Bill Text: IL SB0010 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code to allow a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations to be issued to an applicant who, among other qualifications, has passed a paraprofessional competency test (instead of allowing the endorsement to be issued only if the applicant holds an associate's degree or a minimum number of higher education credits). Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the test. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the Code to require charter school employees in instructional positions to have passed a content area knowledge test. Makes changes concerning obsolete language. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-5)

Status: (Passed) 2020-02-19 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Terry Link [SB0010 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SB0010-Enrolled.html



SB0010 EnrolledLRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
521B-20, 21B-30, and 27A-10 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
7 Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of
8Education shall implement a system of educator licensure,
9whereby individuals employed in school districts who are
10required to be licensed must have one of the following
11licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an educator
12license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute teaching
13license; or (iv) until June 30, 2023, a short-term substitute
14teaching license. References in law regarding individuals
15certified or certificated or required to be certified or
16certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall also include
17individuals licensed or required to be licensed under this
18Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June 30
19following one full year of the license being issued.
20 The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
21State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
22rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for
23licenses and endorsements under this Section.

SB0010 Enrolled- 2 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
2 have successfully completed an approved educator
3 preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
4 the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
5 program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
6 testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
7 successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
8 the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
9 the exceptional child, including without limitation
10 children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
11 successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
12 and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other
13 criteria established by rule of the State Board of
14 Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License.
15 All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30
16 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued.
17 The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with
18 specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is
19 eligible to practice. For an early childhood education
20 endorsement, an individual may satisfy the student
21 teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher
22 preparation program through placement in a setting with
23 children from birth through grade 2, and the individual may
24 be paid and receive credit while student teaching. The
25 student teaching experience must meet the requirements of
26 and be approved by the individual's early childhood teacher

SB0010 Enrolled- 3 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 preparation program.
2 Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
3 Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
4 shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
5 in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable
6 content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
7 (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
8 License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
9 that limits the license holder to one particular position
10 or does not require completion of an approved educator
11 program or both.
12 An individual with an Educator License with
13 Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
14 any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
15 who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
16 An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
17 with the following endorsements:
18 (A) (Blank).
19 (B) Alternative provisional educator. An
20 alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
21 Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
22 applicant who, at the time of applying for the
23 endorsement, has done all of the following:
24 (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
25 college or university with a minimum of a
26 bachelor's degree.

SB0010 Enrolled- 4 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 (ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
2 the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
3 Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
4 Code.
5 (iii) Passed a content area test, as required
6 under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
7 The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
8 valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a
9 third year by an individual meeting the requirements set
10 forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
11 (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
12 alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
13 an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
14 holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
15 superintendent in a school district's central office.
16 This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
17 who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
18 done all of the following:
19 (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
20 college or university with a minimum of a master's
21 degree in a management field other than education.
22 (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
23 years in a management level position in a field
24 other than education.
25 (iii) Successfully completed the first phase
26 of an alternative route to superintendent

SB0010 Enrolled- 5 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
2 of this Code.
3 (iv) Passed a content area test required under
4 Section 21B-30 of this Code.
5 The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
6 order to complete one full year of serving as a
7 superintendent or assistant superintendent.
8 (D) (Blank).
9 (E) Career and technical educator. A career and
10 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
11 with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has
12 a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
13 regionally accredited institution of higher education
14 or an accredited trade and technical institution and
15 has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of
16 education in each area to be taught.
17 The career and technical educator endorsement on
18 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
19 June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
20 endorsement being issued and may be renewed. For
21 individuals who were issued the career and technical
22 educator endorsement on an Educator License with
23 Stipulations on or after January 1, 2015, the license
24 may be renewed if the individual passes a test of work
25 proficiency, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
26 Code.

