Rep. Laura Faver Dias

Filed: 3/21/2023

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3147

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3147 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Findings. The General Assembly makes all of
5the following findings:
6        (1) Literacy is not only critical for individuals'
7    ability to earn income, secure housing, participate in
8    their healthcare, support their children's education,
9    pursue happiness, and navigate the world but also
10    collectively foundational to our community and democracy.
11        (2) The World Literacy Foundation found that low
12    literacy is a major contributor to inequality and
13    increases the likelihood of poor physical and mental
14    health, workplace accidents, misuse of medication,
15    participation in crime, and welfare dependency, all of
16    which have substantial additional social and economic
17    costs.

 

 

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1        (3) Fifty percent of Illinois' third graders met,
2    exceeded, or approached learning standards in English
3    language arts according to the Illinois Assessment of
4    Readiness with the other half of students not meeting or
5    partially meeting standards; this represents a 10
6    percentage-point swing from the 2019 pre-pandemic rates
7    when 60% of students met, exceeded, or approached learning
8    standards.
9        (4) Thirty-three percent of Illinois' fourth graders
10    achieved proficient or advanced reading scores on the 2022
11    National Assessment of Educational Progress with another
12    29% meeting basic reading proficiency and the remaining
13    38% scoring below basic reading proficiency.
14        (5) Research from the Annie E. Casey Institute found
15    that students who are not proficient readers in third
16    grade are 4 times more likely not to finish high school; if
17    those students are from low-income families, they are more
18    than 6 times more likely not to finish high school.
19        (6) Research consistently finds that a diverse,
20    well-trained, and expanding pool of teachers, in
21    conjunction with curricula responsive to the strengths and
22    needs of diverse student populations, improves educational
23    outcomes for all students.
24        (7) An appropriate curriculum blends the learning
25    needs of students with their developmental needs and
26    increases in complexity with every new stage of childhood.

 

 

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1        (8) Oral language development is a prerequisite for
2    reading and writing that is nurtured from birth through
3    talking, reading, story-telling, singing, nursery rhymes,
4    and other language exposure and, as younger children
5    develop, through intentional dialogue with rich
6    vocabulary; home visiting programs, access to books,
7    high-quality childcare and preschool, and lived
8    experiences strengthen students' opportunity to build
9    oracy skills, vocabulary, and background knowledge,
10    leading to higher-level cognitive thinking.
11        (9) Reading builds new neural pathways in the brain as
12    people, usually children, learn to connect the sounds in
13    language to letters on a page to the meaning of the text;
14    however, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to
15    literacy, as learners will require different dosages
16    within different areas of literacy instruction to meet
17    their individual needs.
18        (10) Reading and writing have a reciprocal
19    relationship, as each strengthens the other, and students
20    benefit when their instruction is closely intertwined.
21        (11) English learners benefit from a comprehensive
22    literacy approach that recognizes the value of
23    multilingualism by enveloping all areas of literacy
24    instruction with a deep focus on oral language development
25    and encouraging students to make connections between
26    English and their home language.

 

 

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1        (12) Teachers deserve the tools to be knowledgeable
2    about the cultural practices and language system of the
3    children they serve, including those children who speak
4    language variations of English, such as African-American
5    English (AAE); AAE has a linguistic structure that is a
6    systematic and rule-governed variation of General American
7    English.
8        (13) Research shows that direct, systematic,
9    cumulative, and explicit reading instruction that is
10    focused on the foundational reading skills of phonemic
11    awareness, phonics or decoding, spelling or encoding,
12    vocabulary development that includes morphology, oral
13    language development, reading fluency, and reading
14    comprehension that includes syntax and building background
15    or content knowledge, is highly effective in teaching
16    young children to read.
17        (14) High literacy achievement across all demographic
18    groups is an essential indicator of educational equity
19    within this State; strengthening early literacy
20    instruction and support for students in Illinois will pay
21    dividends in the future by empowering students, providing
22    the skills they will need to graduate, find fulfilling
23    careers, and be productive members of their communities
24    and of our democracy.
25        (15) Ensuring that every child has access to
26    high-quality, research-aligned, developmentally

 

 

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1    appropriate reading instruction implemented using a
2    comprehensive approach is a foundational component of this
3    State's public education system and a responsibility
4    shared among federal, State, and local education agencies.
 
