Rep. Elizabeth Coulson

Filed: 3/19/2009

 

 


 

 


 
09600HB2766ham001 LRB096 09211 DRJ 23853 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2766

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2766 by replacing
3 everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4     "Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended
5 by adding Section 10-65 as follows:
 
6     (20 ILCS 1305/10-65 new)
7     Sec. 10-65. Gateways to Opportunity.
8     (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the Department of
9 Human Services shall operate a Gateways to Opportunity program,
10 a comprehensive professional development system. The goal of
11 Gateways to Opportunity is to support a diverse, stable, and
12 quality workforce for settings serving children and youth,
13 specifically to:
14         (1) enhance the quality of services;
15         (2) increase positive outcomes for children and youth;
16     and

 

 

09600HB2766ham001 - 2 - LRB096 09211 DRJ 23853 a

1         (3) advance the availability of coursework and
2     training related to quality services for children and
3     youth.
4     (b) The Department shall award Gateways to Opportunity
5 credentials to early care and education, school-age, and youth
6 development practitioners. The credentials shall validate an
7 individual's qualifications and shall be issued based on a
8 variety of professional achievements in field experience,
9 knowledge and skills, educational attainment, and training
10 accomplishments. The Department shall adopt rules outlining
11 the framework for awarding credentials.
12     (c) The Gateways to Opportunity program shall identify
13 professional knowledge guidelines for practitioners serving
14 children and youth. The professional knowledge guidelines
15 shall define what all adults who work with children and youth
16 need to know, understand, and be able to demonstrate to support
17 children's and youth's development, school readiness, and
18 school success. The Department shall adopt rules to identify
19 content areas, alignment with other professional standards,
20 and competency levels.
 
21     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22 becoming law.".