Bill Text: IL SB1529 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that for any 5-year renewal cycle that includes the 2022-2023 school year, each professional educator licensee shall complete a total of 100 hours of professional development during the 5-year renewal cycle in order to renew the license (rather than being required to complete a total of 120 hours). For the 2022-2023 school year only, provides that a licensee with an administrative endorsement who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day is not required to complete an Illinois Administrators' Academy course (rather than being required to complete one course). In provisions related to the content of evaluation plans, allows a school district to waive, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any teacher in contractual continued service whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". In regard to rules adopted by the State Board of Education concerning educator evaluations, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, provides that factors related to methods of measuring student growth may not be used in any educator evaluation. In regard to the development of an evaluation plan for principals and assistant principals, allows a school district to waive, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any principal or assistant principal whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-08 - Referred to Assignments [SB1529 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB1529-Introduced.html

---

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB1529 Introduced 2/8/2023, by Sen. Jil Tracy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/21B-45
105 ILCS 5/24A-5 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-5
105 ILCS 5/24A-7 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-7
105 ILCS 5/24A-15
Amends the School Code. Provides that for any 5-year renewal cycle that includes the 2022-2023 school year, each professional educator licensee shall complete a total of 100 hours of professional development during the 5-year renewal cycle in order to renew the license (rather than being required to complete a total of 120 hours). For the 2022-2023 school year only, provides that a licensee with an administrative endorsement who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day is not required to complete an Illinois Administrators' Academy course (rather than being required to complete one course). In provisions related to the content of evaluation plans, allows a school district to waive, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any teacher in contractual continued service whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". In regard to rules adopted by the State Board of Education concerning educator evaluations, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, provides that factors related to methods of measuring student growth may not be used in any educator evaluation. In regard to the development of an evaluation plan for principals and assistant principals, allows a school district to waive, for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any principal or assistant principal whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". Makes related changes. Effective immediately.
LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
A BILL FOR
SB1529 LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 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
21B-45, 24A-5, 24A-7, and 24A-15 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.
(a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License
are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as
specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this
Code.
Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall
meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section,
unless otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds
a license endorsed in more than one area that has different
renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal
requirements for the position for which he or she spends the
majority of his or her time working.
(b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as
provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that
year. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if
a license holder's electronic mail address is available, the
State Board of Education shall send him or her notification

SB1529 - 2 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
electronically that his or her license will lapse if not
renewed, to be sent no more than 6 months prior to the license
lapsing. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon
(i) payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of
a $50 penalty or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by
completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education in the content area
that most aligns with one or more of the educator's
endorsement areas. Any and all back fees, including without
limitation registration fees owed from the time of expiration
of the license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid
and kept in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this
Code concerning an institute fund and the provisions in
Article 21B of this Code concerning fees and requirements for
registration. Licenses not registered in accordance with
Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6
months from the expiration of the last year of registration or
on January 1 of the fiscal year following initial issuance of
the license. An unregistered license is invalid after
September 1 for employment and performance of services in an
Illinois public or State-operated school or cooperative and in
a charter school. Any license or endorsement may be
voluntarily surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily
surrendered license shall be treated as a revoked license. An
Educator License with Stipulations with only a
paraprofessional endorsement does not lapse.

SB1529 - 3 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
(c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to
satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in
this Section, each professional educator licensee with an
administrative endorsement who is working in a position
requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois
Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of
this Code, per fiscal year.
(c-5) All licenses issued by the State Board of Education
under this Article that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not
been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be
extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021.
(d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
professional development plan each year. The plan shall
address one or more of the endorsements that are required of
his or her educator position if the licensee is employed and
performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated
school or cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a
charter school, the plan shall address that endorsement or
those endorsements most closely related to his or her educator
position. Licensees employed and performing services in any
other Illinois schools may participate in the renewal
requirements by adhering to the same process.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the
licensee's professional development activities shall align

