Public Act 102-0521
 
SB0814 EnrolledLRB102 04618 CMG 14637 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 
2-3.53a, 21A-5, 21A-10, 21A-15, 21A-20, 21A-25, and 21A-30 and  
by adding Sections 21A-20.5 and 21A-25.5 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.53a)

    Sec. 2-3.53a. New principal mentoring program.
    (a) Beginning on July 1, 2007, and subject to an annual 
appropriation by the General Assembly, to establish a new 
principal mentoring program for new principals. Any individual 
who is first hired as a principal on or after July 1, 2007 
shall participate in a new principal mentoring program for the 
duration of his or her first year as a principal and must 
complete the program in accordance with the requirements 
established under this Section and by the State Board of 
Education by rule or, for a school district created by Article 
34 of this Code, in accordance with the provisions of Section 
34-18.33 34-18.27 of this Code.  School districts created by 
Article 34 are not subject to the requirements of subsection 
(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g), (i), (j), (k), (l), or (m) of 
this Section. Any individual who is first hired as a principal 
on or after July 1, 2008 may participate in a second year of 
mentoring if it is determined by the State Superintendent of 
Education that sufficient funding exists for such 
participation. The new principal mentoring program shall match 
an experienced principal who meets the requirements of 
subsection (b) of this Section with each new principal in 
order to assist the new principal in the development of his or 
her  professional growth and to provide guidance.
    (b) Any individual who has been a principal in Illinois 
for 3 or more years and who has demonstrated success as an 
instructional leader, as determined by the State Board by 
rule,  is eligible to apply to be a mentor under a new principal 
mentoring program. Eligible mentors Mentors shall be selected 
by approved entities and shall complete mentoring training 
provided by an approved entity by entities approved by the 
State Board and meet any other requirements set forth by the 
State Board by rule and by the school district employing the 
mentor.
    (c) Subject to annual appropriation by the General 
Assembly, the State Board shall establish a competitive grant 
program to support the new principal mentoring program and 
shall approve one or more eligible entities to provide 
services to new principals under the program. Approval of 
eligible entities shall be valid for 3 years. Eligible 
entities are defined as regional offices of education, 
intermediate service centers, Illinois higher education 
institutions, statewide organizations representing 
principals, and school districts. Approved entities shall be 
responsible for mentor training, pairing mentors and new 
principals, and all other administrative aspects of providing 
mentoring services as provided by the State Board by rule. The 
State Board shall certify an entity or entities approved to 
provide training of mentors.
    (d) A mentor shall be assigned to a new principal based on 
(i)  similarity of grade level or type of school, (ii) learning 
needs of the new principal, and (iii) accessibility 
geographical proximity of the mentor to the new principal. The 
principal, in collaboration with the mentor, shall identify 
areas for improvement of the new principal's professional 
growth, including, but not limited to, professional growth in 
the areas addressed in the Illinois Performance Standards for 
School Leaders. each of the following:
        (1) Analyzing data and applying it to practice.
        (2) Aligning professional development and 
    instructional programs.
        (3) Building a professional learning community.
        (4) Observing classroom practices and providing 
    feedback.
        (5) Facilitating effective meetings.
        (6) Developing distributive leadership practices.
        (7) Facilitating organizational change.
The mentor shall not be required to provide input into a new 
principal's an evaluation that is completed in accordance with 
Article 24A of this Code of the new principal on the basis of 
the mentoring relationship.
    (e) On or before July 1, 2008 and on or after July 1 of 
each year thereafter, the State Board shall facilitate a  
review and evaluate the new principal mentoring training 
program in collaboration with the approved entities providers. 
Each new principal and his or her mentor must complete a 
verification form developed by the State Board in order to 
certify their completion of a new principal mentoring program.
    (f) The requirements of this Section do not apply to any 
individual who has previously served as an assistant principal 
in Illinois acting under an administrative endorsement 
certificate for 5 or more years and who is hired, on or after 
July 1, 2007, as a principal by the school district in which 
the individual last served as an assistant principal, although 
such an individual may choose to participate in this program 
or may shall be required to participate in the program by the 
individual's employing  school district.
    (g) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary for the 
implementation of this Section.
    (h) On an annual basis, the State Superintendent of 
Education shall determine whether appropriations are likely to 
be sufficient to require operation of the new principal 
mentoring program for the coming year.  In doing so, the State 
Superintendent of Education shall first determine whether it 
is likely that funds will be sufficient to require operation 
of the mentoring program for individuals in their first year 
as principal and shall then determine whether it is likely 
that funds will be sufficient to require operation of the 
mentoring program for individuals in their second year as 
principal.

