Public Act 099-0920
 
SB2912 EnrolledLRB099 19280 NHT 45355 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 Sections
21B-20, 21B-25, 21B-30, 21B-35, 21B-40, and 21B-45 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
    Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. Before July 1, 2013, the
State Board of Education shall implement a system of educator
licensure, whereby individuals employed in school districts
who are required to be licensed must have one of the following
licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) a
professional educator license with stipulations; or (iii) a
substitute teaching license. References in law regarding
individuals certified or certificated or required to be
certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall
also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed
under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June
30 following one full year of the license being issued.
    The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for
licenses and endorsements under this Section.
        (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
    have successfully completed an approved educator
    preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
    the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
    program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
    testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
    successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
    the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
    the exceptional child, including without limitation
    children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
    successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
    and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other
    criteria established by rule of the State Board of
    Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License.
    All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30
    immediately following 5 years of the license being issued.
    The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with
    specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is
    eligible to practice.
        Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
    Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
    shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
    in the endorsement area, unless otherwise specified by
    rule, and passage of the applicable content area test.
        (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
    License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
    that limits the license holder to one particular position
    or does not require completion of an approved educator
    program or both.
        An individual with an Educator License with
    Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
    any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
    who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
        An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
    with the following endorsements:
            (A) Provisional educator. A provisional educator
        endorsement in a specific content area or areas on an
        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
        applicant who holds an educator license with a minimum
        of 15 semester hours in content coursework from another
        state, U.S. territory, or foreign country and who, at
        the time of applying for an Illinois license, does not
        meet the minimum requirements under Section 21B-35 of
        this Code, but does, at a minimum, meet the following
        requirements:
                (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
            bachelor's degree, unless a master's degree is
            required for the endorsement, from a regionally
            accredited college or university or, for
            individuals educated in a country other than the
            United States, the equivalent of a minimum of a
            bachelor's degree issued in the United States,
            unless a master's degree is required for the
            endorsement.
                (ii) Has passed or passes a test of basic
            skills and content area test, as required by
            Section 21B-30 of this Code, prior to or within one
            year after issuance of the provisional educator
            endorsement on the Educator License with
            Stipulations. If an individual who holds an
            Educator License with Stipulations endorsed for
            provisional educator has not passed a test of basic
            skills and applicable content area test or tests
            within one year after issuance of the endorsement,
            the endorsement shall expire on June 30 following
            one full year of the endorsement being issued. If
            such an individual has passed the test of basic
            skills and applicable content area test or tests
            either prior to issuance of the endorsement or
            within one year after issuance of the endorsement,
            the endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately
            following 2 years of the license being issued,
            during which time any and all coursework
            deficiencies must be met and any and all additional
            testing deficiencies must be met.
            In addition, a provisional educator endorsement
        for principals or superintendents may be issued if the
        individual meets the requirements set forth in
        subdivisions (1) and (3) of subsection (b-5) of Section
        21B-35 of this Code. Applicants who have not been
        entitled by an Illinois-approved educator preparation
        program at an Illinois institution of higher education
        shall not receive a provisional educator endorsement
        if the person completed an alternative licensure
        program in another state, unless the program has been
        determined to be equivalent to Illinois program
        requirements.
            Notwithstanding any other requirements of this
        Section, a service member or spouse of a service member
        may obtain a Professional Educator License with
        Stipulations, and a provisional educator endorsement
        in a specific content area or areas, if he or she holds
        a valid teaching certificate or license in good
        standing from another state, meets the qualifications
        of educators outlined in Section 21B-15 of this Code,
        and has not engaged in any misconduct that would
        prohibit an individual from obtaining a license
        pursuant to Illinois law, including without limitation
        any administrative rules of the State Board of
        Education.
            In this Section, "service member" means any person
        who, at the time of application under this Section, is
        an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces
        or any reserve component of the United States Armed
        Forces or the National Guard of any state,
        commonwealth, or territory of the United States or the
        District of Columbia.
            A provisional educator endorsement is valid until
        June 30 immediately following 2 years of the license
        being issued, provided that any remaining testing and
        coursework deficiencies are met as set forth in this
        Section. Failure to satisfy all stated deficiencies
        shall mean the individual, including any service
        member or spouse who has obtained a Professional
        Educator License with Stipulations and a provisional
        educator endorsement in a specific content area or
        areas, is ineligible to receive a Professional
        Educator License at that time. An Educator License with
        Stipulations endorsed for provisional educator shall
        not be renewed for individuals who hold an Educator
        License with Stipulations and who have held a position
        in a public school or non-public school recognized by
        the State Board of Education.
            (B) Alternative provisional educator. An
        alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
        applicant who, at the time of applying for the
        endorsement, has done all of the following:
                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
            college or university with a minimum of a
            bachelor's degree.
                (ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
            the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
            Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
            Code.
                (iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content
            area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
            Code.
            The alternative provisional educator endorsement
        is valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for
        a third year by an individual meeting the requirements
        set forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
            (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
        alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
        an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
        holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
        superintendent in a school district's central office.
        This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
        who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
        done all of the following:
                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
            college or university with a minimum of a master's
            degree in a management field other than education.
                (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
            years in a management level position in a field
            other than education.
                (iii) Successfully completed the first phase
            of an alternative route to superintendent
            endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
            of this Code.
                (iv) Passed a test of basic skills and content
            area tests required under Section 21B-30 of this
            Code.
            The endorsement may be registered for 2 fiscal
        years in order to complete one full year of serving as
        a superintendent or assistant superintendent.
