once
14         during the course of 5 years;
15         (H) conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, and
16     symposiums related to improving the teacher's knowledge
17     and skills as a teacher, subject to disapproval of the
18     activity or event by the State Teacher Certification Board
19     acting jointly with the State Board of Education, including
20     the following:
21             (i) completing non-university credit directly
22         related to student achievement, school improvement
23         plans, or State priorities;
24             (ii) participating in or presenting at workshops,
25         seminars, conferences, institutes, and symposiums;
26             (iii) training as external reviewers for Quality

 

 

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1         Assurance; or
2             (iv) training as reviewers of university teacher
3         preparation programs.
4     A teacher, however, may not receive credit for conferences,
5     workshops, institutes, seminars, or symposiums that are
6     designed for entertainment, promotional, or commercial
7     purposes or that are solely inspirational or motivational.
8     The State Superintendent of Education and regional
9     superintendents of schools are authorized to review the
10     activities and events provided or to be provided under this
11     subdivision (H) and to investigate complaints regarding
12     those activities and events, and either the State
13     Superintendent of Education or a regional superintendent
14     of schools may recommend that the State Teacher
15     Certification Board and the State Board of Education
16     jointly disapprove those activities and events considered
17     to be inconsistent with this subdivision (H);
18         (I) other educational experiences related to improving
19     the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including
20     the following:
21             (i) participating in action research and inquiry
22         projects;
23             (ii) observing programs or teaching in schools,
24         related businesses, or industry that is systematic,
25         purposeful, and relevant to certificate renewal;
26             (iii) traveling related to one's teaching

 

 

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1         assignment, directly related to student achievement or
2         school improvement plans and approved by the regional
3         superintendent of schools or his or her designee at
4         least 30 days prior to the travel experience, provided
5         that the traveling shall not include time spent
6         commuting to destinations where the learning
7         experience will occur;
8             (iv) participating in study groups related to
9         student achievement or school improvement plans;
10             (v) serving on a statewide education-related
11         committee, including but not limited to the State
12         Teacher Certification Board, State Board of Education
13         strategic agenda teams, or the State Advisory Council
14         on Education of Children with Disabilities;
15             (vi) participating in work/learn programs or
16         internships; or
17             (vii) developing a portfolio of student and
18         teacher work;
19         (J) professional leadership experiences related to
20     improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher,
21     including the following:
22             (i) participating in curriculum development or
23         assessment activities at the school, school district,
24         regional office of education, State, or national
25         level;
26             (ii) participating in team or department

 

 

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1         leadership in a school or school district;
2             (iii) participating on external or internal school
3         or school district review teams;
4             (iv) publishing educational articles, columns, or
5         books relevant to the certificate area being renewed;
6         or
7             (v) participating in non-strike related
8         professional association or labor organization service
9         or activities related to professional development;
10         (K) receipt of a subsequent Illinois certificate or
11     endorsement pursuant to this Article; or
12         (L) completion of requirements for meeting the
13     Illinois criteria for becoming "highly qualified" (for
14     purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public
15     Law 107-110) in an additional teaching area; .
16         (M) successful completion of 4 semester hours of
17     graduate-level coursework on the assessment of one's own
18     performance in relation to the Illinois Teaching
19     Standards, as described in clause (B) of paragraph (2) of
20     subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code; or .
21         (N) successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester
22     hours of graduate-level coursework addressing preparation
23     to meet the requirements for certification by the National
24     Board for Professional Teaching Standards, as described in
25     clause (C) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section
26     21-2 of this Code.

 

 

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1     (4) A person must complete the requirements of this
2 subsection (e) before the expiration of his or her Standard
3 Teaching Certificate and must submit assurance to the regional
4 superintendent of schools or, if applicable, a local
5 professional development committee authorized by the regional
6 superintendent to submit recommendations to him or her for this
7 purpose. The statement of assurance shall contain a list of the
8 activities completed, the provider offering each activity, the
9 number of credits earned for each activity, and the purposes to
10 which each activity is attributed. The certificate holder shall
11 maintain the evidence of completion of each activity for at
12 least one certificate renewal cycle. The certificate holder
13 shall affirm under penalty of perjury that he or she has
14 completed the activities listed and will maintain the required
15 evidence of completion. The State Board of Education or the
16 regional superintendent of schools for each region shall
17 conduct random audits of assurance statements and supporting
18 documentation.
19     (5) (Blank).
20     (6) (Blank).
21     (f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, a
22 school district is authorized to enter into an agreement with
23 the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, to form a
24 local professional development committee (LPDC). The
25 membership and terms of members of the LPDC may be determined
26 by the agreement. Provisions regarding LPDCs contained in a