5    Section 5. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
6Literacy and Justice for All Act.
 
7    Section 10. State Board of Education assistance;
8comprehensive literacy plan.
9    (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt and make
10available all of the following to each publicly funded school
11district by January 31, 2024:
12        (1) A rubric by which districts may evaluate curricula
13    and select and implement evidence-based, culturally
14    inclusive core reading instruction programs. The rubric
15    shall address at a minimum:
16            (A) systematic and explicit approaches to phonemic
17        awareness, decoding (phonics), and encoding(spelling);
18            (B) vocabulary development, including morphology,
19        and reading fluency;
20            (C) oral language development;
21            (D) reading comprehension, including syntax and
22        building background (content) knowledge; and
23            (E) cultural inclusivity.
24        (2) A template to support districts when developing

 

 

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1    comprehensive, district-wide literacy plans that include
2    support for special student populations, including
3    multilingual, diverse, and gifted students.
4        (3) Guidance on evidence-based practices for effective
5    structures for training and deploying literacy coaches to
6    support teachers and close opportunity gaps among student
7    demographic groups.
8    (b) On or before September 1, 2024, the State Board of
9Education shall develop and make available training
10opportunities in teaching reading aligned with the
11comprehensive literacy plan described in subsection (c) of
12this Section and consistent with State learning standards.
13This support shall include:
14        (1) development of a microcredential or a series of
15    microcredentials in literacy instruction aligned with the
16    comprehensive literacy plan described in subsection (c) of
17    this Section to be affixed to educator licenses upon
18    successful demonstration of the skill, completion of the
19    required coursework or assessment, or both;
20        (2) creation and dissemination of a tool that school
21    districts, educators, and the public may use to evaluate
22    professional development and training programs related to
23    literacy instruction; and
24        (3) development of online training modules on literacy
25    instruction aligned with the comprehensive literacy plan
26    described in subsection (c) of this Section and consistent

 

 

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1    with State learning standards accepted for continuing
2    professional development units.
3    (c) On or before January 31, 2024, in consultation with
4education stakeholders, the State Board Education shall
5develop and adopt a comprehensive literacy plan for this
6State, which shall be updated as needed. The plan shall, at a
7minimum:
8        (1) include definitions for key terminology, such as
9    "evidence-based";
10        (2) contextualize the interaction between elements of
11    the plan and existing laws and regulations that have
12    overlapping components, such as a multi-tiered system of
13    support;
14        (3) focus on a comprehensive range of elements of
15    literacy, including phonemic awareness, decoding
16    (phonics), encoding (spelling), vocabulary development
17    including morphology, oracy, reading fluency, and reading
18    comprehension including syntax and background and content
19    knowledge;
20        (4) recommend parameters by which each school district
21    or, if applicable, school, to list on its website the
22    literacy curricula used in general education classrooms;
23    and
24        (5) consider core instructional literacy practices as
25    well as practices that are specific to special student
26    populations and demographic groups, such as diverse

 

 

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1    learners, multilingual learners, and bidialectal students.
2    The State Board shall annually compile and post on its
3website information about progress on the comprehensive
4literacy plan.
 
5    Section 90. The School Code is amended by changing
6Sections 2-3.51, 21B-20, 21B-30, and 21B-35 as follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.51)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51)
8    Sec. 2-3.51. Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. To
9improve the reading and study skills of children from
10kindergarten through sixth grade in school districts. The
11State Board of Education is authorized to administer a Reading
12Improvement Block Grant Program. As used in this Section:
13    "School district" includes those schools designated as
14"laboratory schools".
15    "Scientifically based reading research" means the
16application of rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures
17to obtain valid knowledge relevant to reading development,
18reading instruction, and reading difficulties. The term
19includes research that employs systematic, empirical methods
20that draw on observation or experiment, involves rigorous data
21analysis that is adequate to test the stated hypotheses and to
22justify the general conclusions drawn, relies on measurements
23or observational methods that provide valid data across
24evaluators and observers and across multiple measurements and

 

 

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1observations, and has been accepted by peer-reviewed journal
2or approved by a panel of independent experts through a
3comparably rigorous, objective and scientific review.
4    (a) Funds for the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program
5shall be distributed to school districts on the following
6basis: 70% of monies shall be awarded on the prior year's best
73 months average daily attendance and 30% shall be distributed
8on the number of economically disadvantaged (E.C.I.A. Chapter
9I) pupils in the district, provided that the State Board may
10distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the monies
11appropriated for the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program
12for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training
13in the teaching of reading. Program funds shall be distributed
14to school districts in 2 semi-annual installments, one payment
15on or before October 30, and one payment prior to April 30, of
16each year. The State Board shall promulgate rules and
17regulations necessary for the implementation of this program.
18    If the appropriation for the Reading Improvement Block
19Grant Program for a given fiscal year is less than
20$15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to
21school districts that have been placed in Tier 1 or Tier 2
22pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of Section 18-8.15
23of this Code that request funding and are selected for either:
24        (1) a one-year planning grant to enable districts to
25    thoughtfully draft literacy plans in alignment with the
26    district literacy plan template developed by the Board