SB1529 - 4 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
with one or more of the following criteria:
(1) activities are of a type that engages engage
participants over a sustained period of time allowing for
analysis, discovery, and application as they relate to
student learning, social or emotional achievement, or
well-being;
(2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
performance;
(3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student
growth or district improvement;
(4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
(5) higher education coursework.
(e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into
the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
development hours, and the provider's name. The following
provisions shall apply concerning professional development
activities:
(1) For any 5-year renewal cycle that does not include
the 2022-2023 school year, each Each licensee shall
complete a total of 120 hours of professional development
per 5-year renewal cycle in order to renew the license,
except as otherwise provided in this Section. For any
5-year renewal cycle that includes the 2022-2023 school

SB1529 - 5 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
year, each licensee shall complete a total of 100 hours of
professional development during the 5-year renewal cycle
in order to renew the license, except as otherwise
provided in this Section.
(2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,
any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not
working in a position requiring such endorsement is not
required to complete Illinois Administrators' Academy
courses, as described in Article 2 of this Code. Such
licensees must complete one Illinois Administrators'
Academy course within one year after returning to a
position that requires the administrative endorsement.
(3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement
who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in
an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
addition to 100 hours of professional development per
5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
However, for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years year
only, a licensee under this paragraph (3) is not required
to complete an Illinois Administrators' Academy course.
(4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of

SB1529 - 6 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order
to renew the license.
(5) Licensees working in a position that does not
require educator licensure or working in a position for
less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration
fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
license.
(6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits
from a State of Illinois retirement system shall be listed
as retired, and the license shall be maintained in retired
status. For any renewal cycle in which a licensee retires
during the renewal cycle, the licensee must complete
professional development activities on a prorated basis
depending on the number of years during the renewal cycle
the educator held an active license. If a licensee retires
during a renewal cycle, the license status must be updated
using ELIS indicating that the licensee wishes to maintain
the license in retired status and the licensee must show
proof of completion of professional development activities
on a prorated basis for all years of that renewal cycle for
which the license was active. An individual with a license
in retired status shall not be required to complete
professional development activities until returning to a
position that requires educator licensure. Upon returning
to work in a position that requires the Professional

SB1529 - 7 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
Educator License, the license status shall immediately be
updated using ELIS and the licensee shall complete renewal
requirements for that year. A retired teacher, even if
returning to a position that requires educator licensure,
shall not be required to pay registration fees. A license
in retired status cannot lapse. Beginning on January 6,
2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-920) through
December 31, 2017, any licensee who has retired and whose
license has lapsed for failure to renew as provided in
this Section may reinstate that license and maintain it in
retired status upon providing proof to the State Board of
Education using ELIS that the licensee is retired and is
not working in a position that requires a Professional
Educator License.
(7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
minimum professional development hours required in this
Section prior to September 1 of that year. Professional
development hours used to fulfill the minimum required
hours for a renewal cycle may be used for only one renewal
cycle. For any fiscal year or renewal cycle in which an
Illinois Administrators' Academy course was required but
not completed, the licensee shall complete any missed
Illinois Administrators' Academy courses prior to
September 1 of that year. The licensee may complete all

SB1529 - 8 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' Academy
courses while continuing to work in a position that
requires that license until September 1 of that year.
(8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the
professional development renewal requirements set forth in
this Section at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is
ineligible to register his or her license and may submit
an appeal to the State Superintendent of Education for
reinstatement of the license.
(9) If professional development opportunities were
unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were
unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be
submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an
extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
during the extension period.
(10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act
98-610) shall commence the annual renewal process with the
first scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013
(the effective date of Public Act 98-610).
(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required
number of professional development hours during a renewal
cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned

SB1529 - 9 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the
renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must
be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois
Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those
courses may not be carried over.
(e-5) The number of professional development hours
required under subsection (e) is reduced by 20% for any
renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school year.
(f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
the required questions under penalty of perjury.
(f-5) The State Board of Education shall conduct random
audits of licensees to verify a licensee's fulfillment of the
professional development hours required under this Section.
Upon completion of a random audit, if it is determined by the
State Board of Education that the licensee did not complete
the required number of professional development hours or did
not provide sufficient proof of completion, the licensee shall
be notified that his or her license has lapsed. A license that
has lapsed under this subsection may be reinstated as provided
in subsection (b).
(g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
to provide professional development activities for the renewal
of Professional Educator Licenses:
(1) The State Board of Education.
(2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
service centers.

