State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
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Public Act 91-0102

SB556 Enrolled                                LRB9102361NTsbA

    AN ACT concerning education, amending named Acts.

    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 3-12, 21-0.01, 21-1a, 21-1b,  21-1c,  21-2,  21-2.1,
21-2a,  21-3,  21-4,  21-5,  21-7.1,  21-9, 21-11.3, 21-11.4,
21-12, 21-14, 21-16,  21-17,  21-21,  21-25,  and  34-83  and
adding Sections 2-3.11c and 3-11.5 as follows:

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.11c new)
    Sec.  2-3.11c.  Teacher  supply  and  demand  report.  To
report annually, on or before  January  1,  on  the  relative
supply  and  demand for education staff of the public schools
to the Governor, to the General Assembly, and to institutions
of higher education that  prepare  teachers,  administrators,
school service personnel, other certificated individuals, and
other  professionals  employed  by  school districts or joint
agreements.   The  report   shall   contain   the   following
information:
         (1)  the  relative  supply  and demand for teachers,
    administrators,    and     other     certificated     and
    non-certificated  personnel  by  field, content area, and
    levels;
         (2)  State and regional analyses of fields,  content
    areas,  and levels with an over-supply or under-supply of
    educators; and
         (3)  projections  of  likely  high  demand  and  low
    demand for educators, in a manner  sufficient  to  advise
    the   public,  individuals,  and  institutions  regarding
    career opportunities in education.

    (105 ILCS 5/3-11.5 new)
    Sec. 3-11.5.  Regional  professional  development  review
committee.   The  regional  superintendent  of  schools shall
constitute  a  regional   professional   development   review
committee  or  committees,  as  provided  in paragraph (2) of
subsection (g) of Section 21-14 of this Code, to  advise  the
regional  superintendent of schools, upon his or her request,
and to hear appeals  relating  to  the  renewal  of  teaching
certificates,  in accordance with Section 21-14 of this Code.
The expenses of these review committees shall be  funded,  in
part,  from  the  fees collected pursuant to Section 21-16 of
this Code and deposited into the institute fund.

    (105 ILCS 5/3-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-12)
    Sec. 3-12.  Institute fund. All certificate  examination,
registration fees and a portion of renewal and duplicate fees
shall  be kept by the regional superintendent as described in
Section 21-16 of this Code, together with  a  record  of  the
names  of  the  persons  paying them. Such fees fund shall be
deposited into the institute fund and shall be  used  by  the
regional  superintendent  to  defray expenses associated with
the work of  the  regional  professional  development  review
committees   established   pursuant   to   paragraph  (2)  of
subsection (g) of Section 21-14 of this Code  to  advise  the
regional superintendent, upon his or her request, and to hear
appeals  relating to the renewal of teaching certificates, in
accordance  with  Section  21-14  of  this  Code;  to  defray
expenses connected with improving  the  technology  necessary
for  the  efficient  processing  of  certificates;  to defray
expenses incidental to  teachers'  institutes,  workshops  or
meetings  of  a  professional  nature  that  are  designed to
promote the  professional  growth  of  teachers  or  for  the
purpose  of  defraying  the expense of any general or special
meeting of teachers or school personnel of the region,  which
has been approved by the regional superintendent.
    The  regional superintendent shall on or before January 1
of each year publish in a newspaper  of  general  circulation
published in the region or shall post in each school building
under  his  jurisdiction  an accounting of (1) the balance on
hand in the Institute fund at the beginning of  the  previous
year;  (2) all receipts within the previous year deposited in
the fund, with the sources from which they were derived;  (3)
the  amount  distributed  from  the fund and the purposes for
which such distributions were made; and (4)  the  balance  on
hand in the fund.
(Source: P.A. 88-89; 89-335, eff. 1-1-96.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-0.01)
    Sec. 21-0.01.  Powers after January 1, 1998. Beginning on
January 1, 1998 and thereafter, the State Board of Education,
in  consultation  with the State Teacher Certification Board,
shall  have  the  power  and  authority  to  do  all  of  the
following:
         (1)  set standards  for  teaching,  supervising,  or
    holding  other  certificated  employment  in  the  public
    schools,  and  administer  the  certification  process as
    provided in this Article;  provided,  however,  that  the
    State   Teacher   Certification  Board  shall  be  solely
    responsible  for  the  renewal   of   Standard   Teaching
    Certificates  as  provided  in  Sections Section 21-2 and
    21-14 of this Code;
         (2)  approve and evaluate teacher and  administrator
    preparation programs;
         (3)  enter   into   agreements   with  other  states
    relative  to   reciprocal   approval   of   teacher   and
    administrator preparation programs;
         (4)  establish  standards  for  the  issuance of new
    types of certificates; and
         (5)  take  such  other  action   relating   to   the
    improvement  of instruction in the public schools through
    teacher education and professional development  and  that
    attracts   qualified  candidates  into  teacher  training
    programs as is appropriate and consistent with applicable
    laws.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-1a) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-1a)
    Sec. 21-1a. Tests required for certification.
    (a)  After  July  1,  1988,  in  addition  to  all  other
requirements,  early  childhood,  elementary,  special,  high
school, school service personnel, or, except as  provided  in
Section  34-6, administrative certificates shall be issued to
persons who have satisfactorily passed a test of basic skills
and subject matter knowledge.  The tests of basic skills  and
subject  matter  knowledge shall be the tests which from time
to time are designated by the State  Board  of  Education  in
consultation  with  the State Teacher Certification 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 Teacher Certification Board.  The
areas to be covered by the test of basic skills shall include
the   basic   skills   of   reading,   writing,  grammar  and
mathematics.  The test  of  subject  matter  knowledge  shall
assess  content  knowledge in the specific subject field. The
tests shall be designed to be racially neutral to assure that
no person  in  taking  the  tests  is  thereby  discriminated
against on the basis of race, color, national origin or other
factors  unrelated  to  the  person's ability to perform as a
certificated employee.  The score required to pass the  tests
of  basic  skills and subject matter knowledge shall be fixed
by the State Board of  Education  in  consultation  with  the
State  Teacher  Certification Board.  The tests shall be held
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 Teacher Certification Board.
    (b)  Except  as  provided in Section 34-6, the provisions
of subsection (a) of this Section shall apply equally in  any
school  district  subject  to  Article  34, provided that the
State Board of Education shall determine  which  certificates
issued  under Sections 34-8.1 and 34-83 prior to July 1, 1988
are comparable to any early childhood certificate, elementary
school  certificate,   special   certificate,   high   school
certificate,   school   service   personnel   certificate  or
administrative certificate issued under this  Article  as  of
July 1, 1988.
    (c)  A  person  who holds an early childhood, elementary,
special, high school or school service personnel  certificate
issued  under  this  Article on or at any time before July 1,
1988, including  a  person  who  has  been  issued  any  such
certificate  pursuant to Section 21-11.1 or in exchange for a
comparable  certificate  theretofore  issued  under   Section
34-8.1  or  Section  34-83,  shall not be required to take or
pass the tests in order to thereafter have  such  certificate
renewed.
    (d)  The  State  Board  of Education in consultation with
the State Teacher Certification Board shall conduct  a  pilot
administration  of  the  tests  by  administering the test to
students completing teacher education programs in the 1986-87
school year for the purpose of  determining  the  effect  and
impact of testing candidates for certification.
    (e)  The rules and regulations developed to implement the
required  test  of  basic skills and subject matter knowledge
shall include the requirements of subsections (a),  (b),  and
(c)  and  shall  include  specific regulations to govern 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,
waiving  certain additional tests for additional certificates
to individuals who have satisfactorily  passed  the  test  of
basic  skills  and  subject  matter  knowledge as required in
subsection (a). The State Board of Education  shall  provide,
by  rule,  specific  policies  that  assure uniformity in the
difficulty level of each form of the basic  skills  test  and
each  subject  matter  knowledge  test  from test-to-test and
year-to-year.  The State Board of Education shall also set  a
passing score for the tests.
    (f)  The  State  Teacher  Certification Board may issue a
nonrenewable temporary certificate between July 1,  1988  and
August  31,  1988  to individuals who have taken the tests of
basic skills and subject matter knowledge prescribed by  this
Section  but have not received such test scores by August 31,
1988.  Such temporary certificates shall expire  on  December
31, 1988.
    (g)  Beginning  February 15, 2000 July 1, 1999, the State
Board of Education, in consultation with  the  State  Teacher
Certification  Board,  shall  implement  and administer a new
system  of  certification  for  teachers  in  the  State   of
Illinois.  The State Board of Education, in consultation with
the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board,  shall  design and
implement a system of examinations and various other criteria
which shall be required prior  to  the  issuance  of  Initial
Teaching  Certificates  and  Standard  Teaching Certificates.
These examinations and indicators shall be based on  national
and  State  professional teaching standards, as determined by
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the  State
Teacher Certification Board. The State Board of Education may
adopt  any  and  all  regulations  necessary to implement and
administer this Section.
    (h)  The State Board of Education  shall  report  to  the
Illinois    General    Assembly   and   the   Governor   with
recommendations for further changes and improvements  to  the
teacher  certification  system no later than July 1, 1999 and
on an annual basis until July 1, 2001.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-1b) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-1b)
    Sec. 21-1b.  Subject endorsement  on  certificates.   All
certificates  initially  issued under this Article after June
30, 1986, shall be specifically endorsed by the  State  Board
of  Education  for each subject the holder of the certificate
is legally qualified to teach, such endorsements to  be  made
in  accordance  with standards promulgated by the State Board
of  Education  in  consultation  with   the   State   Teacher
Certification Board.  All certificates which are issued under
this Article prior to July 1, 1986 may, by application to the
State  Board  of Education, be specifically endorsed for each
subject  the  holder   is   legally   qualified   to   teach.
Endorsements  issued  under  this  Section shall not apply to
substitute teacher's certificates issued under  Section  21-9
of  this  Code.   Each  application  for  endorsement  of  an
existing  teaching  certificate shall be accompanied by a $20
nonrefundable fee.
    Commencing July 1, 1999, each application for endorsement
of an existing teaching certificate shall be accompanied by a
$30 nonrefundable fee January  1,  1994,  an  additional  $10
shall be charged for each application for endorsement.  There
is hereby created a Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund as
a  special  fund  within the State Treasury.  The proceeds of
each $30 the additional  $10  fee  shall  be  paid  into  the
Teacher  Certificate  Fee  Revolving  Fund; and the moneys in
that Fund shall be  appropriated  and  used  to  provide  the
technology  and  other resources necessary for the timely and
efficient processing of certification requests.
(Source: P.A. 88-224.)