SB0010 Enrolled- 6 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 An individual who holds a valid career and
2 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
3 with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree
4 may substitute teach in career and technical education
5 classrooms.
6 (F) Part-time provisional career and technical
7 educator or provisional career and technical educator.
8 A part-time provisional career and technical educator
9 endorsement or a provisional career and technical
10 educator endorsement on an Educator License with
11 Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a
12 minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill
13 for which the applicant is seeking the endorsement. It
14 is the responsibility of each employing school board
15 and regional office of education to provide
16 verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent
17 of Education at the time the application is submitted
18 that no qualified teacher holding a Professional
19 Educator License or an Educator License with
20 Stipulations with a career and technical educator
21 endorsement is available and that actual circumstances
22 require such issuance.
23 The provisional career and technical educator
24 endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
25 is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of
26 the endorsement being issued and may be renewed for 5

SB0010 Enrolled- 7 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 years. For individuals who were issued the provisional
2 career and technical educator endorsement on an
3 Educator License with Stipulations on or after January
4 1, 2015, the license may be renewed if the individual
5 passes a test of work proficiency, as required under
6 Section 21B-30 of this Code.
7 A part-time provisional career and technical
8 educator endorsement on an Educator License with
9 Stipulations may be issued for teaching no more than 2
10 courses of study for grades 6 through 12. The part-time
11 provisional career and technical educator endorsement
12 on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
13 June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
14 endorsement being issued and may be renewed for 5 years
15 if the individual makes application for renewal.
16 An individual who holds a provisional or part-time
17 provisional career and technical educator endorsement
18 on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not
19 hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in career
20 and technical education classrooms.
21 (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
22 transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
23 Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
24 the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
25 with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
26 provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all

SB0010 Enrolled- 8 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 of the following requirements:
2 (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
3 writing ability in the language other than English
4 in which transitional bilingual education is
5 offered.
6 (ii) Has the ability to successfully
7 communicate in English.
8 (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
9 previous to his or her applying for a transitional
10 bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
11 comparable teaching certificate or comparable
12 authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
13 a degree from an institution of higher learning in
14 a foreign country that the State Educator
15 Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
16 the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
17 regionally accredited institution of higher
18 learning in the United States.
19 A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
20 shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12, is
21 valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of
22 the endorsement being issued, and shall not be renewed.
23 Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
24 endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
25 presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
26 replaced for any reason.

SB0010 Enrolled- 9 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
2 alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
3 other than English in the public schools, an individual
4 who holds an Educator License with Stipulations may
5 also apply for a language endorsement, provided that
6 the applicant provides satisfactory evidence that he
7 or she meets all of the following requirements:
8 (i) Holds a transitional bilingual
9 endorsement.
10 (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
11 language for which the endorsement is to be issued
12 by passing the applicable language content test
13 required by the State Board of Education.
14 (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
15 a regionally accredited institution of higher
16 education or, for individuals educated in a
17 country other than the United States, holds a
18 degree from an institution of higher learning in a
19 foreign country that the State Educator
20 Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
21 the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
22 regionally accredited institution of higher
23 learning in the United States.
24 (iv) (Blank).
25 A language endorsement on an Educator License with
26 Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through

SB0010 Enrolled- 10 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 grade 12 for the same validity period as the
2 individual's transitional bilingual educator
3 endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
4 and shall not be renewed.
5 (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
6 international educator endorsement on an Educator
7 License with Stipulations may be issued to an
8 individual who is being recruited by a particular
9 school district that conducts formal recruitment
10 programs outside of the United States to secure the
11 services of qualified teachers and who meets all of the
12 following requirements:
13 (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
14 bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
15 (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
16 grade level for which he or she will be employed.
17 (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
18 subject to be taught.
19 (iv) Has an adequate command of the English
20 language.
21 A holder of a visiting international educator
22 endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
23 shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
24 programs in the language that was the medium of
25 instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
26 provided that he or she passes the English Language

