Bill Text: IL SB1799 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the Teacher Certification Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall have the power and authority to sanction teacher and administrator preparation programs, maintain a system of certification testing aligned with standards determined by the State Board of Education, and establish a code of ethics for all educators. Effective July 1, 2011.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-08-26 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0607 [SB1799 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SB1799-Amended.html

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Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia

Filed: 5/5/2011

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AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1799
AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1799 by replacing
everything after the enacting clause with the following:
"Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by changing
Section 3-9005 as follows:
(55 ILCS 5/3-9005) (from Ch. 34, par. 3-9005)
Sec. 3-9005. Powers and duties of State's attorney.
(a) The duty of each State's attorney shall be:
(1) To commence and prosecute all actions, suits,
indictments and prosecutions, civil and criminal, in the
circuit court for his county, in which the people of the
State or county may be concerned.
(2) To prosecute all forfeited bonds and
recognizances, and all actions and proceedings for the
recovery of debts, revenues, moneys, fines, penalties and
forfeitures accruing to the State or his county, or to any

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school district or road district in his county; also, to
prosecute all suits in his county against railroad or
transportation companies, which may be prosecuted in the
name of the People of the State of Illinois.
(3) To commence and prosecute all actions and
proceedings brought by any county officer in his official
capacity.
(4) To defend all actions and proceedings brought
against his county, or against any county or State officer,
in his official capacity, within his county.
(5) To attend the examination of all persons brought
before any judge on habeas corpus, when the prosecution is
in his county.
(6) To attend before judges and prosecute charges of
felony or misdemeanor, for which the offender is required
to be recognized to appear before the circuit court, when
in his power so to do.
(7) To give his opinion, without fee or reward, to any
county officer in his county, upon any question or law
relating to any criminal or other matter, in which the
people or the county may be concerned.
(8) To assist the attorney general whenever it may be
necessary, and in cases of appeal from his county to the
Supreme Court, to which it is the duty of the attorney
general to attend, he shall furnish the attorney general at
least 10 days before such is due to be filed, a manuscript

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of a proposed statement, brief and argument to be printed
and filed on behalf of the people, prepared in accordance
with the rules of the Supreme Court. However, if such
brief, argument or other document is due to be filed by law
or order of court within this 10 day period, then the
State's attorney shall furnish such as soon as may be
reasonable.
(9) To pay all moneys received by him in trust, without
delay, to the officer who by law is entitled to the custody
thereof.
(10) To notify, by first class mail, complaining
witnesses of the ultimate disposition of the cases arising
from an indictment or an information.
(11) To perform such other and further duties as may,
from time to time, be enjoined on him by law.
(12) To appear in all proceedings by collectors of
taxes against delinquent taxpayers for judgments to sell
real estate, and see that all the necessary preliminary
steps have been legally taken to make the judgment legal
and binding.
(13) To notify, by first-class mail, the State
Superintendent of Education, the applicable regional
superintendent of schools, and the superintendent of the
employing school district or the chief school
administrator of the employing nonpublic school, if any,
upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a

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certificate or license issued pursuant to Article 21 or
21B, respectively, of the School Code of any offense set
forth in Section 21B-80 21-23a of the School Code or any
other felony conviction, providing the name of the
certificate holder, the fact of the conviction, and the
name and location of the court where the conviction
occurred. The certificate holder must also be
contemporaneously sent a copy of the notice.
(b) The State's Attorney of each county shall have
authority to appoint one or more special investigators to serve
subpoenas, make return of process and conduct investigations
which assist the State's Attorney in the performance of his
duties. A special investigator shall not carry firearms except
with permission of the State's Attorney and only while carrying
appropriate identification indicating his employment and in
the performance of his assigned duties.
Subject to the qualifications set forth in this subsection,
special investigators shall be peace officers and shall have
all the powers possessed by investigators under the State's
Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Act.
No special investigator employed by the State's Attorney
shall have peace officer status or exercise police powers
unless he or she successfully completes the basic police
training course mandated and approved by the Illinois Law
Enforcement Training Standards Board or such board waives the
training requirement by reason of the special investigator's

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prior law enforcement experience or training or both. Any
State's Attorney appointing a special investigator shall
consult with all affected local police agencies, to the extent
consistent with the public interest, if the special
investigator is assigned to areas within that agency's
jurisdiction.
Before a person is appointed as a special investigator, his
fingerprints shall be taken and transmitted to the Department
of State Police. The Department shall examine its records and
submit to the State's Attorney of the county in which the
investigator seeks appointment any conviction information
concerning the person on file with the Department. No person
shall be appointed as a special investigator if he has been
convicted of a felony or other offense involving moral
turpitude. A special investigator shall be paid a salary and be
reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in performing his
assigned duties. The county board shall approve the salary and
actual expenses and appropriate the salary and expenses in the
manner prescribed by law or ordinance.
(c) The State's Attorney may request and receive from
employers, labor unions, telephone companies, and utility
companies location information concerning putative fathers and
noncustodial parents for the purpose of establishing a child's
paternity or establishing, enforcing, or modifying a child
support obligation. In this subsection, "location information"
means information about (i) the physical whereabouts of a

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putative father or noncustodial parent, (ii) the putative
father or noncustodial parent's employer, or (iii) the salary,
wages, and other compensation paid and the health insurance
coverage provided to the putative father or noncustodial parent
by the employer of the putative father or noncustodial parent
or by a labor union of which the putative father or
noncustodial parent is a member.
(d) For each State fiscal year, the State's Attorney of
Cook County shall appear before the General Assembly and
request appropriations to be made from the Capital Litigation
Trust Fund to the State Treasurer for the purpose of providing
assistance in the prosecution of capital cases in Cook County
and for the purpose of providing assistance to the State in
post-conviction proceedings in capital cases under Article 122
of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in relation to
petitions filed under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil
Procedure in relation to capital cases. The State's Attorney
may appear before the General Assembly at other times during
the State's fiscal year to request supplemental appropriations
from the Trust Fund to the State Treasurer.
(e) The State's Attorney shall have the authority to enter
into a written agreement with the Department of Revenue for
pursuit of civil liability under Section 17-1a of the Criminal
Code of 1961 against persons who have issued to the Department
checks or other orders in violation of the provisions of
paragraph (d) of subsection (B) of Section 17-1 of the Criminal

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Code of 1961, with the Department to retain the amount owing
upon the dishonored check or order along with the dishonored
check fee imposed under the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act,
with the balance of damages, fees, and costs collected under
Section 17-1a of the Criminal Code of 1961 to be retained by
the State's Attorney. The agreement shall not affect the
allocation of fines and costs imposed in any criminal
prosecution.
(Source: P.A. 96-431, eff. 8-13-09.)
Section 15. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
2-3.25o, 3-11.5, 3-12, 10-21.9, 14C-8, 21-1a, 21-1b, 21-2,
21-2.1, 21-2a, 21-3, 21-4, 21-5, 21-5b, 21-5c, 21-5d, 21-7.1,
21-7.5, 21-7.6, 21-9, 21-10, 21-11.1, 21-11.2, 21-11.3,
21-11.4, 21-12, 21-14, 21-16, 21-22, 21-25, 21-27, 24-14, 34-6,
and 34-18.5 and by adding Article 21B as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o)
Sec. 2-3.25o. Registration and recognition of non-public
elementary and secondary schools.
(a) Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares (i)
that the Constitution of the State of Illinois provides that a
"fundamental goal of the People of the State is the educational
development of all persons to the limits of their capacities"
and (ii) that the educational development of every school
student serves the public purposes of the State. In order to

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ensure that all Illinois students and teachers have the
opportunity to enroll and work in State-approved educational
institutions and programs, the State Board of Education shall
provide for the voluntary registration and recognition of
non-public elementary and secondary schools.
(b) Registration. All non-public elementary and secondary
schools in the State of Illinois may voluntarily register with
the State Board of Education on an annual basis. Registration
shall be completed in conformance with procedures prescribed by
the State Board of Education. Information required for
registration shall include assurances of compliance (i) with
federal and State laws regarding health examination and
immunization, attendance, length of term, and
nondiscrimination and (ii) with applicable fire and health
safety requirements.
(c) Recognition. All non-public elementary and secondary
schools in the State of Illinois may voluntarily seek the
status of "Non-public School Recognition" from the State Board
of Education. This status may be obtained by compliance with
administrative guidelines and review procedures as prescribed
by the State Board of Education. The guidelines and procedures
must recognize that some of the aims and the financial bases of
non-public schools are different from public schools and will
not be identical to those for public schools, nor will they be
more burdensome. The guidelines and procedures must also
recognize the diversity of non-public schools and shall not

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impinge upon the noneducational relationships between those
schools and their clientele.
(c-5) Prohibition against recognition. A non-public
elementary or secondary school may not obtain "Non-public
School Recognition" status unless the school requires all
certified and non-certified applicants for employment with the
school, after July 1, 2007, to authorize a fingerprint-based
criminal history records check as a condition of employment to
determine if such applicants have been convicted of any of the
enumerated criminal or drug offenses set forth in Section
21-23a of this Code or have been convicted, within 7 years of
the application for employment, of any other felony under the
laws of this State or of any offense committed or attempted in
any other state or against the laws of the United States that,
if committed or attempted in this State, would have been
punishable as a felony under the laws of this State.
Authorization for the check shall be furnished by the
applicant to the school, except that if the applicant is a
substitute teacher seeking employment in more than one
non-public school, a teacher seeking concurrent part-time
employment positions with more than one non-public school (as a
reading specialist, special education teacher, or otherwise),
or an educational support personnel employee seeking
employment positions with more than one non-public school, then
only one of the non-public schools employing the individual
shall request the authorization. Upon receipt of this