    (105 ILCS 5/21-1c) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-1c)
    Sec. 21-1c.  Exclusive certificate authority.   Only  the
State  Board  of  Education  and  State Teacher Certification
Board, acting in accordance with the applicable provisions of
this Act and the rules, regulations and standards promulgated
thereunder, shall have the authority to issue or endorse  any
certificate  required  for  teaching,  supervising or holding
certificated employment in the public schools; and  no  other
State  agency  shall  have  any  power  or  authority  (i) to
establish  or   prescribe   any   qualifications   or   other
requirements applicable to the issuance or endorsement of any
such  certificate,  or  (ii)  to  establish  or prescribe any
licensure or equivalent requirement which must  be  satisfied
in  order to teach, supervise or hold certificated employment
in the public schools.  This Section does  not  prohibit  the
State  Board  of  Education,  in  consultation with the State
Teacher Certification  Board,  from  delegating  to  regional
superintendents  of  schools the authority to grant temporary
employment  authorizations  to   teacher   applicants   whose
qualifications  have  been  confirmed  by  the State Board of
Education,   in   consultation   with   the   State   Teacher
Certification Board.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2)
    Sec. 21-2.  Grades of certificates.
    (a)  Until  February  15,  2000   July   1,   1999,   all
certificates   issued  under  this  Article  shall  be  State
certificates valid, except as limited  in  Section  21-1,  in
every school district coming under the provisions of this Act
and  shall  be  limited  in  time  and designated as follows:
Provisional  vocational  certificate,  temporary  provisional
vocational   certificate,   early   childhood    certificate,
elementary  school  certificate,  special  certificate,  high
school  certificate,  school  service  personnel certificate,
administrative  certificate,  provisional  certificate,   and
substitute  certificate.  The requirement of student teaching
under  close  and  competent  supervision  for  obtaining   a
teaching  certificate  may  be  waived  by  the State Teacher
Certification Board upon presentation to  the  Board  by  the
teacher of evidence of 5 years successful teaching experience
on  a  valid  certificate  and  graduation  from a recognized
institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree  with
not less than 120 semester hours and a minimum of 16 semester
hours in professional education.
    (b)  Initial  Teaching  Certificate.   Beginning February
15, 2000 July 1, 1999, persons  who  (1)  have  completed  an
approved  teacher preparation program, (2) are recommended by
an   approved   teacher   preparation   program,   (3)   have
successfully completed  the  Initial  Teaching  Certification
examinations  required  by  the State Board of Education, and
(4) have met all other  criteria  established  by  the  State
Board  of  Education  in  consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board, shall  be  issued  an  Initial  Teaching
Certificate  valid  for  4  years  of teaching, as defined in
Section 21-14 of this Code.   Initial  Teaching  Certificates
shall   be  issued  for  categories  corresponding  to  Early
Childhood, Elementary,  Secondary,  and  Special  K-12,  with
special  certification  designations  for  Special Education,
Bilingual Education, fundamental  learning  areas  (including
Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science,
Physical  Development  and  Health,  Fine  Arts,  and Foreign
Language), and other areas designated by the State  Board  of
Education,   in   consultation   with   the   State   Teacher
Certification Board.
    (c)  Standard  Certificate.   Beginning February 15, 2000
July 1, 1999, persons who  (1)  have  completed  4  years  of
teaching,  as  defined in Section 21-14 of this Code, with an
Initial Certificate, have successfully completed the Standard
Teaching Certificate examinations, and  have  met  all  other
criteria  established  by  the  State  Board  of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification  Board,  or
(2)  have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid equivalent
certificate in another  State  or  territory  of  the  United
States,  or have completed 4 years of teaching in a nonpublic
Illinois elementary  or  secondary  school  with  an  Initial
Certificate,  and  have met all other criteria established by
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the  State
Teacher  Certification  Board,  or  (3)  were issued teaching
certificates prior to February 15, 2000 July 1, 1999 and  are
renewing  those  certificates after February 15, 2000 July 1,
1999, shall be issued a  Standard  Certificate  valid  for  5
years,  which  may be renewed thereafter every 5 years by the
State  Teacher  Certification  Board  based   on   proof   of
continuing  education  or professional development. Beginning
July 1, 2003, persons who have completed 4 years of teaching,
as described in clauses (1) and (2) of this  subsection  (c),
have successfully completed the Standard Teaching Certificate
Examinations,  and have met all other criteria established by
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the  State
Teacher   Certification   Board,  shall  be  issued  Standard
Certificates.  Standard  Certificates  shall  be  issued  for
categories  corresponding  to  Early  Childhood,  Elementary,
Secondary,  and  Special  K-12,  with  special  certification
designations  for  Special  Education,  Bilingual  Education,
fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading,
Mathematics,  Science,  Social  Science, Physical Development
and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas
designated by the State Board of Education,  in  consultation
with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (d)  Master  Certificate.   Beginning  February  15, 2000
July 1, 1999, persons who have successfully achieved National
Board  certification   through   the   National   Board   for
Professional  Teaching  Standards  shall  be  issued a Master
Certificate, valid for 10 7 years  and  renewable  thereafter
every  10  7  years  through compliance with requirements set
forth by the State Board of Education, in  consultation  with
the State Teacher Certification Board.
(Source:  P.A.  90-548,  eff.  1-1-98;  90-653, eff. 7-29-98;
90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2.1)
    Sec. 21-2.1.  Early childhood certificate.
    (a)  An early childhood certificate shall be valid for  4
years  for  teaching children up to 6 years of age, exclusive
of children enrolled in kindergarten, in facilities  approved
by  the State Superintendent of Education.  Beginning July 1,
1988, such  certificate  shall  be  valid  for  4  years  for
Teaching  children  through grade 3 in facilities approved by
the  State  Superintendent  of  Education.   Subject  to  the
provisions of Section 21-1a, it shall be  issued  to  persons
who  have  graduated  from a recognized institution of higher
learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120
semester hours  including  professional  education  or  human
development or, until July 1, 1992, to persons who have early
childhood  education  instruction  and  practical  experience
involving  supervised work with children under 6 years of age
or with children through  grade  3.  Such  persons  shall  be
recommended   for   the  early  childhood  certificate  by  a
recognized  institution  as  having  completed  an   approved
program of preparation which includes the requisite hours and
academic  and  professional  courses and practical experience
approved  by  the  State  Superintendent  of   Education   in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b)  Beginning  February  15,  2000 July 1, 1999, Initial
and Standard Early Childhood Education Certificates shall  be
issued  to  persons  who meet the criteria established by the
State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2a)
    Sec. 21-2a. Required instruction for all teachers.  After
September  1,  1981 and until January 1, 1999, in addition to
all other requirements, the successful completion  of  course
work  which  includes  instruction  on  the psychology of the
exceptional child,  the  identification  of  the  exceptional
child,  including,  but  not limited to the learning disabled
and  methods  of  instruction  for  the  exceptional   child,
including,  but not limited to the learning disabled shall be
a prerequisite to a person receiving  any  of  the  following
certificates:  early  childhood, elementary, special and high
school.
    After January 1, 1999, the State Board of Education shall
ensure  that  the  curriculum  for   all   approved   teacher
preparation  programs  includes,  and  that  all  prospective
teachers  pursuing Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, or
Special  K-12  certificates  receive,  instruction   on   the
psychology  of,  the  identification  of,  and the methods of
instruction for  the  exceptional  child,  including  without
limitation   the  learning  disabled.   This  instruction  on
exceptional children may  be  provided  in  one  concentrated
course  or  may  be integrated among other courses within the
teacher preparation program as shall  be  determined  by  the
State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-653, eff. 7-29-98.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-3)
    Sec. 21-3.  Elementary certificate.
    (a)  An  elementary school certificate shall be valid for
4 years for teaching in the kindergarten and lower  9  grades
of  the common schools.  Subject to the provisions of Section
21-1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated  from
a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's
degree  and with not fewer than 120 semester hours and with a
minimum of  16  semester  hours  in  professional  education,
including   5   semester  hours  in  student  teaching  under
competent  and  close  supervision.  Such  persons  shall  be
recommended for the elementary certificate  by  a  recognized
institution  as  having  completed  an  approved  program  of
preparation  which  includes intensive preservice training in
the  humanities,  natural  sciences,  mathematics   and   the
academic  and  professional  courses  approved  by  the State
Superintendent of Education in consultation  with  the  State
Teacher Certification Board.
    (b)  Beginning  February  15,  2000 July 1, 1999, Initial
and Standard  Elementary  Certificates  shall  be  issued  to
persons who meet all of the criteria established by the State
Board of Education for elementary education.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-4)
    Sec. 21-4.  Special certificate.
    (a)  A special certificate shall be valid for 4 years for
teaching  the special subjects named therein in all grades of
the common schools. Subject  to  the  provisions  of  Section
21-1a,  it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from
a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's
degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours including a
minimum of 16 semester hours in professional education, 5  of
which  shall be in student teaching under competent and close
supervision. When the holder of such certificate has earned a
master's degree, including eight semester hours  of  graduate
professional  education  from  a  recognized  institution  of
higher  learning  and with two years' teaching experience, it
may be endorsed for supervision.
    Such  persons  shall  be  recommended  for  the   special
certificate  by  a recognized institution as having completed
an approved program of preparation  which  includes  academic
and professional courses approved by the State Superintendent
of   Education   in   consultation  with  the  State  Teacher
Certification Board.
    (b)  Those  persons  holding  special   certificates   on
February  15,  2000 July 1, 1999 shall be eligible for one of
the following:
         (1)  The  issuance  of   Standard   Elementary   and
    Standard  Secondary Certificates with appropriate special
    certification designations as  determined  by  the  State
    Board  of  Education,  in  consultation  with  the  State
    Teacher  Certification  Board,  and consistent with rules
    adopted  by  the  State  Board   of   Education.    These
    certificates  shall  be renewed as provided in subsection
    (c) of Section 21-2.
         (2)  The   issuance   of   Standard   Special   K-12
    Certificates  with  appropriate   special   certification
    designations,  which  shall  be  renewed  as  provided in
    subsection (c) of Section 21-2.  These certificates shall
    not be eligible for additional certification designations
    except as approved by the State Board  of  Education,  in
    consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (c)  Those persons eligible to receive K-12 certification
after  February 15, 2000 July 1, 1999 shall be issued Initial
Elementary   and   Initial   Secondary   Certificates    with
appropriate  special  certification  designations pursuant to
this  Section  or  Initial  Special  K-12  Certificates  with
appropriate special certification  designations  pursuant  to
this  Section.  These Initial K-12 Special Certificates shall
not be eligible  for  additional  certification  designations
except  as  approved  by  the  State  Board  of Education, in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (d)  Beginning February 15, 2000, all persons  exchanging
a  special  certificate  are  exempt  from  the provisions of
Section 2-3.71 of this Code, provided they meet all the other
requirements for teaching as established by the  State  Board
of   Education,   in  consultation  with  the  State  Teacher
Certification Board.
    Beginning February 15,  2000,  all  persons  receiving  a
special education designation on either a special certificate
or  an  elementary  certificate issued pursuant to subsection
(c) of this Section are exempt from the provisions of Section
2-3.71 of  this  Code,  provided  they  meet  all  the  other
requirements  for  teaching as established by the State Board
of  Education,  in  consultation  with  the   State   Teacher
Certification Board.