 

 

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1    pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 10
2    of the Literacy and Justice for All Act; or
3        (2) an implementation grant to enable districts that
4    have drafted comprehensive district literacy plans to
5    enact their plan, which must include training and ongoing
6    coaching support to each teacher of students in
7    kindergarten through grade 2 and special education
8    teachers and curriculum investments aligned with
9    provisions of the comprehensive literacy plan for this
10    State.
11    If the funds requested in districts' applications exceed
12the appropriation, the Board shall impose additional criteria
13so that each applicant is able to enact its plan.
14Programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality
15classroom reading instruction, but shall instead supplement
16such instruction.
17    (a-5) Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds shall
18be used by school districts in the following manner:
19        (1) to hire reading specialists, reading teachers, and
20    reading aides in order to provide early reading
21    intervention in kindergarten through grade 2 and programs
22    of continued reading support for students in grades 3
23    through 6;
24        (2) in kindergarten through grade 2, to establish
25    short-term tutorial early reading intervention programs
26    for children who are at risk of failing to learn to read;

 

 

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1    these programs shall (i) focus on scientifically based
2    research and best practices with proven long-term results,
3    (ii) identify students in need of help no later than the
4    middle of first grade, (iii) provide ongoing training for
5    teachers in the program, (iv) focus instruction on
6    strengthening a student's phonemic awareness, phonics,
7    fluency, and comprehension skills, (v) provide a means to
8    document and evaluate student growth, and (vi) provide
9    properly trained staff;
10        (3) to continue direct reading instruction for grades
11    3 through 6;
12        (4) in grades 3 through 6, to establish programs of
13    support for students who demonstrate a need for continued
14    assistance in learning to read and in maintaining reading
15    achievement; these programs shall (i) focus on
16    scientifically based research and best practices with
17    proven long-term results, (ii) provide ongoing training
18    for teachers and other staff members in the program, (iii)
19    focus instruction on strengthening a student's phonics,
20    fluency, and comprehension skills in grades 3 through 6,
21    (iv) provide a means to evaluate and document student
22    growth, and (v) provide properly trained staff;
23        (5) in grades K through 6, to provide both core
24    literacy curriculum materials that align with the
25    comprehensive literacy plan for this State and that
26    consider the unique needs of English learners for

 

 

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1    concurrent oral language practice and high-quality
2    screening assessments designed to inform instruction in
3    English language arts and literacy classroom reading
4    materials for students; each district may allocate up to
5    25% of the funds for this purpose; and
6        (6) to provide a long-term professional development
7    program for classroom teachers, administrators, and other
8    appropriate staff; the program shall (i) focus on
9    scientifically based research and best practices with
10    proven long-term results, (ii) provide a means to evaluate
11    student progress in reading as a result of the training,
12    (iii) and be provided by approved staff development
13    providers.
14    If the appropriation for the Reading Improvement Block
15Grant Program for a given fiscal year is less than
16$15,000,000, then grant recipients shall prioritize curricula
17and materials, training, and ongoing coaching support in
18alignment with the comprehensive literacy plan of this State
19for kindergarten through grade 3 teachers and special
20education teachers.
21    (a-10) If the appropriation for the Reading Improvement
22Block Grant Program for a given fiscal year is at least
23$15,000,000, then Reading Improvement Block Grant Program
24funds shall be made available to each eligible school district
25submitting an approved application developed by the State
26Board beginning with the 1998-99 school year. Applications

 

 

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1shall include a proposed assessment method or methods for
2measuring the reading growth of students who receive direct
3instruction as a result of the funding and the impact of staff
4development activities on student growth in reading. Such
5methods may include the reading portion of the assessments
6required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code. At the end of
7each school year the district shall report performance of
8progress results to the State Board. Districts not
9demonstrating performance progress using an approved
10assessment method shall not be eligible for funding in the
11third or subsequent years until such progress is established.
12If the program has been unfunded for 3 years or more,
13applicants need not demonstrate performance progress as a
14condition of receiving a one-year planning grant or their
15first year of funding an implementation grant.
16    If the appropriation for the Reading Improvement Block
17Grant Program for a given fiscal year is less than
18$15,000,000, then the State Board may establish additional
19eligibility criteria and shall select a cohort of school
20districts that have been placed in Tier 1 or Tier 2 pursuant to
21paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of Section 18-8.15 of this
22Code to participate.
23    (a-15) The State Superintendent of Education, in
24cooperation with the school districts participating in the
25program, shall annually report to the leadership of the
26General Assembly on the results of the Reading Improvement