 

 

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1 collective bargaining agreement in existence on the effective
2 date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly
3 between a school district and the exclusive bargaining
4 representative shall remain in full force and effect for the
5 term of the agreement, unless terminated by mutual agreement.
6 The LPDC shall make recommendations to the regional
7 superintendent of schools on renewal of teaching certificates.
8 The regional superintendent of schools for each region shall
9 perform the following functions:
10         (1) review recommendations for certificate renewal, if
11     any, received from LPDCs;
12         (2) (blank);
13         (3) (blank);
14         (4) (blank);
15         (5) determine whether certificate holders have met the
16     requirements for certificate renewal and notify
17     certificate holders if the decision is not to renew the
18     certificate;
19         (6) provide a certificate holder with the opportunity
20     to appeal a recommendation made by a LPDC, if any, not to
21     renew the certificate to the regional professional
22     development review committee;
23         (7) issue and forward recommendations for renewal or
24     nonrenewal of certificate holders' Standard Teaching
25     Certificates to the State Teacher Certification Board; and
26         (8) (blank).

 

 

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1     (g)(1) Each regional superintendent of schools shall
2 review and concur or nonconcur with each recommendation for
3 renewal or nonrenewal of a Standard Teaching Certificate he or
4 she receives from a local professional development committee,
5 if any, or, if a certificate holder appeals the recommendation
6 to the regional professional development review committee, the
7 recommendation for renewal or nonrenewal he or she receives
8 from a regional professional development review committee and,
9 within 14 days of receipt of the recommendation, shall provide
10 the State Teacher Certification Board with verification of the
11 following, if applicable:
12         (A) the certificate holder has satisfactorily
13     completed professional development and continuing
14     education activities set forth in paragraph (3) of
15     subsection (e) of this Section;
16         (B) the certificate holder has submitted the statement
17     of assurance required under paragraph (4) of subsection (e)
18     of this Section, and this statement has been attached to
19     the application for renewal;
20         (C) the local professional development committee, if
21     any, has recommended the renewal of the certificate
22     holder's Standard Teaching Certificate and forwarded the
23     recommendation to the regional superintendent of schools;
24         (D) the certificate holder has appealed his or her
25     local professional development committee's recommendation
26     of nonrenewal, if any, to the regional professional

 

 

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1     development review committee and the result of that appeal;
2         (E) the regional superintendent of schools has
3     concurred or nonconcurred with the local professional
4     development committee's or regional professional
5     development review committee's recommendation, if any, to
6     renew or nonrenew the certificate holder's Standard
7     Teaching Certificate and made a recommendation to that
8     effect; and
9         (F) the established registration fee for the Standard
10     Teaching Certificate has been paid.
11     If the notice required by this subsection (g) includes a
12 recommendation of certificate nonrenewal, then, at the same
13 time the regional superintendent of schools provides the State
14 Teacher Certification Board with the notice, he or she shall
15 also notify the certificate holder in writing, by certified
16 mail, return receipt requested, that this notice has been
17 provided to the State Teacher Certification Board.
18     (2) Each certificate holder shall have the right to appeal
19 his or her local professional development committee's
20 recommendation of nonrenewal, if any, to the regional
21 professional development review committee, within 14 days of
22 receipt of notice that the recommendation has been sent to the
23 regional superintendent of schools. Each regional
24 superintendent of schools shall establish a regional
25 professional development review committee or committees for
26 the purpose of advising the regional superintendent of schools,

 

 

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1 upon request, and handling certificate holder appeals. This
2 committee shall consist of at least 4 classroom teachers, one
3 non-administrative certificated educational employee, 2
4 administrators, and one at-large member who shall be either (i)
5 a parent, (ii) a member of the business community, (iii) a
6 community member, or (iv) an administrator, with preference
7 given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
8 in items (i), (ii), and (iii) in order to secure representation
9 of an interest not already represented on the committee. The
10 teacher and non-administrative certificated educational
11 employee members of the review committee shall be selected by
12 their exclusive representative, if any, and the administrators
13 and at-large member shall be selected by the regional
14 superintendent of schools. A regional superintendent of
15 schools may add additional members to the committee, provided
16 that the same proportion of teachers to administrators and
17 at-large members on the committee is maintained. Any additional
18 teacher and non-administrative certificated educational
19 employee members shall be selected by their exclusive
20 representative, if any. Vacancies in positions on a regional
21 professional development review committee shall be filled in
22 the same manner as the original selections. Committee members
23 shall serve staggered 3-year terms. All individuals selected to
24 serve on regional professional development review committees
25 must be known to demonstrate the best practices in teaching or
26 their respective field of practice.

