Public Act 095-0996
 
SB2687 Enrolled LRB095 05573 NHT 25663 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
21-27 and 22-45 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/21-27)
    Sec. 21-27. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.
    (a) The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program is hereby
established to provide categorical funding for monetary
incentives and bonuses for teachers and school counselors who
are employed by school districts and who hold a Master
Certificate. The State Board of Education shall allocate and
distribute to each school district an amount as annually
appropriated by the General Assembly from federal funds for the
Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. The State Board of
Education's annual budget must set out by separate line item
the appropriation for the program. Unless otherwise provided by
appropriation, each school district's annual allocation shall
be the sum of the amounts earned for the following incentives
and bonuses:
        (1) An annual payment of $3,000 to be paid to (A) each
    teacher who holds both a Master Certificate and a
    corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for
    Professional Teaching Standards successfully completes the
    program leading to and who receives a Master Certificate
    and is employed as a teacher by a school district and (B)
    each school counselor who holds both a Master Certificate
    and a corresponding certificate issued by the National
    Board for Professional Teaching Standards successfully
    completes the program leading to and who receives a Master
    Certificate and is employed as a school counselor by a
    school district. The school district shall distribute this
    payment to each eligible teacher or school counselor as a
    single payment or in not more than 3 payments.
        (2) An annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be paid
    to (A) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master
    Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school
    counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing,
    to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year
    to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable,
    and (B) each retired teacher or school counselor who holds
    both a Master Certificate and a current corresponding
    certificate issued by the National Board for Professional
    Teaching Standards and who agrees, in writing, to provide
    at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year to
    classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable. An
    additional annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be paid
    to (I) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master
    Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school
    counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing,
    to provide an additional 30 60 hours of mentoring during
    that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as
    applicable, and (II) each retired teacher or school
    counselor who holds both a Master Certificate and a current
    corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for
    Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees, in
    writing, to provide an additional 30 hours of mentoring
    during that year to classroom teachers or school
    counselors, as applicable, for a total of 60 hours of
    mentoring and $2,000 in incentives under this paragraph
    (2). Mentoring under this paragraph (2) This mentoring may
    include, either singly or in combination, (i) providing
    high quality professional development for new and
    experienced teachers or school counselors, as applicable,
    and/or , and (ii) assisting National Board for Professional
    Teaching Standards (NBPTS) candidates through the NBPTS
    certification process. The school district shall
    distribute 50% of each annual incentive payment upon
    completion of the 30 hours or 60 hours of the required
    mentoring, whichever is applicable. and the remaining 50%
    of the incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours
    of mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school
    district for mentoring or related services provided during
    a regular school day or during the total number of days of
    required service for the school year.
        (3) An annual incentive equal to $2,000 shall be paid
    to (A) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master
    Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school
    counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing,
    to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year
    to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable,
    in schools on academic early warning status or in schools
    in which 50% or more of the students receive free or
    reduced price lunches, or both, and (B) each retired
    teacher or school counselor who holds both a Master
    Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued
    by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
    and who agrees, in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of
    mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school
    counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic early
    warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the
    students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both. An
    additional annual incentive equal to $2,000 $3,000 shall be
    paid to (I) each teacher or school counselor who holds a
    Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school
    counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing,
    to provide an additional 30 60 hours of mentoring during
    that year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as
    applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or
    in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive
    free or reduced price lunches, or both, and (II) each
    retired teacher or school counselor who holds both a Master
    Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued
    by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
    and who agrees, in writing, to provide an additional 30
    hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers
    or school counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic
    early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of
    the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or
    both, for a total of 60 hours of mentoring and $4,000 in
    incentives under this paragraph (3). Mentoring under this
    paragraph (3) may include, either singly or in combination,
    (i) providing high quality professional development for
    new and experienced teachers or school counselors, as
    applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or
    in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive
    free or reduced price lunches, or both, and/or (ii)
    assisting National Board for Professional Teaching
    Standards (NBPTS) candidates through the NBPTS
    certification process in schools on academic early warning
    status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students
    receive free or reduced price lunches, or both. The school
    district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive
    payment upon completion of the 30 hours or 60 hours of the
    required mentoring, whichever is applicable. and the
    remaining 50% of the incentive upon completion of the
    required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit may not be granted
    by a school district for mentoring or related services
    provided during a regular school day or during the total
    number of days of required service for the school year.