            (D) Resident teacher endorsement. A resident
        teacher endorsement on an Educator License with
        Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who, at the
        time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of
        the following:
                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
            institution of higher education with a minimum of a
            bachelor's degree.
                (ii) Enrolled in an approved Illinois educator
            preparation program.
                (iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content
            area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
            Code.
            The resident teacher endorsement on an Educator
        License with Stipulations is valid for 4 years of
        teaching and shall not be renewed.
            A resident teacher may teach only under the
        direction of a licensed teacher, who shall act as the
        resident mentor teacher, and may not teach in place of
        a licensed teacher. A resident teacher endorsement on
        an Educator License with Stipulations shall no longer
        be valid after June 30, 2017.
            (E) Career and technical educator. A career and
        technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
        with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has
        a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
        regionally accredited institution of higher education
        and has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside
        of education in each area to be taught.
            The career and technical educator endorsement on
        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
        endorsement being issued and may be renewed. For
        individuals who were issued the career and technical
        educator endorsement on an Educator License with
        Stipulations on or after January 1, 2015, the license
        may be renewed if the individual passes a test of basic
        skills or test of work proficiency, as required under
        Section 21B-30 of this Code.
            (F) Part-time provisional career and technical
        educator or provisional career and technical educator.
        A part-time provisional career and technical educator
        endorsement or a provisional career and technical
        educator endorsement on an Educator License with
        Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a
        minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill
        for which the applicant is seeking the endorsement. It
        is the responsibility of each employing school board
        and regional office of education to provide
        verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent
        of Education at the time the application is submitted
        that no qualified teacher holding a Professional
        Educator License or an Educator License with
        Stipulations with a career and technical educator
        endorsement is available and that actual circumstances
        require such issuance.
            The provisional career and technical educator
        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
        is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of
        the endorsement being issued and may be renewed only
        one time for 5 years. For individuals who were issued
        the provisional career and technical educator
        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
        on or after January 1, 2015, the license may be renewed
        one time if the individual passes a test of basic
        skills or test of work proficiency, as required under
        Section 21B-30 of this Code, and has completed a
        minimum of 20 semester hours from a regionally
        accredited institution.
            A part-time provisional career and technical
        educator endorsement on an Educator License with
        Stipulations may be issued for teaching no more than 2
        courses of study for grades 6 through 12. The part-time
        provisional career and technical educator endorsement
        on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
        endorsement being issued and may be renewed for 5 years
        if the individual makes application for renewal.
            (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
        transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
        the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
        with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
        provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all
        of the following requirements:
                (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
            writing ability in the language other than English
            in which transitional bilingual education is
            offered.
                (ii) Has the ability to successfully
            communicate in English.
                (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
            previous to his or her applying for a transitional
            bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
            comparable teaching certificate or comparable
            authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
            a degree from an institution of higher learning in
            a foreign country that the State Educator
            Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
            the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
            regionally accredited institution of higher
            learning in the United States.
            A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
        shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12, is
        valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of
        the endorsement being issued, and shall not be renewed.
            Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
        endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
        presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
        replaced for any reason.
            (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
        alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
        other than English in the public schools, an individual
        who holds an Educator License with Stipulations may
        also apply for a language endorsement, provided that
        the applicant provides satisfactory evidence that he
        or she meets all of the following requirements:
                (i) Holds a transitional bilingual
            endorsement.
                (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
            language for which the endorsement is to be issued
            by passing the applicable language content test
            required by the State Board of Education.
                (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
            a regionally accredited institution of higher
            education or, for individuals educated in a
            country other than the United States, holds a
            degree from an institution of higher learning in a
            foreign country that the State Educator
            Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
            the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
            regionally accredited institution of higher
            learning in the United States.
                (iv) Has passed a test of basic skills, as
            required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
            A language endorsement on an Educator License with
        Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
        grade 12 for the same validity period as the
        individual's transitional bilingual educator
        endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
        and shall not be renewed.
            (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
        international educator endorsement on an Educator
        License with Stipulations may be issued to an
        individual who is being recruited by a particular
        school district that conducts formal recruitment
        programs outside of the United States to secure the
        services of qualified teachers and who meets all of the
        following requirements:
                (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
            bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
                (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
            grade level for which he or she will be employed.
                (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
            subject to be taught.
                (iv) Has an adequate command of the English
            language.
            A holder of a visiting international educator
        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
        shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
        programs in the language that was the medium of
        instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
        provided that he or she passes the English Language
        Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
        skills in English identified by the State Board of
        Education, in consultation with the State Educator
        Preparation and Licensure Board.
            A visiting international educator endorsement on
        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 3
        years and shall not be renewed.
            (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
        educator endorsement on an Educator License with
        Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
        high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
        either holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
        semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
        institution of higher education or has passed a test of
        basic skills required under Section 21B-30 of this
        Code. The paraprofessional educator endorsement is
        valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of
        the endorsement being issued and may be renewed through
        application and payment of the appropriate fee, as
        required under Section 21B-40 of this Code. An
        individual who holds only a paraprofessional educator
        endorsement is not subject to additional requirements
        in order to renew the endorsement.
            (K) Chief school business official. A chief school
        business official endorsement on an Educator License
        with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
        qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
        years of full-time administrative experience in school
        business management or 2 years of university-approved
        practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
        hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
        State Board of Education for the preparation of school
        business administrators and by passage of the
        applicable State tests, including a test of basic
        skills and applicable content area test.
            The chief school business official endorsement may
        also be affixed to the Educator License with
        Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
        master's degree in business administration, finance,
        or accounting and who completes an additional 6
        semester hours of internship in school business
        management from a regionally accredited institution of
        higher education and passes the applicable State
        tests, including a test of basic skills and applicable
        content area test. This endorsement shall be required
        for any individual employed as a chief school business
        official.