SB1529 - 10 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
(3) Illinois professional associations representing
the following groups that are approved by the State
Superintendent of Education:
(A) school administrators;
(B) principals;
(C) school business officials;
(D) teachers, including special education
teachers;
(E) school boards;
(F) school districts;
(G) parents; and
(H) school service personnel.
(4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher
education that offer Illinois-approved educator
preparation programs and public community colleges subject
to the Public Community College Act.
(5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
education or special education services.
(6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December
31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has
had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board
of Education to provide professional development services
in the area of English Learning to Illinois school

SB1529 - 11 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
districts, teachers, or administrators.
(7) State agencies, State boards, and State
commissions.
(8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum
Disposition of Property Act.
(h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this
Section shall make available professional development
opportunities that satisfy at least one of the following:
(1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
district leaders who guide continuous professional
development;
(2) improve the learning of students;
(3) organize adults into learning communities whose
goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
(4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
(5) provide educators with research-based
instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
rigorous academic standards;
(6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
types of classroom assessments;
(7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
intended goals;
(8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to
collaborate;
(9) prepare educators to apply research to decision
making;

SB1529 - 12 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
(10) provide educators with training on inclusive
practices in the classroom that examines instructional and
behavioral strategies that improve academic and
social-emotional outcomes for all students, with or
without disabilities, in a general education setting; or
(11) beginning on July 1, 2022, provide educators with
training on the physical and mental health needs of
students, student safety, educator ethics, professional
conduct, and other topics that address the well-being of
students and improve the academic and social-emotional
outcomes of students.
(i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this
Section shall do the following:
(1) align professional development activities to the
State-approved national standards for professional
learning;
(2) meet the professional development criteria for
Illinois licensure renewal;
(3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains
how it aligns to State standards and identify the
assessment for determining the expected impact on student
learning or school improvement;
(4) maintain original documentation for completion of
activities;
(5) provide license holders with evidence of
completion of activities;

SB1529 - 13 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
(6) request an Illinois Educator Identification Number
(IEIN) for each educator during each professional
development activity; and
(7) beginning on July 1, 2019, register annually with
the State Board of Education prior to offering any
professional development opportunities in the current
fiscal year.
(j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
audits of a subset of approved providers, except for school
districts, which shall be audited by regional offices of
education and intermediate service centers. The State Board of
Education shall ensure that each approved provider, except for
a school district, is audited at least once every 5 years. The
State Board of Education may conduct more frequent audits of
providers if evidence suggests the requirements of this
Section or administrative rules are not being met.
(1) (Blank).
(2) Approved providers shall comply with the
requirements in subsections (h) and (i) of this Section by
annually submitting data to the State Board of Education
demonstrating how the professional development activities
impacted one or more of the following:
(A) educator and student growth in regards to
content knowledge or skills, or both;
(B) educator and student social and emotional
growth; or

SB1529 - 14 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
(C) alignment to district or school improvement
plans.
(3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
the annual data collected by the State Board of Education,
regional offices of education, and intermediate service
centers in audits to determine if the approved provider
has met the criteria and should continue to be an approved
provider or if further action should be taken as provided
in rules.
(k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
5-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed
and entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
debit card.
(l) Any professional educator licensee endorsed for school
support personnel who is employed and performing services in
Illinois public schools and who holds an active and current
professional license issued by the Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation or a national certification board, as
approved by the State Board of Education, related to the
endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License shall
be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional
development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to

SB1529 - 15 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who
does not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial
and Professional Regulation shall complete professional
development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
Educator License provided for in this Section.
(m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and
Licensure Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of
notice from the State Superintendent of Education that a
license will not be renewed based upon failure to complete the
requirements of this Section. A licensee may appeal that
decision to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
in a manner prescribed by rule.
(1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
State Board of Education.
(2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to
determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of
this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
determination based upon the record of review, which shall
consist of the following:
(A) the regional superintendent of education's
rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,