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authorization, the non-public school shall submit the
applicant's name, sex, race, date of birth, social security
number, fingerprint images, and other identifiers, as
prescribed by the Department of State Police, to the Department
of State Police.
The Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of
Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based
criminal history records check, records of convictions,
forever and hereafter, until expunged, to the president or
principal of the non-public school that requested the check.
The Department of State Police shall charge that school a fee
for conducting such check, which fee must be deposited into the
State Police Services Fund and must not exceed the cost of the
inquiry. Subject to appropriations for these purposes, the
State Superintendent of Education shall reimburse non-public
schools for fees paid to obtain criminal history records checks
under this Section.
A non-public school may not obtain recognition status
unless the school also performs a check of the Statewide Sex
Offender Database, as authorized by the Sex Offender Community
Notification Law, for each applicant for employment, after July
1, 2007, to determine whether the applicant has been
adjudicated a sex offender.
Any information concerning the record of convictions
obtained by a non-public school's president or principal under
this Section is confidential and may be disseminated only to

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the governing body of the non-public school or any other person
necessary to the decision of hiring the applicant for
employment. A copy of the record of convictions obtained from
the Department of State Police shall be provided to the
applicant for employment. Upon a check of the Statewide Sex
Offender Database, the non-public school shall notify the
applicant as to whether or not the applicant has been
identified in the Sex Offender Database as a sex offender. Any
information concerning the records of conviction obtained by
the non-public school's president or principal under this
Section for a substitute teacher seeking employment in more
than one non-public school, a teacher seeking concurrent
part-time employment positions with more than one non-public
school (as a reading specialist, special education teacher, or
otherwise), or an educational support personnel employee
seeking employment positions with more than one non-public
school may be shared with another non-public school's principal
or president to which the applicant seeks employment. Any
person who releases any criminal history record information
concerning an applicant for employment is guilty of a Class A
misdemeanor and may be subject to prosecution under federal
law, unless the release of such information is authorized by
this Section.
No non-public school may obtain recognition status that
knowingly employs a person, hired after July 1, 2007, for whom
a Department of State Police and Federal Bureau of

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Investigation fingerprint-based criminal history records check
and a Statewide Sex Offender Database check has not been
initiated or who has been convicted of any offense enumerated
in Section 21B-80 21-23a of this Code or any offense committed
or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the
United States that, if committed or attempted in this State,
would have been punishable as one or more of those offenses. No
non-public school may obtain recognition status under this
Section that knowingly employs a person who has been found to
be the perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of a minor under
18 years of age pursuant to proceedings under Article II of the
Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
In order to obtain recognition status under this Section, a
non-public school must require compliance with the provisions
of this subsection (c-5) from all employees of persons or firms
holding contracts with the school, including, but not limited
to, food service workers, school bus drivers, and other
transportation employees, who have direct, daily contact with
pupils. Any information concerning the records of conviction or
identification as a sex offender of any such employee obtained
by the non-public school principal or president must be
promptly reported to the school's governing body.
(d) Public purposes. The provisions of this Section are in
the public interest, for the public benefit, and serve secular
public purposes.
(e) Definition. For purposes of this Section, a non-public

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school means any non-profit, non-home-based, and non-public
elementary or secondary school that is in compliance with Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and attendance at which
satisfies the requirements of Section 26-1 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 95-351, eff. 8-23-07; 96-431, eff. 8-13-09.)
(105 ILCS 5/3-11.5)
Sec. 3-11.5. Regional professional development review
committee. The regional superintendent of schools shall
constitute a regional professional development review
committee or committees, as provided in paragraph (2) of
subsection (g) of Section 21-14 of this Code, to advise the
regional superintendent of schools, upon his or her request,
and to hear appeals relating to the renewal of teaching
certificates, in accordance with Section 21-14 of this Code.
The expenses of these review committees shall be funded, in
part, from the fees collected pursuant to Section 21-16 or
21B-40 of this Code and deposited into the institute fund.
(Source: P.A. 91-102, eff. 7-12-99.)
(105 ILCS 5/3-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-12)
Sec. 3-12. Institute fund.
(a) All certificate registration fees and a portion of
renewal and duplicate fees shall be kept by the regional
superintendent as described in Section 21-16 or 21B-40 of this
Code, together with a record of the names of the persons paying

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them. Such fees shall be deposited into the institute fund and
shall be used by the regional superintendent to defray expenses
associated with the work of the regional professional
development review committees established pursuant to
paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of Section 21-14 of this Code
to advise the regional superintendent, upon his or her request,
and to hear appeals relating to the renewal of teaching
certificates, in accordance with Section 21-14 of this Code; to
defray expenses connected with improving the technology
necessary for the efficient processing of certificates; to
defray all costs associated with the administration of teaching
certificates; to defray expenses incidental to teachers'
institutes, workshops or meetings of a professional nature that
are designed to promote the professional growth of teachers or
for the purpose of defraying the expense of any general or
special meeting of teachers or school personnel of the region,
which has been approved by the regional superintendent.
(b) In addition to the use of moneys in the institute fund
to defray expenses under subsection (a) of this Section, the
State Superintendent of Education, as authorized under Section
2-3.105 of this Code, shall use moneys in the institute fund to
defray all costs associated with the administration of teaching
certificates within a city having a population exceeding
500,000.
(c) The regional superintendent shall on or before January
1 of each year publish in a newspaper of general circulation

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published in the region or shall post in each school building
under his jurisdiction an accounting of (1) the balance on hand
in the Institute fund at the beginning of the previous year;
(2) all receipts within the previous year deposited in the
fund, with the sources from which they were derived; (3) the
amount distributed from the fund and the purposes for which
such distributions were made; and (4) the balance on hand in
the fund.
(Source: P.A. 96-893, eff. 7-1-10.)
(105 ILCS 5/10-21.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.9)
Sec. 10-21.9. Criminal history records checks and checks of
the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Child
Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database.
(a) Certified and noncertified applicants for employment
with a school district, except school bus driver applicants,
are required as a condition of employment to authorize a
fingerprint-based criminal history records check to determine
if such applicants have been convicted of any of the enumerated
criminal or drug offenses in subsection (c) of this Section or
have been convicted, within 7 years of the application for
employment with the school district, of any other felony under
the laws of this State or of any offense committed or attempted
in any other state or against the laws of the United States
that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been
punishable as a felony under the laws of this State.

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Authorization for the check shall be furnished by the applicant
to the school district, except that if the applicant is a
substitute teacher seeking employment in more than one school
district, a teacher seeking concurrent part-time employment
positions with more than one school district (as a reading
specialist, special education teacher or otherwise), or an
educational support personnel employee seeking employment
positions with more than one district, any such district may
require the applicant to furnish authorization for the check to
the regional superintendent of the educational service region
in which are located the school districts in which the
applicant is seeking employment as a substitute or concurrent
part-time teacher or concurrent educational support personnel
employee. Upon receipt of this authorization, the school
district or the appropriate regional superintendent, as the
case may be, shall submit the applicant's name, sex, race, date
of birth, social security number, fingerprint images, and other
identifiers, as prescribed by the Department of State Police,
to the Department. The regional superintendent submitting the
requisite information to the Department of State Police shall
promptly notify the school districts in which the applicant is
seeking employment as a substitute or concurrent part-time
teacher or concurrent educational support personnel employee
that the check of the applicant has been requested. The
Department of State Police and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based

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criminal history records check, records of convictions, until
expunged, to the president of the school board for the school
district that requested the check, or to the regional
superintendent who requested the check. The Department shall
charge the school district or the appropriate regional
superintendent a fee for conducting such check, which fee shall
be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not
exceed the cost of the inquiry; and the applicant shall not be
charged a fee for such check by the school district or by the
regional superintendent, except that those applicants seeking
employment as a substitute teacher with a school district may
be charged a fee not to exceed the cost of the inquiry. Subject
to appropriations for these purposes, the State Superintendent
of Education shall reimburse school districts and regional
superintendents for fees paid to obtain criminal history
records checks under this Section.
(a-5) The school district or regional superintendent shall
further perform a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database,
as authorized by the Sex Offender Community Notification Law,
for each applicant.
(a-6) The school district or regional superintendent shall
further perform a check of the Statewide Child Murderer and
Violent Offender Against Youth Database, as authorized by the
Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Community
Notification Law, for each applicant.
(b) Any information concerning the record of convictions

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obtained by the president of the school board or the regional
superintendent shall be confidential and may only be
transmitted to the superintendent of the school district or his
designee, the appropriate regional superintendent if the check
was requested by the school district, the presidents of the
appropriate school boards if the check was requested from the
Department of State Police by the regional superintendent, the
State Superintendent of Education, the State Teacher
Certification Board, any other person necessary to the decision
of hiring the applicant for employment, or for clarification
purposes the Department of State Police or Statewide Sex
Offender Database, or both. A copy of the record of convictions
obtained from the Department of State Police shall be provided
to the applicant for employment. Upon the check of the
Statewide Sex Offender Database, the school district or
regional superintendent shall notify an applicant as to whether
or not the applicant has been identified in the Database as a
sex offender. If a check of an applicant for employment as a
substitute or concurrent part-time teacher or concurrent
educational support personnel employee in more than one school
district was requested by the regional superintendent, and the
Department of State Police upon a check ascertains that the
applicant has not been convicted of any of the enumerated
criminal or drug offenses in subsection (c) or has not been
convicted, within 7 years of the application for employment
with the school district, of any other felony under the laws of

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this State or of any offense committed or attempted in any
other state or against the laws of the United States that, if
committed or attempted in this State, would have been
punishable as a felony under the laws of this State and so
notifies the regional superintendent and if the regional
superintendent upon a check ascertains that the applicant has
not been identified in the Sex Offender Database as a sex
offender, then the regional superintendent shall issue to the
applicant a certificate evidencing that as of the date
specified by the Department of State Police the applicant has
not been convicted of any of the enumerated criminal or drug
offenses in subsection (c) or has not been convicted, within 7
years of the application for employment with the school
district, of any other felony under the laws of this State or
of any offense committed or attempted in any other state or
against the laws of the United States that, if committed or
attempted in this State, would have been punishable as a felony
under the laws of this State and evidencing that as of the date
that the regional superintendent conducted a check of the
Statewide Sex Offender Database, the applicant has not been
identified in the Database as a sex offender. The school board
of any school district may rely on the certificate issued by
any regional superintendent to that substitute teacher,
concurrent part-time teacher, or concurrent educational
support personnel employee or may initiate its own criminal
history records check of the applicant through the Department