 

 

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1     (h)(1) The State Teacher Certification Board shall review
2 the regional superintendent of schools' recommendations to
3 renew or nonrenew Standard Teaching Certificates and notify
4 certificate holders in writing whether their certificates have
5 been renewed or nonrenewed within 90 days of receipt of the
6 recommendations, unless a certificate holder has appealed a
7 regional superintendent of schools' recommendation of
8 nonrenewal, as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection
9 (h). The State Teacher Certification Board shall verify that
10 the certificate holder has met the renewal criteria set forth
11 in paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this Section.
12     (2) Each certificate holder shall have the right to appeal
13 a regional superintendent of school's recommendation to
14 nonrenew his or her Standard Teaching Certificate to the State
15 Teacher Certification Board, within 14 days of receipt of
16 notice that the decision has been sent to the State Teacher
17 Certification Board, which shall hold an appeal hearing within
18 60 days of receipt of the appeal. When such an appeal is taken,
19 the certificate holder's Standard Teaching Certificate shall
20 continue to be valid until the appeal is finally determined.
21 The State Teacher Certification Board shall review the regional
22 superintendent of school's recommendation, the regional
23 professional development review committee's recommendation, if
24 any, and the local professional development committee's
25 recommendation, if any, and all relevant documentation to
26 verify whether the certificate holder has met the renewal

 

 

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1 criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this
2 Section. The State Teacher Certification Board may request that
3 the certificate holder appear before it. All actions taken by
4 the State Teacher Certification Board shall require a quorum
5 and be by a simple majority of those present and voting. A
6 record of all votes shall be maintained. The State Teacher
7 Certification Board shall notify the certificate holder in
8 writing, within 7 days of completing the review, whether his or
9 her Standard Teaching Certificate has been renewed or
10 nonrenewed, provided that if the State Teacher Certification
11 Board determines to nonrenew a certificate, the written notice
12 provided to the certificate holder shall be by certified mail,
13 return receipt requested. All certificate renewal or
14 nonrenewal decisions of the State Teacher Certification Board
15 are final and subject to administrative review, as set forth in
16 Section 21-24 of this Code.
17     (i) Holders of Master Teaching Certificates shall meet the
18 same requirements and follow the same procedures as holders of
19 Standard Teaching Certificates, except that their renewal
20 cycle shall be as set forth in subsection (d) of Section 21-2
21 of this Code and their renewal requirements shall be subject to
22 paragraph (8) of subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code.
23     A holder of a teaching certificate endorsed as a
24 speech-language pathologist who has been granted the
25 Certificate of Clinical Competence by the American
26 Speech-Language Hearing Association may renew his or her

 

 

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1 Standard Teaching Certificate pursuant to the 10-year renewal
2 cycle set forth in subsection (d) of Section 21-2 of this Code.
3     (j) Holders of Valid and Exempt Standard and Master
4 Teaching Certificates who are not employed and performing
5 services in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary
6 school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement
7 with a governing body or board of control, in a certificated
8 teaching position, may voluntarily activate their certificates
9 through the regional superintendent of schools of the regional
10 office of education for the geographic area where their
11 teaching is done. These certificate holders shall follow the
12 same renewal criteria and procedures as all other Standard and
13 Master Teaching Certificate holders, except that their
14 continuing professional development activities need not
15 reflect or address the knowledge, skills, and goals of a local
16 school improvement plan.
17     (k) (Blank).
18     (l) (Blank).
19     (m) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
20 of the 93rd General Assembly that affect renewal of Standard
21 and Master Certificates shall apply to those persons who hold
22 Standard or Master Certificates on or after the effective date
23 of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and shall
24 be given effect upon renewal of those certificates.
25 (Source: P.A. 92-510, eff. 6-1-02; 92-796, eff. 8-10-02; 93-81,
26 eff. 7-2-03; 93-679, eff. 6-30-04; revised 9-20-06.)