 

 

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1Block Grant Program and the progress being made on improving
2the reading skills of students in kindergarten through the
3sixth grade.
4    (b) (Blank).
5    (c) (Blank).
6    (d) Grants under the Reading Improvement Block Grant
7Program shall be awarded provided there is an appropriation
8for the program, and funding levels for each district shall be
9prorated according to the amount of the appropriation for any
10fiscal year in which at least $15,000,000 has been
11appropriated.
12    (e) (Blank).
13    (f) (Blank).
14(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)
 
15    (105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
16    Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of
17Education shall implement a system of educator licensure,
18whereby individuals employed in school districts who are
19required to be licensed must have one of the following
20licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an
21educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute
22teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2023, a short-term
23substitute teaching license. References in law regarding
24individuals certified or certificated or required to be
25certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall

 

 

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1also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed
2under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June
330 following one full year of the license being issued.
4    The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
5State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
6rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for
7licenses and endorsements under this Section.
8        (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
9    have successfully completed an approved educator
10    preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
11    the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
12    program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
13    testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
14    successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
15    the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
16    the exceptional child, including without limitation
17    children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
18    successfully completed coursework in evidence-based
19    methods of reading that align with the literacy standards
20    for teachers and with the comprehensive literacy plan for
21    this State and reading in the content area, and (v) have
22    met all other criteria established by rule of the State
23    Board of Education shall be issued a Professional Educator
24    License. All Professional Educator Licenses are valid
25    until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license
26    being issued. The Professional Educator License shall be

 

 

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1    endorsed with specific areas and grade levels in which the
2    individual is eligible to practice. For an early childhood
3    education endorsement, an individual may satisfy the
4    student teaching requirement of his or her early childhood
5    teacher preparation program through placement in a setting
6    with children from birth through grade 2, and the
7    individual may be paid and receive credit while student
8    teaching. The student teaching experience must meet the
9    requirements of and be approved by the individual's early
10    childhood teacher preparation program.
11        Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
12    Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
13    shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
14    in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable
15    content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
16        (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
17    License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
18    that limits the license holder to one particular position
19    or does not require completion of an approved educator
20    program or both.
21        An individual with an Educator License with
22    Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
23    any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
24    who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
25        An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
26    with the following endorsements:

 

 

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1            (A) (Blank).
2            (B) Alternative provisional educator. An
3        alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
4        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
5        applicant who, at the time of applying for the
6        endorsement, has done all of the following:
7                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
8            college or university with a minimum of a
9            bachelor's degree.
10                (ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
11            the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
12            Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
13            Code.
14                (iii) Passed a content area test, as required
15            under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
16        The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
17    valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a
18    third year by an individual meeting the requirements set
19    forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
20            (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
21        alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
22        an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
23        holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
24        superintendent in a school district's central office.
25        This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
26        who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has

 

 

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1        done all of the following:
2                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
3            college or university with a minimum of a master's
4            degree in a management field other than education.
5                (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
6            years in a management level position in a field
7            other than education.
8                (iii) Successfully completed the first phase
9            of an alternative route to superintendent
10            endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
11            of this Code.
12                (iv) Passed a content area test required under
13            Section 21B-30 of this Code.
14            The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
15        order to complete one full year of serving as a
16        superintendent or assistant superintendent.
17            (D) (Blank).
18            (E) Career and technical educator. A career and
19        technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
20        with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
21        has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
22        regionally accredited institution of higher education
23        or an accredited trade and technical institution and
24        has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of
25        education in each area to be taught.
26            The career and technical educator endorsement on

 

 

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1        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
2        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
3        endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
4            An individual who holds a valid career and
5        technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
6        with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's
7        degree may substitute teach in career and technical
8        education classrooms.
9            (F) (Blank).
10            (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
11        transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
12        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
13        the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
14        with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
15        provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets
16        all of the following requirements:
17                (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
18            writing ability in the language other than English
19            in which transitional bilingual education is
20            offered.
21                (ii) Has the ability to successfully
22            communicate in English.
23                (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
24            previous to his or her applying for a transitional
25            bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
26            comparable teaching certificate or comparable

 

 

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1            authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
2            a degree from an institution of higher learning in
3            a foreign country that the State Educator
4            Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
5            the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
6            regionally accredited institution of higher
7            learning in the United States.
8            A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
9        shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12,
10        is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
11        of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be
12        renewed.
13            Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
14        endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
15        presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
16        replaced for any reason.
17            (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
18        alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
19        other than English in the public schools, an
20        individual who holds an Educator License with
21        Stipulations may also apply for a language
22        endorsement, provided that the applicant provides
23        satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the
24        following requirements:
25                (i) Holds a transitional bilingual
26            endorsement.

