Illinois-2025-HB1368-Introduced

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1368

Introduced , by Rep. Laura Faver Dias

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/21B-45

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires an approved provider of professional development activities for the renewal of a Professional Educator License to ensure that professional development related to English language arts is aligned with the comprehensive literacy plan for the State developed by the State Board of Education. Effective immediately.

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A BILL FOR

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1 AN ACT concerning education.

2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3 represented in the General Assembly:

4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section

5 21B-45 as follows:

6 (105 ILCS 5/21B-45)

7 Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.

8 (a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License

9 are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as

10 specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this

11 Code.

12 Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall

13 meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section,

14 unless otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds

15 a license endorsed in more than one area that has different

16 renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal

17 requirements for the position for which he or she spends the

18 majority of his or her time working.

19 (b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as

20 provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that

21 year. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if

22 a license holder's electronic mail address is available, the

23 State Board of Education shall send him or her notification

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1 electronically that his or her license will lapse if not

2 renewed, to be sent no more than 6 months prior to the license

3 lapsing. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon

4 (i) payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of

5 a $50 penalty or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by

6 completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally

7 accredited institution of higher education in the content area

8 that most aligns with one or more of the educator's

9 endorsement areas. Any and all back fees, including without

10 limitation registration fees owed from the time of expiration

11 of the license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid

12 and kept in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this

13 Code concerning an institute fund and the provisions in

14 Article 21B of this Code concerning fees and requirements for

15 registration. Licenses not registered in accordance with

16 Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6

17 months from the expiration of the last year of registration or

18 on January 1 of the fiscal year following initial issuance of

19 the license. An unregistered license is invalid after

20 September 1 for employment and performance of services in an

21 Illinois public or State-operated school or cooperative and in

22 a charter school. Any license or endorsement may be

23 voluntarily surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily

24 surrendered license shall be treated as a revoked license. An

25 Educator License with Stipulations with only a

26 paraprofessional endorsement does not lapse.

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1 (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to

2 satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in

3 this Section, each professional educator licensee with an

4 administrative endorsement who is working in a position

5 requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois

6 Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of

7 this Code, per fiscal year.

8 (c-5) All licenses issued by the State Board of Education

9 under this Article that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not

10 been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be

11 extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021.

12 (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the

13 requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this

14 Section, each professional educator licensee may create a

15 professional development plan each year. The plan shall

16 address one or more of the endorsements that are required of

17 his or her educator position if the licensee is employed and

18 performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated

19 school or cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a

20 charter school, the plan shall address that endorsement or

21 those endorsements most closely related to his or her educator

22 position. Licensees employed and performing services in any

23 other Illinois schools may participate in the renewal

24 requirements by adhering to the same process.

25 Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the

26 licensee's professional development activities shall align

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1 with one or more of the following criteria:

2 (1) activities are of a type that engages participants

3 over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,

4 discovery, and application as they relate to student

5 learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;

6 (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's

7 performance;

8 (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student

9 growth or district improvement;

10 (4) activities align to State-approved standards; and

11 (5) higher education coursework.

12 (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator

13 licensee shall engage in professional development activities.

14 Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into

15 the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,

16 date, and location of the activity, the number of professional

17 development hours, and the provider's name. The following

18 provisions shall apply concerning professional development

19 activities:

20 (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours

21 of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in

22 order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided

23 in this Section.

24 (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,

25 any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not

26 working in a position requiring such endorsement is not

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1 required to complete Illinois Administrators' Academy

2 courses, as described in Article 2 of this Code. Such

3 licensees must complete one Illinois Administrators'

4 Academy course within one year after returning to a

5 position that requires the administrative endorsement.

6 (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement

7 who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or

8 an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in

9 an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall

10 complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as

11 described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in

12 addition to 100 hours of professional development per

13 5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.

14 However, for the 2021-2022 school year only, a licensee

15 under this paragraph (3) is not required to complete an

16 Illinois Administrators' Academy course.

17 (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for

18 Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher

19 designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of

20 professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order

21 to renew the license.

22 (5) Licensees working in a position that does not

23 require educator licensure or working in a position for

24 less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be

25 exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration

26 fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the

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1 license.

