Public Act 098-1147
 
SB2711 EnrolledLRB098 14599 OMW 49390 b

    AN ACT concerning finance.
 
    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-25 and 21B-45 as follows:
 
    (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.
        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 Four years of teaching
            or, until June 30, 2019, working in the capacity of
            school support personnel in an Illinois a 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 from out-of-state that has a
        program with 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 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. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 98-413, eff. 8-16-13;
98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 98-872, eff. 8-11-14; 98-917, eff.
8-15-14; revised 9-2-14.)
 
    (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, for individuals holding an Educator License
with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement
only, payment by the applicant of a $150 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
certificate 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.
    (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.
Within 60 days after the conclusion of a professional
development activity, 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. 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.
        (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 the
    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General
    Assembly shall commence the annual renewal process with the
    first scheduled registration due after the effective date
    of 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.
        (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 the
    effective date of 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 Language
    Learning to Illinois school districts, teachers, or
    administrators.
    (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. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 98-610, eff. 12-27-13.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 12/31/2014