    Certificates   exchanged   or  issued  pursuant  to  this
subsection (d) shall be  valid  for  teaching  children  with
disabilities, as defined in Section 14-1.02 of this Code, and
these   special  certificates  shall  be  called  Initial  or
Standard Special Preschool - Age 21 Certificates.  Nothing in
this subsection (d) shall be construed  to  adversely  affect
the  rights  of any person presently certificated, any person
whose certification is currently pending, or any  person  who
is  currently  enrolled or enrolls prior to February 15, 2000
in an approved Special K-12 certification program.
(Source: P.A. 90-548,  eff.  1-1-98;  90-653,  eff.  7-29-98;
90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-5)
    Sec. 21-5.  High school certificate.
    (a)  A high school certificate shall be valid for 4 years
for  teaching  in  grades  6  to  12  inclusive of the common
schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a, it shall
be issued to persons who have  graduated  from  a  recognized
institution  of  higher learning with a bachelor's degree and
with not fewer than 120 semester hours including 16  semester
hours  in  professional  education,  5  of  which shall be in
student teaching under competent and  close  supervision  and
with  one  or  more  teaching  fields.  Such persons shall be
recommended for the high school certificate by  a  recognized
institution  as  having  completed  an  approved  program  of
preparation  which  includes  the  academic  and professional
courses approved by the State Superintendent of Education  in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b)  Beginning  February  15,  2000 July 1, 1999, Initial
and  Standard  Secondary  Certificates  shall  be  issued  to
persons who meet all of the criteria established by the State
Board of Education for secondary education.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-7.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-7.1)
    Sec. 21-7.1.  Administrative certificate.
    (a)  After   July   1,   1999   January   1,   1986,   an
administrative certificate valid for 5 years  of  supervising
and  administering in the public common schools may be issued
to persons who have graduated from  a  regionally  accredited
recognized  institution  of  higher  learning with a master's
degree  and  who  have  been  recommended  certified   by   a
recognized  institution these institutions of higher learning
as having completed a program of preparation for one or  more
of   these   endorsements.  Such  programs  of  academic  and
professional preparation required for  endorsement  shall  be
administered  by the institution in accordance with standards
set  forth  by  the  State  Superintendent  of  Education  in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b)  No administrative certificate shall  be  issued  for
the  first  time  after  June  30,  1987  and  no endorsement
provided for by this Section shall be made or affixed  to  an
administrative  certificate for the first time after June 30,
1987  unless  the  person   to   whom   such   administrative
certificate  is  to  be  issued  or  to  whose administrative
certificate such  endorsement  is  to  be  affixed  has  been
required to demonstrate as a part of a program of academic or
professional    preparation   for   such   certification   or
endorsement: (i) an understanding of the knowledge called for
in establishing productive parent-school relationships and of
the  procedures  fostering   the   involvement   which   such
relationships  demand;  and  (ii)  an  understanding  of  the
knowledge  required  for  establishing  a high quality school
climate  and  promoting  good  classroom   organization   and
management,  including  rules  of  conduct  and instructional
procedures  appropriate  to  accomplishing   the   tasks   of
schooling;  and  (iii)  a  demonstration of the knowledge and
skills called for in providing instructional leadership.  The
standards  for  demonstrating  an   understanding   of   such
knowledge  shall be set forth by the State Board of Education
in consultation with the State Teacher  Certification  Board,
and  shall  be administered by the recognized institutions of
higher learning as part  of  the  programs  of  academic  and
professional   preparation  required  for  certification  and
endorsement under this Section.  As used in this  subsection:
"establishing  productive  parent-school relationships" means
the  ability  to  maintain  effective  communication  between
parents  and  school   personnel,   to   encourage   parental
involvement in schooling, and to motivate school personnel to
engage  parents in encouraging student achievement, including
the development of  programs  and  policies  which  serve  to
accomplish  this  purpose;  and  "establishing a high quality
school  climate"  means  the  ability  to  promote   academic
achievement,  to  maintain discipline, to recognize substance
abuse problems among students  and  utilize  appropriate  law
enforcement  and  other  community resources to address these
problems, to support teachers and students in their education
endeavors, to establish learning objectives  and  to  provide
instructional   leadership,   including  the  development  of
policies and programs which serve to accomplish this purpose;
and "providing instructional leadership" means the ability to
effectively evaluate school  personnel,  to  possess  general
communication  and interpersonal skills, and to establish and
maintain appropriate classroom  learning  environments.   The
provisions  of  this  subsection shall not apply to or affect
the initial issuance or making on or before June 30, 1987  of
any  administrative  certificate  or endorsement provided for
under this Section, nor shall such  provisions  apply  to  or
affect   the   renewal  after  June  30,  1987  of  any  such
certificate or endorsement initially issued  or  made  on  or
before June 30, 1987.
    (c)  Administrative  certificates  shall be renewed every
five years with the first renewal being five years  following
the initial receipt of an administrative certificate. Renewal
requirements   for  administrators  whose  positions  require
certification shall be  based  upon  evidence  of  continuing
professional  education  which  promotes the following goals:
(1)  Improving  administrators'  knowledge  of  instructional
practices and administrative procedures; (2) Maintaining  the
basic level of competence required for initial certification;
and  (3)  Improving  the  mastery  of  skills  and  knowledge
regarding the improvement of teaching performance in clinical
settings  and assessment of the levels of student performance
in  their  schools.    Evidence  of  continuing  professional
education must include verification of biennial attendance in
a program developed by the Illinois  Administrators'  Academy
and verification of annual participation in a school district
approved    activity    which   contributes   to   continuing
professional education.  The State  Board  of  Education,  in
consultation  with  the  State  Teacher  Certification Board,
shall develop procedures for implementing  this  Section  and
shall  administer the renewal of administrative certificates.
Failure  to  submit  satisfactory  evidence   of   continuing
professional  education  which  contributes  to promoting the
goals  of  this  Section  shall   result   in   a   loss   of
administrative certification.
    (d)  Any  limited  or life supervisory certificate issued
prior to July 1, 1968 shall continue  to  be  valid  for  all
administrative   and  supervisory  positions  in  the  public
schools for which it is valid as of that date as long as  its
holder  meets the requirements for registration or renewal as
set forth in the statutes or until revoked according to law.
    (e)  The  administrative  or  supervisory  positions  for
which the certificate shall be valid shall be  determined  by
one  or  more of 3 endorsements: general supervisory, general
administrative and superintendent.
    Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a,  endorsements
shall  be  made  under  conditions set forth in this Section.
The State Board of Education shall, in consultation with  the
State  Teacher  Certification  Board, adopt rules pursuant to
the  Illinois  Administrative  Procedure  Act,   establishing
requirements  for obtaining administrative certificates where
the  minimum  administrative  or   supervisory   requirements
surpass those set forth in this Section.
    The State Teacher Certification Board shall file with the
State  Board  of  Education  a  written  recommendation  when
considering    additional   administrative   or   supervisory
requirements.  All additional  requirements  shall  be  based
upon the requisite knowledge necessary to perform those tasks
required  by  the  certificate.  The State Board of Education
shall in consultation with the  State  Teacher  Certification
Board,  establish  standards  within  its  rules  which shall
include the academic and professional requirements  necessary
for  certification.   These  standards  shall  at  a  minimum
contain, but not be limited to, those used by the State Board
of Education in determining whether additional knowledge will
be  required.   Additionally,  the  State  Board of Education
shall in consultation with the  State  Teacher  Certification
Board,  establish  provisions  within  its  rules whereby any
member of the educational community or the public may file  a
formal    written   recommendation   or   inquiry   regarding
requirements.
         (1)  Until July 1,  2003,  the  general  supervisory
    endorsement   shall  be  affixed  to  the  administrative
    certificate of any holder who has at  least  16  semester
    hours   of  graduate  credit  in  professional  education
    including  8  semester  hours  of  graduate   credit   in
    curriculum  and  research and who has at least 2 years of
    full-time teaching experience or school service personnel
    experience  in  public   schools,   schools   under   the
    supervision  of  the  Department  of Corrections, schools
    under   the   administration   of   the   Department   of
    Rehabilitation Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the
    standards established  by  the  State  Superintendent  of
    Education    or   comparable   out-of-state   recognition
    standards  approved  by  the  State   Superintendent   of
    Education.
         Such  endorsement shall be required for supervisors,
    curriculum directors and for  such  similar  and  related
    positions  as  determined  by the State Superintendent of
    Education  in  consultation  with   the   State   Teacher
    Certification Board.
         (2)  The general administrative endorsement shall be
    affixed  to  the administrative certificate of any holder
    who has at least 20 semester hours of graduate credit  in
    educational administration and supervision and who has at
    least  2 years of full-time teaching experience or school
    service personnel experience in public  schools,  schools
    under  the  supervision of the Department of Corrections,
    schools under the administration  of  the  Department  of
    Rehabilitation Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the
    standards  established  by  the  State  Superintendent of
    Education   or   comparable   out-of-state    recognition
    standards   approved   by  the  State  Superintendent  of
    Education.
         Such endorsement shall be  required  for  principal,
    assistant     principal,     assistant    or    associate
    superintendent, junior college dean and  for  related  or
    similar    positions   as   determined   by   the   State
    Superintendent of  Education  in  consultation  with  the
    State Teacher Certification Board.
         Notwithstanding  any  other  provisions of this Act,
    after January 1, 1990 and  until  January  1,  1991,  any
    teacher  employed  by  a  district  subject to Article 34
    shall  be   entitled   to   receive   an   administrative
    certificate  with  a  general  administrative endorsement
    affixed thereto if he or she: (i) had at least 3 years of
    experience as a certified teacher for such district prior
    to August 1, 1985; (ii) obtained a Master's degree  prior
    to  August  1, 1985; (iii) completed at least 20 hours of
    graduate credit in education courses (including at  least
    12  hours  in educational administration and supervision)
    prior to September 1,  1987;  and  (iv)  has  received  a
    rating of superior for at least each of the last 5 years.
    Any person who obtains an administrative certificate with
    a  general  administrative  endorsement  affixed  thereto
    under  this  paragraph shall not be qualified to serve in
    any administrative position except assistant principal.
         (3)  The chief school business official  endorsement
    shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any
    holder  who  qualifies  by  having a Master's degree, two
    years of administrative  experience  in  school  business
    management,  and  a  minimum  of  20  semester  hours  of
    graduate  credit  in  a  program established by the State
    Superintendent of  Education  in  consultation  with  the
    State  Teacher Certification Board for the preparation of
    school business administrators.  Such  endorsement  shall
    also  be affixed to the administrative certificate of any
    holder who qualifies  by  having  a  Master's  Degree  in
    Business  Administration,  Finance  or  Accounting from a
    regionally accredited institution of higher education.
         After June  30,  1977,  such  endorsement  shall  be
    required  for  any  individual  first employed as a chief
    school business official.