    (i) If the State Superintendent of Education determines 
that appropriations are not likely sufficient to serve all 
anticipated first year principals in any given year, then the 
new principal mentoring program shall be voluntary and 
priority access to mentoring services shall be given to first 
year principals in the highest need schools, as determined by 
the State Superintendent of Education. The new principal 
mentoring program shall only be available to second year 
principals if the State Superintendent of Education first 
determines that appropriations are likely sufficient to serve 
all anticipated first year principals. If mentoring services 
are extended to second year principals and if appropriations 
are not sufficient to serve all second year principals who 
wish to participate in the new principal mentoring program, 
priority access to mentoring services shall be given to second 
year principals who are in the highest need schools, as 
determined by the State Superintendent of Education.
    (j) The State Superintendent of Education may determine on 
a yearly basis the number of mentoring hours required for 
first year principals and the number of mentoring hours 
required for second year principals.
    (k) The State Superintendent of Education may determine on 
a yearly basis the amount of compensation to be provided to 
first year principal mentors, second year principal mentors, 
and approved entities.
    (l) Contact hours for mentors and principals may be in 
person, by telephone, online, or by any other mechanism that 
allows for synchronous communication between the mentor and 
new principal. The State Board may, by rule, require a minimum 
number of in-person contact hours.
    (m) Using funds from the new principal mentoring program, 
the State Board may contract with an independent party to 
conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program. 
(Source: P.A. 96-373, eff. 8-13-09.)
 



    (105 ILCS 5/21A-5)



    Sec. 21A-5. Definitions. In this Article:

    "New teacher" means the holder of a professional educator 
license, as set
forth in Section 21B-20 of this Code, who is 
employed by a public school and who
has not previously 
participated in a new teacher induction and mentoring
program 
required by this Article, except as provided in Section 21A-25 
of this
Code.

    "Eligible applicant" or "eligible entity" means a regional 
office of education, an intermediate service center, an 
Illinois institution of higher education, a statewide 
organization representing teachers, a local education agency, 
or a public or private not-for-profit entity with experience 
providing professional learning, including mentoring, to early 
childhood educators. 
    "Public school" means any school operating pursuant to the 
authority of
this Code, including without limitation a school 
district, a charter school, a
cooperative or joint agreement 
with a governing body or board of control, and a
school 
operated by a regional office of education or State agency.

(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

 



    (105 ILCS 5/21A-10)



    Sec. 21A-10. Development of program required. 
    (a) Each eligible applicant shall develop a new teacher 
induction and mentoring program for first and second-year 
teachers that meets the requirements set forth in Section 
21A-20 to assist new teachers in developing the skills and 
strategies necessary for instructional excellence, provided 
that funding is made available by the State Board of Education 
from an appropriation made for this purpose.
    (b) A public school that has a new teacher induction and 
mentoring program in existence before the effective date of 
this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly that does 
not meet the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 may 
modify the program to meet the requirements of Section 21A-20 
and may receive funding as described in Section 21A-25, 
provided that funding is made available by the State Board of 
Education from an appropriation made for this purpose.
    (c) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with 
its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, whether to 
forgo modifications to a new teacher induction and mentoring 
program in existence before the effective date of this 
amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
    If a district does not have a new teacher induction and 
mentoring program in existence before the effective date of 
this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly or if a 
district and the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, 
agree that an eligible entity would better serve the 
district's needs, the district and the exclusive bargaining 
representative, if any, shall jointly decide which eligible 
entity offers the most suitable program. The eligible entity 
shall include representatives from both the district and the 
exclusive bargaining representative in the program development 
discussions to ensure the program captures local need. 
During the 2003-2004
school year, each public school or 2 or 
more public schools acting jointly
shall develop, in 
conjunction with its exclusive representative or their

exclusive representatives, if any, a new teacher induction and 
mentoring
program that meets the requirements set forth in 
Section 21A-20 of this Code to
assist new teachers in 
developing the skills and strategies necessary for

