Bill Text: IL HB4173 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Allows a METT Educator District License for teaching a course in manufacturing, engineering, technology, or a trade (METT) to be issued to an applicant who has at least 10,000 working hours in a trade. Provides that a METT Educator District License may be issued to qualified individuals who have not obtained a bachelor's degree or an equivalent number of hours in an educational program at an institution of higher education. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued and may be renewed. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid only for the teaching of a course that the State Board of Education has identified as related to the work experience of the licensee. Sets forth other provisions regarding the license. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Provides that the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or the Department of Labor, shall expand a database to identify METT labor shortages. Provides that by July 1, 2026, school districts in identified regions shall be notified by the State Board and shall participate in a College and Career Pathway Endorsement program and offer a METT endorsement. Makes other changes.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-05 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4173 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB4173-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4173 Introduced , by Rep. Jed Davis SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/21A-5
105 ILCS 5/21B-20
110 ILCS 148/10
110 ILCS 148/15
110 ILCS 148/80
Amends the School Code. Allows a METT Educator District License for teaching a course in manufacturing, engineering, technology, or a trade (METT) to be issued to an applicant who has at least 10,000 working hours in a trade. Provides that a METT Educator District License may be issued to qualified individuals who have not obtained a bachelor's degree or an equivalent number of hours in an educational program at an institution of higher education. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued and may be renewed. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid only for the teaching of a course that the State Board of Education has identified as related to the work experience of the licensee. Sets forth other provisions regarding the license. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Provides that the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or the Department of Labor, shall expand a database to identify METT labor shortages. Provides that by July 1, 2026, school districts in identified regions shall be notified by the State Board and shall participate in a College and Career Pathway Endorsement program and offer a METT endorsement. Makes other changes.
LRB103 33387 RJT 63199 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
HB4173 LRB103 33387 RJT 63199 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
21A-5 and 21B-20 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/21A-5)
Sec. 21A-5. Definitions. In this Article:
"New teacher" means the holder of a professional educator
license or METT educator district license, as set forth in
Section 21B-20 of this Code, who is employed by a public school
and who has not previously participated in a new teacher
induction and mentoring program required by this Article,
except as provided in Section 21A-25 of this Code.
"Eligible applicant" or "eligible entity" means a regional
office of education, an intermediate service center, an
Illinois institution of higher education, a statewide
organization representing teachers, a local education agency,
or a public or private not-for-profit entity with experience
providing professional learning, including mentoring, to early
childhood educators.
"Public school" means any school operating pursuant to the
authority of this Code, including without limitation a school
district, a charter school, a cooperative or joint agreement

HB4173 - 2 - LRB103 33387 RJT 63199 b
with a governing body or board of control, and a school
operated by a regional office of education or State agency.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-193)
Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of
Education shall implement a system of educator licensure,
whereby individuals employed in school districts who are
required to be licensed must have one of the following
licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an
educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute
teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2028, a short-term
substitute teaching license, or (v) a METT educator district
license. References in law regarding individuals certified or
certificated or required to be certified or certificated under
Article 21 of this Code shall also include individuals
licensed or required to be licensed under this Article. The
first year of all licenses ends on June 30 following one full
year of the license being issued.
The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for
licenses and endorsements under this Section.
(1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
have successfully completed an approved educator

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preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
the exceptional child, including, without limitation,
children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other
criteria established by rule of the State Board of
Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License.
All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30
immediately following 5 years of the license being issued.
The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with
specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is
eligible to practice. For an early childhood education
endorsement, an individual may satisfy the student
teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher
preparation program through placement in a setting with
children from birth through grade 2, and the individual
may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. The
student teaching experience must meet the requirements of
and be approved by the individual's early childhood
teacher preparation program.
Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the

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Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable
content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
(2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
that limits the license holder to one particular position
or does not require completion of an approved educator
program or both.
An individual with an Educator License with
Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
with the following endorsements:
(A) (Blank).
(B) Alternative provisional educator. An
alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
applicant who, at the time of applying for the
endorsement, has done all of the following:
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
college or university with a minimum of a
bachelor's degree.
(ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for

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Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
Code.
(iii) Passed a content area test, as required
under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a
third year by an individual meeting the requirements set
forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
(C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
superintendent in a school district's central office.
This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
done all of the following:
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
college or university with a minimum of a master's
degree in a management field other than education.
(ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
years in a management level position in a field
other than education.
(iii) Successfully completed the first phase
of an alternative route to superintendent
endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
of this Code.