            The chief school business official endorsement on
        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
        endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the
        license holder completes renewal requirements as
        required for individuals who hold a Professional
        Educator License endorsed for chief school business
        official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
        rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
        Education.
            (L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
        in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
        with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
        completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
        program at an Illinois institution of higher education
        and who has not successfully completed an
        evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
        who meets all of the following requirements:
                (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
                (ii) Has completed an approved educator
            preparation program at an Illinois institution.
                (iii) Has passed a test of basic skills and
            applicable content area test, as required by
            Section 21B-30 of this Code.
                (iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
            assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
            minimum score on that assessment, as established
            by the State Board of Education in consultation
            with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
            Board.
            A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
        Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one
        full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
        be renewed.
        (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
    License may be issued to qualified applicants for
    substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
    prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
    Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
    a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's degree
    or higher from a regionally accredited institution of
    higher education.
        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years and
    may be renewed if the individual has passed a test of basic
    skills, as authorized under Section 21B-30 of this Code. An
    individual who has passed a test of basic skills for the
    first licensure renewal is not required to retake the test
    again for further renewals.
        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
    teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
    has had his or her Professional Educator License or
    Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked or
    has not met the renewal requirements for licensure, then
    that individual is not eligible to obtain a Substitute
    Teaching License.
        A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
    licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
    board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under
    contract because of an emergency situation, then a district
    may employ a substitute teacher for no longer than 30
    calendar days per each vacant position in the district if
    the district notifies the appropriate regional office of
    education within 5 business days after the employment of
    the substitute teacher in the emergency situation. An
    emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy
    has occurred and (i) a teacher is unable to fulfill his or
    her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of
    the district exceed previous indications, and the district
    is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed
    teacher for the vacant position.
        There is no limit on the number of days that a
    substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
    provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
    than 90 school days for any one licensed teacher under
    contract in the same school year. A substitute teacher who
    holds a Professional Educator License or Educator License
    with Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school
    days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
    same school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on
    the number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do
    not apply to any school district operating under Article 34
    of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 98-28, eff. 7-1-13; 98-751, eff. 1-1-15; 99-35,
eff. 1-1-16; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; revised
10-14-15.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-25)
    Sec. 21B-25. Endorsement on licenses. All licenses issued
under paragraph (1) of Section 21B-20 of this Code shall be
specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each
content area, school support area, and administrative area for
which the holder of the license is qualified. Recognized
institutions approved to offer educator preparation programs
shall be trained to add endorsements to licenses issued to
applicants who meet all of the requirements for the endorsement
or endorsements, including passing any required tests. The
State Superintendent of Education shall randomly audit
institutions to ensure that all rules and standards are being
followed for entitlement or when endorsements are being
recommended.
        (1) The State Board of Education, in consultation with
    the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall
    establish, by rule, the grade level and subject area
    endorsements to be added to the Professional Educator
    License. These rules shall outline the requirements for
    obtaining each endorsement.
        (2) In addition to any and all grade level and content
    area endorsements developed by rule, the State Board of
    Education, in consultation with the State Educator
    Preparation and Licensure Board, shall develop the
    requirements for the following endorsements:
            (A) General administrative endorsement. A general
        administrative endorsement shall be added to a
        Professional Educator License, provided that an
        approved program has been completed. An individual
        holding a general administrative endorsement may work
        only as a principal or assistant principal or in a
        related or similar position, as determined by the State
        Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the
        State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
            Beginning on September 1, 2014, the general
        administrative endorsement shall no longer be issued
        except to individuals who completed all coursework
        requirements for the receipt of the general
        administrative endorsement by September 1, 2014, who
        have completed all testing requirements by June 30,
        2016, and who apply for the endorsement on or before
        June 30, 2016. Individuals who hold a valid and
        registered administrative certificate with a general
        administrative endorsement issued under Section 21-7.1
        of this Code or a Professional Educator License with a
        general administrative endorsement issued prior to
        September 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 on the Professional Educator License.
        Candidates shall not be admitted to an approved general
        administrative preparation program after September 1,
        2012.
            All other individuals holding a valid and
        registered administrative certificate with a general
        administrative endorsement issued pursuant to Section
        21-7.1 of this Code or a general administrative
        endorsement on a Professional Educator License issued
        prior to September 1, 2014 shall have the general
        administrative endorsement converted to a principal
        endorsement on a Professional Educator License upon
        request to the State Board of Education and by
        completing one of the following pathways:
                (i) Passage of the State principal assessment
            developed by the State Board of Education.
                (ii) Through July 1, 2019, completion of an
            Illinois Educators' Academy course designated by
            the State Superintendent of Education.
                (iii) Completion of a principal preparation
            program established and approved pursuant to
            Section 21B-60 of this Code and applicable rules.
            Individuals who do not choose to convert the
        general administrative endorsement on the
        administrative certificate issued pursuant to Section
        21-7.1 of this Code or on the Professional Educator
        License shall continue to be able to serve in any
        position previously allowed under paragraph (2) of
        subsection (e) of Section 21-7.1 of this Code.
            The general administrative endorsement on the
        Professional Educator License is available only to
        individuals who, prior to September 1, 2014, had such
        an endorsement on the administrative certificate
        issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or who
        already have a Professional Educator License and have
        completed a general administrative program and who do
        not choose to convert the general administrative
        endorsement to a principal endorsement pursuant to the
        options in this Section.