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of State Police and its own check of the Statewide Sex Offender
Database as provided in subsection (a). Any person who releases
any confidential information concerning any criminal
convictions of an applicant for employment shall be guilty of a
Class A misdemeanor, unless the release of such information is
authorized by this Section.
(c) No school board shall knowingly employ a person who has
been convicted of any offense that would subject him or her to
license certification suspension or revocation pursuant to
Section 21B-80 21-23a of this Code. Further, no school board
shall knowingly employ a person who has been found to be the
perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of any minor under 18
years of age pursuant to proceedings under Article II of the
Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
(d) No school board shall knowingly employ a person for
whom a criminal history records check and a Statewide Sex
Offender Database check has not been initiated.
(e) Upon receipt of the record of a conviction of or a
finding of child abuse by a holder of any certificate issued
pursuant to Article 21 or Section 34-8.1 or 34-83 of the School
Code, the State Superintendent of Education may initiate
certificate suspension and revocation proceedings as
authorized by law.
(e-5) The superintendent of the employing school board
shall, in writing, notify the State Superintendent of Education
and the applicable regional superintendent of schools of any

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certificate holder whom he or she has reasonable cause to
believe has committed an intentional act of abuse or neglect
with the result of making a child an abused child or a
neglected child, as defined in Section 3 of the Abused and
Neglected Child Reporting Act, and that act resulted in the
certificate holder's dismissal or resignation from the school
district. This notification must be submitted within 30 days
after the dismissal or resignation. The certificate holder must
also be contemporaneously sent a copy of the notice by the
superintendent. All correspondence, documentation, and other
information so received by the regional superintendent of
schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board
of Education, or the State Teacher Certification Board under
this subsection (e-5) is confidential and must not be disclosed
to third parties, except (i) as necessary for the State
Superintendent of Education or his or her designee to
investigate and prosecute pursuant to Article 21 of this Code,
(ii) pursuant to a court order, (iii) for disclosure to the
certificate holder or his or her representative, or (iv) as
otherwise provided in this Article and provided that any such
information admitted into evidence in a hearing is exempt from
this confidentiality and non-disclosure requirement. Except
for an act of willful or wanton misconduct, any superintendent
who provides notification as required in this subsection (e-5)
shall have immunity from any liability, whether civil or
criminal or that otherwise might result by reason of such

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action.
(f) After January 1, 1990 the provisions of this Section
shall apply to all employees of persons or firms holding
contracts with any school district including, but not limited
to, food service workers, school bus drivers and other
transportation employees, who have direct, daily contact with
the pupils of any school in such district. For purposes of
criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Sex
Offender Database on employees of persons or firms holding
contracts with more than one school district and assigned to
more than one school district, the regional superintendent of
the educational service region in which the contracting school
districts are located may, at the request of any such school
district, be responsible for receiving the authorization for a
criminal history records check prepared by each such employee
and submitting the same to the Department of State Police and
for conducting a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database
for each employee. Any information concerning the record of
conviction and identification as a sex offender of any such
employee obtained by the regional superintendent shall be
promptly reported to the president of the appropriate school
board or school boards.
(g) In order to student teach in the public schools, a
person is required to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal
history records check and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender
Database and Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender

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Against Youth Database prior to participating in any field
experiences in the public schools. Authorization for and
payment of the costs of the checks must be furnished by the
student teacher. Results of the checks must be furnished to the
higher education institution where the student teacher is
enrolled and the superintendent of the school district where
the student is assigned.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-431, eff. 8-13-09;
96-1452, eff. 8-20-10; 96-1489, eff. 1-1-11; revised 1-4-11.)
(105 ILCS 5/14C-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-8)
Sec. 14C-8. Teacher certification - Qualifications -
Issuance of certificates. No person shall be eligible for
employment by a school district as a teacher of transitional
bilingual education without either (a) holding a valid teaching
certificate issued pursuant to Article 21 of this Code and
meeting such additional language and course requirements as
prescribed by the State Board of Education or (b) meeting the
requirements set forth in this Section. The Certification Board
shall issue certificates valid for teaching in all grades of
the common school in transitional bilingual education programs
to any person who presents it with satisfactory evidence that
he possesses an adequate speaking and reading ability in a
language other than English in which transitional bilingual
education is offered and communicative skills in English, and
possessed within 5 years previous to his or her applying for a

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certificate under this Section a valid teaching certificate
issued by a foreign country, or by a State or possession or
territory of the United States, or other evidence of teaching
preparation as may be determined to be sufficient by the
Certification Board, or holds a degree from an institution of
higher learning in a foreign country which the Certification
Board determines to be the equivalent of a bachelor's degree
from a recognized institution of higher learning in the United
States; provided that any person seeking a certificate under
this Section must meet the following additional requirements:
(1) Such persons must be in good health;
(2) Such persons must be of sound moral character;
(3) Such persons must be legally present in the United
States and possess legal authorization for employment;
(4) Such persons must not be employed to replace any
presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
replaced for any reason.
Certificates issuable pursuant to this Section shall be
issuable only during the 5 years immediately following the
effective date of this Act and thereafter for additional
periods of one year only upon a determination by the State
Board of Education that a school district lacks the number of
teachers necessary to comply with the mandatory requirements of
Section 14C-3 of this Article for the establishment and
maintenance of programs of transitional bilingual education
and said certificates issued by the Certification Board shall

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be valid for a period of 6 years following their date of
issuance and shall not be renewed, except that one renewal for
a period of two years may be granted if necessary to permit the
holder of a certificate issued under this Section to acquire a
teaching certificate pursuant to Article 21 of this Code. Such
certificates and the persons to whom they are issued shall be
exempt from the provisions of Article 21 or Article 21B of this
Code, except that Sections 21-16, 21-22, 21B-75, 21B-90, and
21B-105 of this Code shall continue to be applicable to all
such certificates or licenses except that Sections 21-12,
21-13, 21-16, 21-17, 21-21, 21-22, 21-23 and 21-24 shall
continue to be applicable to all such certificates.
After the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1984, an
additional renewal for a period to expire August 31, 1985, may
be granted. The State Board of Education shall report to the
General Assembly on or before January 31, 1985 its
recommendations for the qualification of teachers of bilingual
education and for the qualification of teachers of English as a
second language. Said qualification program shall take effect
no later than August 31, 1985.
Beginning July 1, 2001, the State Board of Education shall
implement a test or tests to assess the speaking, reading,
writing, and grammar skills of applicants for a certificate
issued under this Section in the English language and in the
language of the transitional bilingual education program
requested by the applicant and shall establish appropriate fees

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for these tests. The State Board of Education, in consultation
with the Certification Board, shall promulgate rules to
implement the required tests, including specific provisions to
govern test selection, test validation, determination of a
passing score, administration of the test or tests, frequency
of administration, applicant fees, identification requirements
for test takers, frequency of applicants taking the tests, the
years for which a score is valid, waiving tests for individuals
who have satisfactorily passed other tests, and the
consequences of dishonest conduct in the application for or
taking of the tests.
If the qualifications of an applicant for a certificate
valid for teaching in transitional bilingual education
programs in all grades of the common schools do not meet the
requirements established for the issuance of that certificate,
the Certification Board nevertheless shall issue the applicant
a substitute teacher's certificate under Section 21-9 whenever
it appears from the face of the application submitted for
certification as a teacher of transitional bilingual education
and the evidence presented in support thereof that the
applicant's qualifications meet the requirements established
for the issuance of a certificate under Section 21-9; provided,
that if it does not appear from the face of such application
and supporting evidence that the applicant is qualified for
issuance of a certificate under Section 21-9 the Certification
Board shall evaluate the application with reference to the

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requirements for issuance of certificates under Section 21-9
and shall inform the applicant, at the time it denies the
application submitted for certification as a teacher of
transitional bilingual education, of the additional
qualifications which the applicant must possess in order to
meet the requirements established for issuance of (i) a
certificate valid for teaching in transitional bilingual
education programs in all grades of the common schools and (ii)
a substitute teacher's certificate under Section 21-9.
This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07; 95-496, eff. 8-28-07;
95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-1a) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-1a)
Sec. 21-1a. Tests required for certification and teacher
preparation.
(a) After July 1, 1988, in addition to all other
requirements, early childhood, elementary, special, high
school, school service personnel, or, except as provided in
Section 34-6, administrative certificates shall be issued to
persons who have satisfactorily passed a test of basic skills,
an assessment of professional teaching, and a test of subject
matter knowledge, provided that a person who passed another
state's test of basic skills as a condition of certification or
of admission to a teacher preparation program shall not be
required to pass this State's test of basic skills. The tests

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of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall be the tests
which from time to time are designated by the State Board of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
Board and may be tests prepared by an educational testing
organization or tests designed by the State Board of Education
in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The
areas to be covered by the test of basic skills shall include
the basic skills of reading, writing, grammar and mathematics.
The test of subject matter knowledge shall assess content
knowledge in the specific subject field. The tests shall be
designed to be racially neutral to assure that no person in
taking the tests is thereby discriminated against on the basis
of race, color, national origin or other factors unrelated to
the person's ability to perform as a certificated employee. The
score required to pass the tests of basic skills and subject
matter knowledge shall be fixed by the State Board of Education
in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The
tests shall be held not fewer than 3 times a year at such time
and place as may be designated by the State Board of Education
in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
(b) (Blank). Except as provided in Section 34-6, the
provisions of subsection (a) of this Section shall apply
equally in any school district subject to Article 34, provided
that the State Board of Education shall determine which
certificates issued under Sections 34-8.1 and 34-83 prior to
July 1, 1988 are comparable to any early childhood certificate,