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(iv) Passed a content area test required under
Section 21B-30 of this Code.
The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
order to complete one full year of serving as a
superintendent or assistant superintendent.
(D) (Blank).
(E) Career and technical educator. A career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
regionally accredited institution of higher education
or an accredited trade and technical institution and
has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of
education in each area to be taught.
The career and technical educator endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
An individual who holds a valid career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's
degree may substitute teach in career and technical
education classrooms.
(F) (Blank).
(G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an

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Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets
all of the following requirements:
(i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
writing ability in the language other than English
in which transitional bilingual education is
offered.
(ii) Has the ability to successfully
communicate in English.
(iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
previous to his or her applying for a transitional
bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
comparable teaching certificate or comparable
authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
a degree from an institution of higher learning in
a foreign country that the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
regionally accredited institution of higher
learning in the United States.
A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12,
is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be

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renewed.
Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
replaced for any reason.
(H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
other than English in the public schools, an
individual who holds an Educator License with
Stipulations may also apply for a language
endorsement, provided that the applicant provides
satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the
following requirements:
(i) Holds a transitional bilingual
endorsement.
(ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
language for which the endorsement is to be issued
by passing the applicable language content test
required by the State Board of Education.
(iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
a regionally accredited institution of higher
education or, for individuals educated in a
country other than the United States, holds a
degree from an institution of higher learning in a
foreign country that the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be

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the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
regionally accredited institution of higher
learning in the United States.
(iv) (Blank).
A language endorsement on an Educator License with
Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
grade 12 for the same validity period as the
individual's transitional bilingual educator
endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
and shall not be renewed.
(I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
international educator endorsement on an Educator
License with Stipulations may be issued to an
individual who is being recruited by a particular
school district that conducts formal recruitment
programs outside of the United States to secure the
services of qualified teachers and who meets all of
the following requirements:
(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
(ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
grade level for which he or she will be employed.
(iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
subject to be taught.
(iv) Has an adequate command of the English
language.

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A holder of a visiting international educator
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
programs in the language that was the medium of
instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
provided that he or she passes the English Language
Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
skills in English identified by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board.
A visiting international educator endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5
years and shall not be renewed.
(J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
educator endorsement on an Educator License with
Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
(i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a
paraprofessional competency test under subsection
(c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years
of age and will be using the Educator License with
Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten
through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age
of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a

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paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this
subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator
endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately
following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and
may be renewed through application and payment of the
appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of
this Code. An individual who holds only a
paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject
to additional requirements in order to renew the
endorsement.
(K) Chief school business official. A chief school
business official endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
years of full-time administrative experience in school
business management or 2 years of university-approved
practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
State Board of Education for the preparation of school
business administrators and by passage of the
applicable State tests, including an applicable
content area test.
The chief school business official endorsement may
also be affixed to the Educator License with
Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
master's degree in business administration, finance,

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accounting, or public administration and who completes
an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school
business management from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education and passes the
applicable State tests, including an applicable
content area test. This endorsement shall be required
for any individual employed as a chief school business
official.
The chief school business official endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the
license holder completes renewal requirements as
required for individuals who hold a Professional
Educator License endorsed for chief school business
official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
Education.
The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
(L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
program at an Illinois institution of higher education
and who has not successfully completed an

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evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
who meets all of the following requirements:
(i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
(ii) Has completed an approved educator
preparation program at an Illinois institution.
(iii) Has passed an applicable content area
test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
(iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
minimum score on that assessment, as established
by the State Board of Education in consultation
with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board.
A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one
full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
be renewed.
(M) (Blank).
(N) Specialized services. A specialized services
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
may be issued as defined and specified by rule.
(3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
License may be issued to qualified applicants for
substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for

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a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's
degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved
educator preparation program in this State and have earned
at least 90 credit hours.
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
has had his or her Professional Educator License or
Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked,
then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
Substitute Teaching License.
A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under
contract because of an emergency situation, then a
district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer
than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the
district if the district notifies the appropriate regional
office of education within 5 business days after the
employment of the substitute teacher in the emergency
situation. An emergency situation is one in which an
unforeseen vacancy has occurred and (i) a teacher is
unable to fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii)
teacher capacity needs of the district exceed previous
indications, and the district is actively engaged in