 

 

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1                (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
2            language for which the endorsement is to be issued
3            by passing the applicable language content test
4            required by the State Board of Education.
5                (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
6            a regionally accredited institution of higher
7            education or, for individuals educated in a
8            country other than the United States, holds a
9            degree from an institution of higher learning in a
10            foreign country that the State Educator
11            Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
12            the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
13            regionally accredited institution of higher
14            learning in the United States.
15                (iv) (Blank).
16            A language endorsement on an Educator License with
17        Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
18        grade 12 for the same validity period as the
19        individual's transitional bilingual educator
20        endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
21        and shall not be renewed.
22            (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
23        international educator endorsement on an Educator
24        License with Stipulations may be issued to an
25        individual who is being recruited by a particular
26        school district that conducts formal recruitment

 

 

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1        programs outside of the United States to secure the
2        services of qualified teachers and who meets all of
3        the following requirements:
4                (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
5            bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
6                (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
7            grade level for which he or she will be employed.
8                (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
9            subject to be taught.
10                (iv) Has an adequate command of the English
11            language.
12            A holder of a visiting international educator
13        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
14        shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
15        programs in the language that was the medium of
16        instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
17        provided that he or she passes the English Language
18        Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
19        skills in English identified by the State Board of
20        Education, in consultation with the State Educator
21        Preparation and Licensure Board.
22            A visiting international educator endorsement on
23        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5
24        years and shall not be renewed.
25            (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
26        educator endorsement on an Educator License with

 

 

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1        Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
2        high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
3        (i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
4        semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
5        institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a
6        paraprofessional competency test under subsection
7        (c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years
8        of age and will be using the Educator License with
9        Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten
10        through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age
11        of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a
12        paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this
13        subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator
14        endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately
15        following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and
16        may be renewed through application and payment of the
17        appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of
18        this Code. An individual who holds only a
19        paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject
20        to additional requirements in order to renew the
21        endorsement.
22            (K) Chief school business official. A chief school
23        business official endorsement on an Educator License
24        with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
25        qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
26        years of full-time administrative experience in school

 

 

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1        business management or 2 years of university-approved
2        practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
3        hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
4        State Board of Education for the preparation of school
5        business administrators and by passage of the
6        applicable State tests, including an applicable
7        content area test.
8            The chief school business official endorsement may
9        also be affixed to the Educator License with
10        Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
11        master's degree in business administration, finance,
12        accounting, or public administration and who completes
13        an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school
14        business management from a regionally accredited
15        institution of higher education and passes the
16        applicable State tests, including an applicable
17        content area test. This endorsement shall be required
18        for any individual employed as a chief school business
19        official.
20            The chief school business official endorsement on
21        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
22        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
23        endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the
24        license holder completes renewal requirements as
25        required for individuals who hold a Professional
26        Educator License endorsed for chief school business

 

 

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1        official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
2        rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
3        Education.
4            The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
5        necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
6            (L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
7        in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
8        with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
9        completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
10        program at an Illinois institution of higher education
11        and who has not successfully completed an
12        evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
13        who meets all of the following requirements:
14                (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
15                (ii) Has completed an approved educator
16            preparation program at an Illinois institution.
17                (iii) Has passed an applicable content area
18            test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
19                (iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
20            assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
21            minimum score on that assessment, as established
22            by the State Board of Education in consultation
23            with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
24            Board.
25            A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
26        Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one

 

 

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1        full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
2        be renewed.
3            (M) (Blank).
4            (N) Specialized services. A specialized services
5        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
6        may be issued as defined and specified by rule.
7        (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
8    License may be issued to qualified applicants for
9    substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
10    prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
11    Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
12    a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's
13    degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
14    of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved
15    educator preparation program in this State and have earned
16    at least 90 credit hours.
17        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
18        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
19    teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
20    has had his or her Professional Educator License or
21    Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked,
22    then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
23    Substitute Teaching License.
24        A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
25    licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
26    board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under