        (4) If funds are available under the Illinois Teaching
    Excellence Program in a given fiscal year, the following
    Master Certificate incentives shall be provided:
            (A) As a first priority, monetary support of up to
        $2,000 per person shall be provided for first-time
        application fees.
            (B) As a second priority, monetary support for
        NBPTS's Take One! process of up to $395 per person
        shall be provided for cohorts of teachers in schools on
        academic early warning status or schools deemed to be a
        priority by the State Board of Education.
            (C) As a third priority, monetary support of up to
        $350 per retake shall be provided for up to 3 retakes.
            (D) As a fourth priority, monetary support of up to
        $850 per person shall be provided for renewals for
        those persons who have not received prior State or
        federal fee support.
    (b) Each regional superintendent of schools shall provide
information about National Board certification administered by
the Master Certificate Program of the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and this Section
amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly to each individual
seeking to register or renew a certificate under Section 21-14
of this Code.
    (c) After the incentives and bonuses under subsection (a)
of this Section have been expended in a given fiscal year, if
there are additional funds available under the Illinois
Teaching Excellence Program, up to $250,000 must be used for
the continuation of an appropriate electronic system to process
Master Certificates and various payments.
    (d) After funds have been expended under priorities (A)
through (D) of paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this Section
in a given fiscal year and if there are any additional funds
available under the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program,
remaining funds must be spent on candidate support and
recruitment.
(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03; 94-105, eff. 7-1-05; 94-901,
eff. 6-22-06.)
 
    (105 ILCS 5/22-45)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a
delayed effective date)
    Sec. 22-45. Illinois P-20 Council.
    (a) The General Assembly finds that preparing Illinoisans
for success in school and the workplace requires a continuum of
quality education from preschool through graduate school. This
State needs a framework to guide education policy and integrate
education at every level. A statewide coordinating council to
study and make recommendations concerning education at all
levels can avoid fragmentation of policies, promote improved
teaching and learning, and continue to cultivate and
demonstrate strong accountability and efficiency. Establishing
an Illinois P-20 Council will develop a statewide agenda that
will move the State towards the common goals of improving
academic achievement, increasing college access and success,
improving use of existing data and measurements, developing
improved accountability, promoting lifelong learning, easing
the transition to college, and reducing remediation. A
pre-kindergarten through grade 20 agenda will strengthen this
State's economic competitiveness by producing a highly-skilled
workforce. In addition, lifelong learning plans will enhance
this State's ability to leverage funding.
    (b) There is created the Illinois P-20 Council. The
Illinois P-20 Council shall include all of the following
members:
        (1) The Governor or his or designee, to serve as
    chairperson.
        (2) Four members of the General Assembly, one appointed
    by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one
    appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
    Representatives, one appointed by the President of the
    Senate, and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the
    Senate.
        (3) Six at-large members appointed by the Governor as
    follows, with 2 members being from the City of Chicago, 2
    members being from Lake County, McHenry County, Kane
    County, DuPage County, Will County, or that part of Cook
    County outside of the City of Chicago, and 2 members being
    from the remainder of the State:
            (A) one representative of civic leaders;
            (B) one representative of local government;
            (C) one representative of trade unions;
            (D) one representative of nonprofit organizations
        or foundations;
            (E) one representative of parents' organizations;
        and
            (F) one education research expert.
        (4) Five members appointed by statewide business
    organizations and business trade associations.
        (5) Six members appointed by statewide professional
    organizations and associations representing
    pre-kindergarten through grade 20 teachers, community
    college faculty, and public university faculty.
        (6) Two members appointed by associations representing
    local school administrators and school board members. One
    of these members must be a special education administrator.
        (7) One member representing community colleges,
    appointed by the Illinois Council of Community College
    Presidents.
        (8) One member representing 4-year independent
    colleges and universities, appointed by a statewide
    organization representing private institutions of higher
    learning.
        (9) One member representing public 4-year
    universities, appointed jointly by the university
    presidents and chancellors.