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advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the
vacant position.
There is no limit on the number of days that a
substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year
through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school
days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a
Professional Educator License or Educator License with
Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days
for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same
school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the
number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not
apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of
this Code.
A school district may not require an individual who
holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator
License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute
Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
(4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2028, applicants may
apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a
Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. A Short-Term
Substitute Teaching License may be issued to a qualified
applicant for substitute teaching in all grades of the

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public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible
for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term Substitute
Teaching License must hold an associate's degree or have
completed at least 60 credit hours from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education.
Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an
individual has had his or her Professional Educator
License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or
revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.
The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this
Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.
An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per
licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher
absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who
is under contract, a school district may not hire an
individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due
to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual
holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must
complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or
34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public

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school. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses Short-term
substitute teaching licenses under this Section are valid
for 5 years.
(5) METT Educator District License. A METT Educator
District License for teaching a course in manufacturing,
engineering, technology, or a trade may be issued to an
applicant who has at least 10,000 working hours in a
trade, including, but not limited to, any of the
following:
(A) Manufacturing.
(B) Fabrication.
(C) Welding.
(D) Vehicle mechanics.
(E) Carpentry.
(F) Masonry.
(G) Plumbing.
A METT Educator District License may be issued to
qualified individuals who have not obtained a bachelor's
degree or an equivalent number of hours in an educational
program at an institution of higher education.
A METT Educator District License is valid until June
30 immediately following 5 years of the license being
issued and may be renewed.
A METT Educator District License is valid only for the
teaching of a course that the State Board of Education has
identified as related to the work experience of the

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licensee. A METT Educator District License is valid only
for teaching in the school district where the licensee was
teaching immediately after the METT Educator District
License was issued. However, the licensee may transfer to
another district to teach without having to apply for a
new license upon approval of the State Board of Education,
the sending district, and the receiving district.
A license holder who does not hold a bachelor's degree
or has not completed at least 60 hours of coursework at an
institution of higher education shall successfully
complete at least one course in teacher education outside
of the school year as directed by the State Board of
Education, in conjunction with the Illinois Community
College Board, to ensure that the license holder is
continuing to learn proper teaching methods, lesson
planning, and other classroom-essential knowledge.
(Source: P.A. 102-711, eff. 1-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22;
102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717, eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff.
5-20-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; revised
9-7-23.)
(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-193)
Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of
Education shall implement a system of educator licensure,
whereby individuals employed in school districts who are
required to be licensed must have one of the following

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licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an
educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute
teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2028, a short-term
substitute teaching license. References in law regarding
individuals certified or certificated or required to be
certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall
also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed
under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June
30 following one full year of the license being issued.
The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for
licenses and endorsements under this Section.
(1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
have successfully completed an approved educator
preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
the exceptional child, including, without limitation,
children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other
criteria established by rule of the State Board of

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Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License.
All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30
immediately following 5 years of the license being issued.
The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with
specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is
eligible to practice. For an early childhood education
endorsement, an individual may satisfy the student
teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher
preparation program through placement in a setting with
children from birth through grade 2, and the individual
may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. The
student teaching experience must meet the requirements of
and be approved by the individual's early childhood
teacher preparation program.
Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable
content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
(2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
that limits the license holder to one particular position
or does not require completion of an approved educator
program or both.
An individual with an Educator License with
Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or

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any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
with the following endorsements:
(A) (Blank).
(B) Alternative provisional educator. An
alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
applicant who, at the time of applying for the
endorsement, has done all of the following:
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
college or university with a minimum of a
bachelor's degree.
(ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
Code.
(iii) Passed a content area test, as required
under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a
third year by an individual meeting the requirements set
forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
(C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the

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holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
superintendent in a school district's central office.
This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
done all of the following:
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
college or university with a minimum of a master's
degree in a management field other than education.
(ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
years in a management level position in a field
other than education.
(iii) Successfully completed the first phase
of an alternative route to superintendent
endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
of this Code.
(iv) Passed a content area test required under
Section 21B-30 of this Code.
The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
order to complete one full year of serving as a
superintendent or assistant superintendent.
(D) (Blank).
(E) Career and technical educator. A career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
regionally accredited institution of higher education

HB4173 - 23 - LRB103 33387 RJT 63199 b
or an accredited trade and technical institution and
has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of
education in each area to be taught.
The career and technical educator endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
An individual who holds a valid career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's
degree may substitute teach in career and technical
education classrooms.
(F) (Blank).
(G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets
all of the following requirements:
(i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
writing ability in the language other than English
in which transitional bilingual education is
offered.
(ii) Has the ability to successfully
communicate in English.

