96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB2908

 

Introduced 2/24/2009, by Rep. Tom Cross

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/21-5c

    Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning alternative teacher certification.


LRB096 06084 NHT 16166 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2908 LRB096 06084 NHT 16166 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 Section
5 21-5c as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/21-5c)
7     Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification.
8 The The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
9 State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and
10 implement an alternative route to teacher certification
11 program under which persons who meet the requirements of and
12 successfully complete the program established by this Section
13 shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching in
14 schools in this State. The State Board of Education shall
15 approve a course of study that persons in the program must
16 successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for
17 issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative
18 Route to Teacher Certification program course of study must
19 include the current content and skills contained in a
20 university's current courses for State certification which
21 have been approved by the State Board of Education, in
22 consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as the
23 requirement for State teacher certification.

 

 

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1     The program established under this Section shall be known
2 as the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program. The
3 program may be offered in conjunction with one or more
4 not-for-profit organizations in the State. The program shall be
5 comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study
6 offered on an intensive basis in education theory,
7 instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the person's
8 assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school
9 year, including the designation of a mentor teacher to advise
10 and assist the person with that teaching assignment; and (c) a
11 comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance
12 by school officials and program participants and a
13 recommendation by the institution of higher education to the
14 State Board of Education that the person be issued an initial
15 teaching certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative
16 Route to Teacher Certification program shall be deemed to
17 satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject
18 matter requirements established by law.
19     A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for
20 one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable,
21 shall be issued under this Section 21-5c to persons who at the
22 time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching
23 certificate under this Section:
24         (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
25     university with a bachelor's degree;
26         (2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years

 

 

HB2908 - 3 - LRB096 06084 NHT 16166 b

1     in an area requiring application of the individual's
2     education;
3         (3) have successfully completed the first phase of the
4     Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in
5     this Section; and
6         (4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject
7     matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.
8     An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the
9 common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to
10 persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional
11 alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of
12 applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully
13 completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route
14 to Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section.
15     A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate
16 or an initial teaching certificate earned under this Section
17 shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes
18 of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of
19 employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a
20 bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining
21 representative, if any.
22     The State Board of Education may adopt rules and
23 regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the
24 State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the
25 program.
26 (Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)