Public Act 096-0903
 
SB0226 Enrolled LRB096 08010 NHT 18114 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
21-7.1 and by adding Section 21-7.6 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21-7.1)  (from Ch. 122, par. 21-7.1)
    Sec. 21-7.1. Administrative certificate.
    (a) After July 1, 1999, an administrative certificate valid
for 5 years of supervising and administering in the public
common schools (unless changed under subsection (a-5) of this
Section) may be issued to persons who have graduated from a
regionally accredited institution of higher learning with a
master's degree and who have been recommended by a recognized
institution of higher learning, a not-for-profit entity, or a
combination thereof, as having completed a program of
preparation for one or more of these endorsements. Such
programs of academic and professional preparation required for
endorsement shall be administered by an the institution or
not-for-profit entity approved to offer such programs by the
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, and shall be operated in
accordance with this Article and the standards set forth by the
State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board. Any program offered in whole
or in part by a not-for-profit entity must also be approved by
the Board of Higher Education.
    (a-5) Beginning July 1, 2003, if an administrative
certificate holder holds a Standard Teaching Certificate, the
validity period of the administrative certificate shall be
changed, if necessary, so that the validity period of the
administrative certificate coincides with the validity period
of the Standard Teaching Certificate. Beginning July 1, 2003,
if an administrative certificate holder holds a Master Teaching
Certificate, the validity period of the administrative
certificate shall be changed so that the validity period of the
administrative certificate coincides with the validity period
of the Master Teaching Certificate.
    (b) No administrative certificate shall be issued for the
first time after June 30, 1987 and no endorsement provided for
by this Section shall be made or affixed to an administrative
certificate for the first time after June 30, 1987 unless the
person to whom such administrative certificate is to be issued
or to whose administrative certificate such endorsement is to
be affixed has been required to demonstrate as a part of a
program of academic or professional preparation for such
certification or endorsement: (i) an understanding of the
knowledge called for in establishing productive parent-school
relationships and of the procedures fostering the involvement
which such relationships demand; and (ii) an understanding of
the knowledge required for establishing a high quality school
climate and promoting good classroom organization and
management, including rules of conduct and instructional
procedures appropriate to accomplishing the tasks of
schooling; and (iii) a demonstration of the knowledge and
skills called for in providing instructional leadership. The
standards for demonstrating an understanding of such knowledge
shall be set forth by the State Board of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and
shall be administered by the recognized institutions of higher
learning as part of the programs of academic and professional
preparation required for certification and endorsement under
this Section. As used in this subsection: "establishing
productive parent-school relationships" means the ability to
maintain effective communication between parents and school
personnel, to encourage parental involvement in schooling, and
to motivate school personnel to engage parents in encouraging
student achievement, including the development of programs and
policies which serve to accomplish this purpose; and
"establishing a high quality school climate" means the ability
to promote academic achievement, to maintain discipline, to
recognize substance abuse problems among students and utilize
appropriate law enforcement and other community resources to
address these problems, to support teachers and students in
their education endeavors, to establish learning objectives
and to provide instructional leadership, including the
development of policies and programs which serve to accomplish
this purpose; and "providing instructional leadership" means
the ability to effectively evaluate school personnel, to
possess general communication and interpersonal skills, and to
establish and maintain appropriate classroom learning
environments. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply
to or affect the initial issuance or making on or before June
30, 1987 of any administrative certificate or endorsement
provided for under this Section, nor shall such provisions
apply to or affect the renewal after June 30, 1987 of any such
certificate or endorsement initially issued or made on or
before June 30, 1987.
    (c) Administrative certificates shall be renewed every 5
years with the first renewal being 5 years following the
initial receipt of an administrative certificate, unless the
validity period for the administrative certificate has been
changed under subsection (a-5) of this Section, in which case
the certificate shall be renewed at the same time that the
Standard or Master Teaching Certificate is renewed.
    (c-5) (Blank). Before July 1, 2003, renewal requirements
for administrators whose positions require certification shall
be based upon evidence of continuing professional education
which promotes the following goals: (1) improving
administrators' knowledge of instructional practices and
administrative procedures; (2) maintaining the basic level of
competence required for initial certification; and (3)
improving the mastery of skills and knowledge regarding the
improvement of teaching performance in clinical settings and
assessment of the levels of student performance in their
schools. Evidence of continuing professional education must
include verification of biennial attendance in a program
developed by the Illinois Administrators' Academy and
verification of annual participation in a school district
approved activity which contributes to continuing professional
education.