2 (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits

3 from a State of Illinois retirement system shall be listed

4 as retired, and the license shall be maintained in retired

5 status. For any renewal cycle in which a licensee retires

6 during the renewal cycle, the licensee must complete

7 professional development activities on a prorated basis

8 depending on the number of years during the renewal cycle

9 the educator held an active license. If a licensee retires

10 during a renewal cycle, the license status must be updated

11 using ELIS indicating that the licensee wishes to maintain

12 the license in retired status and the licensee must show

13 proof of completion of professional development activities

14 on a prorated basis for all years of that renewal cycle for

15 which the license was active. An individual with a license

16 in retired status shall not be required to complete

17 professional development activities until returning to a

18 position that requires educator licensure. Upon returning

19 to work in a position that requires the Professional

20 Educator License, the license status shall immediately be

21 updated using ELIS and the licensee shall complete renewal

22 requirements for that year. A retired teacher, even if

23 returning to a position that requires educator licensure,

24 shall not be required to pay registration fees. A license

25 in retired status cannot lapse. Beginning on January 6,

26 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-920) through

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1 December 31, 2017, any licensee who has retired and whose

2 license has lapsed for failure to renew as provided in

3 this Section may reinstate that license and maintain it in

4 retired status upon providing proof to the State Board of

5 Education using ELIS that the licensee is retired and is

6 not working in a position that requires a Professional

7 Educator License.

8 (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional

9 development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the

10 licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the

11 minimum professional development hours required in this

12 Section prior to September 1 of that year. Professional

13 development hours used to fulfill the minimum required

14 hours for a renewal cycle may be used for only one renewal

15 cycle. For any fiscal year or renewal cycle in which an

16 Illinois Administrators' Academy course was required but

17 not completed, the licensee shall complete any missed

18 Illinois Administrators' Academy courses prior to

19 September 1 of that year. The licensee may complete all

20 deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' Academy

21 courses while continuing to work in a position that

22 requires that license until September 1 of that year.

23 (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the

24 professional development renewal requirements set forth in

25 this Section at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is

26 ineligible to register his or her license and may submit

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1 an appeal to the State Superintendent of Education for

2 reinstatement of the license.

3 (9) If professional development opportunities were

4 unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were

5 unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond

6 August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be

7 submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the

8 State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an

9 extension is approved, the license shall remain valid

10 during the extension period.

11 (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to

12 December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act

13 98-610) shall commence the annual renewal process with the

14 first scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013

15 (the effective date of Public Act 98-610).

16 (11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this

17 subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required

18 number of professional development hours during a renewal

19 cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned

20 from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the

21 renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must

22 be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois

23 Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those

24 courses may not be carried over.

25 (e-5) The number of professional development hours

26 required under subsection (e) is reduced by 20% for any

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1 renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school year.

2 (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to

3 the required questions under penalty of perjury.

4 (f-5) The State Board of Education shall conduct random

5 audits of licensees to verify a licensee's fulfillment of the

6 professional development hours required under this Section.

7 Upon completion of a random audit, if it is determined by the

8 State Board of Education that the licensee did not complete

9 the required number of professional development hours or did

10 not provide sufficient proof of completion, the licensee shall

11 be notified that his or her license has lapsed. A license that

12 has lapsed under this subsection may be reinstated as provided

13 in subsection (b).

14 (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved

15 to provide professional development activities for the renewal

16 of Professional Educator Licenses:

17 (1) The State Board of Education.

18 (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate

19 service centers.

20 (3) Illinois professional associations representing

21 the following groups that are approved by the State

22 Superintendent of Education:

23 (A) school administrators;

24 (B) principals;

25 (C) school business officials;

26 (D) teachers, including special education

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1 teachers;

2 (E) school boards;

3 (F) school districts;

4 (G) parents; and

5 (H) school service personnel.

6 (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher

7 education that offer Illinois-approved educator

8 preparation programs and public community colleges subject

9 to the Public Community College Act.

10 (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools

11 authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint

12 educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this

13 Code for the purposes of providing career and technical

14 education or special education services.

15 (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December

16 31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has

17 had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board

18 of Education to provide professional development services

19 in the area of English Learning to Illinois school

20 districts, teachers, or administrators.

21 (7) State agencies, State boards, and State

22 commissions.