    (4)  The superintendent endorsement shall be  affixed  to
the   administrative   certificate  of  any  holder  who  has
completed 30 semester hours of  graduate  credit  beyond  the
master's   degree   in  a  program  for  the  preparation  of
superintendents of schools including  16  semester  hours  of
graduate  credit  in  professional  education  and who has at
least 2 years experience as an administrator or supervisor in
the public schools  or  the  State  Board  of  Education   or
education service regions or in nonpublic schools meeting the
standards   established   by   the  State  Superintendent  of
Education or comparable  out-of-state  recognition  standards
approved  by  the State Superintendent of Education and holds
general supervisory or general administrative endorsement, or
who has  had  2  years  of  experience  as  a  supervisor  or
administrator   while   holding   an   all-grade  supervisory
certificate or  a  certificate  comparable  in  validity  and
educational and experience requirements.
    After  June  30, 1968, such endorsement shall be required
for a superintendent of schools, except as  provided  in  the
second paragraph of this Section and in Section 34-6.
    Any  person  appointed  to the position of superintendent
between the effective date of this Act and June 30, 1993 in a
school district organized pursuant  to  Article  32  with  an
enrollment of at least 20,000 pupils shall be exempt from the
provisions of this Subsection (4) until June 30, 1996.
    (f)  All  official  interpretations or acts of issuing or
denying administrative certificates or  endorsements  by  the
State Teacher's Certification Board, State Board of Education
or the State Superintendent of Education, from the passage of
P.A.  81-1208  on November 8, 1979 through September 24, 1981
are hereby declared valid and legal acts in all respects  and
further  that  the purported repeal of the provisions of this
Section by P.A. 81-1208 and P.A. 81-1509 is declared null and
void.
(Source: P.A. 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-9)
    Sec.  21-9.   Substitute  certificates   and   substitute
teaching.
    (a)  A substitute teacher's certificate may be issued for
teaching   in   all  grades  of  the  common  schools.   Such
certificate may be  issued  upon  request  of  the   regional
superintendent of schools of any  region in which the teacher
is to teach.  A substitute teacher's certificate is valid for
teaching   in   the  public  schools  of  any  county.   Such
certificate may be issued to persons who either  (a)  hold  a
certificate    valid  for  teaching  in the common schools as
shown on the face of the certificate, (b) hold a bachelor  of
arts degree from an institution of higher learning accredited
by the North Central Association or other comparable regional
accrediting   association  or  have  been  graduated  from  a
recognized institution of higher learning with  a  bachelor's
degree,  or  (c)  have had 2 years of teaching experience and
meet such other rules and regulations as may  be  adopted  by
the  State  Board of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board.  Such certificate  shall  expire
on June 30 in the fourth year from date of issue.  Substitute
teacher's  certificates  are  not  subject  to endorsement as
described in Section 21-1b of this Code.
    (b)  A teacher holding a substitute teacher's certificate
may teach only in the place of a  certified  teacher  who  is
under  contract  with  the employing board and may teach only
when no appropriate fully certified teacher is  available  to
teach  in  a substitute capacity.  A teacher holding an early
childhood certificate,  an  elementary  certificate,  a  high
school   certificate,  or  a  special  certificate  may  also
substitute teach in grades K-12 but only in the  place  of  a
certified  teacher  who  is under contract with the employing
board.  A substitute teacher may teach only for a period  not
to exceed 90 paid school days or 450 paid school hours in any
one  school  district  in  any  one  school term.  Where such
teaching is partly on a daily and partly on an hourly  basis,
a  school  day  shall  be considered as 5 hours. The teaching
limitations imposed by this subsection upon teachers  holding
substitute   certificates  shall  not  apply  in  any  school
district operating under Article 34.
(Source: P.A. 89-212, eff. 8-4-95.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-11.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-11.3)
    Sec. 21-11.3.  Resident teacher certificate.  A  resident
teacher certificate shall be valid for 2 years for employment
as a resident teacher in a public school.  It shall be issued
only   to  persons  who  have  graduated  from  a  regionally
accredited recognized institution of higher education with  a
bachelor's   degree,   who  are  enrolled  in  a  program  of
preparation approved by the State Superintendent of Education
in consultation with the State Teacher  Certification  Board,
and  who  have  passed  the  appropriate tests as required in
Section 21-1a  and  as  determined  by  the  State  Board  of
Education.   A resident teacher certificate may be issued for
teaching children through grade 3 or for grades K-9, 6-12, or
K-12 in a special subject area and  may  not  be  renewed.  A
resident teacher may teach only in conjunction with and under
the  direction  of a certified teacher and shall not teach in
place of a certified teacher.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-11.4)
    Sec. 21-11.4.  Illinois Teacher Corps.
    (a)  The General Assembly finds and determines  that  (i)
it   is   important  to  encourage  the  entry  of  qualified
professionals into elementary and  secondary  teaching  as  a
second career; and (ii) there are a number of individuals who
have bachelors' degrees, experience in the work force, and an
interest  in serving youth that creates a special talent pool
with great potential for  enriching  the  lives  of  Illinois
children  as  teachers.  To provide this talent pool with the
opportunity to serve children as teachers, school  districts,
colleges,  and  universities  are  encouraged, as part of the
public policy of this  State,  to  enter  into  collaborative
programs   to   educate   and  induct  these  non-traditional
candidates into the teaching profession.  To  facilitate  the
certification   of   such  candidates,  the  State  Board  of
Education,   in   consultation   with   the   State   Teacher
Certification Board,  shall  assist  institutions  of  higher
education and school districts with the implementation of the
Illinois Teacher Corps.
    (b)  Individuals  who  wish  to become candidates for the
Illinois Teacher Corps program must earn a  resident  teacher
certificate as defined in Section 21-11.3, including:
         (1)  graduation   from   a   regionally   accredited
    recognized   institution   of  higher  education  with  a
    bachelor's degree and at least a 3.00 out of a 4.00 grade
    point average;
         (2)  a minimum of 5 years of professional experience
    in the area the candidate wishes to teach;
         (3)  passing the examinations required by the  State
    Board of Education;
         (4)  enrollment  in  a  Masters  of Education Degree
    program approved by the State Superintendent of Education
    in consultation  with  the  State  Teacher  Certification
    Board; and
         (5)  completion of a 6 week summer intensive teacher
    preparation  course  which  is the first component of the
    Masters Degree program.
    (c)  School districts may hire an Illinois Teacher  Corps
candidate  after  the  candidate  has  received  his  or  her
resident  teacher  certificate.   The school district has the
responsibility of ensuring that the  candidates  receive  the
supports   necessary   to  become  qualified,  competent  and
productive teachers.  To be eligible to  participate  in  the
Illinois Teacher Corps program, school districts must provide
a minimum of the following supports to the candidates:
         (1)  a  salary  and  benefits  package as negotiated
    through the teacher contracts;
         (2)  a mentor certified  teacher  who  will  provide
    guidance  to  one  or  more  candidates  under  a program
    developed collaboratively  by  the  school  district  and
    university;
         (3)  at  least  quarterly  evaluations  performed of
    each candidate jointly by  the  mentor  teacher  and  the
    principal of the school or the principal's designee; and
         (4)  a  written  and signed document from the school
    district outlining the support the  district  intends  to
    provide  to  the  candidates,  for  approval by the State
    Teacher Certification Board.
    (d)  Illinois institutions of higher education shall work
collaboratively with school districts and the  State  Teacher
Certification  Board  to  academically prepare the candidates
for the teaching profession.  To be eligible to  participate,
the  College  or  School  of  Education  of  a  participating
Illinois  institution  of  higher  education  must  develop a
curriculum that provides, upon completion, a  Masters  Degree
in  Education for the candidates.  The Masters Degree program
must:
         (1)  receive  approval  from   the   State   Teacher
    Certification Board; and
         (2)  take  no  longer  than 3 summers and 2 academic
    years  to  complete,  and  balance  the  needs  and  time
    constraints of the candidates.
    (e)  Upon successful completion  of  the  Masters  Degree
program,   the   candidate    receives  an  Initial  Teaching
Certificate in the State of Illinois.
    (f)  If an individual wishes to become a candidate in the
Illinois Teacher Corps program, but does not possess 5  years
of  professional  experience,  the individual may qualify for
the  program  by  participating  in  a  one  year  internship
teacher preparation program with a school district.  The  one
year  internship  shall  be  developed collaboratively by the
school  district  and  the  Illinois  institution  of  higher
education,  and  shall  be  approved  by  the  State  Teacher
Certification Board.
    (g)  The State Board of Education is authorized to  award
grants  to  school  districts that seek to prepare candidates
for the teaching profession who have bachelors'  degrees  and
professional work experience in subjects relevant to teaching
fields,  but who do not have formal preparation for teaching.
Grants may be made to school districts for up to  $3,000  per
candidate  when  the  school  district, in cooperation with a
public  or  private  university  and  the  school  district's
teacher  bargaining  unit,  develop  a  program  designed  to
prepare teachers  pursuant  to  the  Illinois  Teacher  Corps
program under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-12)
    Sec.  21-12.  Printing;  of Seal; Signature; Credentials.
All certificates shall be printed by and bear the seal of the
State Teacher Certification Board and the signatures  of  the
chairman   and   of   the  secretary  of  the  State  Teacher
Certification Board board.  Each certificate shall  show  the
integrally  printed  seal  of the State Teacher Certification
Board.  All college credentials offered as  the  basis  of  a
certificate  shall be presented to the secretary of the State
Teacher Certification  Board  for  inspection  and  approval.
After  January 1, 1964, each application for a certificate or
evaluation  of  credentials  shall  be  accompanied   by   an
evaluation fee of $20 which is not refundable.
    Commencing   July   1,   1999,  each  application  for  a
certificate or evaluation of credentials shall be accompanied
by  an  evaluation  fee  of  $30   payable   to   the   State
Superintendent  of  Education, January 1, 1994, an additional
$10 shall be charged for each application for  a  certificate
or  evaluation of credentials which is not refundable, except
that no application or evaluation fee shall be required for a
Master Certificate  issued  pursuant  to  subsection  (d)  of
Section 21-2 of this Code.  There is hereby created a Teacher
Certificate  Fee  Revolving Fund as a special fund within the
State Treasury.  The proceeds of each $30 the additional  $10
fee  shall be paid into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving
Fund, created under Section  21-1b  of  this  Code;  and  the
moneys in that Fund shall be appropriated and used to provide
the  technology  and other resources necessary for the timely
and efficient processing of certification requests.
    When evaluation verifies the  requirements  for  a  valid
certificate,  the  applicant  shall  be issued an entitlement
card that may be presented to a  regional  superintendent  of
schools  together  with a fee of one dollar for issuance of a
certificate.
    The applicant shall be notified of any deficiencies.
(Source: P.A. 88-224; revised 10-31-98.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-14)
    Sec. 21-14. Registration and renewal of certificates.
    (a)  A limited four-year  certificate  or  a  certificate
issued  after  July  1,  1955,  shall  be  renewable  at  its
expiration  or  within  60  days  thereafter  by  the  county
superintendent of schools having supervision and control over
the  school  where  the  teacher  is  teaching upon certified
evidence of meeting the requirements for renewal as  required
by this Act and prescribed by the State Board of Education in
consultation  with the State Teacher Certification Board.  An
elementary supervisory certificate shall not  be  renewed  at
the  end  of  the  first  four-year  period  covered  by  the
certificate  unless  the  holder  thereof has filed certified
evidence with the State Teacher Certification Board  that  he
has  a master's degree or that he has earned 8 semester hours
of credit in the  field  of  educational  administration  and
supervision  in  a recognized institution of higher learning.