SB0010 Enrolled- 11 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
2 skills in English identified by the State Board of
3 Education, in consultation with the State Educator
4 Preparation and Licensure Board.
5 A visiting international educator endorsement on
6 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 3
7 years and shall not be renewed.
8 (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
9 educator endorsement on an Educator License with
10 Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
11 high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
12 either holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
13 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
14 institution of higher education or has passed a
15 paraprofessional competency test under subsection
16 (c-5) of Section 21B-30. The paraprofessional educator
17 endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately
18 following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and
19 may be renewed through application and payment of the
20 appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of
21 this Code. An individual who holds only a
22 paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject
23 to additional requirements in order to renew the
24 endorsement.
25 (K) Chief school business official. A chief school
26 business official endorsement on an Educator License

SB0010 Enrolled- 12 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
2 qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
3 years of full-time administrative experience in school
4 business management or 2 years of university-approved
5 practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
6 hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
7 State Board of Education for the preparation of school
8 business administrators and by passage of the
9 applicable State tests, including an applicable
10 content area test.
11 The chief school business official endorsement may
12 also be affixed to the Educator License with
13 Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
14 master's degree in business administration, finance,
15 accounting, or public administration and who completes
16 an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school
17 business management from a regionally accredited
18 institution of higher education and passes the
19 applicable State tests, including an applicable
20 content area test. This endorsement shall be required
21 for any individual employed as a chief school business
22 official.
23 The chief school business official endorsement on
24 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
25 June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
26 endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the

SB0010 Enrolled- 13 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 license holder completes renewal requirements as
2 required for individuals who hold a Professional
3 Educator License endorsed for chief school business
4 official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
5 rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
6 Education.
7 The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
8 necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
9 (L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
10 in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
11 with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
12 completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
13 program at an Illinois institution of higher education
14 and who has not successfully completed an
15 evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
16 who meets all of the following requirements:
17 (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
18 (ii) Has completed an approved educator
19 preparation program at an Illinois institution.
20 (iii) Has passed an applicable content area
21 test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
22 (iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
23 assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
24 minimum score on that assessment, as established
25 by the State Board of Education in consultation
26 with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure

SB0010 Enrolled- 14 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 Board.
2 A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
3 Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one
4 full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
5 be renewed.
6 (M) School support personnel intern. A school
7 support personnel intern endorsement on an Educator
8 License with Stipulations may be issued as specified by
9 rule.
10 (N) Special education area. A special education
11 area endorsement on an Educator License with
12 Stipulations may be issued as defined and specified by
13 rule.
14 (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
15 License may be issued to qualified applicants for
16 substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
17 prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
18 Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
19 a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's degree
20 or higher from a regionally accredited institution of
21 higher education.
22 Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
23 Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
24 teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
25 has had his or her Professional Educator License or
26 Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked,

SB0010 Enrolled- 15 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 then that individual is not eligible to obtain a Substitute
2 Teaching License.
3 A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
4 licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
5 board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under
6 contract because of an emergency situation, then a district
7 may employ a substitute teacher for no longer than 30
8 calendar days per each vacant position in the district if
9 the district notifies the appropriate regional office of
10 education within 5 business days after the employment of
11 the substitute teacher in the emergency situation. An
12 emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy
13 has occurred and (i) a teacher is unable to fulfill his or
14 her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of
15 the district exceed previous indications, and the district
16 is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed
17 teacher for the vacant position.
18 There is no limit on the number of days that a
19 substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
20 provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
21 than 90 school days for any one licensed teacher under
22 contract in the same school year. A substitute teacher who
23 holds a Professional Educator License or Educator License
24 with Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school
25 days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
26 same school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on

SB0010 Enrolled- 16 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 the number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do
2 not apply to any school district operating under Article 34
3 of this Code.
4 A school district may not require an individual who
5 holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator
6 License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute
7 Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
8 (4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
9 on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2023, the State Board of
10 Education may issue a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
11 License. A Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may be
12 issued to a qualified applicant for substitute teaching in
13 all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through
14 grade 12. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not
15 eligible for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term
16 Substitute Teaching License must hold an associate's
17 degree or have completed at least 60 credit hours from a
18 regionally accredited institution of higher education.
19 Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
20 substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an
21 individual has had his or her Professional Educator License
22 or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or
23 revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
24 Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.
25 The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this
26 Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.