            (B) Principal endorsement. A principal endorsement
        shall be affixed to a Professional Educator License of
        any holder who qualifies by having all of the
        following:
                (i) Successful completion of a principal
            preparation program approved in accordance with
            Section 21B-60 of this Code and any applicable
            rules.
                (ii) At least 4 total years of teaching or,
            until June 30, 2019, working in the capacity of
            school support personnel in an Illinois public
            school or nonpublic school recognized by the State
            Board of Education or in an out-of-state public
            school or out-of-state nonpublic school meeting
            out-of-state recognition standards comparable to
            those approved by the State Superintendent of
            Education; however, the State Board of Education,
            in consultation with the State Educator
            Preparation and Licensure Board, 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.
                (iii) A master's degree or higher from a
            regionally accredited college or university.
            (C) Chief school business official endorsement. A
        chief school business official endorsement shall be
        affixed to the Professional Educator License of any
        holder who qualifies by having a master's degree or
        higher, 2 years of full-time administrative experience
        in school business management or 2 years of
        university-approved practical experience, and a
        minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate credit in a
        program approved by the State Board of Education for
        the preparation of school business administrators and
        by passage of the applicable State tests. The chief
        school business official endorsement may also be
        affixed to the Professional Educator License of any
        holder who qualifies by having a master's degree in
        business administration, finance, or accounting and
        who completes an additional 6 semester hours of
        internship in school business management from a
        regionally accredited institution of higher education
        and passes the applicable State tests. This
        endorsement shall be required for any individual
        employed as a chief school business official.
            (D) Superintendent endorsement. A superintendent
        endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional
        Educator License of any holder who has completed a
        program approved by the State Board of Education for
        the preparation of superintendents of schools, has had
        at least 2 years of experience employed full-time in a
        general administrative position or as a full-time
        principal, director of special education, or chief
        school business official in the public schools or in a
        State-recognized nonpublic school in which the chief
        administrator is required to have the licensure
        necessary to be a principal in a public school in this
        State and where a majority of the teachers are required
        to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a
        public school in this State, and has passed the
        required State tests; or of any holder who has
        completed a program that is not an Illinois-approved
        educator preparation program at an Illinois
        institution of higher education and that has
        recognition standards comparable to those approved by
        the State Superintendent of Education and holds the
        general administrative, principal, or chief school
        business official endorsement and who has had 2 years
        of experience as a principal, director of special
        education, or chief school business official while
        holding a valid educator license or certificate
        comparable in validity and educational and experience
        requirements and has passed the appropriate State
        tests, as provided in Section 21B-30 of this Code. The
        superintendent endorsement shall allow individuals to
        serve only as a superintendent or assistant
        superintendent.
            (E) Teacher leader endorsement. It shall be the
        policy of this State to improve the quality of
        instructional leaders by providing a career pathway
        for teachers interested in serving in leadership
        roles, but not as principals. The State Board of
        Education, in consultation with the State Educator
        Preparation and Licensure Board, may issue a teacher
        leader endorsement under this subdivision (E). Persons
        who meet and successfully complete the requirements of
        the endorsement shall be issued a teacher leader
        endorsement on the Professional Educator License for
        serving in schools in this State. Teacher leaders may
        qualify to serve in such positions as department
        chairs, coaches, mentors, curriculum and instruction
        leaders, or other leadership positions as defined by
        the district. The endorsement shall be available to
        those teachers who (i) hold a Professional Educator
        License, (ii) hold a master's degree or higher from a
        regionally accredited institution, (iii) have
        completed a program of study that has been approved by
        the State Board of Education, in consultation with the
        State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and
        (iv) have successfully demonstrated competencies as
        defined by rule. have taken coursework in all of the
        following areas:
                (I) Leadership.
                (II) Designing professional development to
            meet teaching and learning needs.
                (III) Building school culture that focuses on
            student learning.
                (IV) Using assessments to improve student
            learning and foster school improvement.
                (V) Building collaboration with teachers and
            stakeholders.
            A teacher who meets the requirements set forth in
        this Section and holds a teacher leader endorsement may
        evaluate teachers pursuant to Section 24A-5 of this
        Code, provided that the individual has completed the
        evaluation component required by Section 24A-3 of this
        Code and a teacher leader is allowed to evaluate
        personnel under the respective school district's
        collective bargaining agreement.
            The State Board of Education, in consultation with
        the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board,
        may adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish
        and implement the teacher leader endorsement program
        and to specify the positions for which this endorsement
        shall be required.
            (F) Special education endorsement. A special
        education endorsement in one or more areas shall be
        affixed to a Professional Educator License for any
        individual that meets those requirements established
        by the State Board of Education in rules. Special
        education endorsement areas shall include without
        limitation the following:
                (i) Learning Behavior Specialist I;
                (ii) Learning Behavior Specialist II;
                (iii) Speech Language Pathologist;
                (iv) Blind or Visually Impaired;
                (v) Deaf-Hard of Hearing; and
                (vi) Early Childhood Special Education.
        Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary,
        the State Board of Education, in consultation with the
        State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may
        add additional areas of special education by rule.
            (G) School support personnel endorsement. School
        support personnel endorsement areas shall include, but
        are not limited to, school counselor, marriage and
        family therapist, school psychologist, school speech
        and language pathologist, school nurse, and school
        social worker. This endorsement is for individuals who
        are not teachers or administrators, but still require
        licensure to work in an instructional support position
        in a public or State-operated elementary school,
        secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement
        with a governing body or board of control or a charter
        school operating in compliance with the Charter
        Schools Law. The school support personnel endorsement
        shall be affixed to the Professional Educator License
        and shall meet all of the requirements established in
        any rules adopted to implement this subdivision (G).