HB4173 - 24 - LRB103 33387 RJT 63199 b
(iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
previous to his or her applying for a transitional
bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
comparable teaching certificate or comparable
authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
a degree from an institution of higher learning in
a foreign country that the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
regionally accredited institution of higher
learning in the United States.
A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12,
is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be
renewed.
Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
replaced for any reason.
(H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
other than English in the public schools, an
individual who holds an Educator License with
Stipulations may also apply for a language
endorsement, provided that the applicant provides

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satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the
following requirements:
(i) Holds a transitional bilingual
endorsement.
(ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
language for which the endorsement is to be issued
by passing the applicable language content test
required by the State Board of Education.
(iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
a regionally accredited institution of higher
education or, for individuals educated in a
country other than the United States, holds a
degree from an institution of higher learning in a
foreign country that the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
regionally accredited institution of higher
learning in the United States.
(iv) (Blank).
A language endorsement on an Educator License with
Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
grade 12 for the same validity period as the
individual's transitional bilingual educator
endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
and shall not be renewed.
(I) Visiting international educator. A visiting

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international educator endorsement on an Educator
License with Stipulations may be issued to an
individual who is being recruited by a particular
school district that conducts formal recruitment
programs outside of the United States to secure the
services of qualified teachers and who meets all of
the following requirements:
(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
(ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
grade level for which he or she will be employed.
(iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
subject to be taught.
(iv) Has an adequate command of the English
language.
A holder of a visiting international educator
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
programs in the language that was the medium of
instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
provided that he or she passes the English Language
Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
skills in English identified by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board.
A visiting international educator endorsement on

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an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5
years and shall not be renewed.
(J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
educator endorsement on an Educator License with
Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
(i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a
paraprofessional competency test under subsection
(c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years
of age and will be using the Educator License with
Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten
through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age
of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a
paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this
subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator
endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately
following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and
may be renewed through application and payment of the
appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of
this Code. An individual who holds only a
paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject
to additional requirements in order to renew the
endorsement.
(K) Chief school business official. A chief school

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business official endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
years of full-time administrative experience in school
business management or 2 years of university-approved
practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
State Board of Education for the preparation of school
business administrators and by passage of the
applicable State tests, including an applicable
content area test.
The chief school business official endorsement may
also be affixed to the Educator License with
Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
master's degree in business administration, finance,
accounting, or public administration and who completes
an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school
business management from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education and passes the
applicable State tests, including an applicable
content area test. This endorsement shall be required
for any individual employed as a chief school business
official.
The chief school business official endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the

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endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the
license holder completes renewal requirements as
required for individuals who hold a Professional
Educator License endorsed for chief school business
official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
Education.
The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
(L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
program at an Illinois institution of higher education
and who has not successfully completed an
evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
who meets all of the following requirements:
(i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
(ii) Has completed an approved educator
preparation program at an Illinois institution.
(iii) Has passed an applicable content area
test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
(iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
minimum score on that assessment, as established
by the State Board of Education in consultation

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with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board.
A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one
full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
be renewed.
(M) (Blank).
(N) Specialized services. A specialized services
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
may be issued as defined and specified by rule.
(3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
License may be issued to qualified applicants for
substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's
degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved
educator preparation program in this State and have earned
at least 90 credit hours.
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
has had his or her Professional Educator License or
Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked,
then that individual is not eligible to obtain a

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Substitute Teaching License.
A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under
contract because of an emergency situation, then a
district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer
than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the
district if the district notifies the appropriate regional
office of education within 5 business days after the
employment of the substitute teacher in that vacant
position. A district may continue to employ that same
substitute teacher in that same vacant position for 90
calendar days or until the end of the semester, whichever
is greater, if, prior to the expiration of the
30-calendar-day period then current, the district files a
written request with the appropriate regional office of
education for a 30-calendar-day extension on the basis
that the position remains vacant and the district
continues to actively seek qualified candidates and
provides documentation that it has provided training
specific to the position, including training on meeting
the needs of students with disabilities and English
learners if applicable. Each extension request shall be
granted in writing by the regional office of education. An
emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy
has occurred and (i) a teacher is unexpectedly unable to