The holder shall continue to earn 8 semester hours of  credit
each  four-year  period  until  such  time as he has earned a
master's degree.
    All certificates not  renewed  or  registered  as  herein
provided  shall  lapse  after  a period of 5 4 years from the
expiration  of  the  last   year   of   registration.    Such
certificates  may  be  reinstated  for a one year period upon
payment  of  all   accumulated   registration   fees.    Such
reinstated certificates shall only be renewed: (1) by earning
5  semester  hours  of  credit in a recognized institution of
higher learning in the field of professional education or  in
courses  related to the holder's contractual teaching duties;
or (2) by presenting evidence  of  holding  a  valid  regular
certificate  of  some  other  type.   Any  certificate may be
voluntarily  surrendered  by  the  certificate   holder.    A
voluntarily  surrendered  certificate  shall  be treated as a
revoked certificate.
    (b)  When  those  teaching  certificates  issued   before
February 15, 2000 July 1, 1999 are renewed for the first time
after  February  15,  2000  July  1,  1999, all such teaching
certificates  shall  be  exchanged  for   Standard   Teaching
Certificates  as  provided in subsection (c) of Section 21-2.
All Initial and  Standard  Teaching  Certificates,  including
those   issued   to  persons  who  previously  held  teaching
certificates issued before February 15, 2000  July  1,  1999,
shall  be  renewable  under  the conditions set forth in this
subsection (b).
    Initial Teaching Certificates are  nonrenewable  and  are
valid   for   4   years   of  teaching.    Standard  Teaching
Certificates are renewable  every  5  years  as  provided  in
subsection  (c)  of  Section  21-2 and subsection (c) of this
Section.  For purposes of this Section, "teaching" is defined
as employment and performance  of  services  in  an  Illinois
public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
or  cooperative  or  joint agreement with a governing body or
board of control, in a certificated teaching position,  or  a
charter  school  operating  in  compliance  with  the Charter
Schools Law.
    (c)  In compliance with subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
this  Code,  which  provides   that   a   Standard   Teaching
Certificate may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification
Board   based   upon   proof   of   continuing   professional
development,  the  State  Board  of  Education  and the State
Teacher Certification Board shall jointly:
         (1)  establish a  procedure  for  renewing  Standard
    Teaching  Certificates,  which  shall  include but not be
    limited to annual timelines for the renewal  process  and
    the  components  set forth in subsections (d) through (k)
    of this Section;
         (2)  establish   the   standards   for   certificate
    renewal;
         (3)  approve    the    providers    of    continuing
    professional development activities;
         (4)  determine the maximum credit for each  category
    of  continuing professional development activities, based
    upon   recommendations   submitted   by   a    continuing
    professional development activity task force, which shall
    consist  of  6  staff  members  from  the  State Board of
    Education,  appointed  by  the  State  Superintendent  of
    Education, and 6 teacher representatives, 3 of  whom  are
    selected  by  the Illinois Education Association and 3 of
    whom are selected by the Illinois Federation of Teachers;
         (5)  designate the type and amount of  documentation
    required to show that continuing professional development
    activities have been completed; and
         (6)  provide,  on  a  timely  basis  to all Illinois
    teachers, certificate holders,  regional  superintendents
    of schools, school districts, and others with an interest
    in continuing professional development, information about
    the  standards  and  requirements established pursuant to
    this subsection (c).
    (d)  Any  Standard  Teaching  Certificate  held   by   an
individual  employed  and  performing services in an Illinois
public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
or cooperative or joint agreement with a  governing  body  or
board  of  control  in  a certificated teaching position or a
charter school in compliance with  the  Charter  Schools  Law
must  be  maintained  Valid  and  Active  through certificate
renewal  activities  specified  in  the  certificate  renewal
procedure established pursuant  to  subsection  (c)  of  this
Section,  provided  that  a  holder  of  a  Valid  and Active
certificate who is only employed on either a part-time  basis
or  day-to-day  basis  as a substitute teacher shall pay only
the required registration fee to renew his or her certificate
and maintain it as Valid  and  Active.   All  other  Standard
Teaching  Certificates  held  may  be maintained as Valid and
Exempt through the registration process provided for  in  the
certificate   renewal   procedure   established  pursuant  to
subsection  (c)  of  this  Section.   A  Valid   and   Exempt
certificate must be immediately activated, through procedures
developed  jointly  by  the  State Board of Education and the
State  Teacher  Certification  Board,  upon  the  certificate
holder  becoming  employed  and  performing  services  in  an
Illinois  public   or   State-operated   elementary   school,
secondary  school,  or  cooperative or joint agreement with a
governing body or board of control in a certificated teaching
position or a charter school operating in compliance with the
Charter  Schools  Law.   A  holder  of  a  Valid  and  Exempt
certificate may  activate  his  or  her  certificate  through
procedures  provided for in the certificate renewal procedure
established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.
    (e)(1)  A Standard Teaching  Certificate  that  has  been
maintained  as  Valid  and  Active  for  the  5  years of the
certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid  and  Active
upon  the  certificate  holder:  (i)  completing  at  least 8
semester hours of coursework as described in subdivision  (A)
of  paragraph  (3)  of  this  subsection (e); (ii) earning at
least  24  continuing  education  units   as   described   in
subdivision  (B)  of  paragraph  (3)  of this subsection (e);
(iii) completing the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards  process  as  described  in  subdivision   (C)   of
paragraph  (3)  of  this  subsection (e); or (iv) earning 120
continuing  professional  development   units   ("CPDU")   as
described  in  subdivision  (D)  of  paragraph  (3)  of  this
subsection   (e).    The   maximum   continuing  professional
development   units   for   each   continuing    professional
development  activity  identified in subdivisions (E) through
(I) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e) shall be  jointly
determined  by  the  State  Board  of Education and the State
Teacher Certification Board.  If,  however,  the  certificate
holder has maintained the certificate as Valid and Exempt for
a  portion  of  the  5-year period of validity, the number of
continuing professional development units needed to renew the
certificate as Valid  and  Active  shall  be  proportionately
reduced  by  the amount of time the certificate was Valid and
Exempt. Furthermore, if a certificate holder is employed  and
performs  teaching services on a part-time basis for all or a
portion of the certificate's 5-year period of  validity,  the
number of continuing professional development units needed to
renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be reduced by
50%  for  the  amount of time the certificate holder has been
employed and  performed  teaching  services  on  a  part-time
basis.   Part-time  shall  be defined as less than 50% of the
school day or school term.
    (2)  Each Valid and Active Standard Teaching  Certificate
holder   shall   develop   a  certificate  renewal  plan  for
satisfying   the    continuing    professional    development
requirement provided for in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
this  Code.    Certificate holders with multiple certificates
shall develop a certificate renewal plan that addresses  only
that  certificate  or those certificates that are required of
his or her certificated teaching position, if the certificate
holder is employed and performing  services  in  an  Illinois
public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
or  cooperative  or  joint agreement with a governing body or
board of control, or that certificate or  those  certificates
most  closely related to his or her teaching position, if the
certificate holder is employed in a charter  school.   Except
as  otherwise  provided in this subsection (e), a certificate
renewal  plan  shall  include  a  minimum  of  3   individual
improvement  goals  developed  by  the certificate holder and
shall reflect purposes (A), (B),  and  (C)  and  may  reflect
purpose   (D)   of   the  following  continuing  professional
development purposes:
         (A)  Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
    and skills as a  teacher  consistent  with  the  Illinois
    Professional  Teaching Standards and the Illinois Content
    Area Standards  in  the  certificate  holder's  areas  of
    certification,  endorsement,  or  teaching  assignment in
    order to keep the certificate  holder  current  in  those
    areas.
         (B)  Develop  the certificate holder's knowledge and
    skills  in  areas  determined  to  be  critical  for  all
    Illinois teachers, as  defined  by  the  State  Board  of
    Education, known as "State priorities".
         (C)  Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the
    certificate  holder's  local  school improvement plan, if
    the  teacher  is  employed  in  an  Illinois  public   or
    State-operated  elementary  school,  secondary school, or
    cooperative or joint agreement with a governing  body  or
    board of control.
         (D)  Expand  knowledge  and  skills in an additional
    teaching field  or  toward  the  acquisition  of  another
    teaching  certificate, endorsement, or relevant education
    degree.
A certificate renewal plan must include a description of  how
these goals are to be achieved and an explanation of selected
continuing   professional   development   activities   to  be
completed, each of  which  must  meet  one  or  more  of  the
continuing  professional  development  purposes  specified in
this  paragraph  (2).   The  plan  shall  identify  potential
activities  and  include  projected   timelines   for   those
activities that will assure completion of the plan before the
expiration  of  the  5-year validity of the Standard Teaching
Certificate.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection
(e), at least  50%  of  continuing  professional  development
units  must  relate to purposes (A) and (B) set forth in this
paragraph (2): the  advancement  of  a  certificate  holder's
knowledge  and  skills  as  a  teacher  consistent  with  the
Illinois  Professional  Teaching  Standards  and the Illinois
Content Area Standards in the certificate holder's  areas  of
certification,  endorsement,  or teaching assignment in order
to keep the certificate holder current in those areas and the
development of a certificate holder's knowledge and skills in
the State priorities that exist at the time  the  certificate
renewal plan is developed.