    (c-10) Except Beginning July 1, 2003, except as otherwise
provided in subsection (c-15) of this Section, persons holding
administrative certificates must follow the certificate
renewal procedure set forth in this subsection (c-10), provided
that those persons holding administrative certificates on June
30, 2003 who are renewing those certificates on or after July
1, 2003 shall be issued new administrative certificates valid
for 5 years (unless changed under subsection (a-5) of this
Section), which may be renewed thereafter as set forth in this
subsection (c-10).
    A person holding an administrative certificate and
employed in a position requiring administrative certification,
including a regional superintendent of schools, must satisfy
the continuing professional development requirements of this
Section to renew his or her administrative certificate. The
continuing professional development must include without
limitation the following continuing professional development
purposes:
        (1) To improve the administrator's knowledge of
    instructional practices and administrative procedures in
    accordance with the Illinois Professional School Leader
    Standards.
        (2) To maintain the basic level of competence required
    for initial certification.
        (3) To improve the administrator's mastery of skills
    and knowledge regarding the improvement of teaching
    performance in clinical settings and assessment of the
    levels of student performance in the schools.
    The continuing professional development must include the
following in order for the certificate to be renewed:
        (A) Participation in continuing professional
    development activities, which must total a minimum of 100
    hours of continuing professional development. The
    participation must consist of a minimum of 5 activities per
    validity period of the certificate, and the certificate
    holder must maintain documentation of completion of each
    activity.
        (B) Participation every year in an Illinois
    Administrators' Academy course, which participation must
    total a minimum of 30 continuing professional development
    hours during the period of the certificate's validity and
    which must include completion of applicable required
    coursework, including completion of a communication,
    dissemination, or application component, as defined by the
    State Board of Education.
    The certificate holder must complete a verification form
developed by the State Board of Education and certify that 100
hours of continuing professional development activities and 5
Administrators' Academy courses have been completed. The
regional superintendent of schools shall review and validate
the verification form for a certificate holder. Based on
compliance with all of the requirements for renewal, the
regional superintendent of schools shall forward a
recommendation for renewal or non-renewal to the State
Superintendent of Education and shall notify the certificate
holder of the recommendation. The State Superintendent of
Education shall review the recommendation to renew or non-renew
and shall notify, in writing, the certificate holder of a
decision denying renewal of his or her certificate. Any
decision regarding non-renewal of an administrative
certificate may be appealed to the State Teacher Certification
Board.
    The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board, shall adopt rules to
implement this subsection (c-10).
    The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor the
process for renewal of administrative certificates established
in this subsection (c-10).
    (c-15) This subsection (c-15) applies to the first period
of an administrative certificate's validity during which the
holder becomes subject to the requirements of subsection (c-10)
of this Section if the certificate has less than 5 years'
validity or has less than 5 years' validity remaining when the
certificate holder becomes subject to the requirements of
subsection (c-10) of this Section. With respect to this period,
the 100 hours of continuing professional development and 5
activities per validity period specified in clause (A) of
subsection (c-10) of this Section shall instead be deemed to
mean 20 hours of continuing professional development and one
activity per year of the certificate's validity or remaining
validity and the 30 continuing professional development hours
specified in clause (B) of subsection (c-10) of this Section
shall instead be deemed to mean completion of at least one
course per year of the certificate's validity or remaining
validity. Certificate holders who evaluate certified staff
must complete a 2-day teacher evaluation course, in addition to
the 30 continuing professional development hours.
    (c-20) The State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Teacher Certification Board, shall develop
procedures for implementing this Section and shall administer
the renewal of administrative certificates. Failure to submit
satisfactory evidence of continuing professional education
which contributes to promoting the goals of this Section shall
result in a loss of administrative certification.
    (d) Any limited or life supervisory certificate issued
prior to July 1, 1968 shall continue to be valid for all
administrative and supervisory positions in the public schools
for which it is valid as of that date as long as its holder
meets the requirements for registration or renewal as set forth
in the statutes or until revoked according to law.
    (e) The administrative or supervisory positions for which
the certificate shall be valid shall be determined by one or
more of the following 3 endorsements: general supervisory,
general administrative, principal, chief school business
official, and superintendent.
    Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a, endorsements
shall be made under conditions set forth in this Section. The
State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, adopt rules pursuant to the
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, establishing
requirements for obtaining administrative certificates where
the minimum administrative or supervisory requirements surpass
those set forth in this Section.
    The State Teacher Certification Board shall file with the
State Board of Education a written recommendation when
considering additional administrative or supervisory
requirements. All additional requirements shall be based upon
the requisite knowledge necessary to perform those tasks
required by the certificate. The State Board of Education shall
in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board,
establish standards within its rules which shall include the
academic and professional requirements necessary for
certification. These standards shall at a minimum contain, but
not be limited to, those used by the State Board of Education
in determining whether additional knowledge will be required.
Additionally, the State Board of Education shall in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board,
establish provisions within its rules whereby any member of the
educational community or the public may file a formal written
recommendation or inquiry regarding requirements.
        (1) Until July 1, 2003, the general supervisory
    endorsement shall be affixed to the administrative
    certificate of any holder who has at least 16 semester
    hours of graduate credit in professional education
    including 8 semester hours of graduate credit in curriculum
    and research and who has at least 2 years of full-time
    teaching experience or school service personnel experience
    in public schools, schools under the supervision of the
    Department of Corrections, schools under the
    administration of the Department of Rehabilitation
    Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the standards
    established by the State Superintendent of Education or
    comparable out-of-state recognition standards approved by
    the State Superintendent of Education.
        Such endorsement shall be required for supervisors,
    curriculum directors and for such similar and related
    positions as determined by the State Superintendent of
    Education in consultation with the State Teacher
    Certification Board.
        (2) Until June 30, 2014, the The general administrative
    endorsement shall be affixed to the administrative
    certificate of any holder who has at least 20 semester
    hours of graduate credit in educational administration and
    supervision and who has at least 2 years of full-time
    teaching experience or school service personnel experience
    in public schools, schools under the supervision of the
    Department of Corrections, schools under the
    administration of the Department of Rehabilitation
    Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the standards
    established by the State Superintendent of Education or
    comparable out-of-state recognition standards approved by
    the State Superintendent of Education.
        Such endorsement or a principal endorsement shall be
    required for principal, assistant principal, assistant or
    associate superintendent, and junior college dean and for
    related or similar positions as determined by the State
    Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State
    Teacher Certification Board.
        Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act,
    after January 1, 1990 and until January 1, 1991, any
    teacher employed by a district subject to Article 34 shall
    be entitled to receive an administrative certificate with a
    general administrative endorsement affixed thereto if he
    or she: (i) had at least 3 years of experience as a
    certified teacher for such district prior to August 1,
    1985; (ii) obtained a Master's degree prior to August 1,
    1985; (iii) completed at least 20 hours of graduate credit
    in education courses (including at least 12 hours in
    educational administration and supervision) prior to
    September 1, 1987; and (iv) has received a rating of
    superior for at least each of the last 5 years. Any person
    who obtains an administrative certificate with a general
    administrative endorsement affixed thereto under this
    paragraph shall not be qualified to serve in any
    administrative position except assistant principal.
        (2.5) The principal endorsement shall be affixed to the
    administrative certificate of any holder who qualifies by:
            (A) successfully completing a principal
        preparation program approved in accordance with
        Section 21-7.6 of this Code and any applicable rules;
            (B) having 4 years of teaching experience;
        however, the State Board of Education shall allow, by
        rules, for fewer than 4 years of experience based on
        meeting standards set forth in such rules, including
        without limitation a review of performance evaluations
        or other evidence of demonstrated qualifications; and
            (C) having a master's degree.
        (3) The chief school business official endorsement
    shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any
    holder who qualifies by having a Master's degree, 2 years
    of administrative experience in school business management
    or 2 years of university-approved practical experience,
    and a minimum of 20 semester hours of graduate credit in a
    program established by the State Superintendent of
    Education in consultation with the State Teacher
    Certification Board for the preparation of school business
    administrators. Such endorsement shall also be affixed to
    the administrative certificate of any holder who qualifies
    by having a Master's Degree in Business Administration,
    Finance or Accounting from a regionally accredited
    institution of higher education.
        After June 30, 1977, such endorsement shall be required
    for any individual first employed as a chief school
    business official.