instructional excellence, provided that funding is made 
available by the State
Board of Education from an 
appropriation made for this purpose. A public school
that has 
an existing induction and mentoring program that does not meet 
the
requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code may 
have school years
2003-2004 and 2004-2005 to develop a program 
that does meet those requirements
and may receive funding as 
described in Section 21A-25 of this Code, provided
that the 
funding is made available by the State Board of Education from 
an
appropriation made for this purpose.  A public school with 
such an existing
induction and mentoring program may receive 
funding for the 2005-2006 school
year for each new teacher in 
the second year of a 2-year program that does not
meet the 
requirements set forth in Section 21A-20, as long as the 
public school
has established the required new program by the 
beginning of that school year
as described in Section 21A-15 
and provided that funding is made available by
the State Board 
of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose as

described in Section 21A-25.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

 



    (105 ILCS 5/21A-15)



    Sec. 21A-15. Program establishment and implementation. 
When program is to be established and implemented. 
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a 
competitive State grant program to support  new teacher 
induction and mentoring programs. The program shall be 
available to eligible entities not less than every 3 years, 
subject to appropriation. The State Board shall prioritize 
funding based on the needs of students and school districts as 
it relates to teacher retention.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, by 
no later than the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year or by 
no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year for 
eligible applicants that have been given an extension of time 
to develop a program under Section 21A-10, each eligible 
entity or 2 or more eligible entities acting jointly shall 
establish and implement a new teacher induction and mentoring 
program required to be developed under Section 21A-10. 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, by
the 
beginning of the
2004-2005 school year (or by the beginning of 
the 2005-2006 school year for a
public school that has been 
given an extension of time to develop a program
under Section 
21A-10 of this Code), each
public school or 2 or more public 
schools acting
jointly shall establish and implement, in 
conjunction with its exclusive
representative or their 
exclusive representatives, if any, the new teacher
induction 
and mentoring program required to be developed under Section 
21A-10
of this Code, provided that
funding is made available 
by the State Board of Education, from an
appropriation made 
for this purpose, as described in Section 21A-25 of this
Code.  
A public school may contract with an institution of higher 
education or
other independent party to assist in implementing 
the program.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

 



    (105 ILCS 5/21A-20)



    Sec. 21A-20. Program requirements. Each new teacher 
induction and
mentoring program must align with the standards 
established under Section 21A-20.5 and shall be based on a 
plan that at least does all of the
following:


        (1) Assigns a mentor teacher to each new teacher for a 
    period of
at
least 2 school years.


        (2) Aligns with the Illinois Culturally Responsive 
    Teaching and Leading Standards in Part 24 of Title 23 of 
    the Illinois Administrative Code Illinois Professional 
    Teaching Standards,
content area standards, and applicable 
    local school improvement and
professional development 
    plans, if any.


        (3) (Blank). Addresses all of the following elements 
    and how they will be
provided:


            (A) Mentoring and support of the new teacher.


            (B) Professional development specifically designed 
        to ensure
the growth of the new teacher's knowledge 
        and skills.


            (C) Formative assessment designed to ensure 
        feedback and
reflection, which must not be used in any 
        evaluation of the new
teacher.


        (4) Describes the role of mentor teachers, the 
    criteria and process
for their selection, and how they 
    will be trained, provided that each
mentor teacher shall 
    demonstrate the best practices in teaching his or
her 
    respective field of practice.
A mentor teacher may not 
    directly or indirectly participate in the
evaluation of a 
    new teacher pursuant to Article 24A of this Code or the

    evaluation procedure of the public school.
        (5) Is designed to be available for both in-person and 
    virtual participation. 

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-20.5 new)
    Sec. 21A-20.5. Program standards.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish standards 
for new teacher induction and mentoring programs. In 
establishing these standards, the State Board shall seek input 
and feedback from stakeholders, including parents, students, 
and educators, who reflect the diversity of this State.
    (b) Any changes made to the standards established under 
subsection (a) must be approved by the Teaching Induction and 
Mentoring Advisory Group pursuant to Section 21A-25.5. 
 