    (3)  Continuing   professional   development   activities
included  in  a certificate renewal plan may include, but are
not limited to, the following activities:
         (A)  at least 8 semester hours of coursework  in  an
    approved  education-related  program, of which at least 2
    semester hours  relate  to  the  continuing  professional
    development purpose set forth in purpose (A) of paragraph
    (2)  of  this  subsection  (e), provided that such a plan
    need  not  include  any  other  continuing   professional
    development  activities nor reflect or contain activities
    related to the other continuing professional  development
    purposes  set  forth  in paragraph (2) of this subsection
    (e);
         (B)  continuing education  units  that  satisfy  the
    continuing professional development purposes set forth in
    paragraph   (2)   of   this  subsection  (e),  with  each
    continuing  education  unit  equal  to  5  clock   hours,
    provided that a plan that includes at least 24 continuing
    education  units  (or  120  clock/contact hours) need not
    include any  other  continuing  professional  development
    activities;
         (C)  completion    of    the   National   Board   of
    Professional  Teaching   Standards   ("NBPTS")   process,
    provided  that  a  plan  that  includes completion of the
    NBPTS process  need  not  include  any  other  continuing
    professional   development   activities  nor  reflect  or
    contain activities related to the continuing professional
    development  purposes  set  forth  in  paragraph  (2)  of
    subsection (e) of this Section;
         (D)  completion  of  120   continuing   professional
    development    units    that   satisfy   the   continuing
    professional development purposes set forth in  paragraph
    (2)  of  this  subsection  (e)  and  may  include without
    limitation the activities identified in subdivisions  (E)
    through (I) of this paragraph (3);
         (E)  collaboration    and   partnership   activities
    related to improving the teacher's knowledge  and  skills
    as a teacher, including the following:
              (i)  participating  on  collaborative  planning
         and professional improvement teams and committees;
              (ii)  peer review and coaching;
              (iii)  mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
         including    service   as   a   consulting   teacher
         participating in a  remediation  process  formulated
         under Section 24A-5 of this Code;
              (iv)  participating in site-based management or
         decision  making teams, relevant committees, boards,
         or  task   forces   directly   related   to   school
         improvement plans;
              (v)  coordinating    community   resources   in
         schools, if the project is a specific  goal  of  the
         school improvement plan;
              (vi)  facilitating  parent  education  programs
         for a school, school district, or regional office of
         education directly related to student achievement or
         school improvement plans;
              (vii)  participating  in  business,  school, or
         community partnerships directly related  to  student
         achievement or school improvement plans;
              (viii)  supervising   a   student   teacher  or
         teacher education candidate in clinical supervision,
         provided that the supervision may  only  be  counted
         once during the course of 5 years;
         (F)  college  or  university  coursework  related to
    improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher
    as follows:
              (i)  completing   undergraduate   or   graduate
         credit   earned   from   a   regionally   accredited
         institution   in   coursework   relevant   to    the
         certificate   area   being   renewed,  provided  the
         coursework  meets  Illinois  Professional   Teaching
         Standards  or  Illinois  Content  Area Standards and
         supports the essential  characteristics  of  quality
         professional development; or
              (ii)  teaching college or university courses in
         areas   relevant   to  the  certificate  area  being
         renewed, provided that  the  teaching  may  only  be
         counted once during the course of 5 years;
         (G)  conferences,  workshops,  institutes, seminars,
    and  symposiums  related  to  improving   the   teacher's
    knowledge   and   skills  as  a  teacher,  including  the
    following:
              (i)  completing non-university credit  directly
         related  to  student achievement, school improvement
         plans, or State priorities;
              (ii)  participating   in   or   presenting   at
         workshops, seminars,  conferences,  institutes,  and
         symposiums;
              (iii)  training   as   external  reviewers  for
         Quality Assurance;
              (iv)  training  as  reviewers   of   university
         teacher preparation programs;
         (H)  other   educational   experiences   related  to
    improving  the  teacher's  knowledge  and  skills  as   a
    teacher, including the following:
              (i)  participating   in   action  research  and
         inquiry projects;
              (ii)  observing   programs   or   teaching   in
         schools, related businesses,  or  industry  that  is
         systematic,  purposeful, and relevant to certificate
         renewal;
              (iii)  traveling  related  to   ones   teaching
         assignment,  directly related to student achievement
         or school improvement plans and approved at least 30
         days prior to the travel experience,  provided  that
         the traveling shall not include time spent commuting
         to  destinations  where the learning experience will
         occur;
              (iv)  participating in study groups related  to
         student achievement or school improvement plans;
              (v)  serving  on  a statewide education-related
         committee, including but not limited  to  the  State
         Teacher   Certification   Board,   State   Board  of
         Education  strategic  agenda  teams,  or  the  State
         Advisory  Council  on  Education  of  Children  with
         Disabilities;
              (vi)  participating in work/learn  programs  or
         internships; or
         (I)  professional  leadership experiences related to
    improving  the  teacher's  knowledge  and  skills  as   a
    teacher, including the following:
              (i)  participating in curriculum development or
         assessment   activities   at   the   school,  school
         district, regional office of  education,  State,  or
         national level;
              (ii)  participating   in   team  or  department
         leadership in a school or school district;
              (iii)  participating on  external  or  internal
         school or school district review teams;
              (iv)  publishing educational articles, columns,
         or  books  relevant  to  the  certificate area being
         renewed; or
              (v)  participating   in   non-strike    related
         professional   association   or  labor  organization
         service  or  activities  related   to   professional
         development.
    (4)  A   certificate   renewal  plan  must  initially  be
approved  by  the  certificate  holder's  local  professional
development committee, as provided for in subsection  (f)  of
this   Section.    If   the  local  professional  development
committee does not approve the certificate renewal plan,  the
certificate  holder  may  appeal  that  determination  to the
regional  professional  development  review   committee,   as
provided  for  in  paragraph  (2)  of  subsection (g) of this
Section.  If the  regional  professional  development  review
committee  disagrees  with the local professional development
committee's determination, the certificate renewal plan shall
be deemed approved  and  the  certificate  holder  may  begin
satisfying the continuing professional development activities
set   forth  in  the  plan.   If  the  regional  professional
development  review   committee   agrees   with   the   local
professional   development   committee's  determination,  the
certificate renewal plan  shall  be  deemed  disapproved  and
shall  be  returned  to  the  certificate holder to develop a
revised certificate renewal plan.  In all cases, the regional
professional development review committee  shall  immediately
notify  both the local professional development committee and
the certificate holder of its determination.
    (5)  A  certificate  holder  who  wishes  to  modify  the
continuing professional development activities  or  goals  in
his  or her certificate renewal plan must submit the proposed
modifications to his or her  local  professional  development
committee  for  approval  prior  to  engaging in the proposed
activities.  If the local professional development  committee
does  not  approve the proposed modification, the certificate
holder  may  appeal  that  determination  to   the   regional
professional  development  review  committee, as set forth in
paragraph (4) of this subsection (e).
    (6)  When a certificate  holder  changes  assignments  or
school   districts   during   the   course  of  completing  a
certificate renewal plan, the  professional  development  and
continuing education credit earned pursuant to the plan shall
transfer  to  the new assignment or school district and count
toward the total requirements.  This certificate renewal plan
must  be  reviewed  by  the  appropriate  local  professional
development committee and may  be  modified  to  reflect  the
certificate  holder's  new  work  assignment  or  the  school
improvement  plan  of  the  new  school  district  or  school
building.
    (f)  Notwithstanding  any  other provisions of this Code,
each school district,  charter  school,  and  cooperative  or
joint  agreement  with  a  governing body or board of control
that  employs  certificated  staff,   shall   establish   and
implement,  in conjunction with its exclusive representative,
if  any,  one  or   more   local   professional   development
committees,  as set forth in this subsection (f), which shall
perform the following functions:
         (1)  review and approve  certificate  renewal  plans
    and  any  modifications  made  to  these plans, including
    transferred plans;
         (2)  maintain a file of approved certificate renewal
    plans;
         (3)  monitor  certificate   holders'   progress   in
    completing approved certificate renewal plans;
         (4)  assist   in  the  development  of  professional
    development  plans  based  upon   needs   identified   in
    certificate renewal plans;
         (5)  determine  whether certificate holders have met
    the requirements of their certificate renewal  plans  and
    notify certificate holders of its determination;
         (6)  provide   a   certificate   holder   with   the
    opportunity   to   address  the  committee  when  it  has
    determined that the certificate holder has  not  met  the
    requirements of his or her certificate renewal plan;
         (7)  issue  and  forward recommendations for renewal
    or nonrenewal of certificate holders'  Standard  Teaching
    Certificates  to  the appropriate regional superintendent
    of schools, based upon whether certificate  holders  have
    met   the  requirements  of  their  approved  certificate
    renewal  plans,  with  30-day  written  notice   of   its
    recommendation  provided  to the certificate holder prior
    to  forwarding  the  recommendation   to   the   regional
    superintendent  of  schools,  provided  that if the local
    professional development  committee's  recommendation  is
    for  certificate  nonrenewal, the written notice provided
    to the certificate holder shall include a return receipt;
    and
         (8)  reconsider its  recommendation  of  certificate
    nonrenewal, upon request of the certificate holder within
    30 days of receipt of written notification that the local
    professional  development  committee  will  make  such  a
    recommendation,    and    forward    to    the   regional
    superintendent of schools its  recommendation  within  30
    days of receipt of the certificate holder's request.
    Each   local  professional  development  committee  shall
consist of at least 3 classroom teachers; one  superintendent
or  chief  administrator  of  the  school  district,  charter
school,  or  cooperative  or  joint  agreement  or his or her
designee; and one at-large member who shall be either  (i)  a
parent,  (ii)  a  member  of  the business community, (iii) a
community member, or (iv) an administrator,  with  preference
given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
in   items   (i),   (ii),   and  (iii)  in  order  to  secure
representation of an interest not already represented on  the
committee.   If  mutually agreed upon by the school district,
charter school, or governing body or board of  control  of  a
cooperative    or   joint   agreement   and   its   exclusive
representative, if any, additional members may be added to  a
local  professional  development  committee,  provided that a
majority of  members  are  classroom  teachers.   The  school
district,  charter  school,  or  governing  body  or board of
control of a cooperative or joint agreement and its exclusive
representative, if any, shall determine the term  of  service
of the members of a local professional development committee.
All  individuals  selected  to  serve  on  local professional
development committees must be known to demonstrate the  best
practices in teaching or their respective field of practice.
    The  exclusive  representative,  if any, shall select the
classroom  teacher  members   of   the   local   professional
development   committee.    If  no  exclusive  representative
exists,  then  the  classroom  teacher  members  of  a  local
professional development committee shall be selected  by  the
classroom  teachers  that  come within the local professional
development  committee's  authority.   The  school  district,
charter school, or governing body or board of  control  of  a
cooperative   or   joint   agreement   shall   select  the  2
non-classroom teacher members (the  superintendent  or  chief
administrator  of  the  school  district,  charter school, or
cooperative or joint agreement or his or her designee and the
at-large  member)  of  a   local   professional   development
committee.   Vacancies  in  positions on a local professional
development committee shall be filled in the same  manner  as
the original selections.  The members of a local professional
development  committee  shall  select  a  chairperson.  Local
professional  development   committee   meetings   shall   be
scheduled  so  as  not  to  interfere with committee members'
regularly scheduled teaching duties,  except  when  otherwise
permitted  by the policies of or agreed to or approved by the
school district, charter school, or governing body  or  board
of  control  of  a  cooperative  or  joint  agreement, or its
designee.
    The board of education or governing board  shall  convene
the  first  meeting  of  the  local  professional development
committee.  All  actions  taken  by  the  local  professional
development  committee  shall  require  that  a  majority  of
committee  members be present, and no committee action may be
taken unless  50%  or  more  of  those  present  are  teacher
members.
    The  State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State Teacher
Certification Board shall jointly provide local  professional
development committee members with a training manual, and the
members  shall  certify  that they have received and read the
manual.
    Notwithstanding any other provisions of  this  subsection
(f),  for  a  teacher  employed  and performing services in a
nonpublic or State-operated elementary or  secondary  school,
all  references to a local professional development committee
shall mean the regional  superintendent  of  schools  of  the
regional  office  of  education for the geographic area where
the teaching is done.