SB1529 - 16 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
if applicable;
(B) any evidence submitted to the State
Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
statement of assurance for renewal; and
(C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
nonrenewal of the license.
(3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding
license renewal by certified mail, return receipt
requested, no later than 30 days after reaching a
decision. Upon receipt of notification of renewal, the
licensee, using ELIS, shall pay the applicable
registration fee for the next cycle using a form of credit
or debit card.
(n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 101-85, eff. 1-1-20; 101-531, eff. 8-23-19;
101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-676, eff. 12-3-21; 102-710, eff.
4-27-22; 102-730, eff. 5-6-22; 102-852, eff. 5-13-22; revised
8-25-22.)
(105 ILCS 5/24A-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 24A-5)
Sec. 24A-5. Content of evaluation plans. This Section
does not apply to teachers assigned to schools identified in
an agreement entered into between the board of a school
district operating under Article 34 of this Code and the

SB1529 - 17 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
exclusive representative of the district's teachers in
accordance with Section 34-85c of this Code.
Each school district to which this Article applies shall
establish a teacher evaluation plan which ensures that each
teacher in contractual continued service is evaluated at least
once in the course of every 2 or 3 school years as provided in
this Section.
Each school district shall establish a teacher evaluation
plan that ensures that:
(1) each teacher not in contractual continued service
is evaluated at least once every school year; and
(2) except as otherwise provided in this Section, each
teacher in contractual continued service is evaluated at
least once in the course of every 2 school years. However,
any teacher in contractual continued service whose
performance is rated as either "needs improvement" or
"unsatisfactory" must be evaluated at least once in the
school year following the receipt of such rating.
No later than September 1, 2022, each school district must
establish a teacher evaluation plan that ensures that each
teacher in contractual continued service whose performance is
rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" is evaluated at
least once in the course of the 3 school years after receipt of
the rating and implement an informal teacher observation plan
established by agency rule and by agreement of the joint
committee established under subsection (b) of Section 24A-4 of

SB1529 - 18 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
this Code that ensures that each teacher in contractual
continued service whose performance is rated as either
"excellent" or "proficient" is informally observed at least
once in the course of the 2 school years after receipt of the
rating.
For the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, a
school district may waive the evaluation requirement of any
teacher in contractual continued service whose performance was
rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" during the last
school year in which the teacher was evaluated under this
Section.
For the 2022-2023 school year only, if the Governor has
declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant
to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act,
a school district may waive the evaluation requirement of all
teachers in contractual continued service whose performances
were rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" during the
last school year in which the teachers were evaluated under
this Section.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
or any other Section of this Code, a principal shall not be
prohibited from evaluating any teachers within a school during
his or her first year as principal of such school. If a
first-year principal exercises this option in a school
district where the evaluation plan provides for a teacher in
contractual continued service to be evaluated once in the

SB1529 - 19 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
course of every 2 or 3 school years, as applicable, then a new
2-year or 3-year evaluation plan must be established.
The evaluation plan shall comply with the requirements of
this Section and of any rules adopted by the State Board of
Education pursuant to this Section.
The plan shall include a description of each teacher's
duties and responsibilities and of the standards to which that
teacher is expected to conform, and shall include at least the
following components:
(a) personal observation of the teacher in the
classroom by the evaluator, unless the teacher has no
classroom duties.
(b) consideration of the teacher's attendance,
planning, instructional methods, classroom management,
where relevant, and competency in the subject matter
taught.
(c) by no later than the applicable implementation
date, consideration of student growth as a significant
factor in the rating of the teacher's performance.
(d) prior to September 1, 2012, rating of the
performance of teachers in contractual continued service
as either:
(i) "excellent", "satisfactory" or
"unsatisfactory"; or
(ii) "excellent", "proficient", "needs
improvement" or "unsatisfactory".