 

 

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1    contract because of an emergency situation, then a
2    district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer
3    than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the
4    district if the district notifies the appropriate regional
5    office of education within 5 business days after the
6    employment of the substitute teacher in the emergency
7    situation. An emergency situation is one in which an
8    unforeseen vacancy has occurred and (i) a teacher is
9    unable to fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii)
10    teacher capacity needs of the district exceed previous
11    indications, and the district is actively engaged in
12    advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the
13    vacant position.
14        There is no limit on the number of days that a
15    substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
16    provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
17    than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year
18    through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school
19    days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
20    same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a
21    Professional Educator License or Educator License with
22    Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days
23    for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same
24    school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the
25    number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not
26    apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of

 

 

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1    this Code.
2        A school district may not require an individual who
3    holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator
4    License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute
5    Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
6        (4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
7    on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2023, the State Board of
8    Education may issue a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
9    License. A Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may be
10    issued to a qualified applicant for substitute teaching in
11    all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through
12    grade 12. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not
13    eligible for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term
14    Substitute Teaching License must hold an associate's
15    degree or have completed at least 60 credit hours from a
16    regionally accredited institution of higher education.
17        Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
18    substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an
19    individual has had his or her Professional Educator
20    License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or
21    revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
22    Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.
23        The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this
24    Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.
25        An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
26    License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per

 

 

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1    licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher
2    absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who
3    is under contract, a school district may not hire an
4    individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
5    License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due
6    to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
7    Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual
8    holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must
9    complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or
10    34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public
11    school. This paragraph (4) is inoperative on and after
12    July 1, 2023.
13(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-220, eff. 8-7-19;
14101-594, eff. 12-5-19; 101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-711, eff.
151-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22; 102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717,
16eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; revised 12-13-22.)
 
17    (105 ILCS 5/21B-30)
18    Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing.
19    (a) (Blank).
20    (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
21State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design
22and implement a system of examinations, which shall be
23required prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These
24examinations and indicators must be based on national and
25State professional teaching standards, as determined by the

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 30 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
2Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of
3Education may adopt such rules as may be necessary to
4implement and administer this Section.
5    (c) (Blank).
6    (c-5) The State Board must adopt rules to implement a
7paraprofessional competency test. This test would allow an
8applicant seeking an Educator License with Stipulations with a
9paraprofessional educator endorsement to obtain the
10endorsement if he or she passes the test and meets the other
11requirements of subparagraph (J) of paragraph (2) of Section
1221B-20 other than the higher education requirements.
13    (d) All applicants seeking a State license shall be
14required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area
15of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. There
16shall be no exception to this requirement. No candidate shall
17be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record
18until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.
19    (d-5) Subject to appropriation, all applicants seeking a
20State license after July 1, 2026 in the areas of early
21childhood education, early childhood special education,
22elementary education in grades one through 6, reading
23specialist, reading teacher, learning behavior specialist I,
24special education general curriculum, director of special
25education, and principal as instruction leader shall take a
26test in reading foundations, which shall include assessment of

 

 

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1the applicant's understanding of phonological and phonemic
2awareness, concepts of print and the alphabetic principle, the
3role of phonics in promoting reading development, word
4analysis skills and strategies, vocabulary development,
5linguistics, morphology, application of reading comprehension
6skills and strategies, and methods for assessing reading
7development. The test in reading foundations must also assess
8applicants' knowledge of assessment, differentiation, and
9intervention with respect to each component of reading for
10English learners, students with disabilities, and students
11with advanced skills in some areas of reading. In the event
12that an appropriation to the State Board to design the test of
13reading foundations is delayed, the agency may delay
14implementation of the required test by an equivalent amount of
15time if it deems the delay necessary.
16    Candidates need not achieve a particular score on the test
17in reading foundations; however, candidates who achieve a
18passing score shall earn a notation on their transcript and an
19additional credential on their Professional Educator License,
20and this information shall be considered during each
21preparation program's reaccreditation process. The State Board
22shall aggregate and publish the number of candidates in each
23preparation program who take the test in reading foundations
24and the number who pass the test. Subject to appropriation,
25the State Board shall cover the costs of the assessment, and no
26candidate or preparation program shall be charged a fee for