        (10) Ex-officio members as follows from the following
    State agencies, boards, commissions, and councils:
            (A) The State Superintendent of Education or his or
        her designee.
            (B) The Executive Director of the Board of Higher
        Education or his or her designee.
            (C) The President and Chief Executive Officer of
        the Illinois Community College Board or his or her
        designee.
            (D) The Executive Director of the Illinois Student
        Assistance Commission or his or her designee.
            (E) The Co-chairpersons of the Illinois Workforce
        Investment Board or their designee.
            (F) The Director of Commerce and Economic
        Opportunity or his or her designee.
            (G) The Chairperson of the Illinois Early Learning
        Council or his or her designee.
            (H) The President of the Illinois Mathematics and
        Science Academy or his or her designee.
            (I) The president of an association representing
        educators of adult learners or his or her designee.
Ex-officio members shall have no vote on the Illinois P-20
Council.
    Appointed members shall serve for staggered terms expiring
on July 1 of the first, second, or third calendar year
following their appointments or until their successors are
appointed and have qualified. Staggered terms shall be
determined by lot at the organizing meeting of the Illinois
P-20 Council.
    Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original
appointments, and any member so appointed shall serve during
the remainder of the term for which the vacancy occurred.
    (c) The Illinois P-20 Council shall be funded through State
appropriations to support staff activities, research,
data-collection, and dissemination. The Illinois P-20 Council
shall be staffed by the Office of the Governor, in coordination
with relevant State agencies, boards, and commissions. The
Illinois Education Research Council shall provide research and
coordinate research collection activities for the Illinois
P-20 Council.
    (d) The Illinois P-20 Council shall have all of the
following duties:
        (1) To make recommendations to do all of the following:
            (A) Coordinate pre-kindergarten through grade 20
        (graduate school) education in this State through
        working at the intersections of educational systems to
        promote collaborative infrastructure.
            (B) Coordinate and leverage strategies, actions,
        legislation, policies, and resources of all
        stakeholders to support fundamental and lasting
        improvement in this State's public schools, community
        colleges, and universities.
            (C) Better align the high school curriculum with
        postsecondary expectations.
            (D) Better align assessments across all levels of
        education.
            (E) Reduce the need for students entering
        institutions of higher education to take remedial
        courses.
            (F) Smooth the transition from high school to
        college.
            (G) Improve high school and college graduation
        rates.
            (H) Improve the rigor and relevance of academic
        standards for college and workforce readiness.
            (I) Better align college and university teaching
        programs with the needs of Illinois schools.
        (2) To advise the Governor, the General Assembly, the
    State's education and higher education agencies, and the
    State's workforce and economic development boards and
    agencies on policies related to lifelong learning for
    Illinois students and families.
        (3) To articulate a framework for systemic educational
    improvement that will enable every student to meet or
    exceed Illinois learning standards and be well-prepared to
    succeed in the workforce and community.
        (4) To provide an estimated fiscal impact for
    implementation of all Council recommendations.
    (e) The chairperson of the Illinois P-20 Council may
authorize the creation of working groups focusing on areas of
interest to Illinois educational and workforce development,
including without limitation the following areas:
        (1) Preparation, recruitment, and certification of
    highly qualified teachers.
        (2) Mentoring and induction of highly qualified
    teachers.
        (3) The diversity of highly qualified teachers.
        (4) Funding for highly qualified teachers, including
    developing a strategic and collaborative plan to seek
    federal and private grants to support initiatives
    targeting teacher preparation and its impact on student
    achievement.
        (5) Highly effective administrators.
        (6) Illinois birth through age 3 education,
    pre-kindergarten, and early childhood education.
        (7) The assessment, alignment, outreach, and network
    of college and workforce readiness efforts.
        (8) Alternative routes to college access.
        (9) Research data and accountability.
    The chairperson of the Illinois P-20 Council may designate
Council members to serve as working group chairpersons. Working
groups may invite organizations and individuals representing
pre-kindergarten through grade 20 interests to participate in
discussions, data collection, and dissemination.
(Source: P.A. 95-626, eff. 6-1-08.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect June 1,
2008.

Effective Date: 10/3/2008