SB1529 - 20 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
(e) on and after September 1, 2012, rating of the
performance of all teachers as "excellent", "proficient",
"needs improvement" or "unsatisfactory".
(f) specification as to the teacher's strengths and
weaknesses, with supporting reasons for the comments made.
(g) inclusion of a copy of the evaluation in the
teacher's personnel file and provision of a copy to the
teacher.
(h) within 30 school days after the completion of an
evaluation rating a teacher in contractual continued
service as "needs improvement", development by the
evaluator, in consultation with the teacher, and taking
into account the teacher's on-going professional
responsibilities including his or her regular teaching
assignments, of a professional development plan directed
to the areas that need improvement and any supports that
the district will provide to address the areas identified
as needing improvement.
(i) within 30 school days after completion of an
evaluation rating a teacher in contractual continued
service as "unsatisfactory", development and commencement
by the district of a remediation plan designed to correct
deficiencies cited, provided the deficiencies are deemed
remediable. In all school districts the remediation plan
for unsatisfactory, tenured teachers shall provide for 90
school days of remediation within the classroom, unless an

SB1529 - 21 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
applicable collective bargaining agreement provides for a
shorter duration. In all school districts evaluations
issued pursuant to this Section shall be issued within 10
days after the conclusion of the respective remediation
plan. However, the school board or other governing
authority of the district shall not lose jurisdiction to
discharge a teacher in the event the evaluation is not
issued within 10 days after the conclusion of the
respective remediation plan.
(j) participation in the remediation plan by the
teacher in contractual continued service rated
"unsatisfactory", an evaluator and a consulting teacher
selected by the evaluator of the teacher who was rated
"unsatisfactory", which consulting teacher is an
educational employee as defined in the Educational Labor
Relations Act, has at least 5 years' teaching experience,
and a reasonable familiarity with the assignment of the
teacher being evaluated, and who received an "excellent"
rating on his or her most recent evaluation. Where no
teachers who meet these criteria are available within the
district, the district shall request and the applicable
regional office of education shall supply, to participate
in the remediation process, an individual who meets these
criteria.
In a district having a population of less than 500,000
with an exclusive bargaining agent, the bargaining agent

SB1529 - 22 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
may, if it so chooses, supply a roster of qualified
teachers from whom the consulting teacher is to be
selected. That roster shall, however, contain the names of
at least 5 teachers, each of whom meets the criteria for
consulting teacher with regard to the teacher being
evaluated, or the names of all teachers so qualified if
that number is less than 5. In the event of a dispute as to
qualification, the State Board shall determine
qualification.
(k) a mid-point and final evaluation by an evaluator
during and at the end of the remediation period,
immediately following receipt of a remediation plan
provided for under subsections (i) and (j) of this
Section. Each evaluation shall assess the teacher's
performance during the time period since the prior
evaluation; provided that the last evaluation shall also
include an overall evaluation of the teacher's performance
during the remediation period. A written copy of the
evaluations and ratings, in which any deficiencies in
performance and recommendations for correction are
identified, shall be provided to and discussed with the
teacher within 10 school days after the date of the
evaluation, unless an applicable collective bargaining
agreement provides to the contrary. These subsequent
evaluations shall be conducted by an evaluator. The
consulting teacher shall provide advice to the teacher

SB1529 - 23 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
rated "unsatisfactory" on how to improve teaching skills
and to successfully complete the remediation plan. The
consulting teacher shall participate in developing the
remediation plan, but the final decision as to the
evaluation shall be done solely by the evaluator, unless
an applicable collective bargaining agreement provides to
the contrary. Evaluations at the conclusion of the
remediation process shall be separate and distinct from
the required annual evaluations of teachers and shall not
be subject to the guidelines and procedures relating to
those annual evaluations. The evaluator may but is not
required to use the forms provided for the annual
evaluation of teachers in the district's evaluation plan.
(l) reinstatement to the evaluation schedule set forth
in the district's evaluation plan for any teacher in
contractual continued service who achieves a rating equal
to or better than "satisfactory" or "proficient" in the
school year following a rating of "needs improvement" or
"unsatisfactory".
(m) dismissal in accordance with subsection (d) of
Section 24-12 or Section 24-16.5 or 34-85 of this Code of
any teacher who fails to complete any applicable
remediation plan with a rating equal to or better than a
"satisfactory" or "proficient" rating. Districts and
teachers subject to dismissal hearings are precluded from
compelling the testimony of consulting teachers at such