SB0010 Enrolled- 17 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
2 License may teach no more than 5 consecutive days per
3 licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher
4 absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who is
5 under contract, a school district may not hire an
6 individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
7 License. An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute
8 Teaching License must complete the training program under
9 Section 10-20.67 or 34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to
10 teach at a public school. This paragraph (4) is inoperative
11 on and after July 1, 2023.
12(Source: P.A. 100-8, eff. 7-1-17; 100-13, eff. 7-1-17; 100-288,
13eff. 8-24-17; 100-596, eff. 7-1-18; 100-821, eff. 9-3-18;
14100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-220, eff.
158-7-19.)
16 (105 ILCS 5/21B-30)
17 Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing.
18 (a) (Blank). This Section applies beginning on July 1,
192012.
20 (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
21State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design
22and implement a system of examinations, which shall be required
23prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These examinations
24and indicators must be based on national and State professional
25teaching standards, as determined by the State Board of

SB0010 Enrolled- 18 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
2and Licensure Board. The State Board of Education may adopt
3such rules as may be necessary to implement and administer this
4Section.
5 (c) (Blank).
6 (c-5) The State Board must adopt rules to implement a
7paraprofessional competency test. This test would allow an
8applicant seeking an Educator License with Stipulations with a
9paraprofessional educator endorsement to obtain the
10endorsement if he or she passes the test and meets the other
11requirements of subparagraph (J) of paragraph (2) of Section
1221B-20 other than the higher education requirements.
13 (d) All applicants seeking a State license shall be
14required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area
15of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. There
16shall be no exception to this requirement. No candidate shall
17be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record
18until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.
19 (e) (Blank).
20 (f) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, beginning
21on September 1, 2015, all candidates completing teacher
22preparation programs in this State and all candidates subject
23to Section 21B-35 of this Code are required to pass a teacher
24performance assessment approved by the State Board of
25Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
26and Licensure Board. Subject to appropriation, an individual

SB0010 Enrolled- 19 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1who holds a Professional Educator License and is employed for a
2minimum of one school year by a school district designated as
3Tier 1 under Section 18-8.15 may, after application to the
4State Board, receive from the State Board a refund for any
5costs associated with completing the teacher performance
6assessment under this subsection.
7 (g) The content area knowledge test and the teacher
8performance assessment shall be the tests that from time to
9time are designated by the State Board of Education, in
10consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
11Board, and may be tests prepared by an educational testing
12organization or tests designed by the State Board of Education,
13in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and
14Licensure Board. The test of content area knowledge shall
15assess content knowledge in a specific subject field. The tests
16must be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no
17person taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis
18of race, color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to
19the person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The
20score required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State
21Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator
22Preparation and Licensure Board. The tests shall be
23administered not fewer than 3 times a year at such time and
24place as may be designated by the State Board of Education, in
25consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
26Board.

SB0010 Enrolled- 20 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess
2the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of
3applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under
4subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this Code
5in the English language and in the language of the transitional
6bilingual education program requested by the applicant.
7 (h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the
8provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school
9district subject to Article 34 of this Code.
10 (i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the
11testing requirements under this Section shall include without
12limitation provisions governing test selection, test
13validation and determination of a passing score,
14administration of the tests, frequency of administration,
15applicant fees, frequency of applicants taking the tests, the
16years for which a score is valid, and appropriate special
17accommodations. The State Board of Education shall develop such
18rules as may be needed to ensure uniformity from year to year
19in the level of difficulty for each form of an assessment.
20(Source: P.A. 100-596, eff. 7-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18;
21100-932, eff. 8-17-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-220, eff.
228-7-19.)
23 (105 ILCS 5/27A-10)
24 Sec. 27A-10. Employees.
25 (a) A person shall be deemed to be employed by a charter