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elementary school certificate, special certificate, high
school certificate, school service personnel certificate or
administrative certificate issued under this Article as of July
1, 1988.
(c) (Blank). A person who holds an early childhood,
elementary, special, high school or school service personnel
certificate issued under this Article on or at any time before
July 1, 1988, including a person who has been issued any such
certificate pursuant to Section 21-11.1 or in exchange for a
comparable certificate theretofore issued under Section 34-8.1
or Section 34-83, shall not be required to take or pass the
tests in order to thereafter have such certificate renewed.
(d) The State Board of Education in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board shall conduct a pilot
administration of the tests by administering the test to
students completing teacher education programs in the 1986-87
school year for the purpose of determining the effect and
impact of testing candidates for certification.
Beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year, a student may
not enroll in a teacher preparation program at a recognized
teacher training institution until he or she has passed the
basic skills test.
Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 94th General Assembly, prior to completing an approved
teacher preparation program, a preservice education candidate
must satisfactorily pass the test of subject matter knowledge

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in the discipline in which he or she will be certified to
teach. The teacher preparation program may require passage of
the test of subject matter knowledge at any time during the
program, including prior to student teaching.
(e) The rules and regulations developed to implement the
required test of basic skills and subject matter knowledge
shall include the requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (c)
and shall include specific regulations to govern test
selection; test validation and determination of a passing
score; administration of the tests; frequency of
administration; applicant fees; frequency of applicants'
taking the tests; the years for which a score is valid; and,
waiving certain additional tests for additional certificates
to individuals who have satisfactorily passed the test of basic
skills and subject matter knowledge as required in subsection
(a). The State Board of Education shall provide, by rule,
specific policies that assure uniformity in the difficulty
level of each form of the basic skills test and each subject
matter knowledge test from test-to-test and year-to-year. The
State Board of Education shall also set a passing score for the
tests.
(f) (Blank). The State Teacher Certification Board may
issue a nonrenewable temporary certificate between July 1, 1988
and August 31, 1988 to individuals who have taken the tests of
basic skills and subject matter knowledge prescribed by this
Section but have not received such test scores by August 31,

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1988. Such temporary certificates shall expire on December 31,
1988.
(g) (Blank). Beginning February 15, 2000, the State Board
of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board, shall implement and administer a new
system of certification for teachers in the State of Illinois.
The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, shall design and implement a
system of examinations and various other criteria which shall
be required prior to the issuance of Initial Teaching
Certificates and Standard Teaching Certificates. These
examinations and indicators shall be based on national and
State professional teaching standards, as determined by the
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board. The State Board of Education may
adopt any and all regulations necessary to implement and
administer this Section.
(h) (Blank). The State Board of Education shall report to
the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor with
recommendations for further changes and improvements to the
teacher certification system no later than July 1, 1999 and on
an annual basis until July 1, 2001.
(i) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2012.
(Source: P.A. 96-689, eff. 8-25-09.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-1b) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-1b)

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Sec. 21-1b. Subject endorsement on certificates.
(a) All certificates initially issued under this Article
after June 30, 1986, shall be specifically endorsed by the
State Board of Education for each subject the holder of the
certificate is legally qualified to teach, such endorsements to
be made in accordance with standards promulgated by the State
Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board. The regional superintendent of schools,
however, has the duty, after appropriate training, to accept
and review all transcripts for new initial certificate
applications and ensure that each applicant has met all of the
criteria established by the State Board of Education in
consultation with with the State Teacher Certification Board.
All certificates which are issued under this Article prior to
July 1, 1986 may, by application to the State Board of
Education, be specifically endorsed for each subject the holder
is legally qualified to teach. Endorsements issued under this
Section shall not apply to substitute teacher's certificates
issued under Section 21-9 of this Code.
(b) Until December 31, 2011 Commencing July 1, 1999, each
application for endorsement of an existing teaching
certificate shall be accompanied by a $30 nonrefundable fee.
(c) Beginning on January 1, 2012, each application for
endorsement of an existing teaching certificate must be
accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable fee.
(d) There is hereby created a Teacher Certificate Fee

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Revolving Fund as a special fund within the State Treasury. The
proceeds of each endorsement $30 fee shall be paid into the
Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund; and the moneys in that
Fund shall be appropriated and used to provide the technology
and other resources necessary for the timely and efficient
processing of certification requests. The Teacher Certificate
Fee Revolving Fund is not subject to administrative charge
transfers authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act
from the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund into any other
fund of this State.
(e) The State Board of Education and each regional office
of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience
fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of
certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not
exceed the amount required by the credit card processing
company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the
State Board or regional office of education for this purpose,
and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.
(f) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-403, eff. 8-13-09.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2)
Sec. 21-2. Grades of certificates.
(a) All certificates issued under this Article shall be
State certificates valid, except as limited in Section 21-1, in
every school district coming under the provisions of this Act

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and shall be limited in time and designated as follows:
Provisional vocational certificate, temporary provisional
vocational certificate, early childhood certificate,
elementary school certificate, special certificate, secondary
certificate, school service personnel certificate,
administrative certificate, provisional certificate, and
substitute certificate. The requirement of student teaching
under close and competent supervision for obtaining a teaching
certificate may be waived by the State Teacher Certification
Board upon presentation to the Board by the teacher of evidence
of one year or more of 5 years successful teaching experience
on a valid certificate and graduation from a recognized
institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree or
higher.
(b) Initial Teaching Certificate. Persons who (1) have
completed an approved teacher preparation program, (2) are
recommended by an approved teacher preparation program, (3)
have successfully completed the Initial Teaching Certification
examinations required by the State Board of Education, and (4)
have met all other criteria established by the State Board of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
Board, shall be issued an Initial Teaching Certificate valid
for 4 years of teaching, as defined in Section 21-14 of this
Code. Initial Teaching Certificates shall be issued for
categories corresponding to Early Childhood, Elementary,
Secondary, and Special K-12, with special certification

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designations for Special Education, Bilingual Education,
fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading,
Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and
Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas
designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation
with the State Teacher Certification Board. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Article, an Initial Teaching
Certificate shall be automatically extended for one year for
all persons who (i) have been issued an Initial Teaching
Certificate that expires on June 30, 2004 and (ii) have not
met, prior to July 1, 2004, the Standard Certificate
requirements under paragraph (c) of this Section. An
application and fee shall not be required for this extension.
(b-5) A person who holds an out-of-state certificate and
who is otherwise eligible for a comparable Illinois certificate
may be issued an Initial Certificate if that person has not
completed 4 years of teaching. Upon completion of 4 years of
teaching, the person is eligible for a Standard Certificate.
Beginning July 1, 2004, an out-of-state candidate who has
already earned a second-tier certificate in another state is
not subject to any Standard Certificate eligibility
requirements stated in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this
Section other than completion of the 4 years of teaching. An
out-of-state candidate who has completed less than 4 years of
teaching and does not hold a second-tier certificate from
another state must meet the requirements stated in paragraph

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(2) of subsection (c) of this Section, proportionately reduced
by the amount of time remaining to complete the 4 years of
teaching.
(c) Standard Certificate.
(1) Persons who (i) have completed 4 years of teaching, as
defined in Section 21-14 of this Code, with an Initial
Certificate or an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate and
have met all other criteria established by the State Board of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
Board, (ii) have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid
equivalent certificate in another State or territory of the
United States, or have completed 4 years of teaching in a
nonpublic Illinois elementary or secondary school with an
Initial Certificate or an Initial Alternative Teaching
Certificate, and have met all other criteria established by the
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, or (iii) were issued teaching
certificates prior to February 15, 2000 and are renewing those
certificates after February 15, 2000, shall be issued a
Standard Certificate valid for 5 years, which may be renewed
thereafter every 5 years by the State Teacher Certification
Board based on proof of continuing education or professional
development. Beginning July 1, 2003, persons who have completed
4 years of teaching, as described in clauses (i) and (ii) of
this paragraph (1), have successfully completed the
requirements of paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection

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(c), and have met all other criteria established by the State
Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board, shall be issued Standard Certificates.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section,
beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold valid out-of-state
certificates and have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid
equivalent certificate in another State or territory of the
United States shall be issued comparable Standard
Certificates. Beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold valid
out-of-state certificates as described in subsection (b-5) of
this Section are subject to the requirements of paragraphs (2)
through (4) of this subsection (c), as required in subsection
(b-5) of this Section, in order to receive a Standard
Certificate. Standard Certificates shall be issued for
categories corresponding to Early Childhood, Elementary,
Secondary, and Special K-12, with special certification
designations for Special Education, Bilingual Education,
fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading,
Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and
Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas
designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation
with the State Teacher Certification Board.
(2) This paragraph (2) applies only to those persons
required to successfully complete the requirements of this
paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). In order
to receive a Standard Teaching Certificate, a person must

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satisfy one of the following requirements:
(A) Completion of a program of induction and mentoring
for new teachers that is based upon a specific plan
approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation
with the State Teacher Certification Board. Nothing in this
Section, however, prohibits an induction or mentoring
program from operating prior to approval. Holders of
Initial Certificates issued before September 1, 2007 must
complete, at a minimum, an approved one-year induction and
mentoring program. Holders of Initial Certificates issued
on or after September 1, 2007 must complete an approved
2-year induction and mentoring program. The plan must
describe the role of mentor teachers, the criteria and
process for their selection, and how all the following
components are to be provided:
(i) Assignment of a formally trained mentor
teacher to each new teacher for a specified period of
time, which shall be established by the employing
school or school district, provided that a mentor
teacher may not directly or indirectly participate in
the evaluation of a new teacher pursuant to Article 24A
of this Code or the evaluation procedure of the school.
(ii) Formal mentoring for each new teacher.
(iii) Support for each new teacher in relation to
the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, the
content-area standards applicable to the new teacher's

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area of certification, and any applicable local school
improvement and professional development plans.
(iv) Professional development specifically
designed to foster the growth of each new teacher's
knowledge and skills.
(v) Formative assessment that is based on the
Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and designed
to provide feedback to the new teacher and
opportunities for reflection on his or her
performance, which must not be used directly or
indirectly in any evaluation of a new teacher pursuant
to Article 24A of this Code or the evaluation procedure
of the school and which must include the activities
specified in clauses (B)(i), (B)(ii), and (B)(iii) of
this paragraph (2).
(vi) Assignment of responsibility for coordination
of the induction and mentoring program within each
school district participating in the program.
(B) Successful completion of 4 semester hours of
graduate-level coursework on the assessment of one's own
performance in relation to the Illinois Professional
Teaching Standards. The coursework must be approved by the
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board; must be offered either by an
institution of higher education, by such an institution in
partnership with a teachers' association or union or with a