        The holder of such an endorsement is entitled to all of
        the rights and privileges granted holders of any other
        Professional Educator License, including teacher
        benefits, compensation, and working conditions.
            Beginning on January 1, 2014 and ending on April
        30, 2014, a person holding a Professional Educator
        License with a school speech and language pathologist
        (teaching) endorsement may exchange his or her school
        speech and language pathologist (teaching) endorsement
        for a school speech and language pathologist
        (non-teaching) endorsement through application to the
        State Board of Education. There shall be no cost for
        this exchange.
(Source: P.A. 98-413, eff. 8-16-13; 98-610, eff. 12-27-13;
98-872, eff. 8-11-14; 98-917, eff. 8-15-14; 98-1147, eff.
12-31-14; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-30)
    Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing.
    (a) This Section applies beginning on July 1, 2012.
    (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design
and implement a system of examinations, which shall be required
prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These examinations
and indicators must be based on national and State professional
teaching standards, as determined by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board. The State Board of Education may adopt
such rules as may be necessary to implement and administer this
Section. No score on a test required under this Section, other
than a test of basic skills, shall be more than 10 years old at
the time that an individual makes application for an educator
license or endorsement.
    (c) Applicants seeking a Professional Educator License or
an Educator License with Stipulations shall be required to pass
a test of basic skills before the license is issued, unless the
endorsement the individual is seeking does not require passage
of the test. All applicants completing Illinois-approved,
teacher education or school service personnel preparation
programs shall be required to pass the State Board of
Education's recognized test of basic skills prior to starting
their student teaching or starting the final semester of their
internship, unless required earlier at the discretion of the
recognized, Illinois institution in which they are completing
their approved program. An individual who passes a test of
basic skills does not need to do so again for subsequent
endorsements or other educator licenses.
    (d) All applicants seeking a State license shall be
required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area
of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. There
shall be no exception to this requirement. No candidate shall
be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record
until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.
    (e) (Blank). All applicants seeking a State license
endorsed in a teaching field shall pass the assessment of
professional teaching (APT). Passage of the APT is required for
completion of an approved Illinois educator preparation
program.
    (f) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, beginning
Beginning on September 1, 2015, all candidates completing
teacher preparation programs in this State and all candidates
subject to Section 21B-35 of this Code are required to pass an
evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness approved by
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. All recognized
institutions offering approved teacher preparation programs
must begin phasing in the approved teacher performance
assessment no later than July 1, 2013.
    (g) Tests of basic skills and content area knowledge and
the assessment of professional teaching shall be the tests that
from time to time are designated by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board, and may be tests prepared by an
educational testing organization or tests designed by the State
Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board. The areas to be covered by a
test of basic skills shall include reading, language arts, and
mathematics. The test of content area knowledge shall assess
content knowledge in a specific subject field. The tests must
be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no person
taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis of race,
color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to the
person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The score
required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board. The tests shall be administered not fewer
than 3 times a year at such time and place as may be designated
by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
    The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess
the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of
applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under
subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this Code
in the English language and in the language of the transitional
bilingual education program requested by the applicant.
    (h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the
provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school
district subject to Article 34 of this Code.
    (i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the
testing requirements under this Section shall include without
limitation provisions governing test selection, test
validation and determination of a passing score,
administration of the tests, frequency of administration,
applicant fees, frequency of applicants taking the tests, the
years for which a score is valid, and appropriate special
accommodations. The State Board of Education shall develop such
rules as may be needed to ensure uniformity from year to year
in the level of difficulty for each form of an assessment.
(Source: P.A. 98-361, eff. 1-1-14; 98-581, eff. 8-27-13;
98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-35)
    Sec. 21B-35. Minimum requirements for educators trained in
other states or countries.
    (a) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education applying for a Professional
Educator License endorsed in a teaching field or school support
personnel area must meet all of the following requirements:
        (1) Hold a comparable and valid educator license or
    certificate with similar grade level and subject matter
    credentials from another state. The State Board of
    Education shall have the authority to determine what
    constitutes similar grade level and subject matter
    credentials from another state. A comparable educator
    license or certificate is one that demonstrates that the
    license or certificate holder meets similar requirements
    as candidates entitled by an Illinois-approved educator
    preparation program in teaching or school support
    personnel areas concerning coursework aligned to standards
    concerning methods of instruction of the exceptional
    child, methods of reading and reading in the content area,
    and instructional strategies for English learners. An
    applicant who holds a comparable and valid educator license
    or certificate from another state must submit verification
    to the State Board of Education that the applicant has
    completed coursework concerning methods of instruction of
    the exceptional child, methods of reading and reading in
    the content area, and instructional strategies for English
    learners. Have completed a comparable state-approved
    education program, as defined by the State Superintendent
    of Education.
        (2) Have a degree from a regionally accredited
    institution of higher education and the degreed major or a
    constructed major must directly correspond to the license
    or endorsement sought.
        (3) (Blank). Teachers and school support personnel who
    have not been entitled by an Illinois-approved educator
    preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher
    education shall meet the same requirements concerning
    courses in the methods of instruction of the exceptional
    child as candidates entitled by an Illinois-approved
    educator preparation program in teaching and school
    support personnel areas, as defined by rules.
        (4) (Blank). Teachers and school support personnel who
    have not been entitled by an Illinois-approved educator
    preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher
    education shall meet the same requirements concerning
    coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content
    area as candidates entitled by an Illinois-approved
    educator preparation program in teaching and school
    support personnel areas, as defined by rules.