SB1529 - 24 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
hearings under subsection (d) of Section 24-12 or Section
24-16.5 or 34-85 of this Code, either as to the rating
process or for opinions of performances by teachers under
remediation.
(n) After the implementation date of an evaluation
system for teachers in a district as specified in Section
24A-2.5 of this Code, if a teacher in contractual
continued service successfully completes a remediation
plan following a rating of "unsatisfactory" in an overall
performance evaluation received after the foregoing
implementation date and receives a subsequent rating of
"unsatisfactory" in any of the teacher's overall
performance evaluation ratings received during the
36-month period following the teacher's completion of the
remediation plan, then the school district may forego
remediation and seek dismissal in accordance with
subsection (d) of Section 24-12 or Section 34-85 of this
Code.
Nothing in this Section or Section 24A-4 shall be
construed as preventing immediate dismissal of a teacher for
deficiencies which are deemed irremediable or for actions
which are injurious to or endanger the health or person of
students in the classroom or school, or preventing the
dismissal or non-renewal of teachers not in contractual
continued service for any reason not prohibited by applicable
employment, labor, and civil rights laws. Failure to strictly

SB1529 - 25 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
comply with the time requirements contained in Section 24A-5
shall not invalidate the results of the remediation plan.
Nothing contained in this amendatory Act of the 98th
General Assembly repeals, supersedes, invalidates, or
nullifies final decisions in lawsuits pending on the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly in
Illinois courts involving the interpretation of Public Act
97-8.
If the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public
health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois
Emergency Management Agency Act that suspends in-person
instruction, the timelines in this Section connected to the
commencement and completion of any remediation plan are
waived. Except if the parties mutually agree otherwise and the
agreement is in writing, any remediation plan that had been in
place for more than 45 days prior to the suspension of
in-person instruction shall resume when in-person instruction
resumes and any remediation plan that had been in place for
fewer than 45 days prior to the suspension of in-person
instruction shall be discontinued and a new remediation period
shall begin when in-person instruction resumes. The
requirements of this paragraph apply regardless of whether
they are included in a school district's teacher evaluation
plan.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-252, eff. 1-1-22;
102-729, eff. 5-6-22.)

SB1529 - 26 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
(105 ILCS 5/24A-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 24A-7)
Sec. 24A-7. Rules. The State Board of Education is
authorized to adopt such rules as are deemed necessary to
implement and accomplish the purposes and provisions of this
Article, including, but not limited to, rules:
(1) relating to the methods for measuring student
growth (including, but not limited to, limitations on the
age of usable data; the amount of data needed to reliably
and validly measure growth for the purpose of teacher and
principal evaluations; and whether and at what time annual
State assessments may be used as one of multiple measures
of student growth);
(2) defining the term "significant factor" for
purposes of including consideration of student growth in
performance ratings;
(3) controlling for such factors as student
characteristics (including, but not limited to, students
receiving special education and English Learner services),
student attendance, and student mobility so as to best
measure the impact that a teacher, principal, school and
school district has on students' academic achievement;
(4) establishing minimum requirements for district
teacher and principal evaluation instruments and
procedures; and
(5) establishing a model evaluation plan for use by

SB1529 - 27 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
school districts in which student growth shall comprise
50% of the performance rating.
Notwithstanding any other rule or law to the contrary, for
the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, student growth
measures described under paragraph (1) of this Section and in
administrative rules adopted by the State Board of Education
may not be used as a factor in any evaluation under this
Article.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section, such
rules shall not preclude a school district having 500,000 or
more inhabitants from using an annual State assessment as the
sole measure of student growth for purposes of teacher or
principal evaluations.
The State Superintendent of Education shall convene a
Performance Evaluation Advisory Council, which shall be
staffed by the State Board of Education. Members of the
Council shall be selected by the State Superintendent and
include, without limitation, representatives of teacher unions
and school district management, persons with expertise in
performance evaluation processes and systems, as well as other
stakeholders. The Council shall meet at least quarterly and
may also meet at the call of the chairperson of the Council,
following August 18, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act
100-211) until June 30, 2024. The Council shall advise the
State Board of Education on the ongoing implementation of
performance evaluations in this State, which may include