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regional office of education, or by another entity
authorized to issue college credit; and must include
demonstration of performance through all of the following
activities for each of the Illinois Professional Teaching
Standards:
(i) Observation, by the course instructor or
another experienced teacher, of the new teacher's
classroom practice (the observation may be recorded
for later viewing) for the purpose of identifying and
describing how the new teacher made content meaningful
for students; how the teacher motivated individuals
and the group and created an environment conducive to
positive social interactions, active learning, and
self-motivation; what instructional strategies the
teacher used to encourage students' development of
critical thinking, problem solving, and performance;
how the teacher communicated using written, verbal,
nonverbal, and visual communication techniques; and
how the teacher maintained standards of professional
conduct and provided leadership to improve students'
learning.
(ii) Review and analysis, by the course instructor
or another experienced teacher, of written
documentation (i.e., lesson plans, assignments,
assessment instruments, and samples of students' work)
prepared by the new teacher for at least 2 lessons. The

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documentation must provide evidence of classroom
performance related to Illinois Professional Teaching
Standards 1 through 9, with an emphasis on how the
teacher used his or her understanding of students,
assessment data, and subject matter to decide on
learning goals; how the teacher designed or selected
activities and instructional materials and aligned
instruction to the relevant Illinois Learning
Standards; how the teacher adapted or modified
curriculum to meet individual students' needs; and how
the teacher sequenced instruction and designed or
selected student assessment strategies.
(iii) Demonstration of professional expertise on
the part of the new teacher in reflecting on his or her
practice, which was observed under clause (B)(i) of
this paragraph (2) and documented under clause (B)(ii)
of this paragraph (2), in terms of teaching strengths,
weaknesses, and implications for improvement according
to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.
(C) Successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester
hours of graduate-level coursework addressing preparation
to meet the requirements for certification by the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The
coursework must be approved by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board, and must be offered either by an

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institution of higher education, by such an institution in
partnership with a teachers' association or union or with a
regional office of education, or by another entity
authorized to issue college credit. The course must address
the 5 NBPTS Core Propositions and relevant standards
through such means as the following:
(i) Observation, by the course instructor or
another experienced teacher, of the new teacher's
classroom practice (the observation may be recorded
for later viewing) for the purpose of identifying and
describing how the new teacher made content meaningful
for students; how the teacher motivated individuals
and the group and created an environment conducive to
positive social interactions, active learning, and
self-motivation; what instructional strategies the
teacher used to encourage students' development of
critical thinking, problem solving, and performance;
how the teacher communicated using written, verbal,
nonverbal, and visual communication techniques; and
how the teacher maintained standards of professional
conduct and provided leadership to improve students'
learning.
(ii) Review and analysis, by the course instructor
or another experienced teacher, of written
documentation (i.e., lesson plans, assignments,
assessment instruments, and samples of students' work)

09700SB1799ham001 - 43 - LRB097 07217 NHT 55008 a
prepared by the new teacher for at least 2 lessons. The
documentation must provide evidence of classroom
performance, including how the teacher used his or her
understanding of students, assessment data, and
subject matter to decide on learning goals; how the
teacher designed or selected activities and
instructional materials and aligned instruction to the
relevant Illinois Learning Standards; how the teacher
adapted or modified curriculum to meet individual
students' needs; and how the teacher sequenced
instruction and designed or selected student
assessment strategies.
(iii) Demonstration of professional expertise on
the part of the new teacher in reflecting on his or her
practice, which was observed under clause (C)(i) of
this paragraph (2) and documented under clause (C)(ii)
of this paragraph (2), in terms of teaching strengths,
weaknesses, and implications for improvement.
(C-5) Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 12
semester hours of graduate credit towards an advanced
degree in an education-related field from an accredited
institution of higher education.
(D) Receipt of an advanced degree from an accredited
institution of higher education in an education-related
field that is earned by a person either while he or she
holds an Initial Teaching Certificate or prior to his or

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her receipt of that certificate.
(E) Accumulation of 60 continuing professional
development units (CPDUs), earned by completing selected
activities that comply with paragraphs (3) and (4) of this
subsection (c). However, for an individual who holds an
Initial Teaching Certificate on the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the number of
CPDUs shall be reduced to reflect the teaching time
remaining on the Initial Teaching Certificate.
(F) Completion of a nationally normed,
performance-based assessment, if made available by the
State Board of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, provided that the cost to the
person shall not exceed the cost of the coursework
described in clause (B) of this paragraph (2).
(G) Completion of requirements for meeting the
Illinois criteria for becoming "highly qualified" (for
purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public
Law 107-110) in an additional teaching area.
(H) Receipt of a minimum 12-hour, post-baccalaureate,
education-related professional development certificate
issued by an Illinois institution of higher education and
developed in accordance with rules adopted by the State
Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board.
(I) Completion of the National Board for Professional

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Teaching Standards (NBPTS) process.
(J) Receipt of a subsequent Illinois certificate or
endorsement pursuant to Article 21 of this Code.
(3) This paragraph (3) applies only to those persons
required to successfully complete the requirements of this
paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Persons
who seek to satisfy the requirements of clause (E) of paragraph
(2) of this subsection (c) through accumulation of CPDUs may
earn credit through completion of coursework, workshops,
seminars, conferences, and other similar training events that
are pre-approved by the State Board of Education, in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, for
the purpose of reflection on teaching practices in order to
address all of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards
necessary to obtain a Standard Teaching Certificate. These
activities must meet all of the following requirements:
(A) Each activity must be designed to advance a
person's knowledge and skills in relation to one or more of
the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or in
relation to the content-area standards applicable to the
teacher's field of certification.
(B) Taken together, the activities completed must
address each of the Illinois Professional Teaching
Standards as provided in clauses (B)(i), (B)(ii), and
(B)(iii) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).
(C) Each activity must be provided by an entity

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approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation
with the State Teacher Certification Board, for this
purpose.
(D) Each activity, integral to its successful
completion, must require participants to demonstrate the
degree to which they have acquired new knowledge or skills,
such as through performance, through preparation of a
written product, through assembling samples of students'
or teachers' work, or by some other means that is
appropriate to the subject matter of the activity.
(E) One CPDU shall be available for each hour of direct
participation by a holder of an Initial Teaching
Certificate in a qualifying activity. An activity may be
attributed to more than one of the Illinois Professional
Teaching Standards, but credit for any activity shall be
counted only once.
(4) This paragraph (4) applies only to those persons
required to successfully complete the requirements of this
paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Persons
who seek to satisfy the requirements of clause (E) of paragraph
(2) of this subsection (c) through accumulation of CPDUs may
earn credit from the following, provided that each activity is
designed to advance a person's knowledge and skills in relation
to one or more of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards
or in relation to the content-area standards applicable to the
person's field or fields of certification:

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(A) Collaboration and partnership activities related
to improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher,
including all of the following:
(i) Peer review and coaching.
(ii) Mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
including service as a consulting teacher
participating in a remediation process formulated
under Section 24A-5 of this Code.
(iii) Facilitating parent education programs
directly related to student achievement for a school,
school district, or regional office of education.
(iv) Participating in business, school, or
community partnerships directly related to student
achievement.
(B) Teaching college or university courses in areas
relevant to a teacher's field of certification, provided
that the teaching may only be counted once during the
course of 4 years.
(C) Conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, and
symposiums related to improving a person's knowledge and
skills as a teacher, including all of the following:
(i) Completing non-university credit directly
related to student achievement, the Illinois
Professional Teaching Standards, or content-area
standards.
(ii) Participating in or presenting at workshops,

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seminars, conferences, institutes, and symposiums.
(iii) (Blank).
(iv) Training as reviewers of university teacher
preparation programs.
An activity listed in this clause (C) is creditable
only if its provider is approved for this purpose by the
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board.
(D) Other educational experiences related to improving
a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all
of the following:
(i) Participating in action research and inquiry
projects.
(ii) Observing programs or teaching in schools,
related businesses, or industry that is systematic,
purposeful, and relevant to a teacher's field of
certification.
(iii) Participating in study groups related to
student achievement, the Illinois Professional
Teaching Standards, or content-area standards.
(iv) Participating in work/learn programs or
internships.
(v) Developing a portfolio of students' and
teacher's work.
(E) Professional leadership experiences related to
improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher,

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including all of the following:
(i) Participating in curriculum development or
assessment activities at the school, school district,
regional office of education, State, or national level.
(ii) Participating in team or department
leadership in a school or school district.
(iii) (Blank).
(iv) Publishing educational articles, columns, or
books relevant to a teacher's field of certification.
(v) Participating in non-strike related activities
of a professional association or labor organization
that are related to professional development.
(5) A person must complete the requirements of this
subsection (c) before the expiration of his or her Initial
Teaching Certificate and must submit assurance of having done
so to the regional superintendent of schools or a local
professional development committee authorized by the regional
superintendent to submit recommendations to him or her for this
purpose.
Within 30 days after receipt, the regional superintendent
of schools shall review the assurance of completion submitted
by a person and, based upon compliance with all of the
requirements for receipt of a Standard Teaching Certificate,
shall forward to the State Board of Education a recommendation
for issuance of the Standard Certificate or non-issuance. The
regional superintendent of schools shall notify the affected