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fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher
capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications
or vacancies are unfilled due to a lack of qualified
candidates, and the district is actively engaged in
advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the
vacant position.
There is no limit on the number of days that a
substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year
through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school
days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a
Professional Educator License or Educator License with
Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days
for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same
school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the
number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not
apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of
this Code.
A school district may not require an individual who
holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator
License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute
Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
(4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2028, applicants may

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apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a
Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. A Short-Term
Substitute Teaching License may be issued to a qualified
applicant for substitute teaching in all grades of the
public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible
for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term Substitute
Teaching License must hold an associate's degree or have
completed at least 60 credit hours from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education.
Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an
individual has had his or her Professional Educator
License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or
revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.
The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this
Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.
An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per
licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher
absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who
is under contract, a school district may not hire an
individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due
to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the

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Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual
holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must
complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or
34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public
school. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses Short-term
substitute teaching licenses under this Section are valid
for 5 years.
(5) METT Educator District License. A METT Educator
District License for teaching a course in manufacturing,
engineering, technology, or a trade may be issued to an
applicant who has at least 10,000 working hours in a
trade, including, but not limited to, any of the
following:
(A) Manufacturing.
(B) Fabrication.
(C) Welding.
(D) Vehicle mechanics.
(E) Carpentry.
(F) Masonry.
(G) Plumbing.
A METT Educator District License may be issued to
qualified individuals who have not obtained a bachelor's
degree or an equivalent number of hours in an educational
program at an institution of higher education.
A METT Educator District License is valid until June
30 immediately following 5 years of the license being

HB4173 - 35 - LRB103 33387 RJT 63199 b
issued and may be renewed.
A METT Educator District License is valid only for the
teaching of a course that the State Board of Education has
identified as related to the work experience of the
licensee. A METT Educator District License is valid only
for teaching in the school district where the licensee was
teaching immediately after the METT Educator District
License was issued. However, the licensee may transfer to
another district to teach without having to apply for a
new license upon approval of the State Board of Education,
the sending district, and the receiving district.
A license holder who does not hold a bachelor's degree
or has not completed at least 60 hours of coursework at an
institution of higher education shall successfully
complete at least one course in teacher education outside
of the school year as directed by the State Board of
Education, in conjunction with the Illinois Community
College Board, to ensure that the license holder is
continuing to learn proper teaching methods, lesson
planning, and other classroom-essential knowledge.
(Source: P.A. 102-711, eff. 1-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22;
102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717, eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff.
5-20-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23;
103-193, eff. 1-1-24; revised 9-7-23.)
Section 10. The Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act

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is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 80 as follows:
(110 ILCS 148/10)
Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:
"Adaptive Competencies" means foundational skills needed
for success in college, careers, and life, such as, but not
limited to, work ethic, professionalism, communication,
collaboration and interpersonal skills, and problem-solving.
"Career Exploration Activity" means an activity such as a
job shadow, attendance at a career exposition, or employer
site visit providing a student with the ability to engage
directly with employers for the purpose of gaining knowledge
of one or more industry sectors or occupations.
"College-level mathematics course" means a mathematics
course that bears credit leading to a baccalaureate degree, a
certificate, or an associate degree from a postsecondary
institution.
"Community college" means a public community college
organized under the Public Community College Act.
"DCEO" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity.
"Early college credit course" means a course through which
a high school student can receive postsecondary institution
course credit and includes dual credit courses, dual
enrollment courses, International Baccalaureate courses,
Advanced Placement courses, and courses with articulated

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credit with a postsecondary institution.
"Eligible School District" means a school district that
has satisfied the requirements set forth in Section 80 of this
Act and is eligible to award one or more College and Career
Pathway Endorsements.
"Endorsement Area" means an industry sector or grouping of
sectors as organized and established pursuant to Section 80 of
this Act.
"GECC" means the General Education Core Curriculum
developed by the IAI and adopted by IBHE and ICCB.
"IAI" means the Illinois Articulation Initiative.
"IBHE" means the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
"ICCB" means the Illinois Community College Board.
"IMACC" means the Illinois Mathematics Association of
Community Colleges.
"Integrated courses" means courses that include
substantial instruction focused on both academic and
career-oriented competencies.
"Intensive Career Exploration Experience" means a
structured, multi-day student experience, such as a career
exploration camp, that provides students with the opportunity
to explore various occupations relating to an Endorsement Area
with hands-on training and orientation activities.
"IPIC" means the Illinois Pathways Interagency Committee
formed by intergovernmental agreement among at least the
following agencies: ISBE, ICCB, IBHE, ISAC, DCEO, and the