        (5) (Blank). Teachers and school support personnel who
    have not been entitled by an Illinois-approved educator
    preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher
    education shall meet the same requirements concerning
    courses in instructional strategies for English language
    learners as candidates entitled by an Illinois-approved
    educator preparation program in teaching and school
    support personnel areas, as defined by rules.
        (6) Have successfully met all Illinois examination
    requirements. Applicants who have successfully completed a
    test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at the time of
    initial licensure in another state shall not be required to
    complete a test of basic skills. Applicants who have
    successfully completed a test of content, as defined by
    rules, at the time of initial licensure in another state
    shall not be required to complete a test of content.
    Applicants for a teaching endorsement who have
    successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of
    teacher effectiveness, as defined by rules, at the time of
    initial licensure in another state shall not be required to
    complete an evidence-based assessment of teacher
    effectiveness.
        (7) For applicants for a teaching endorsement, have
    completed student teaching or an equivalent experience or,
    for applicants for a school service personnel endorsement,
    have completed an internship or an equivalent experience.
    Teachers and school support personnel who have not been
entitled by an Illinois-approved educator preparation program
at an Illinois institution of higher education must submit
verification to the State Board of Education of having
completed coursework as required under items (3), (4), and (5)
of this subsection (a) prior to issuance of a Professional
Educator License. An individual who is not able to verify
completion of the coursework as required under items (3), (4),
and (5) of this subsection (a) may qualify for an Educator
License with Stipulations with a provisional educator
endorsement and must complete coursework in those areas
identified as deficient.
    If one or more of the criteria in this subsection (a) are
not met, then applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education who hold a valid, comparable
certificate from another state may qualify for a provisional
educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations,
in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code.
    (b) In order to receive a Professional Educator License
endorsed in a teaching field, applicants trained in another
country must meet all of the following requirements:
        (1) Have completed a comparable education program in
    another country.
        (2) Have had transcripts evaluated by an evaluation
    service approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (3) Hold a degreed major that must directly correspond
    to the license or endorsement sought.
        (4) (Blank). Have completed coursework in the methods
    of instruction of the exceptional child.
        (5) (Blank). Have completed coursework in methods of
    reading and reading in the content area.
        (6) (Blank). Have completed coursework in
    instructional strategies for English learners.
        (7) Have successfully met all State licensure
    examination requirements. Applicants who have successfully
    completed a test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at
    the time of initial licensure in another country shall not
    be required to complete a test of basic skills. Applicants
    who have successfully completed a test of content, as
    defined by rules, at the time of initial licensure in
    another country shall not be required to complete a test of
    content. Applicants for a teaching endorsement who have
    successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of
    teacher effectiveness, as defined by rules, at the time of
    initial licensure in another country shall not be required
    to complete an evidence-based assessment of teacher
    effectiveness.
        (8) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent
    experience.
    Applicants trained in another country must submit
verification to the State Board of Education of having
completed coursework as required under items (4), (5), and (6)
of this subsection (b) prior to issuance of a Professional
Educator License. Individuals who are not able to verify
completion of the coursework as required under items (4), (5),
and (6) of this subsection (b) may qualify for an Educator
License with Stipulations with a provisional educator
endorsement and must complete coursework in those areas
identified as deficient.
    If one or more of the criteria in this subsection (b) are
not met, then an applicant trained in another country may
qualify for a provisional educator endorsement on an Educator
License with Stipulations in accordance with Section 21B-20 of
this Code.
    (b-5) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education and applicants trained in
another country applying for a Professional Educator License
endorsed for principal or superintendent must meet all of the
following requirements:
        (1) Have completed an educator preparation program
    approved by another state or comparable educator program in
    another country leading to the receipt of a license or
    certificate for the Illinois endorsement sought.
        (2) Have successfully met all State licensure
    examination requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of
    this Code. Applicants who have successfully completed a
    test of basic skills, as defined by rules, at the time of
    initial licensure in another state or country shall not be
    required to complete a test of basic skills. Applicants who
    have successfully completed a test of content, as defined
    by rules, at the time of initial licensure in another state
    or country shall not be required to complete a test of
    content.
        (3) (Blank). Have received a certificate or license
    endorsed in a teaching field.
    A provisional educator endorsement to serve as a
superintendent or principal may be affixed to an Educator
License with Stipulations in accordance with Section 21B-20 of
this Code.
    (b-10) All applicants who have not been entitled by an
Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois
institution of higher education applying for a Professional
Educator License endorsed for chief school business official
must meet all of the following requirements:
        (1) Have completed a master's degree in school business
    management, finance, or accounting.
        (2) Have successfully completed an internship in
    school business management or have 2 years of experience as
    a school business administrator.
        (3) Have successfully met all State examination
    requirements, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
    Applicants who have successfully completed a test of
    content, as identified by rules, at the time of initial
    licensure in another state or country shall not be required
    to complete a test of content.
        (4) Have successfully completed modules in reading
    methods, special education, and English Learners.
    A provisional educator endorsement to serve as a chief
school business official may be affixed to an Educator License
with Stipulations.
    (c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 98-581, eff. 8-27-13; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-40)
    Sec. 21B-40. Fees.
    (a) Beginning with the start of the new licensure system
established pursuant to this Article, the following fees shall
be charged to applicants:
        (1) A $75 application fee for a Professional Educator
    License or an Educator License with Stipulations and for
    individuals seeking a Substitute Teaching License.
    However, beginning on January 1, 2015, the application fee
    for a Professional Educator License and , Educator License
    with Stipulations, or Substitute Teaching License shall be
    $100.
        (1.5) A $50 application fee for a Substitute Teaching
    License.