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person if the recommendation is for non-issuance of the
Standard Certificate. A person who is considered not to be
eligible for a Standard Certificate and who has received the
notice of non-issuance may appeal this determination to the
Regional Professional Development Review Committee (RPDRC).
The recommendation of the regional superintendent and the
RPDRC, along with all supporting materials, must then be
forwarded to the State Board of Education for a final
determination.
Upon review of a regional superintendent of school's
recommendations, the State Board of Education shall issue
Standard Teaching Certificates to those who qualify and shall
notify a person, in writing, of a decision denying a Standard
Teaching Certificate. Any decision denying issuance of a
Standard Teaching Certificate to a person may be appealed to
the State Teacher Certification Board.
(6) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board, may adopt rules to implement
this subsection (c) and may periodically evaluate any of the
methods of qualifying for a Standard Teaching Certificate
described in this subsection (c).
(7) The changes made to paragraphs (1) through (5) of this
subsection (c) by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General
Assembly shall apply to those persons who hold or are eligible
to hold an Initial Certificate on or after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and shall

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be given effect upon their application for a Standard
Certificate.
(8) Beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold a Standard
Certificate and have acquired one master's degree in an
education-related field are eligible for certificate renewal
upon completion of two-thirds of the continuing professional
development units specified in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3)
of subsection (e) of Section 21-14 of this Code. Persons who
hold a Standard Certificate and have acquired a second master's
degree, an education specialist, or a doctorate in an
education-related field or hold a Master Certificate are
eligible for certificate renewal upon completion of one-third
of the continuing professional development units specified in
subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section
21-14 of this Code.
(d) Master Certificate. Persons who have successfully
achieved National Board certification through the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be issued a
Master Certificate, valid for 10 years and renewable thereafter
every 10 years through compliance with requirements set forth
by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board. Beginning on July 1, 2012,
individuals holding a Master's Certificate in specific areas
may work only in an area in which they have a comparable
Illinois endorsement or only if the individual has an Illinois
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards endorsement

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issued prior to June 30, 2012. However, each teacher who holds
a Master Certificate shall be eligible for a teaching position
in this State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master
Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this
Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal
background checks. A holder of a Master Certificate in an area
of science or social science is eligible to teach in any of the
subject areas within those fields, including those taught at
the advanced level, as defined by the State Board of Education
in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A
teacher who holds a Master Certificate shall be deemed to meet
State certification renewal requirements in the area or areas
for which he or she holds a Master Certificate for the 10-year
term of the teacher's Master Certificate.
(e) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2.1)
Sec. 21-2.1. Early childhood certificate.
(a) An early childhood certificate shall be valid for 4
years for teaching children up to 6 years of age, exclusive of
children enrolled in kindergarten, in facilities approved by
the State Superintendent of Education. Beginning July 1, 1988,
such certificate shall be valid for 4 years for Teaching
children through grade 3 in facilities approved by the State
Superintendent of Education. Subject to the provisions of

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Section 21-1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated
from a recognized institution of higher learning with a
bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours
including professional education or human development or,
until July 1, 1992, to persons who have early childhood
education instruction and practical experience involving
supervised work with children under 6 years of age or with
children through grade 3. Such persons shall be recommended for
the early childhood certificate by a recognized institution as
having completed an approved program of preparation which
includes the requisite hours and academic and professional
courses and practical experience approved by the State
Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board. The student teaching portion of
such practical experience may be satisfied through placement in
any of grades pre-kindergarten (which consists of children from
3 years through 5 years of age) through 3, provided that the
student is under the active supervision of a cooperating
teacher who is certified and qualified (i) in early childhood
education or (ii) in self-contained, general elementary
education. Candidates for the early childhood certificate
(including paraprofessionals) with at least one year of
experience in a school or community-based early childhood
setting who are enrolled in early-childhood teacher
preparation programs may be paid and receive credit while
student teaching with their current employer, provided that

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their student teaching experience meets the requirements of
their early-childhood teacher preparation program.
(b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard Early
Childhood Education Certificates shall be issued to persons who
meet the criteria established by the State Board of Education.
(c) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 94-1034, eff. 1-1-07; 94-1110, eff. 2-23-07.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-2a)
Sec. 21-2a. Required instruction for all teachers. After
September 1, 1981 and until January 1, 1999, in addition to all
other requirements, the successful completion of course work
which includes instruction on the psychology of the exceptional
child, the identification of the exceptional child, including,
but not limited to the learning disabled and methods of
instruction for the exceptional child, including, but not
limited to the learning disabled shall be a prerequisite to a
person receiving any of the following certificates: early
childhood, elementary, special and high school. After January
1, 1999, the State Board of Education shall ensure that the
curriculum for all approved teacher preparation programs
includes, and that all prospective teachers pursuing Early
Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, or Special certificates
receive, instruction on the psychology of, the identification
of, and the methods of instruction for the exceptional child,
including without limitation the learning disabled. This

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instruction on exceptional children may be provided in one
concentrated course or may be integrated among other courses
within the teacher preparation program as shall be determined
by the State Board of Education.
This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-653, eff. 7-29-98;
91-102, eff. 7-12-99.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-3)
Sec. 21-3. Elementary certificate.
(a) An elementary school certificate shall be valid for 4
years for teaching in the kindergarten and lower 9 grades of
the common schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a,
it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a
recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's
degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours and with a
minimum of 16 semester hours in professional education,
including 5 semester hours in student teaching under competent
and close supervision. Such persons shall be recommended for
the elementary certificate by a recognized institution as
having completed an approved program of preparation which
includes intensive preservice training in the humanities,
natural sciences, mathematics and the academic and
professional courses approved by the State Superintendent of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
Board.

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(b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard
Elementary Certificates shall be issued to persons who meet all
of the criteria established by the State Board of Education for
elementary education.
(c) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-811, eff. 1-26-99;
91-102, eff. 7-12-99.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-4)
Sec. 21-4. Special certificate.
(a) A special certificate shall be valid for 4 years for
teaching the special subjects named therein in all grades of
the common schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a,
it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a
recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's
degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours including a
minimum of 16 semester hours in professional education, 5 of
which shall be in student teaching under competent and close
supervision. When the holder of such certificate has earned a
master's degree, including eight semester hours of graduate
professional education from a recognized institution of higher
learning and with two years' teaching experience, it may be
endorsed for supervision.
Such persons shall be recommended for the special
certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an
approved program of preparation which includes academic and

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professional courses approved by the State Superintendent of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
Board.
(b) Those persons holding special certificates on February
15, 2000 shall be eligible for one of the following:
(1) The issuance of Standard Elementary and Standard
Secondary Certificates with appropriate special
certification designations as determined by the State
Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board, and consistent with rules adopted by
the State Board of Education. These certificates shall be
renewed as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21-2.
(2) The issuance of Standard Special K-12 Certificates
with appropriate special certification designations, which
shall be renewed as provided in subsection (c) of Section
21-2. These certificates shall not be eligible for
additional certification designations except as approved
by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board.
(c) Those persons eligible to receive K-12 certification
after February 15, 2000 shall be issued Initial Elementary and
Initial Secondary Certificates with appropriate special
certification designations pursuant to this Section or Initial
Special K-12 Certificates with appropriate special
certification designations pursuant to this Section. These
Initial K-12 Special Certificates shall not be eligible for

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additional certification designations except as approved by
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board.
(d) All persons holding a special certificate with a
special education endorsement are exempt from the provisions of
Section 2-3.71 of this Code, provided they meet all the other
requirements for teaching as established by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board.
Beginning February 15, 2000, all persons exchanging a
special certificate pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section
with a special education endorsement or receiving a special
education designation on either a special certificate or an
elementary certificate issued pursuant to subsection (c) of
this Section are exempt from the provisions of Section 2-3.71
of this Code, provided they meet all the other requirements for
teaching as established by the State Board of Education, in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
Certificates exchanged or issued pursuant to this
subsection (d) shall be valid for teaching children with
disabilities, as defined in Section 14-1.02 of this Code, and
these special certificates shall be called Initial or Standard
Special Preschool - Age 21 Certificates. Nothing in this
subsection (d) shall be construed to adversely affect the
rights of any person presently certificated, any person whose
certification is currently pending, or any person who is

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currently enrolled or enrolls prior to February 15, 2000 in an
approved Special K-12 certification program.
(e) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-653, eff. 7-29-98;
90-811, eff. 1-26-99; 91-102, eff. 7-12-99; 91-765, eff.
6-9-00.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-5)
Sec. 21-5. High school certificate.
(a) A high school certificate shall be valid for 4 years
for teaching in grades 6 to 12 inclusive of the common schools.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a, it shall be issued
to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of
higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer
than 120 semester hours including 16 semester hours in
professional education, 5 of which shall be in student teaching
under competent and close supervision and with one or more
teaching fields. Such persons shall be recommended for the high
school certificate by a recognized institution as having
completed an approved program of preparation which includes the
academic and professional courses approved by the State
Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board.
(b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard
Secondary Certificates shall be issued to persons who meet all
of the criteria established by the State Board of Education for

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secondary education.
(c) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 90-811, eff. 1-26-99;
91-102, eff. 7-12-99.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-5b)
Sec. 21-5b. Alternative certification. The State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board, shall establish and implement an
alternative certification program under which persons who meet
the requirements of and successfully complete the program
established by this Section shall be issued an alternative
teaching certificate for teaching in the schools. The program
shall be limited to not more than 260 new participants during
each year that the program is in effect. The State Board of
Education, in cooperation with one or more not-for-profit
organizations in the State that support excellence in teaching,
which may be in partnership with a university that offers
4-year baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a
recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this
Code 21-21, may within 30 days after submission by the program
sponsor approve a course of study developed by the program
sponsor that persons in the program must successfully complete
in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of an
alternative certificate under this Section. The Alternative
Teacher Certification program course of study must include

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content and skills which have been approved by the State Board
of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for State
teacher certification.
The alternative certification program established under
this Section shall be known as the Alternative Teacher
Certification program. The Alternative Teacher Certification
Program shall be offered by the submitting partnership, and
such partnership may be offered by one or more not-for-profit
organizations in the State which support excellence in
teaching. The program shall be comprised of the following 3
phases: (a) the first phase is the course of study offered on
an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods,
and practice teaching; (b) the second phase is the person's
assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school
year; and (c) the third phase is a comprehensive assessment of
the person's teaching performance by school officials and the
partnership participants and a recommendation by the program
sponsor to the State Board of Education that the person be
issued a standard alternative teaching certificate. Successful
completion of the Alternative Teacher Certification program
shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student
teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.
A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for
one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable,
shall be issued under this Section 21-5b to persons who at the