    (105 ILCS 5/21A-25)



    Sec. 21A-25. Funding.  
    (a) From a separate appropriation made for
the purposes of 
this Article, for each new teacher participating in a new

teacher
induction and mentoring program
that meets the 
requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code or
in an 
existing program that is in the process of transition to a 
program
that meets those requirements, the State Board of 
Education shall pay the eligible entity for the duration of 
the grant
public school $1,200 annually for each of 2 school 
years for the purpose of
providing one or more of the 
following:


        (1) Mentor teacher compensation and new teacher 
    compensation.


        (2) Mentor teacher professional learning training or 
    new teacher learning training or both.


        (3) (Blank). Release time.

    (b) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with 
its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, which 
eligible applicant offers the most suitable program. If a 
mentor teacher receives release time to support a new teacher, 
the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the 
public school shall not increase in any substantial manner. If 
the appropriation is not included in the State budget, the 
State Board of Education is not required to implement programs 
established by this Article. 
However, if a new teacher, after participating in the new 
teacher induction and
mentoring program for one school year, 
becomes employed by another public
school, the State Board of 
Education shall pay the teacher's new school $1,200
for the 
second school year and the  teacher shall continue to be a new 
teacher
as defined in this Article.  Each public school shall 
determine, in conjunction
with its exclusive representative, 
if any, how the $1,200 per school year for
each new teacher 
shall be used, provided that if a mentor teacher receives

additional release time to support a new teacher, the total 
workload of other
teachers regularly employed by the public 
school shall not increase in any
substantial manner. If the 
appropriation is insufficient to cover the $1,200
per school 
year for each new teacher, public schools are not required to

develop or implement the program established by this Article. 
In the event of
an insufficient appropriation, a public school 
or 2 or more schools acting
jointly may submit an application 
for a grant administered by the State Board
of Education and 
awarded on a competitive basis to establish a new teacher

induction and mentoring program that meets the criteria set 
forth in Section
21A-20 of this Code. The State Board of 
Education may retain up to $1,000,000
of the appropriation for 
new teacher induction and mentoring programs to train
mentor 
teachers, administrators, and other personnel, to provide best 
practices
information, and to conduct an evaluation of these 
programs' impact and
effectiveness.

(Source: P.A. 93-355, eff. 1-1-04.)

 
    (105 ILCS 5/21A-25.5 new)
    Sec. 21A-25.5. Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory 
Group.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall create a Teaching 
Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group.  Members of the 
Advisory Group must represent the diversity of this State and 
possess the expertise needed to perform the work required to 
meet the goals of the programs set forth under Section 21A-20.
    (b) The members of the Advisory Group shall by appointed 
by the State Superintendent of Education and shall include all 
of the following members:
        (1) Four members representing teachers recommended by 
    a statewide professional teachers' organization.
        (2) Four members representing teachers recommended by 
    a different statewide professional teachers' organization.
        (3) Two members representing principals recommended by 
    a statewide organization that represents principals.
        (4) One member representing district superintendents 
    recommended by a statewide organization that represents 
    district superintendents.
        (5) One member representing regional superintendents 
    of schools recommended by a statewide association that 
    represents regional superintendents of schools.
        (6) One member representing a State-approved educator 
    preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher 
    education recommended by the institution of higher 
    education.
    The majority of the membership of the Advisory Group shall 
consist of practicing teachers. 
    (c) The Advisory Group is responsible for approving any 
changes made to the standards established under Section 
21A-20.5. 
 



    (105 ILCS 5/21A-30)



    Sec. 21A-30. Evaluation of programs. The State Board of 
Education shall contract with an independent party, using 
funds from the relevant appropriation for new teacher 
induction and mentoring programs, to conduct a comprehensive 
evaluation of the new teacher induction and mentoring programs 
established pursuant to this Article.  Reports from the 
evaluation shall be made available to stakeholders after 3 
years of program implementation. The State Board of Education

and the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall 
jointly contract with an
independent party to conduct a 
comprehensive evaluation of new teacher
induction and 
mentoring programs established pursuant to this Article.  The

first report of this evaluation shall be presented to the 
General Assembly on
or
before January 1, 2009.  Subsequent 
evaluations shall be conducted and
reports presented to the 
General Assembly on or before January 1 of every
third year 
thereafter.

(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.


Effective Date:  8/20/2021