SB0010 Enrolled- 21 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1school unless a collective bargaining agreement or the charter
2school contract otherwise provides.
3 (b) In all school districts, including special charter
4districts and districts located in cities having a population
5exceeding 500,000, the local school board shall determine by
6policy or by negotiated agreement, if one exists, the
7employment status of any school district employees who are
8employed by a charter school and who seek to return to
9employment in the public schools of the district. Each local
10school board shall grant, for a period of up to 5 years, a
11leave of absence to those of its teachers who accept employment
12with a charter school. At the end of the authorized leave of
13absence, the teacher must return to the school district or
14resign; provided, however, that if the teacher chooses to
15return to the school district, the teacher must be assigned to
16a position that which requires the teacher's licensure
17certification and legal qualifications. The contractual
18continued service status and retirement benefits of a teacher
19of the district who is granted a leave of absence to accept
20employment with a charter school shall not be affected by that
21leave of absence.
22 (c) Charter schools shall employ in instructional
23positions, as defined in the charter, individuals who are
24licensed certificated under Article 21B 21 of this Code or who
25possess the following qualifications:
26 (i) graduated with a bachelor's degree from an

SB0010 Enrolled- 22 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 accredited institution of higher learning;
2 (ii) been employed for a period of at least 5 years in
3 an area requiring application of the individual's
4 education;
5 (iii) passed a content area knowledge test required
6 under Section 21B-30 of this Code (blank); and
7 (iv) demonstrate continuing evidence of professional
8 growth, which shall include, but not be limited to,
9 successful teaching experience, attendance at professional
10 meetings, membership in professional organizations,
11 additional credits earned at institutions of higher
12 learning, travel specifically for educational purposes,
13 and reading of professional books and periodicals.
14 (c-5) Charter schools employing individuals without
15licensure certification in instructional positions shall
16provide such mentoring, training, and staff development for
17those individuals as the charter schools determine necessary
18for satisfactory performance in the classroom.
19 At least 50% of the individuals employed in instructional
20positions by a charter school that is operating in a city
21having a population exceeding 500,000 and that is established
22on or after April 16, 2003 shall hold teaching licenses
23certificates issued under Article 21B 21 of this Code.
24 At least 75% of the individuals employed in instructional
25positions by a charter school that is operating in a city
26having a population exceeding 500,000 and that was established

SB0010 Enrolled- 23 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1before April 16, 2003 shall hold teaching licenses certificates
2issued under Article 21B 21 of this Code.
3 (c-10) Notwithstanding any provision in subsection (c-5)
4to the contrary, in any charter school established before, on,
5or after July 30, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act
696-105) this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, at
7least 75% of the individuals employed in instructional
8positions by the charter school shall hold teaching licenses
9certificates issued under Article 21B 21 of this Code beginning
10with the 2012-2013 school year. In any charter school
11established after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
12the 96th General Assembly, at least 75% of the individuals
13employed in instructional positions by a charter school shall
14hold teaching certificates issued under Article 21 of this Code
15by the beginning of the fourth school year during which a
16student is enrolled in the charter school. Charter schools may
17employ non-licensed non-certificated staff in all other
18positions.
19 (c-15) Charter schools are exempt from any annual cap on
20new participants in an alternative educator licensure
21certification program. The second and third phases of the
22alternative certification program may be conducted and
23completed at the charter school, and the alternative
24provisional educator endorsement teaching certificate is valid
25for 4 years or the length of the charter (or any extension of
26the charter), whichever is longer.

SB0010 Enrolled- 24 -LRB101 06120 AXK 51141 b
1 (d) A teacher at a charter school may resign his or her
2position only if the teacher gives notice of resignation to the
3charter school's governing body at least 60 days before the end
4of the school term, and the resignation must take effect
5immediately upon the end of the school term.
6(Source: P.A. 101-220, eff. 8-7-19.)
7 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.
feedback