    (g)(1)  Each regional  superintendent  of  schools  shall
review  and  concur or nonconcur with each recommendation for
renewal or nonrenewal of a Standard Teaching  Certificate  he
or   she  receives  from  a  local  professional  development
committee  or,  if   a   certificate   holder   appeals   the
recommendation   to  the  regional  professional  development
review  committee,  the   recommendation   for   renewal   or
nonrenewal  he  or  she receives from a regional professional
development review committee and, within 14 days  of  receipt
of  the  recommendation,  shall  provide  the  State  Teacher
Certification  Board  with  verification of the following, if
applicable:
         (A)  a  certificate  renewal  plan  was  filed   and
    approved    by   the   appropriate   local   professional
    development committee;
         (B)  the  professional  development  and  continuing
    education  activities   set   forth   in   the   approved
    certificate   renewal   plan   have  been  satisfactorily
    completed;
         (C)  the local  professional  development  committee
    has  recommended  the renewal of the certificate holder's
    Standard   Teaching   Certificate   and   forwarded   the
    recommendation, along with all  supporting  documentation
    as  jointly  required by the State Board of Education and
    the State Teacher Certification Board,  to  the  regional
    superintendent of schools;
         (D)  the  certificate holder has appealed his or her
    local professional development committee's recommendation
    of nonrenewal to the  regional  professional  development
    review committee and the result of that appeal;
         (E)  the  regional  superintendent  of  schools  has
    concurred  or  nonconcurred  with  the local professional
    development   committee's   or   regional    professional
    development review committee's recommendation to renew or
    nonrenew   the  certificate  holder's  Standard  Teaching
    Certificate and made a recommendation to that effect; and
         (F)  the  established  registration  fee   for   the
    Standard Teaching Certificate has been paid.
At  the  same  time  the  regional  superintendent of schools
provides the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board  with  the
notice  required by this subsection (g), he or she shall also
notify the certificate holder in writing that this notice has
been provided  to  the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board,
provided   that  if  the  notice  provided  by  the  regional
superintendent of schools to the State Teacher  Certification
Board  includes  a  recommendation of certificate nonrenewal,
the written notice provided to the certificate  holder  shall
be by certified mail, return receipt requested.
    (2)  Each  certificate  holder  shall  have  the right to
appeal his or her local professional development  committee's
recommendation  of  nonrenewal  to  the regional professional
development review committee, within 14 days  of  receipt  of
notice  that the recommendation has been sent to the regional
superintendent of schools.  Each regional  superintendent  of
schools  shall  establish a regional professional development
review committee or committees for the  purpose  of  advising
the  regional  superintendent  of  schools, upon request, and
handling certificate holder appeals.   This  committee  shall
consist    of    at   least   4   classroom   teachers,   one
non-administrative  certificated  educational   employee,   2
administrators,  and  one at-large member who shall be either
(i) a parent, (ii) a member of the business community,  (iii)
a community member, or (iv) an administrator, with preference
given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
in   items   (i),   (ii),   and  (iii)  in  order  to  secure
representation of an interest not already represented on  the
committee.   The  teacher and non-administrative certificated
educational employee members of the review committee shall be
selected by their exclusive representative, if any,  and  the
administrators  and  at-large member shall be selected by the
regional   superintendent    of    schools.     A    regional
superintendent  of  schools may add additional members to the
committee, provided that the same proportion of  teachers  to
administrators  and  at-large  members  on  the  committee is
maintained.  Any additional  teacher  and  non-administrative
certificated  educational  employee members shall be selected
by their exclusive  representative,  if  any.   Vacancies  in
positions  on  a  regional  professional  development  review
committee  shall be filled in the same manner as the original
selections.  Committee members shall serve  staggered  3-year
terms.    All  individuals  selected  to  serve  on  regional
professional development review committees must be  known  to
demonstrate   the   best   practices  in  teaching  or  their
respective field of practice.
    The exclusive representative responsible for choosing the
individuals that serve on a regional professional development
review committee shall notify each school  district,  charter
school,   or   governing  body  or  board  of  control  of  a
cooperative or  joint  agreement  employing  the  individuals
chosen  to  serve  and provide their names to the appropriate
regional superintendent of  schools.   Regional  professional
development  review  committee meetings shall be scheduled so
as not to interfere with  the  committee  members'  regularly
scheduled teaching duties, except when otherwise permitted by
the  policies  of  or  agreed  to  or  approved by the school
district, charter school,  or  governing  body  or  board  of
control of a cooperative or joint agreement, or its designee,
provided   that  the  school  district,  charter  school,  or
governing body or board of  control  shall  not  unreasonably
withhold permission for a committee member to attend regional
professional development review committee meetings.
    In a city having a population exceeding 500,000 that does
not have a regional office of education, one or more separate
regional  professional development review committees shall be
established as mutually agreed upon by the board of education
of the school district organized under  Article  34  of  this
Code  and  the  exclusive representative.  The composition of
each  committee  shall  be  the  same  as  for   a   regional
professional   development   review  committee,  except  that
members of the committee shall be jointly  appointed  by  the
board  of  education  and  the  exclusive representative. All
other  provisions  of  this   Section   concerning   regional
professional  development  review  committees  shall apply to
these committees.
    The regional professional  development  review  committee
may  require  information in addition to that received from a
certificate holder's local professional development committee
or request that the  certificate  holder  appear  before  it,
shall  either  concur  or nonconcur with a local professional
development committee's  recommendation  of  nonrenewal,  and
shall  forward  to the regional superintendent of schools its
recommendation of renewal or nonrenewal.  All  actions  taken
by  the  regional  professional  development review committee
shall require a quorum and be by a simple majority  of  those
present  and  voting.    A  record  of  all  votes  shall  be
maintained.  The committee shall have 45 days from receipt of
a  certificate  holder's appeal to make its recommendation to
the regional superintendent of schools.
    The State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State  Teacher
Certification    Board   shall   jointly   provide   regional
professional development  review  committee  members  with  a
training  manual, and the members shall be required to attend
one training seminar sponsored jointly by the State Board  of
Education and the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (h)(1)  The   State  Teacher  Certification  Board  shall
review    the    regional    superintendent    of    schools'
recommendations  to  renew  or  nonrenew  Standard   Teaching
Certificates   and  notify  certificate  holders  in  writing
whether their certificates have been  renewed  or  nonrenewed
within  90  days  of receipt of the recommendations, unless a
certificate holder has appealed a regional superintendent  of
schools'   recommendation   of  nonrenewal,  as  provided  in
paragraph (2) of this  subsection  (h).   The  State  Teacher
Certification  Board shall verify that the certificate holder
has met the renewal criteria set forth in  paragraph  (1)  of
subsection (g) of this Section.
    (2)  Each  certificate  holder  shall  have  the right to
appeal a regional superintendent of  school's  recommendation
to  nonrenew  his or her Standard Teaching Certificate to the
State Teacher Certification Board, within 14 days of  receipt
of  notice  that  the  decision  has  been  sent to the State
Teacher Certification  Board,  which  shall  hold  an  appeal
hearing  within  60 days of receipt of the appeal.  When such
an  appeal  is  taken,  the  certificate  holder's   Standard
Teaching  Certificate  shall  continue  to be valid until the
appeal   is   finally   determined.    The   State    Teacher
Certification  Board shall review the regional superintendent
of  school's  recommendation,   the   regional   professional
development  review  committee's  recommendation, if any, and
the local professional development committee's recommendation
and  all  relevant  documentation  to  verify   whether   the
certificate  holder has met the renewal criteria set forth in
paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this Section.   The  State
Teacher  Certification Board may request that the certificate
holder appear before it.  All  actions  taken  by  the  State
Teacher  Certification Board shall require a quorum and be by
a simple majority of those present and voting.  A  record  of
all   votes   shall   be   maintained.    The  State  Teacher
Certification Board shall notify the  certificate  holder  in
writing,  within 7 days of completing the review, whether his
or her Standard Teaching  Certificate  has  been  renewed  or
nonrenewed,  provided that if the State Teacher Certification
Board determines  to  nonrenew  a  certificate,  the  written
notice  provided  to  the  certificate  holder  shall  be  by
certified  mail,  return  receipt requested.  All certificate
renewal  or  nonrenewal  decisions  of  the   State   Teacher
Certification  Board  are final and subject to administrative
review, as set forth in Section 21-24 of this Code.
    (i)  Holders of Master Teaching Certificates  shall  meet
the  same  requirements  and  follow  the  same procedures as
holders of Standard Teaching Certificates, except that  their
renewal  cycle  shall  be  as  set forth in subsection (d) of
Section 21-2 of this Code.
    (j)  Holders of Valid  and  Exempt  Standard  and  Master
Teaching  Certificates  who  are  not employed and performing
services in an Illinois public or  State-operated  elementary
school,  secondary  school, or cooperative or joint agreement
with a governing body or board of control, in a  certificated
teaching    position,    may   voluntarily   activate   their
certificates  by  developing  and  submitting  a  certificate
renewal plan to the regional superintendent of schools of the
regional office of education for the  geographic  area  where
their teaching is done, who, or whose designee, shall approve
the   plan  and  serve  as  the  certificate  holder's  local
professional  development   committee.    These   certificate
holders shall follow the same renewal criteria and procedures
as   all  other  Standard  and  Master  Teaching  Certificate
holders,   except   that   their   continuing    professional
development plans shall not be required to reflect or address
the   knowledge,   skills,   and  goals  of  a  local  school
improvement plan.
    (k)  Each school district, charter school, or cooperative
or joint agreement shall be paid an annual amount of not less
than $1,000, as determined by a formula based on  the  number
of Standard Teaching and Master Teaching Certificate holders,
subject  to  renewal  and  established by rule, not to exceed
$1,000,000  annually  for  all  school   districts,   charter
schools,   and   cooperatives   or   joint   agreements,  for
administrative costs associated with conducting the  meetings
of   the  local  professional  development  committee.   Each
regional office of education shall receive $2,000 annually to
pay school districts, charter  schools,  or  cooperatives  or
joint  agreements  for costs, as defined by rule, incurred in
staff attendance at regional professional development  review
committee  meetings  and  the training seminar required under
paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of this Section.
    (l)  The State Board of Education and the  State  Teacher
Certification   Board   shall   jointly   contract   with  an
independent party to conduct a  comprehensive  evaluation  of
the certificate renewal system pursuant to this Section.  The
first  report  of  this  evaluation shall be presented to the
General Assembly on January 1, 2005 and on January 1 of every
third year thereafter.
(Source: P.A. 90-548,  eff.  1-1-98;  90-653,  eff.  7-29-98;
90-811, eff. 1-26-99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-16)
    Sec. 21-16. Fees - Requirement for registration.
    (a)  Until February 15, 2000, every applicant when issued
a  certificate  shall  pay  to the regional superintendent of
schools a fee of $1, which shall be paid into  the  institute
fund.  Every  certificate issued under the provisions of this
Act shall be registered annually or, at  the  option  of  the
holder  of  the certificate, once every 3 years. The regional
superintendent of schools having supervision and control over
the school where the teaching  is  done  shall  register  the
certificate  before  the holder begins to teach, otherwise it
shall be registered in any county in the State  of  Illinois;
and one fee of $4 per year for registration or renewal of one
or  more  certificates  which  have  been  issued to the same
holder shall be paid into the institute fund.