HB4173 - 38 - LRB103 33387 RJT 63199 b
Department of Employment Security.
"IPIC Agency" means a State agency participating in the
IPIC.
"ISAC" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
"ISBE" means the Illinois State Board of Education.
"Local Community College" means, with respect to an
Eligible School District, a community college whose district
territory includes all or any portion of the district
territory of the Eligible School District.
"Local school district" means, with respect to a
partnership agreement with a community college for
transitional mathematics instruction, a school district whose
district territory includes all or any portion of the district
territory of the community college.
"Local Workforce Board" means the governing board of a
local workforce development area established pursuant to the
federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law
113-128).
"METT" means manufacturing, engineering, technology, and
the trades.
"METT endorsement" means a College and Career Pathway
Endorsement in manufacturing, engineering, technology, and the
trades based on the successful completion of METT courses as
determined by ISBE.
"Postsecondary institution" means a community college or
public university.

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"Professional Skills Assessment" means an observational
assessment of a student's performance in a Supervised Career
Development Experience given by an adult supervisor that
addresses, at minimum, the Adaptive Competencies of work
ethic, professionalism, communication, collaboration and
interpersonal skills, and problem-solving. The Professional
Skills Assessment is to be used as a feedback tool and student
development strategy and not for a grade or credit
determination.
"Public university" means a public university listed in
the definition of "public institutions of higher education"
under the Board of Higher Education Act.
"School district" means a public school district organized
and operating pursuant to the provisions of the School Code.
"Statewide portability" means, with respect to
transitional mathematics instruction, all community colleges
other than the community college transcripting credit for
successful completion of the instruction provide the same
completion recognition for college-level mathematics course
placement purposes as the transcripting community college
provides.
"Supervised Career Development Experience" means an
experience in which students obtain authentic and relevant
work experience relating to an Endorsement Area, such as an
internship, a school-based enterprise, a supervised
agricultural experience, cooperative education, or a research

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apprenticeship, where the student either receives compensation
from an employer or credit by the school district and that
involves a Professional Skills Assessment.
"Team-based Challenge" means a group problem-based
learning project relating to a student's Endorsement Area that
involves a problem relevant to employers within that
Endorsement Area, including mentoring from adults with
expertise in that Endorsement Area, and requires student
presentation of the outcomes of the project.
"Transitional mathematics instruction" means instruction
delivered to a student during 12th grade for the purpose of
enabling the student to attain the transitional mathematics
competencies associated with the student's postsecondary
institution mathematics pathway and demonstrate readiness for
a college-level mathematics course. Transitional mathematics
instruction may be delivered through a mathematics course or
an integrated course or through a competency-based learning
system that includes a set of transitional mathematics
competencies.
(Source: P.A. 99-674, eff. 7-29-16.)
(110 ILCS 148/15)
Sec. 15. Postsecondary and career expectations.
(a) By no later than July 1, 2017, ISBE, ICCB, IBHE, and
ISAC, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall
jointly adopt and publicize model postsecondary and career

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expectations for public school students in grades 8 through
12. The model postsecondary and career expectations shall
define activities that school districts, parents, and
community-based organizations should support students in
completing and related knowledge students should possess by no
later than the end of each grade level. The model
postsecondary and career expectations must address the
following categories:
(1) career exploration and development;
(2) postsecondary institution exploration,
preparation, and selection; and
(3) financial aid and financial literacy.
(b) By July 1, 2023, ISBE, ICCB, IBHE, and ISAC, in
consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall jointly
adopt and publicize an update to the model postsecondary and
career expectations that extends the expectations to grade 6
and includes such other revisions and updates as the agencies
deem appropriate.
(c) By July 1, 2024, ISBE shall consult with a statewide
organization representing businesses and manufacturing. After
consultation, ISBE shall publish and maintain on its website a
current database, organized by region, of employer champions
for work-based learning and career readiness systems and
programs. Each employer must consent to its designation as a
champion and its information being published in the database.
In addition, ISBE shall publish and maintain on its website an