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time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching
certificate under this Section:
(1) have graduated from an accredited college or
university with a bachelor's degree;
(2) have successfully completed the first phase of the
Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in
this Section;
(3) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject
matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a; and
(4) (i) have been employed for a period of at least 5
years in an area requiring application of the individual's
education or (ii) have attained at least a cumulative grade
average of a "B" if the individual is assigned either to a
school district that has not met the annual measurable
objective for highly qualified teachers required by the
Illinois Revised Highly Qualified Teachers (HQT) Plan or to
a school district whose data filed with the State Board of
Education indicates that the district's poor and minority
students are taught by teachers who are not highly
qualified at a higher rate than other students; however,
this item (4) does not apply with respect to a provisional
alternative teaching certificate for teaching in schools
situated in a school district that is located in a city
having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
Assignment may be made under clause (ii) of this item (4)
only if the district superintendent and the exclusive

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bargaining representative of the district's teachers, if
any, jointly agree to permit the assignment.
A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate
under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified
teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms
and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school
who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an
exclusive bargaining representative, if any.
Until February 15, 2000, a standard alternative teaching
certificate, valid for 4 years for teaching in the schools and
renewable as provided in Section 21-14, shall be issued under
this Section 21-5b to persons who first complete the
requirements for the provisional alternative teaching
certificate and who at the time of applying for a standard
alternative teaching certificate under this Section have
successfully completed the second and third phases of the
Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this
Section. Alternatively, beginning February 15, 2000, at the end
of the 4-year validity period, persons who were issued a
standard alternative teaching certificate shall be eligible,
on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate
issued under subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this Code, to
apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet
the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code
and further provided that a person who does not apply for and
receive a Standard Teaching Certificate shall be able to teach

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only in schools situated in a school district that is located
in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
Beginning February 15, 2000, persons who have completed the
requirements for a standard alternative teaching certificate
under this Section shall be issued an Initial Alternative
Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching and not
renewable. At the end of the 4-year validity period, these
persons shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an
Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of
Section 21-2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching
Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection
(c) of Section 21-2.
Such alternative certification program shall be
implemented so that the first provisional alternative teaching
certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the
commencement of the 1997-1998 academic year and the first
standard alternative teaching certificates issued under this
Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1998-1999
academic year.
The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the
partnership or partnerships establishing such Alternative
Teacher Certification programs, shall adopt rules and
regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the
State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and
implement the program.
No one may be admitted to an alternative certification

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program under this Section after September 1, 2012, and those
candidates who are admitted on or before September 1, 2012 must
complete the program before September 1, 2013.
This Section is repealed on September 1, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 95-270, eff. 8-17-07; 96-862, eff. 1-15-10.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-5c)
Sec. 21-5c. Alternative route to teacher certification.
The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement one
or more alternative route to teacher certification programs
under which persons who meet the requirements of and
successfully complete the programs established by this Section
shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching in
schools in this State. The State Board of Education may approve
a course of study that persons in such programs must
successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for
issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative
Route to Teacher Certification programs course of study must
include content and skills which have been approved by the
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, as meeting the requirement for
State teacher certification.
Programs established under this Section shall be known as
Alternative Route to Teacher Certification programs. The
programs may be offered by a university that offers 4-year

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baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a
recognized institution as defined in Section 21B-105 of this
Code 21-21, by one or more not-for-profit organizations in the
State, or a combination thereof. The programs shall be
comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study
offered on an intensive basis in education theory,
instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the person's
assignment to a full-time teaching position for one school
year, including the designation of a mentor teacher to advise
and assist the person with that teaching assignment; and (c) a
comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance
by school officials and program participants and a
recommendation by the program sponsor to the State Board of
Education that the person be issued an initial teaching
certificate. Successful completion of Alternative Route to
Teacher Certification programs shall be deemed to satisfy any
other practice or student teaching and subject matter
requirements established by law.
A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for
one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable,
shall be issued under this Section 21-5c to persons who at the
time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching
certificate under this Section:
(1) have graduated from an accredited college or
university with a bachelor's degree;
(2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years

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in an area requiring application of the individual's
education;
(3) have successfully completed the first phase of the
Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in
this Section; and
(4) have passed the tests of basic skills and subject
matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a.
An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the
common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to
persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional
alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of
applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully
completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route
to Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section.
A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate
or an initial teaching certificate earned under this Section
shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes
of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of
employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a
bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining
representative, if any.
The State Board of Education may adopt rules and
regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the
State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the
program.
No one may be admitted to an alternative certification

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program under this Section after September 1, 2012, and those
candidates who are admitted on or before September 1, 2012 must
complete the program before September 1, 2013.
This Section is repealed on September 1, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-5d)
Sec. 21-5d. Alternative route to administrative
certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation
with the State Teacher Certification Board and an advisory
panel consisting of no less than 7 administrators appointed by
the State Superintendent of Education, shall establish and
implement one or more alternative route to administrative
certification program under which persons who meet the
requirements of and successfully complete the program
established by this Section shall be issued a standard
administrative certificate for serving as an administrator in
schools in this State. For the purposes of this Section only,
"administrator" means a person holding any administrative
position for which a standard administrative certificate with a
general administrative endorsement, chief school business
official endorsement, or superintendent endorsement is
required, except a principal or an assistant principal. The
State Board of Education may approve a course of study that
persons in the program must successfully complete in order to
satisfy one criterion for issuance of a certificate under this

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Section. The Alternative Route to Administrative Certification
program course of study must include content and skills which
have been approved by the State Board of Education, in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as
meeting the requirement for administrative certification.
Programs established under this Section shall be known as
the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification
programs. The programs shall be comprised of the following 3
phases: (a) a course of study offered on an intensive basis in
education management, governance, organization, and planning;
(b) the person's assignment to a full-time position for one
school year as an administrator; and (c) a comprehensive
assessment of the person's performance by school officials and
a recommendation to the State Board of Education that the
person be issued a standard administrative certificate.
Successful completion of an Alternative Route to
Administrative Certification program shall be deemed to
satisfy any other supervisory, administrative, or management
experience requirements established by law.
A provisional alternative administrative certificate,
valid for one year of serving as an administrator in the common
schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section
21-5d to persons who at the time of applying for the
provisional alternative administrative certificate under this
Section:
(1) have graduated from an accredited college or

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university with a master's degree in a management field or
with a bachelor's degree and the life experience equivalent
of a master's degree in a management field as determined by
the State Board of Education;
(2) have been employed for a period of at least 5 years
in a management level position;
(3) have successfully completed the first phase of the
Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program
as provided in this Section; and
(4) have passed any examination required by the State
Board of Education.
A standard administrative certificate with a general
administrative endorsement, chief school business official
endorsement, or superintendent endorsement, renewable as
provided in Section 21-14, shall be issued under Section 21-7.1
to persons who first complete the requirements for the
provisional alternative administrative certificate and who at
the time of applying for a standard administrative certificate
have successfully completed the second and third phases of an
Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program as
provided in this Section.
The State Board of Education may adopt rules and
regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the
State Board deems necessary to establish and implement those
programs.
No one may be admitted to an alternative certification

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program under this Section after September 1, 2012, and those
candidates must complete the program before September 1, 2013.
This Section is repealed on September 1, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 96-862, eff. 1-15-10.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-7.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-7.1)
Sec. 21-7.1. Administrative certificate.
(a) After July 1, 1999, an administrative certificate valid
for 5 years of supervising and administering in the public
common schools (unless changed under subsection (a-5) of this
Section) may be issued to persons who have graduated from a
regionally accredited institution of higher learning with a
master's degree or its equivalent and who have been recommended
by a recognized institution of higher learning, a
not-for-profit entity, or a combination thereof, as having
completed a program of preparation for one or more of these
endorsements. Such programs of academic and professional
preparation required for endorsement shall be administered by
an institution or not-for-profit entity approved to offer such
programs by the State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Teacher Certification Board, and shall be operated in
accordance with this Article and the standards set forth by the
State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board. Any program offered in whole
or in part by a not-for-profit entity must also be approved by
the Board of Higher Education.

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(a-5) Beginning July 1, 2003, if an administrative
certificate holder holds a Standard Teaching Certificate, the
validity period of the administrative certificate shall be
changed, if necessary, so that the validity period of the
administrative certificate coincides with the validity period
of the Standard Teaching Certificate. Beginning July 1, 2003,
if an administrative certificate holder holds a Master Teaching
Certificate, the validity period of the administrative
certificate shall be changed so that the validity period of the
administrative certificate coincides with the validity period
of the Master Teaching Certificate.
(b) No administrative certificate shall be issued for the
first time after June 30, 1987 and no endorsement provided for
by this Section shall be made or affixed to an administrative
certificate for the first time after June 30, 1987 unless the
person to whom such administrative certificate is to be issued
or to whose administrative certificate such endorsement is to
be affixed has been required to demonstrate as a part of a
program of academic or professional preparation for such
certification or endorsement: (i) an understanding of the
knowledge called for in establishing productive parent-school
relationships and of the procedures fostering the involvement
which such relationships demand; and (ii) an understanding of
the knowledge required for establishing a high quality school
climate and promoting good classroom organization and
management, including rules of conduct and instructional

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procedures appropriate to accomplishing the tasks of
schooling; and (iii) a demonstration of the knowledge and
skills called for in providing instructional leadership. The
standards for demonstrating an understanding of such knowledge
shall be set forth by the State Board of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and
shall be administered by the recognized institutions of higher
learning as part of the programs of academic and professional
preparation required for certification and endorsement under
this Section. As used in this subsection: "establishing
productive parent-school relationships" means the ability to
maintain effective communication between parents and school
personnel, to encourage parental involvement in schooling, and
to motivate school personnel to engage parents in encouraging
student achievement, including the development of programs and
policies which serve to accomplish this purpose; and
"establishing a high quality school climate" means the ability
to promote academic achievement, to maintain discipline, to
recognize substance abuse problems among students and utilize
appropriate law enforcement and other community resources to
address these problems, to support teachers and students in
their education endeavors, to establish learning objectives
and to provide instructional leadership, including the
development of policies and programs which serve to accomplish
this purpose; and "providing instructional leadership" means
the ability to effectively evaluate school personnel, to

