HB2828 EngrossedLRB102 14862 CMG 20215 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 School Code is amended by changing Section
521B-45 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
7    Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.
8    (a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License
9are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as
10specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this
11Code.
12    Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall
13meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section,
14unless otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds
15a license endorsed in more than one area that has different
16renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal
17requirements for the position for which he or she spends the
18majority of his or her time working.
19    (b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as
20provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that
21year. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if
22a license holder's electronic mail address is available, the
23State Board of Education shall send him or her notification

 

 

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1electronically that his or her license will lapse if not
2renewed, to be sent no more than 6 months prior to the license
3lapsing. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon
4(i) payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of
5the lesser of a $100 $500 penalty or a $10 penalty for each
6year the license has lapsed to the State Board of Education or
7(ii) the demonstration of proficiency by completing 9 semester
8hours of coursework from a regionally accredited institution
9of higher education in the content area that most aligns with
10one or more of the educator's endorsement areas. Any and all
11back fees, including without limitation registration fees owed
12from the time of expiration of the license until the date of
13reinstatement, shall be paid and kept in accordance with the
14provisions in Article 3 of this Code concerning an institute
15fund and the provisions in Article 21B of this Code concerning
16fees and requirements for registration. Licenses not
17registered in accordance with Section 21B-40 of this Code
18shall lapse after a period of 6 months from the expiration of
19the last year of registration or on January 1 of the fiscal
20year following initial issuance of the license. An
21unregistered license is invalid after September 1 for
22employment and performance of services in an Illinois public
23or State-operated school or cooperative and in a charter
24school. Any license or endorsement may be voluntarily
25surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily surrendered
26license shall be treated as a revoked license. An Educator

 

 

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1License with Stipulations with only a paraprofessional
2endorsement does not lapse.
3    (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to
4satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in
5this Section, each professional educator licensee with an
6administrative endorsement who is working in a position
7requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois
8Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of
9this Code, per fiscal year.
10    (c-5) All licenses issued by the State Board of Education
11under this Article that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not
12been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be
13extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021.
14    (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
15requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
16Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
17professional development plan each year. The plan shall
18address one or more of the endorsements that are required of
19his or her educator position if the licensee is employed and
20performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated
21school or cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a
22charter school, the plan shall address that endorsement or
23those endorsements most closely related to his or her educator
24position. Licensees employed and performing services in any
25other Illinois schools may participate in the renewal
26requirements by adhering to the same process.

 

 

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1    Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the
2licensee's professional development activities shall align
3with one or more of the following criteria:
4        (1) activities are of a type that engage participants
5    over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,
6    discovery, and application as they relate to student
7    learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
8        (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
9    performance;
10        (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student
11    growth or district improvement;
12        (4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
13        (5) higher education coursework.
14    (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
15licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
16Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into
17the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
18date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
19development hours, and the provider's name. The following
20provisions shall apply concerning professional development
21activities:
22        (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours
23    of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in
24    order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided
25    in this Section.
26        (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,

 

 

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1    any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not
2    working in a position requiring such endorsement is not
3    required to complete Illinois Administrators' Academy
4    courses, as described in Article 2 of this Code. Such
5    licensees must complete one Illinois Administrators'
6    Academy course within one year after returning to a
7    position that requires the administrative endorsement.
8        (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement
9    who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
10    an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in
11    an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
12    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
13    described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
14    addition to 100 hours of professional development per
15    5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
16        (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
17    Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
18    designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of
19    professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order
20    to renew the license.
21        (5) Licensees working in a position that does not
22    require educator licensure or working in a position for
23    less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
24    exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration
25    fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
26    license.