23 (8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum

24 Disposition of Property Act.

25 (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this

26 Section shall make available professional development

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1 opportunities that satisfy at least one of the following:

2 (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and

3 district leaders who guide continuous professional

4 development;

5 (2) improve the learning of students;

6 (3) organize adults into learning communities whose

7 goals are aligned with those of the school and district;

8 (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;

9 (5) provide educators with research-based

10 instructional strategies to assist students in meeting

11 rigorous academic standards;

12 (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various

13 types of classroom assessments;

14 (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the

15 intended goals;

16 (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to

17 collaborate;

18 (9) prepare educators to apply research to decision

19 making;

20 (10) provide educators with training on inclusive

21 practices in the classroom that examines instructional and

22 behavioral strategies that improve academic and

23 social-emotional outcomes for all students, with or

24 without disabilities, in a general education setting; or

25 (11) beginning on July 1, 2022, provide educators with

26 training on the physical and mental health needs of

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1 students, student safety, educator ethics, professional

2 conduct, and other topics that address the well-being of

3 students and improve the academic and social-emotional

4 outcomes of students.

5 (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this

6 Section shall do the following:

7 (1) align professional development activities to the

8 State-approved national standards for professional

9 learning;

10 (2) meet the professional development criteria for

11 Illinois licensure renewal;

12 (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains

13 how it aligns to State standards and identify the

14 assessment for determining the expected impact on student

15 learning or school improvement;

16 (4) maintain original documentation for completion of

17 activities;

18 (5) provide license holders with evidence of

19 completion of activities;

20 (6) request an Illinois Educator Identification Number

21 (IEIN) for each educator during each professional

22 development activity; ~~and~~

23 (7) beginning on July 1, 2019, register annually with

24 the State Board of Education prior to offering any

25 professional development opportunities in the current

26 fiscal year; and ~~.~~

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1 (8) ensure that professional development related to

2 English language arts is aligned with the comprehensive

3 literacy plan for the State developed by the State Board

4 of Education under Section 2-3.200.

5 (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual

6 audits of a subset of approved providers, except for school

7 districts, which shall be audited by regional offices of

8 education and intermediate service centers. The State Board of

9 Education shall ensure that each approved provider, except for

10 a school district, is audited at least once every 5 years. The

11 State Board of Education may conduct more frequent audits of

12 providers if evidence suggests the requirements of this

13 Section or administrative rules are not being met.

14 (1) (Blank).

15 (2) Approved providers shall comply with the

16 requirements in subsections (h) and (i) of this Section by

17 annually submitting data to the State Board of Education

18 demonstrating how the professional development activities

19 impacted one or more of the following:

20 (A) educator and student growth in regards to

21 content knowledge or skills, or both;

22 (B) educator and student social and emotional

23 growth; or

24 (C) alignment to district or school improvement

25 plans.

26 (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review

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1 the data collected by the State Board of Education,

2 regional offices of education, and intermediate service

3 centers in audits conducted under this subsection (j) to

4 determine if the approved provider has met the criteria

5 and should continue to be an approved provider or if

6 further action should be taken as provided in rules.

7 (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal

8 cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each

9 5-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional

10 development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed

11 and entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the

12 registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or

13 debit card.

14 (l) Any professional educator licensee endorsed for school

15 support personnel who is employed and performing services in

16 Illinois public schools and who holds an active and current

17 professional license issued by the Department of Financial and

18 Professional Regulation or a national certification board, as

19 approved by the State Board of Education, related to the

20 endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License shall

21 be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional

22 development requirements provided for in this Section. Such

23 individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to

24 renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who

25 does not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial

26 and Professional Regulation shall complete professional

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1 development requirements for the renewal of a Professional

2 Educator License provided for in this Section.

3 (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and

4 Licensure Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of

5 notice from the State Superintendent of Education that a

6 license will not be renewed based upon failure to complete the

7 requirements of this Section. A licensee may appeal that

8 decision to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board

9 in a manner prescribed by rule.

10 (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State

11 Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be

12 sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the

13 State Board of Education.

14 (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board

15 shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license

16 within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to

17 determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of

18 this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure

19 Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its

20 determination based upon the record of review, which shall

21 consist of the following:

22 (A) the regional superintendent of education's

23 rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,

24 if applicable;

25 (B) any evidence submitted to the State

26 Superintendent along with the individual's electronic

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1 statement of assurance for renewal; and

2 (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for

3 nonrenewal of the license.

4 (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board

5 shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding

6 license renewal by certified mail, return receipt

7 requested, no later than 30 days after reaching a

8 decision. Upon receipt of notification of renewal, the

9 licensee, using ELIS, shall pay the applicable

10 registration fee for the next cycle using a form of credit

11 or debit card.

12 (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be

13 necessary to implement this Section.

14 (Source: P.A. 102-676, eff. 12-3-21; 102-710, eff. 4-27-22;

15 102-730, eff. 5-6-22; 102-852, eff. 5-13-22; 103-154, eff.

16 6-30-23; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

17 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

18 becoming law.