SB1529 - 28 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
gathering public feedback, sharing best practices, consulting
with the State Board on any proposed rule changes regarding
evaluations, and other subjects as determined by the
chairperson of the Council.
Prior to the applicable implementation date, these rules
shall not apply to teachers assigned to schools identified in
an agreement entered into between the board of a school
district operating under Article 34 of this Code and the
exclusive representative of the district's teachers in
accordance with Section 34-85c of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 102-252, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/24A-15)
Sec. 24A-15. Development of evaluation plan for principals
and assistant principals.
(a) Each school district, except for a school district
organized under Article 34 of this Code, shall establish a
principal and assistant principal evaluation plan in
accordance with this Section. The plan must ensure that each
principal and assistant principal is evaluated as follows:
(1) For a principal or assistant principal on a
single-year contract, the evaluation must take place by
March 1 of each year.
(2) For a principal or assistant principal on a
multi-year contract under Section 10-23.8a of this Code,
the evaluation must take place by March 1 of the final year

SB1529 - 29 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
of the contract.
On and after September 1, 2012, the plan must:
(i) rate the principal's or assistant principal's
performance as "excellent", "proficient", "needs
improvement" or "unsatisfactory"; and
(ii) ensure that each principal and assistant
principal is evaluated at least once every school year.
Nothing in this Section prohibits a school district from
conducting additional evaluations of principals and assistant
principals.
For the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years only, a
school district may waive the evaluation requirement of any
principal or assistant principal whose performance was rated
as either "excellent" or "proficient" during the last school
year in which the principal or assistant principal was
evaluated under this Section.
For the 2022-2023 school year only, if the Governor has
declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant
to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act,
a school district may waive the evaluation requirement of all
principals or assistant principals whose performances were
rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" during the last
school year in which the principals or assistant principals
were evaluated under this Section.
(b) The evaluation shall include a description of the
principal's or assistant principal's duties and

SB1529 - 30 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
responsibilities and the standards to which the principal or
assistant principal is expected to conform.
(c) The evaluation for a principal must be performed by
the district superintendent, the superintendent's designee,
or, in the absence of the superintendent or his or her
designee, an individual appointed by the school board who
holds a registered Type 75 State administrative certificate.
Prior to September 1, 2012, the evaluation must be in
writing and must at least do all of the following:
(1) Consider the principal's specific duties,
responsibilities, management, and competence as a
principal.
(2) Specify the principal's strengths and weaknesses,
with supporting reasons.
(3) Align with research-based standards established by
administrative rule.
On and after September 1, 2012, the evaluation must, in
addition to the requirements in items (1), (2), and (3) of this
subsection (c), provide for the use of data and indicators on
student growth as a significant factor in rating performance.
(c-5) The evaluation of an assistant principal must be
performed by the principal, the district superintendent, the
superintendent's designee, or, in the absence of the
superintendent or his or her designee, an individual appointed
by the school board who holds a registered Type 75 State
administrative certificate. The evaluation must be in writing

SB1529 - 31 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
and must at least do all of the following:
(1) Consider the assistant principal's specific
duties, responsibilities, management, and competence as an
assistant principal.
(2) Specify the assistant principal's strengths and
weaknesses with supporting reasons.
(3) Align with the Illinois Professional Standards for
School Leaders or research-based district standards.
On and after September 1, 2012, the evaluation must, in
addition to the requirements in items (1), (2), and (3) of this
subsection (c-5), provide for the use of data and indicators
on student growth as a significant factor in rating
performance.
(d) One copy of the evaluation must be included in the
principal's or assistant principal's personnel file and one
copy of the evaluation must be provided to the principal or
assistant principal.
(e) Failure by a district to evaluate a principal or
assistant principal and to provide the principal or assistant
principal with a copy of the evaluation at least once during
the term of the principal's or assistant principal's contract,
in accordance with this Section, is evidence that the
principal or assistant principal is performing duties and
responsibilities in at least a satisfactory manner and shall
serve to automatically extend the principal's or assistant
principal's contract for a period of one year after the

SB1529 - 32 - LRB103 29135 RJT 55521 b
contract would otherwise expire, under the same terms and
conditions as the prior year's contract. The requirements in
this Section are in addition to the right of a school board to
reclassify a principal or assistant principal pursuant to
Section 10-23.8b of this Code.
(f) Nothing in this Section prohibits a school board from
ordering lateral transfers of principals or assistant
principals to positions of similar rank and salary.
(Source: P.A. 102-729, eff. 5-6-22.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.