 

 

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1        (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits
2    from a State of Illinois retirement system shall notify
3    the State Board of Education using ELIS, and the license
4    shall be maintained in retired status. For any renewal
5    cycle in which a licensee retires during the renewal
6    cycle, the licensee must complete professional development
7    activities on a prorated basis depending on the number of
8    years during the renewal cycle the educator held an active
9    license. If a licensee retires during a renewal cycle, the
10    licensee must notify the State Board of Education using
11    ELIS that the licensee wishes to maintain the license in
12    retired status and must show proof of completion of
13    professional development activities on a prorated basis
14    for all years of that renewal cycle for which the license
15    was active. An individual with a license in retired status
16    shall not be required to complete professional development
17    activities or pay registration fees until returning to a
18    position that requires educator licensure. Upon returning
19    to work in a position that requires the Professional
20    Educator License, the licensee shall immediately pay a
21    registration fee and complete renewal requirements for
22    that year. A license in retired status cannot lapse.
23    Beginning on January 6, 2017 (the effective date of Public
24    Act 99-920) through December 31, 2017, any licensee who
25    has retired and whose license has lapsed for failure to
26    renew as provided in this Section may reinstate that

 

 

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1    license and maintain it in retired status upon providing
2    proof to the State Board of Education using ELIS that the
3    licensee is retired and is not working in a position that
4    requires a Professional Educator License.
5        (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
6    development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
7    licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
8    minimum professional development hours required in this
9    Section prior to September 1 of that year. Professional
10    development hours used to fulfill the minimum required
11    hours for a renewal cycle may be used for only one renewal
12    cycle. For any fiscal year or renewal cycle in which an
13    Illinois Administrators' Academy course was required but
14    not completed, the licensee shall complete any missed
15    Illinois Administrators' Academy courses prior to
16    September 1 of that year. The licensee may complete all
17    deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' Academy
18    courses while continuing to work in a position that
19    requires that license until September 1 of that year.
20        (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the
21    professional development renewal requirements set forth in
22    this Section at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is
23    ineligible to register his or her license and may submit
24    an appeal to the State Superintendent of Education for
25    reinstatement of the license.
26        (9) If professional development opportunities were

 

 

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1    unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were
2    unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
3    August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be
4    submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
5    State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an
6    extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
7    during the extension period.
8        (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
9    December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act
10    98-610) shall commence the annual renewal process with the
11    first scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013
12    (the effective date of Public Act 98-610).
13        (11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
14    subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required
15    number of professional development hours during a renewal
16    cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned
17    from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the
18    renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must
19    be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois
20    Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those
21    courses may not be carried over.
22    (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
23the required questions under penalty of perjury.
24    (f-5) The State Board of Education shall conduct random
25audits of licensees to verify a licensee's fulfillment of the
26professional development hours required under this Section.

 

 

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1Upon completion of a random audit, if it is determined by the
2State Board of Education that the licensee did not complete
3the required number of professional development hours or did
4not provide sufficient proof of completion, the licensee shall
5be notified that his or her license has lapsed. A license that
6has lapsed under this subsection may be reinstated as provided
7in subsection (b).
8    (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
9to provide professional development activities for the renewal
10of Professional Educator Licenses:
11        (1) The State Board of Education.
12        (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
13    service centers.
14        (3) Illinois professional associations representing
15    the following groups that are approved by the State
16    Superintendent of Education:
17            (A) school administrators;
18            (B) principals;
19            (C) school business officials;
20            (D) teachers, including special education
21        teachers;
22            (E) school boards;
23            (F) school districts;
24            (G) parents; and
25            (H) school service personnel.
26        (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher

 

 

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1    education that offer Illinois-approved educator
2    preparation programs and public community colleges subject
3    to the Public Community College Act.
4        (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
5    authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
6    educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
7    Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
8    education or special education services.
9        (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December
10    31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has
11    had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board
12    of Education to provide professional development services
13    in the area of English Learning to Illinois school
14    districts, teachers, or administrators.
15        (7) State agencies, State boards, and State
16    commissions.
17        (8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum
18    Disposition of Property Act.
19    (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this
20Section shall make available professional development
21opportunities that satisfy at least one of the following:
22        (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
23    district leaders who guide continuous professional
24    development;
25        (2) improve the learning of students;
26        (3) organize adults into learning communities whose

 

 

