Public Act 097-0461

SB1794 Enrolled LRB097 09914 NHT 50077 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 Section

21-28 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21-28)

Sec. 21-28. Special education teachers; categorical

certification.

(a) In order to create a special education workforce with

the broad-based knowledge necessary to educate students with a

variety of disabilities, the State Board of Education and State

Teacher Certification Board shall certify a special education

teacher under one of the following:

(1) Learning behavior specialist I.

(2) Learning behavior specialist II.

(3) Teacher of students who are blind or visually

impaired.

(4) Teacher of students who are deaf or hard of

hearing.

(5) Speech-language pathologist.

(6) Early childhood special education teacher.

(b) The State Board of Education is authorized to provide

for the assignment of individuals to special education

positions by short-term, emergency certification. Short-term,

emergency certification shall not be renewed.

(c) The State Board of Education is authorized to use

peremptory rulemaking, in accordance with Section 5-50 of the

Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, to place into the

Illinois Administrative Code the certification policies and

standards related to special education, as authorized under

this Section, that the State Board has been required to

implement pursuant to federal court orders dated February 27,

2001, August 15, 2001, and September 11, 2002 in the matter of

Corey H., et al. v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago,

et al. The State Teacher Certification Board shall

categorically certify a special education teacher in one or

more of the following specialized categories of disability if

the special education teacher applies and qualifies for such

certification:

(1) Serious emotional disturbance.

(2) Learning disabilities.

(3) Autism.

(4) Mental retardation.

(5) Orthopedic (physical) impairment.

(6) Traumatic brain injury.

(7) Other health impairment.

(Source: P.A. 92-709, eff. 7-19-02.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

becoming law.