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 32 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1the assessment. If the appropriation is insufficient to cover
2the costs of administering the assessment, the State Board
3shall determine how to allocate the available funds. If no
4funding is appropriated, candidates shall not be required to
5take the test. However, the test shall be available for
6candidates who wish to cover the cost. Candidates who have
7taken the test previously need not take it again for
8additional licensure areas, though they may choose to do so.
9    (e) (Blank).
10    (f) Except as otherwise provided in this Article,
11beginning on September 1, 2015, all candidates completing
12teacher preparation programs in this State and all candidates
13subject to Section 21B-35 of this Code are required to pass a
14teacher performance assessment approved by the State Board of
15Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
16and Licensure Board. A candidate may not be required to submit
17test materials by video submission. Subject to appropriation,
18an individual who holds a Professional Educator License and is
19employed for a minimum of one school year by a school district
20designated as Tier 1 under Section 18-8.15 may, after
21application to the State Board, receive from the State Board a
22refund for any costs associated with completing the teacher
23performance assessment under this subsection.
24    (g) The content area knowledge test and the teacher
25performance assessment shall be the tests that from time to
26time are designated by the State Board of Education, in

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 33 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
2Board, and may be tests prepared by an educational testing
3organization or tests designed by the State Board of
4Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
5and Licensure Board. The test of content area knowledge shall
6assess content knowledge in a specific subject field. The
7tests must be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no
8person taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis
9of race, color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to
10the person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The
11score required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State
12Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator
13Preparation and Licensure Board. The tests shall be
14administered not fewer than 3 times a year at such time and
15place as may be designated by the State Board of Education, in
16consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
17Board.
18    The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess
19the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of
20applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under
21subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this
22Code in the English language and in the language of the
23transitional bilingual education program requested by the
24applicant.
25    (h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the
26provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 34 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1district subject to Article 34 of this Code.
2    (i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the
3testing requirements under this Section shall include, without
4limitation, provisions governing test selection, test
5validation, and determination of a passing score for all tests
6except the reading foundations test, administration of the
7tests, frequency of administration, applicant fees, frequency
8of applicants taking the tests, the years for which a score is
9valid, and appropriate special accommodations. The State Board
10of Education shall develop such rules as may be needed to
11ensure uniformity from year to year in the level of difficulty
12for each form of an assessment. The State Board shall base its
13rules concerning the passing score on the reading foundations
14test on the recommended cut-score determined in the formal
15standard-setting process.
16(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-220, eff. 8-7-19;
17101-594, eff. 12-5-19; 102-301, eff. 8-26-21.)
 
18    (105 ILCS 5/21B-35)
19    Sec. 21B-35. Minimum requirements for educators trained in
20other states or countries.
21    (a) Any applicant who has not been entitled by an
22Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
23institution of higher education applying for a Professional
24Educator License endorsed in a teaching field or school
25support personnel area must meet the following requirements:

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 35 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1        (1) the applicant must:
2            (A) hold a comparable and valid educator license
3        or certificate, as defined by rule, with similar grade
4        level and content area credentials from another state,
5        with the State Board of Education having the authority
6        to determine what constitutes similar grade level and
7        content area credentials from another state;
8            (B) have a bachelor's degree from a regionally
9        accredited institution of higher education; and
10            (C) (blank); or
11        (2) the applicant must:
12            (A) have completed a state-approved program for
13        the licensure area sought, including coursework
14        concerning (i) methods of instruction of the
15        exceptional child, (ii) evidence-based methods of
16        reading that align with the literacy standards for
17        teachers and with the comprehensive literacy plan for
18        this State and reading in the content area, and (iii)
19        instructional strategies for English learners;
20            (B) have a bachelor's degree from a regionally
21        accredited institution of higher education;
22            (C) have successfully met all Illinois examination
23        requirements, except that:
24                (i) (blank);
25                (ii) an applicant who has successfully
26            completed a test of content, as defined by rules,

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 36 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1            at the time of initial licensure in another state
2            is not required to complete a test of content; and
3                (iii) an applicant for a teaching endorsement
4            who has successfully completed an evidence-based
5            assessment of teacher effectiveness, as defined by
6            rules, at the time of initial licensure in another
7            state is not required to complete an
8            evidence-based assessment of teacher
9            effectiveness; and
10            (D) for an applicant for a teaching endorsement,
11        have completed student teaching or an equivalent
12        experience or, for an applicant for a school service
13        personnel endorsement, have completed an internship or
14        an equivalent experience.
15    (b) In order to receive a Professional Educator License
16endorsed in a teaching field or school support personnel area,
17applicants trained in another country must meet all of the
18following requirements:
19        (1) Have completed a comparable education program in
20    another country.
21        (2) Have had transcripts evaluated by an evaluation
22    service approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
23        (3) Have a degree comparable to a degree from a
24    regionally accredited institution of higher education.
25        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
26    concerning (i) methods of instruction of the exceptional