        (2) A $150 application fee for individuals who have not
    been entitled by an Illinois-approved educator preparation
    program at an Illinois institution of higher education and
    are seeking any of the licenses set forth in subdivision
    (1) of this subsection (a).
        (3) A $50 application fee for each endorsement or
    approval an individual holding a license wishes to add to
    that license.
        (4) A $10 per year registration fee for the course of
    the validity cycle to register the license, which shall be
    paid to the regional office of education having supervision
    and control over the school in which the individual holding
    the license is to be employed. If the individual holding
    the license is not yet employed, then the license may be
    registered in any county in this State. The registration
    fee must be paid in its entirety the first time the
    individual registers the license for a particular validity
    period in a single region. No additional fee may be charged
    for that validity period should the individual
    subsequently register the license in additional regions.
    An individual must register the license (i) immediately
    after initial issuance of the license and (ii) at the
    beginning of each renewal cycle if the individual has
    satisfied the renewal requirements required under this
    Code.
    (b) All application fees paid pursuant to subdivisions (1)
through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section shall be
deposited into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund and
shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board of
Education to provide the technology and human resources
necessary for the timely and efficient processing of
applications and for the renewal of licenses. Funds available
from the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund may also be
used by the State Board of Education to support the recruitment
and retention of educators, to support educator preparation
programs as they seek national accreditation, and to provide
professional development aligned with the requirements set
forth in Section 21B-45 of this Code. A majority of the funds
in the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund must be dedicated
to the timely and efficient processing of applications and for
the renewal of licenses. The Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving
Fund is not subject to administrative charge transfers,
authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act, from the
Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund into any other fund of
this State, and moneys in the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving
Fund shall not revert back to the General Revenue Fund at any
time.
    The regional superintendent of schools shall deposit the
registration fees paid pursuant to subdivision (4) of
subsection (a) of this Section into the institute fund
established pursuant to Section 3-11 of this Code.
    (c) The State Board of Education and each regional office
of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience
fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of license
fees. This service or convenience fee shall not exceed the
amount required by the credit card processing company or vendor
that has entered into a contract with the State Board or
regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee must
be paid to that company or vendor.
    (d) If, at the time a certificate issued under Article 21
of this Code is exchanged for a license issued under this
Article, a person has paid registration fees for any years of
the validity period of the certificate and these years have not
expired when the certificate is exchanged, then those fees must
be applied to the registration of the new license.
(Source: P.A. 98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
    Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.
    (a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License
are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as
specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this
Code.
    Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall
meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section, unless
otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds a
license endorsed in more than one area that has different
renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal
requirements for the position for which he or she spends the
majority of his or her time working.
    (b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as
provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that
year. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon (i)
payment by the applicant of a $500 penalty to the State Board
of Education or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by
completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education in the content area
that most aligns with one or more of the educator's endorsement
areas. Any and all back fees, including without limitation
registration fees owed from the time of expiration of the
license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid and kept
in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this Code
concerning an institute fund and the provisions in Article 21B
of this Code concerning fees and requirements for registration.
Licenses not registered in accordance with Section 21B-40 of
this Code shall lapse after a period of 6 months from the
expiration of the last year of registration. An unregistered
license is invalid after September 1 for employment and
performance of services in an Illinois public or State-operated
school or cooperative and in a charter school. Any license or
endorsement may be voluntarily surrendered by the license
holder. A voluntarily surrendered license, except a substitute
teaching license issued under Section 21B-20 of this Code,
shall be treated as a revoked license. An Educator License with
Stipulations with only a paraprofessional endorsement does not
lapse.
    (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to
satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in
this Section, each professional educator licensee with an
administrative endorsement who is working in a position
requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois
Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of
this Code, per fiscal year.
    (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
professional development plan each year. The plan shall address
one or more of the endorsements that are required of his or her
educator position if the licensee is employed and performing
services in an Illinois public or State-operated school or
cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a charter school,
the plan shall address that endorsement or those endorsements
most closely related to his or her educator position. Licensees
employed and performing services in any other Illinois schools
may participate in the renewal requirements by adhering to the
same process.
    Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the
licensee's professional development activities shall align
with one or more of the following criteria:
        (1) activities are of a type that engage participants
    over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,
    discovery, and application as they relate to student
    learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
        (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
    performance;
        (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student
    growth or district improvement;
        (4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
        (5) higher education coursework.
    (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into
the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
development hours, and the provider's name. The following
provisions shall apply concerning professional development
activities:
        (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours
    of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in
    order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided in
    this Section.
        (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,
    any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not
    working in a position requiring such endorsement shall
    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
    described in Article 2 of this Code, in each 5-year renewal
    cycle in which the administrative endorsement was held for
    at least one year. The Illinois Administrators' Academy
    course may count toward the total of 120 hours per 5-year
    cycle.
        (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement
    who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
    an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in
    an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
    complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
    described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
    addition to 100 hours of professional development per
    5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
        (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
    Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
    designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of
    professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order
    to renew the license.
        (5) Licensees working in a position that does not
    require educator licensure or working in a position for
    less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
    exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration
    fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
    license.