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inventory of resources available to support school districts
in implementing College and Career Pathway Endorsements,
including sector-specific resources and applications for State
funding for career and technical education as it relates to
METT courses.
By July 1, 2025, ISBE, in conjunction with DCEO or the
Department of Labor, shall expand the database to include the
regions of this State that are facing METT labor shortages and
update this information at least once every 2 years
thereafter.
By July 1, 2026, ISBE shall, in conjunction with DCEO or
the Department of Labor, use the data collected under this
subsection (c) to identify regions of this State where there
is a shortage of METT professionals and notify school
districts in those regions that they must participate in a
College and Career Pathway Endorsement program and offer a
METT endorsement as required under Section 80 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-917, eff. 1-1-23.)
(110 ILCS 148/80)
Sec. 80. College and Career Pathway Endorsements.
(a) College and Career Pathway Endorsements are
established to recognize public high school graduates who
complete the requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this
Section.
(b) School district participation in this program is

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voluntary. However, if a school district is in a region of this
State that has been identified by ISBE under subsection (c) of
Section 15 of this Act as experiencing a shortage of METT
professionals, the district must participate in the program
and must offer a METT endorsement.
(c) As of the 2019-2020 school year, Eligible School
Districts may award one or more College and Career Pathway
Endorsements on high school diplomas in Endorsement Areas
established by ISBE in consultation with the other IPIC
Agencies and appropriate stakeholders, including postsecondary
institutions and employers. When establishing the Endorsement
Areas, the agencies shall consider the Illinois career cluster
framework, prevalent models for comprehensive pathway systems
in Illinois high schools that articulate to postsecondary
institutions and career training programs, prevalent models
for guided pathway systems at postsecondary institutions, and
the postsecondary institution mathematics pathways established
pursuant to this Act. The Endorsement Areas shall also provide
for a multidisciplinary endorsement for students that change
career pathways during high school while meeting the
individualized plan, professional learning, and academic
readiness requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this
Section.
ISBE shall establish a METT endorsement to be awarded
beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
(d) To earn a College and Career Pathway Endorsement, a

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student shall satisfy all of the following requirements:
(1) Develop and periodically update an individualized
plan for postsecondary education or training, careers, and
financial aid. This individualized plan shall also include
student development of a resume and personal statement
with student reflection on attainment of Adaptive
Competencies. The Eligible School District shall certify
to ISBE that its individualized planning process spans
grades 9 through 12 and includes an annual process for
updating the plan.
(2) Complete a career-focused instructional sequence,
including at least 2 years of coursework or equivalent
competencies within an Endorsement Area or, for students
attaining a multidisciplinary endorsement, multiple
Endorsement Areas. An Eligible School District must
consult with its regional education for employment
director on the establishment of the career-focused
instructional sequence. For all areas other than for
multidisciplinary endorsements, the Eligible School
District and a Local Community College shall certify to
ISBE and ICCB that the career-focused instructional
sequence is articulated to a certificate or degree program
with labor market value, with opportunities for ongoing
student advancement. ISBE and ICCB may adopt requirements
for certifying that the instructional sequence meets the
requirements of this paragraph (2). This certification

HB4173 - 45 - LRB103 33387 RJT 63199 b
must be re-certified at least once every 5 years
thereafter. Commencing in the 2022-2023 school year,
students must earn at least 6 hours of credit through
early college credit courses within the career-focused
instructional sequence.
(3) Complete a minimum of 2 Career Exploration
Activities or one Intensive Career Exploration Experience,
a minimum of 2 Team-based Challenges, and at least 60
cumulative hours of participation in one or more
Supervised Career Development Experiences.
(4) Demonstrate readiness for non-remedial coursework
in reading and mathematics by high school graduation
through criteria certified by the Eligible School District
and a Local Community College to ISBE and ICCB. The
criteria shall align to any local partnership agreement
established pursuant to Section 55 of this Act and may
allow the demonstration of readiness through various
methods, including assessment scores, grade point average,
course completions, or other locally adopted criteria.
(e) To become an Eligible School District and award
College and Careers Pathway Endorsements, a school district
shall submit information in a form determined by ISBE and ICCB
that indicates the school district's intent to award College
and Career Pathway Endorsements in one or more Endorsement
Areas and includes the certifications described in subsection
(d) of this Section. Either ISBE or ICCB may require

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supporting evidence for any certification made by the school
district in the submission. An Eligible School District must
participate in any quality review process adopted by ISBE for
College and Career Pathway Endorsement systems, provided that
the quality review process is at no cost to the Eligible School
District.
(Source: P.A. 99-674, eff. 7-29-16.)