        (4) The superintendent endorsement shall be affixed to
    the administrative certificate of any holder who has
    completed 30 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the
    master's degree in a program for the preparation of
    superintendents of schools including 16 semester hours of
    graduate credit in professional education and who has at
    least 2 years experience as an administrator or supervisor
    in the public schools or the State Board of Education or
    education service regions or in nonpublic schools meeting
    the standards established by the State Superintendent of
    Education or comparable out-of-state recognition standards
    approved by the State Superintendent of Education and holds
    general supervisory or general administrative endorsement,
    or who has had 2 years of experience as a supervisor or
    administrator while holding an all-grade supervisory
    certificate or a certificate comparable in validity and
    educational and experience requirements.
        After June 30, 1968, such endorsement shall be required
    for a superintendent of schools, except as provided in the
    second paragraph of this Section and in Section 34-6.
        Any person appointed to the position of superintendent
    between the effective date of this Act and June 30, 1993 in
    a school district organized pursuant to Article 32 with an
    enrollment of at least 20,000 pupils shall be exempt from
    the provisions of this paragraph (4) until June 30, 1996.
    (f) All official interpretations or acts of issuing or
denying administrative certificates or endorsements by the
State Teacher's Certification Board, State Board of Education
or the State Superintendent of Education, from the passage of
P.A. 81-1208 on November 8, 1979 through September 24, 1981 are
hereby declared valid and legal acts in all respects and
further that the purported repeal of the provisions of this
Section by P.A. 81-1208 and P.A. 81-1509 is declared null and
void.
(Source: P.A. 96-56, eff. 1-1-10.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21-7.6 new)
    Sec. 21-7.6. Principal preparation programs.
    (a) It is the policy of this State that an essential
element of improving student learning is supporting and
employing highly effective school principals in leadership
roles who improve teaching and learning and increase academic
achievement and the development of all students.
    (b) No later than July 1, 2014, all institutions of higher
education and not-for-profit entities approved by the State
Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board, to offer principal preparation programs
must do all of the following:
        (1) Meet the standards and requirements for such
    programs in accordance with this Section and any rules
    adopted by the State Board of Education.
        (2) Prepare candidates to meet approved standards for
    principal skills, knowledge, and responsibilities, which
    shall include a focus on instruction and student learning
    and which must be used for principal professional
    development, mentoring, and evaluation.
        (3) Include specific requirements for (i) the
    selection and assessment of candidates, (ii) training in
    the evaluation of staff, (iii) an internship, and (iv) a
    partnership with one or more school districts or
    State-recognized, non-public schools where the chief
    administrator is required to have the certification
    necessary to be a principal in an Illinois public school
    and where a majority of the instructors are required to
    have the certification necessary to be instructors in an
    Illinois public school.
    In accordance with subsection (a) of Section 21-7.1 of this
Code, any principal preparation program offered in whole or in
part by a not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the
Board of Higher Education.
    (c) No candidates may be admitted to an approved general
administrative preparation program after September 1, 2012.
Institutions of higher education currently offering general
administrative preparation programs may no longer entitle
principals with a general administrative endorsement after
June 30, 2014.
    (d) Candidates successfully completing a principal
preparation program established pursuant to this Section shall
obtain a principal endorsement on an administrative
certificate and are eligible to work in, at a minimum, those
capacities set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of
Section 21-7.1 of this Code. Beginning on July 1, 2014, the
general administrative endorsement shall no longer be issued.
Individuals who hold a valid and registered administrative
certificate with a general administrative endorsement prior to
July 1, 2014 and who have served for at least one full year
during the 5 years prior in a position requiring a general
administrative endorsement shall, upon request to the State
Board of Education and through July 1, 2015, have their
respective general administrative endorsement converted to a
principal endorsement. All other individuals holding a valid
and registered administrative certificate with a general
administrative endorsement prior to July 1, 2014 shall have
such general administrative endorsement converted to a
principal endorsement upon request to the State Board of
Education and by completing one of the following pathways:
        (1) Take and pass a State principal assessment
    developed by the State Board of Education.
        (2) Through July 1, 2019, complete an Illinois
    Administrators' Academy course designated by the State
    Superintendent of Education.
        (3) Complete a principal preparation program
    established and approved pursuant to this Section and
    applicable rules.
    Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly
shall prevent an individual having a general administrative
endorsement from serving at any time in any position identified
in paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 21-7.1 of this
Code.
    (e) The State Board of Education may adopt rules necessary
to implement and administer principal preparation programs
under this Section.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2010.