        (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits
    from a State retirement system shall notify the State Board
    of Education using ELIS, and the license shall be
    maintained in retired status. For any renewal cycle in
    which a licensee retires during the renewal cycle, the
    licensee must complete professional development activities
    on a prorated basis depending on the number of years during
    the renewal cycle the educator held an active license. If a
    licensee retires during a renewal cycle, the licensee must
    notify the State Board of Education using ELIS that the
    licensee wishes to maintain the license in retired status
    and must show proof of completion of professional
    development activities on a prorated basis for all years of
    that renewal cycle for which the license was active. An
    individual with a license in retired status shall not be
    required to complete professional development activities
    or pay registration fees until returning to a position that
    requires educator licensure. Upon returning to work in a
    position that requires the Professional Educator License,
    the licensee shall immediately pay a registration fee and
    complete renewal requirements for that year. A license in
    retired status cannot lapse. Beginning on the effective
    date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly
    through December 31, 2017, any licensee who has retired and
    whose license has lapsed for failure to renew as provided
    in this Section may reinstate that license and maintain it
    in retired status upon providing proof to the State Board
    of Education using ELIS that the licensee is retired and is
    not working in a position that requires a Professional
    Educator License.
        (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
    development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
    licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
    minimum professional development hours required in this
    Section prior to September 1 of that year. For any fiscal
    year or renewal cycle in which an Illinois Administrators'
    Academy course was required but not completed, the licensee
    shall complete any missed Illinois Administrators' Academy
    courses prior to September 1 of that year. The licensee may
    complete all deficient hours and Illinois Administrators'
    Academy courses while continuing to work in a position that
    requires that license until September 1 of that year.
        (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the professional
    development renewal requirements set forth in this Section
    at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is ineligible to
    register his or her license and may submit an appeal to the
    State Superintendent of Education for reinstatement of the
    license.
        (9) If professional development opportunities were
    unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were
    unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
    August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be
    submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
    State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an
    extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
    during the extension period.
        (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
    December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-610)
    this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly shall
    commence the annual renewal process with the first
    scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013 (the
    effective date of Public Act 98-610) this amendatory Act of
    the 98th General Assembly.
    (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
the required questions under penalty of perjury.
    (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
to provide professional development activities for the renewal
of Professional Educator Licenses:
        (1) The State Board of Education.
        (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
    service centers.
        (3) Illinois professional associations representing
    the following groups that are approved by the State
    Superintendent of Education:
            (A) school administrators;
            (B) principals;
            (C) school business officials;
            (D) teachers, including special education
        teachers;
            (E) school boards;
            (F) school districts;
            (G) parents; and
            (H) school service personnel.
        (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher
    education that offer Illinois-approved educator
    preparation programs and public community colleges subject
    to the Public Community College Act.
        (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
    authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
    educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
    Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
    education or special education services.
        (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December
    31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147) this
    amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, has had or has
    a grant from or a contract with the State Board of
    Education to provide professional development services in
    the area of English Learning to Illinois school districts,
    teachers, or administrators.
        (7) State agencies, State boards, and State
    commissions.
        (8) (7) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum
    Disposition of Property Act.
    (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section
shall make available professional development opportunities
that satisfy at least one of the following:
        (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
    district leaders who guide continuous professional
    development;
        (2) improve the learning of students;
        (3) organize adults into learning communities whose
    goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
        (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
        (5) provide educators with research-based
    instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
    rigorous academic standards;
        (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
    types of classroom assessments;
        (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
    intended goals;
        (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to
    collaborate; or
        (9) prepare educators to apply research to
    decision-making.
    (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section
shall do the following:
        (1) align professional development activities to the
    State-approved national standards for professional
    learning;
        (2) meet the professional development criteria for
    Illinois licensure renewal;
        (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains
    how it aligns to State standards and identify the
    assessment for determining the expected impact on student
    learning or school improvement;
        (4) maintain original documentation for completion of
    activities; and
        (5) provide license holders with evidence of
    completion of activities.
    (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
audits of approved providers, except for school districts,
which shall be audited by regional offices of education and
intermediate service centers. The State Board of Education
shall complete random audits of licensees.
        (1) Approved providers shall annually submit to the
    State Board of Education a list of subcontractors used for
    delivery of professional development activities for which
    renewal credit was issued and other information as defined
    by rule.
        (2) Approved providers shall annually submit data to
    the State Board of Education demonstrating how the
    professional development activities impacted one or more
    of the following:
            (A) educator and student growth in regards to
        content knowledge or skills, or both;
            (B) educator and student social and emotional
        growth; or
            (C) alignment to district or school improvement
        plans.
        (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
    the annual data collected by the State Board of Education,
    regional offices of education, and intermediate service
    centers in audits to determine if the approved provider has
    met the criteria and should continue to be an approved
    provider or if further action should be taken as provided
    in rules.
    (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
5-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed and
entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
debit card.
    (l) Beginning July 1, 2014, any professional educator
licensee endorsed for school support personnel who is employed
and performing services in Illinois public schools and who
holds an active and current professional license issued by the
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation related to
the endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License
shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional
development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to
renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who does
not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation shall complete professional
development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
Educator License provided for in this Section.
    (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of notice from
the State Superintendent of Education that a license will not
be renewed based upon failure to complete the requirements of
this Section. A licensee may appeal that decision to the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in a manner prescribed
by rule.
        (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
    Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
    sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
    State Board of Education.
        (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
    shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
    within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to
    determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of
    this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
    Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
    determination based upon the record of review, which shall
    consist of the following:
            (A) the regional superintendent of education's
        rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,
        if applicable;
            (B) any evidence submitted to the State
        Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
        statement of assurance for renewal; and
            (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
        nonrenewal of the license.
        (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
    shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding license
    renewal by certified mail, return receipt requested, no
    later than 30 days after reaching a decision. Upon receipt
    of notification of renewal, the licensee, using ELIS, shall
    pay the applicable registration fee for the next cycle
    using a form of credit or debit card.
    (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 98-1147, eff. 12-31-14;
99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-130, eff. 7-24-15; revised 10-21-15.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.