    Until February 15, 2000, requirements for registration of
any certificate limited in time  shall  include  evidence  of
professional growth defined as successful teaching experience
since   last   registration  of  certificate,  attendance  at
professional    meetings,    membership    in    professional
organizations,  additional  credits  earned   in   recognized
teacher-training   institutions,   travel   specifically  for
educational experience, reading  of  professional  books  and
periodicals,  filing  all reports as required by the regional
superintendent of schools and  the  State  Superintendent  of
Education   or   such   other   professional   experience  or
combination of experiences as are presented  by  the  teacher
and  are approved by the State Superintendent of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher  Certification  Board.  A
duplicate  certificate may be issued to the holder of a valid
life certificate or valid certificate limited in time by  the
State  Superintendent of Education; however, it shall only be
issued upon request of a regional superintendent  of  schools
and  upon  payment  to the regional superintendent of schools
who requests such duplicate a fee of $4.
    (b)  Beginning February 15, 2000,  all  persons  who  are
issued  Standard Teaching Certificates pursuant clause (2) of
subsection (c) of Section 21-2  and  all  persons  who  renew
Standard  Teaching  Certificates  shall  pay  a  $25  fee for
registration of all certificates held.  All persons  who  are
issued  Standard  Teaching  Certificates  under clause (1) of
subsection (c) of Section 21-2 and all other  applicants  for
Standard   Teaching   Certificates   shall  pay  an  original
application fee, pursuant to Section 21-12, and a $25 fee for
registration of all certificates  held.   These  certificates
shall  be registered and the registration fee paid once every
5  years.   Standard  Teaching  Certificate  applicants   and
holders  shall  not be required to pay any other registration
fees for issuance or renewal of their certificates, except as
provided in Section 21-17 of this Code.   Beginning  February
15,  2000,  Master  Teaching Certificates shall be issued and
renewed upon payment by the applicant or  certificate  holder
of  a  $50  fee  for  registration  of all certificates held.
These certificates shall be registered and the fee paid  once
every  10  years.  Master Teaching Certificate applicants and
holders shall not be required to pay any other application or
registration  fees  for  issuance   or   renewal   of   their
certificates,  except  as  provided  in Section 21-17 of this
Code.  All other certificates issued under the provisions  of
this  Code shall be registered for the validity period of the
certificate at the rate of $5 per year for the  total  number
of  years for which the certificate is valid for registration
of all certificates held, or for a maximum  of  5  years  for
life  certificates.   The  regional superintendent of schools
having supervision and control  over  the  school  where  the
teaching  is  done  shall register the certificate before the
holder begins to teach, otherwise it shall be  registered  in
any  county  in  the State of Illinois. Each holder shall pay
the   appropriate   registration   fee   to   the    regional
superintendent  of  schools.   The regional superintendent of
schools  shall  deposit  the  registration  fees   into   the
institute  fund.   Any certificate holder who teaches in more
than  one  educational  service  region  shall  register  the
certificate or certificates in all regions where the teaching
is done, but shall be required to pay  one  registration  fee
for  all  certificates held, provided holders of certificates
issued pursuant  to  Section  21-9  of  this  Code  shall  be
required  to  pay  one  registration fee, in each educational
service  region  in  which  his   or   her   certificate   or
certificates are registered, for all certificates held.
    A  duplicate certificate may be issued to the holder of a
valid life certificate or valid certificate limited  in  time
by  the  State Superintendent of Education; however, it shall
only be issued upon request of a regional  superintendent  of
schools  and  upon  payment to the regional superintendent of
schools who requests the duplicate a fee of $4,  which  shall
be deposited into the institute fund.
(Source: P.A. 87-745.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-17)
    Sec.  21-17.  Fee for original and duplicate certificate.
A  duplicate  certificate  shall  be  issued  by  the   State
Superintendent  of  Education  when requested by the regional
superintendent of schools as provided in Section  21-16.  The
request for a duplicate certificate shall be accompanied by a
fee  of  $4,  which  shall  be  deposited  into  the  Teacher
Certificate Fee Revolving Fund.
(Source: P.A. 81-940.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-21)
    Sec.   21-21.    Definitions;  granting  of  recognition;
regional accreditation).
    (a)  "Recognized", as used in this Article in  connection
with  the  word "school" or "institution", means such school,
college, university, private junior college, public community
college or special or technical  school  as  maintains  a  an
equipment,  course  of  study,  a standard of scholarship and
other requirements set by the State  Board  of  Education  in
consultation  with  the  State  Teacher  Certification Board.
Application for recognition of such school or institution  as
a teacher education training institution shall be made to the
State  Board  of  Education.  The State Board of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall
set the criteria by which the school or institution shall  be
judged  and  through the Secretary of the Board shall arrange
for an official inspection and  shall  grant  recognition  of
such   school   or  institution  as  may  meet  the  required
standards.   If  such  standards  include  requirements  with
regard  to  education  in  acquiring  skills  in working with
culturally distinctive students,  as  defined  by  the  State
Board  of  Education,  then  the  rules of the State Board of
Education  shall  include  the  criteria  used  to   evaluate
compliance  with  this  requirement. No school or institution
shall make assignments of student teachers  or  teachers  for
practice  teaching  so as to promote segregation on the basis
of race, creed, color, religion, sex or national origin.
    All recommendations for initial or standard certification
shall be made All courses listed or credentials  required  as
the  basis of any certificate or for its renewal shall be the
equivalent  of  courses  offered  by  a  recognized   teacher
training  institution  operating a program of preparation for
the certificate  approved  by  the  State  Superintendent  of
Education    in   consultation   with   the   State   Teacher
Certification  Board.  The  State  Board  of   Education   in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall
have  the  power  to  define  a major or minor when used as a
basis for recognition and certification purposes.
    (b)  "Regionally accredited" or "accredited" as  used  in
this  Article  in connection with a university or institution
shall mean an institution of higher education  accredited  by
the  North  Central  Association or other comparable regional
accrediting association.
(Source: P.A. 84-793.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-25) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-25)
    Sec.  21-25.   School  service   personnel   certificate.
Subject  to the provisions of Section 21-1a, a school service
personnel certificate shall be issued to those applicants  of
good  character,  good health, a citizen of the United States
and at least 19 years of age who  have  a  Bachelor's  degree
with  not  fewer  than  120  semester hours from a regionally
accredited recognized institution of higher learning and  who
meets    the    requirements   established   by   the   State
Superintendent of Education in consultation  with  the  State
Teacher  Certification  Board.   A  school  service personnel
certificate with a school nurse endorsement may be issued  to
a  person  who  holds  a  bachelor  of science degree from an
institution  of  higher  learning  accredited  by  the  North
Central Association or other comparable regional  accrediting
association.    Persons  seeking any other endorsement on the
school service personnel certificate shall be recommended for
the endorsement by a recognized teacher education institution
as having completed a program of preparation approved by  the
State  Superintendent  of  Education in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board.
    Such certificate shall  be  endorsed  with  the  area  of
Service   as   determined  by  the  State  Superintendent  of
Education   in   consultation   with   the   State    Teacher
Certification Board.
    The  holder  of such certificate shall be entitled to all
of the rights and  privileges  granted  holders  of  a  valid
teaching    certificate,    including    teacher    benefits,
compensation and working conditions.
    When the holder of such certificate has earned a master's
degree,  including  8 semester hours of graduate professional
education from a recognized institution of  higher  learning,
and  has  at  least  2  years of successful school experience
while  holding  such  certificate,  the  certificate  may  be
endorsed for supervision.
(Source: P.A. 88-386.)

    (105 ILCS 5/34-83) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-83)
    Sec.  34-83.   Board  of  examiners  -   Certificates   -
Examinations.  A  board  of  3  examiners  shall  examine all
applicants required to hold certificates  to  teach  and  the
board of education shall issue gratuitously to those who pass
a   required  test  of  character,  scholarship  and  general
fitness,  such  certificates  to  teach  as  they  are  found
entitled to receive. No person may be granted or continue  to
hold  a  teaching  certificate  who  has knowingly altered or
misrepresented his or her teaching qualifications in order to
acquire the certificate.  Any other certificate held by  such
person may be suspended or revoked by the board of examiners,
depending   upon   the   severity   of   the   alteration  or
misrepresentation. The board of examiners  shall  consist  of
the  general superintendent of schools and 2 persons approved
and appointed by the board of education upon  the  nomination
of  the  general  superintendent  of  schools.  The  board of
examiners shall  hold  such  examinations  as  the  board  of
education  may  prescribe,  upon  the  recommendation  of the
general superintendent  of  schools  and  shall  prepare  all
necessary  eligible  lists, which shall be kept in the office
of the general superintendent  of  schools  and  be  open  to
public  inspection.  Members  of the board of examiners shall
hold office for a term of 2 years.
    The  board  of  examiners  created  herein  is  abolished
effective July 1, 1988.  Commencing July  1,  1988,  all  new
teachers   employed   by   the   board  shall  hold  teaching
certificates issued by the State Teacher Certification  Board
under   Article   21.    The  State  Board  of  Education  in
consultation with  the  board  of  examiners  and  the  State
Teacher  Certification Board shall develop procedures whereby
teachers currently holding valid certificates issued  by  the
board  of  examiners,  and all teachers employed by the board
after August 1, 1985 and prior to  July  1,  1988,  shall  no
later  than  July 1, 1988 exchange certificates issued by the
board of examiners for comparable certificates issued by  the
State  Teacher  Certification  Board.   On  the exchange of a
certificate on or before July  1,  1988,  the  State  Teacher
Certification   Board   shall   not  require  any  additional
qualifications   for   the   issuance   of   the   comparable
certificate. If prior to July 1, 1988 the board of  examiners
has  issued  types  of  teaching  certificates  which are not
comparable to the types of certificates issued by  the  State
Teacher Certification Board, such certificates shall continue
to  be  valid  for  and  shall  be  renewable  by the holders
thereof, and no additional qualifications shall  be  required
by  the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board  for  any  such
renewal;  however,  no  individual  who  received a letter of
continuing eligibility shall be issued an Initial or Standard
Teaching Certificate, as provided in  Section  21-2  of  this
Code,  unless  that  individual  also  holds such a valid and
renewable certificate.
    The State Board of Education  shall  report  by  July  1,
1986,  to the Illinois General Assembly on the procedures for
exchange it has developed in consultation with the  board  of
examiners  and  the  State  Teacher  Certification  Board  as
required in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21-11 rep.)
    Section  10.  The  School  Code  is  amended by repealing
Section 21-11.

    Section 90.  The State Mandates Act is amended by  adding
Section 8.23 as follows:

    (30 ILCS 805/8.23 new)
    Sec.  8.23.  Exempt  mandate.  Notwithstanding Sections 6
and 8 of this Act and except  for  the  payment  provided  in
subsection  (k)  of  Section  21-14  of  the  School Code, no
reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation
of any mandate created by this amendatory  Act  of  the  91st
General Assembly.

    Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect July
1, 1999.

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