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 37 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1    child, (ii) evidence-based methods of reading that align
2    with the literacy standards for teachers and with the
3    comprehensive literacy plan for this State, and reading in
4    the content area, and (iii) instructional strategies for
5    English learners.
6        (5) (Blank).
7        (6) (Blank).
8        (7) Have successfully met all State licensure
9    examination requirements. Applicants who have successfully
10    completed a test of content, as defined by rules, at the
11    time of initial licensure in another country shall not be
12    required to complete a test of content. Applicants for a
13    teaching endorsement who have successfully completed an
14    evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness, as
15    defined by rules, at the time of initial licensure in
16    another country shall not be required to complete an
17    evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness.
18        (8) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent
19    experience.
20        (9) (Blank).
21    (b-5) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
22Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
23institution of higher education and applicants trained in
24another country applying for a Professional Educator License
25endorsed for principal or superintendent must hold a master's
26degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 38 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1education and hold a comparable and valid educator license or
2certificate with similar grade level and subject matter
3credentials, with the State Board of Education having the
4authority to determine what constitutes similar grade level
5and subject matter credentials from another state, or must
6meet all of the following requirements:
7        (1) Have completed an educator preparation program
8    approved by another state or comparable educator program
9    in another country leading to the receipt of a license or
10    certificate for the Illinois endorsement sought.
11        (2) Have successfully met all State licensure
12    examination requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of
13    this Code. Applicants who have successfully completed a
14    test of content, as defined by rules, at the time of
15    initial licensure in another state or country shall not be
16    required to complete a test of content.
17        (2.5) Have completed an internship, as defined by
18    rule.
19        (3) (Blank).
20        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
21    concerning (i) methods of instruction of the exceptional
22    child, (ii) evidence-based methods of reading that align
23    with the literacy standards for teachers and with the
24    comprehensive literacy plan for this State, and reading in
25    the content area, and (iii) instructional strategies for
26    English learners.

 

 

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1        (4.5) (Blank).
2        (5) Have completed a master's degree.
3        (6) Have successfully completed teaching, school
4    support, or administrative experience as defined by rule.
5    (b-7) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
6Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
7institution of higher education applying for a Professional
8Educator License endorsed for Director of Special Education
9must hold a master's degree from a regionally accredited
10institution of higher education and must hold a comparable and
11valid educator license or certificate with similar grade level
12and subject matter credentials, with the State Board of
13Education having the authority to determine what constitutes
14similar grade level and subject matter credentials from
15another state, or must meet all of the following requirements:
16        (1) Have completed a master's degree.
17        (2) Have 2 years of full-time experience providing
18    special education services.
19        (3) Have successfully completed all examination
20    requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
21    Applicants who have successfully completed a test of
22    content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial
23    licensure in another state or country shall not be
24    required to complete a test of content.
25        (4) Have completed coursework aligned to standards
26    concerning (i) methods of instruction of the exceptional

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 40 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1    child, (ii) evidence-based methods of reading that align
2    with the literacy standards for teachers and with the
3    comprehensive literacy plan for this State, and reading in
4    the content area, and (iii) instructional strategies for
5    English learners.
6    (b-10) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
7Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
8institution of higher education applying for a Professional
9Educator License endorsed for chief school business official
10must hold a master's degree from a regionally accredited
11institution of higher education and must hold a comparable and
12valid educator license or certificate with similar grade level
13and subject matter credentials, with the State Board of
14Education having the authority to determine what constitutes
15similar grade level and subject matter credentials from
16another state, or must meet all of the following requirements:
17        (1) Have completed a master's degree in school
18    business management, finance, or accounting.
19        (2) Have successfully completed an internship in
20    school business management or have 2 years of experience
21    as a school business administrator.
22        (3) Have successfully met all State examination
23    requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
24    Applicants who have successfully completed a test of
25    content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial
26    licensure in another state or country shall not be

 

 

10300HB3147ham001- 41 -LRB103 26261 RJT 59518 a

1    required to complete a test of content.
2        (4) Have completed modules aligned to standards
3    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
4    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
5    and instructional strategies for English learners.
6    (c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
7State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
8rules as may be necessary to implement this Section.
9(Source: P.A. 101-220, eff. 8-7-19; 101-643, eff. 6-18-20;
10102-539, eff. 8-20-21.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12becoming law.".