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1    goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
2        (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
3        (5) provide educators with research-based
4    instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
5    rigorous academic standards;
6        (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
7    types of classroom assessments;
8        (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
9    intended goals;
10        (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to
11    collaborate;
12        (9) prepare educators to apply research to decision
13    making; or
14        (10) provide educators with training on inclusive
15    practices in the classroom that examines instructional and
16    behavioral strategies that improve academic and
17    social-emotional outcomes for all students, with or
18    without disabilities, in a general education setting.
19    (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this
20Section shall do the following:
21        (1) align professional development activities to the
22    State-approved national standards for professional
23    learning;
24        (2) meet the professional development criteria for
25    Illinois licensure renewal;
26        (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains

 

 

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1    how it aligns to State standards and identify the
2    assessment for determining the expected impact on student
3    learning or school improvement;
4        (4) maintain original documentation for completion of
5    activities;
6        (5) provide license holders with evidence of
7    completion of activities;
8        (6) request an Illinois Educator Identification Number
9    (IEIN) for each educator during each professional
10    development activity; and
11        (7) beginning on July 1, 2019, register annually with
12    the State Board of Education prior to offering any
13    professional development opportunities in the current
14    fiscal year.
15    (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
16audits of a subset of approved providers, except for school
17districts, which shall be audited by regional offices of
18education and intermediate service centers. The State Board of
19Education shall ensure that each approved provider, except for
20a school district, is audited at least once every 5 years. The
21State Board of Education may conduct more frequent audits of
22providers if evidence suggests the requirements of this
23Section or administrative rules are not being met.
24        (1) (Blank).
25        (2) Approved providers shall comply with the
26    requirements in subsections (h) and (i) of this Section by

 

 

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1    annually submitting data to the State Board of Education
2    demonstrating how the professional development activities
3    impacted one or more of the following:
4            (A) educator and student growth in regards to
5        content knowledge or skills, or both;
6            (B) educator and student social and emotional
7        growth; or
8            (C) alignment to district or school improvement
9        plans.
10        (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
11    the annual data collected by the State Board of Education,
12    regional offices of education, and intermediate service
13    centers in audits to determine if the approved provider
14    has met the criteria and should continue to be an approved
15    provider or if further action should be taken as provided
16    in rules.
17    (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
18cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
195-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
20development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed
21and entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
22registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
23debit card.
24    (l) Any professional educator licensee endorsed for school
25support personnel who is employed and performing services in
26Illinois public schools and who holds an active and current

 

 

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1professional license issued by the Department of Financial and
2Professional Regulation or a national certification board, as
3approved by the State Board of Education, related to the
4endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License shall
5be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional
6development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
7individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to
8renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who
9does not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial
10and Professional Regulation shall complete professional
11development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
12Educator License provided for in this Section.
13    (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and
14Licensure Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of
15notice from the State Superintendent of Education that a
16license will not be renewed based upon failure to complete the
17requirements of this Section. A licensee may appeal that
18decision to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
19in a manner prescribed by rule.
20        (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
21    Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
22    sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
23    State Board of Education.
24        (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
25    shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
26    within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to

 

 

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1    determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of
2    this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
3    Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
4    determination based upon the record of review, which shall
5    consist of the following:
6            (A) the regional superintendent of education's
7        rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,
8        if applicable;
9            (B) any evidence submitted to the State
10        Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
11        statement of assurance for renewal; and
12            (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
13        nonrenewal of the license.
14        (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
15    shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding
16    license renewal by certified mail, return receipt
17    requested, no later than 30 days after reaching a
18    decision. Upon receipt of notification of renewal, the
19    licensee, using ELIS, shall pay the applicable
20    registration fee for the next cycle using a form of credit
21    or debit card.
22    (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
23necessary to implement this Section.
24(Source: P.A. 100-13, eff. 7-1-17; 100-339, eff. 8-25-17;
25100-596, eff. 7-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-85, eff.
261-1-20; 101-531, eff. 8-23-19; 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)
 

 

 

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1    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
2becoming law.