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possess general communication and interpersonal skills, and to
establish and maintain appropriate classroom learning
environments. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply
to or affect the initial issuance or making on or before June
30, 1987 of any administrative certificate or endorsement
provided for under this Section, nor shall such provisions
apply to or affect the renewal after June 30, 1987 of any such
certificate or endorsement initially issued or made on or
before June 30, 1987.
(c) Administrative certificates shall be renewed every 5
years with the first renewal being 5 years following the
initial receipt of an administrative certificate, unless the
validity period for the administrative certificate has been
changed under subsection (a-5) of this Section, in which case
the certificate shall be renewed at the same time that the
Standard or Master Teaching Certificate is renewed.
(c-5) (Blank).
(c-10) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c-15) of
this Section, persons holding administrative certificates must
follow the certificate renewal procedure set forth in this
subsection (c-10), provided that those persons holding
administrative certificates on June 30, 2003 who are renewing
those certificates on or after July 1, 2003 shall be issued new
administrative certificates valid for 5 years (unless changed
under subsection (a-5) of this Section), which may be renewed
thereafter as set forth in this subsection (c-10).

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A person holding an administrative certificate and
employed in a position requiring administrative certification,
including a regional superintendent of schools, must satisfy
the continuing professional development requirements of this
Section to renew his or her administrative certificate. The
continuing professional development must include without
limitation the following continuing professional development
purposes:
(1) To improve the administrator's knowledge of
instructional practices and administrative procedures in
accordance with the Illinois Professional School Leader
Standards.
(2) To maintain the basic level of competence required
for initial certification.
(3) To improve the administrator's mastery of skills
and knowledge regarding the improvement of teaching
performance in clinical settings and assessment of the
levels of student performance in the schools.
The continuing professional development must include the
following in order for the certificate to be renewed:
(A) Participation in continuing professional
development activities, which must total a minimum of 100
hours of continuing professional development. The
participation must consist of a minimum of 5 activities per
validity period of the certificate, and the certificate
holder must maintain documentation of completion of each

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activity.
(B) Participation every year in an Illinois
Administrators' Academy course, which participation must
total a minimum of 30 continuing professional development
hours during the period of the certificate's validity and
which must include completion of applicable required
coursework, including completion of a communication,
dissemination, or application component, as defined by the
State Board of Education.
The certificate holder must complete a verification form
developed by the State Board of Education and certify that 100
hours of continuing professional development activities and 5
Administrators' Academy courses have been completed. The
regional superintendent of schools shall review and validate
the verification form for a certificate holder. Based on
compliance with all of the requirements for renewal, the
regional superintendent of schools shall forward a
recommendation for renewal or non-renewal to the State
Superintendent of Education and shall notify the certificate
holder of the recommendation. The State Superintendent of
Education shall review the recommendation to renew or non-renew
and shall notify, in writing, the certificate holder of a
decision denying renewal of his or her certificate. Any
decision regarding non-renewal of an administrative
certificate may be appealed to the State Teacher Certification
Board.

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The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board, shall adopt rules to
implement this subsection (c-10).
The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor the
process for renewal of administrative certificates established
in this subsection (c-10).
(c-15) This subsection (c-15) applies to the first period
of an administrative certificate's validity during which the
holder becomes subject to the requirements of subsection (c-10)
of this Section if the certificate has less than 5 years'
validity or has less than 5 years' validity remaining when the
certificate holder becomes subject to the requirements of
subsection (c-10) of this Section. With respect to this period,
the 100 hours of continuing professional development and 5
activities per validity period specified in clause (A) of
subsection (c-10) of this Section shall instead be deemed to
mean 20 hours of continuing professional development and one
activity per year of the certificate's validity or remaining
validity and the 30 continuing professional development hours
specified in clause (B) of subsection (c-10) of this Section
shall instead be deemed to mean completion of at least one
course per year of the certificate's validity or remaining
validity. Certificate holders who evaluate certified staff
must complete a 2-day teacher evaluation course, in addition to
the 30 continuing professional development hours.
(c-20) The State Board of Education, in consultation with

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the State Teacher Certification Board, shall develop
procedures for implementing this Section and shall administer
the renewal of administrative certificates. Failure to submit
satisfactory evidence of continuing professional education
which contributes to promoting the goals of this Section shall
result in a loss of administrative certification.
(d) Any limited or life supervisory certificate issued
prior to July 1, 1968 shall continue to be valid for all
administrative and supervisory positions in the public schools
for which it is valid as of that date as long as its holder
meets the requirements for registration or renewal as set forth
in the statutes or until revoked according to law.
(e) The administrative or supervisory positions for which
the certificate shall be valid shall be determined by one or
more of the following endorsements: general supervisory,
general administrative, principal, chief school business
official, and superintendent.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a, endorsements
shall be made under conditions set forth in this Section. The
State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, adopt rules pursuant to the
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, establishing
requirements for obtaining administrative certificates where
the minimum administrative or supervisory requirements surpass
those set forth in this Section.
The State Teacher Certification Board shall file with the

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State Board of Education a written recommendation when
considering additional administrative or supervisory
requirements. All additional requirements shall be based upon
the requisite knowledge necessary to perform those tasks
required by the certificate. The State Board of Education shall
in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board,
establish standards within its rules which shall include the
academic and professional requirements necessary for
certification. These standards shall at a minimum contain, but
not be limited to, those used by the State Board of Education
in determining whether additional knowledge will be required.
Additionally, the State Board of Education shall in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board,
establish provisions within its rules whereby any member of the
educational community or the public may file a formal written
recommendation or inquiry regarding requirements.
(1) Until July 1, 2003, the general supervisory
endorsement shall be affixed to the administrative
certificate of any holder who has at least 16 semester
hours of graduate credit in professional education
including 8 semester hours of graduate credit in curriculum
and research and who has at least 2 years of full-time
teaching experience or school service personnel experience
in public schools, schools under the supervision of the
Department of Corrections, schools under the
administration of the Department of Rehabilitation

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Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the standards
established by the State Superintendent of Education or
comparable out-of-state recognition standards approved by
the State Superintendent of Education.
Such endorsement shall be required for supervisors,
curriculum directors and for such similar and related
positions as determined by the State Superintendent of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board.
(2) Until August 31 June 30, 2014, the general
administrative endorsement shall be affixed to the
administrative certificate of any holder who has at least
20 semester hours of graduate credit in educational
administration and supervision and who has at least 2 years
of full-time teaching experience or school service
personnel experience in public schools, schools under the
supervision of the Department of Corrections, schools
under the administration of the Department of
Rehabilitation Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the
standards established by the State Superintendent of
Education or comparable out-of-state recognition standards
approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
Such endorsement or a principal endorsement shall be
required for principal, assistant principal, assistant or
associate superintendent, and junior college dean and for
related or similar positions as determined by the State

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Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board.
(2.5) The principal endorsement shall be affixed to the
administrative certificate of any holder who qualifies by:
(A) successfully completing a principal
preparation program approved in accordance with
Section 21-7.6 of this Code and any applicable rules;
(B) having 4 years of teaching experience;
however, the State Board of Education shall allow, by
rules, for fewer than 4 years of experience based on
meeting standards set forth in such rules, including
without limitation a review of performance evaluations
or other evidence of demonstrated qualifications; and
(C) having a master's degree.
(3) The chief school business official endorsement
shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any
holder who qualifies by having a Master's degree, 2 years
of administrative experience in school business management
or 2 years of university-approved practical experience,
and a minimum of 20 semester hours of graduate credit in a
program established by the State Superintendent of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board for the preparation of school business
administrators. Such endorsement shall also be affixed to
the administrative certificate of any holder who qualifies
by having a Master's Degree in Business Administration,

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Finance or Accounting and 6 semester hours of internship in
school business management from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education.
After June 30, 1977, such endorsement shall be required
for any individual first employed as a chief school
business official.
(4) The superintendent endorsement shall be affixed to
the administrative certificate of any holder who has
completed 30 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the
master's degree in a program for the preparation of
superintendents of schools including 16 semester hours of
graduate credit in professional education and who has at
least 2 years experience as an administrator or supervisor
in the public schools or the State Board of Education or
education service regions or in nonpublic schools meeting
the standards established by the State Superintendent of
Education or comparable out-of-state recognition standards
approved by the State Superintendent of Education and holds
general supervisory or general administrative endorsement,
or who has had 2 years of experience as a supervisor, chief
school business official, or administrator while holding
an all-grade supervisory certificate or a certificate
comparable in validity and educational and experience
requirements.
After June 30, 1968, such endorsement shall be required
for a superintendent of schools, except as provided in the

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second paragraph of this Section and in Section 34-6.
Any person appointed to the position of superintendent
between the effective date of this Act and June 30, 1993 in
a school district organized pursuant to Article 32 with an
enrollment of at least 20,000 pupils shall be exempt from
the provisions of this paragraph (4) until June 30, 1996.
(f) All official interpretations or acts of issuing or
denying administrative certificates or endorsements by the
State Teacher's Certification Board, State Board of Education
or the State Superintendent of Education, from the passage of
P.A. 81-1208 on November 8, 1979 through September 24, 1981 are
hereby declared valid and legal acts in all respects and
further that the purported repeal of the provisions of this
Section by P.A. 81-1208 and P.A. 81-1509 is declared null and
void.
(g) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 96-56, eff. 1-1-10; 96-903, eff. 7-1-10; 96-982,
eff. 1-1-11; 96-1423, eff. 8-3-10; revised 9-2-10.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-7.5)
Sec. 21-7.5. Teacher leader endorsement. It shall be the
policy of the State of Illinois to improve the quality of
instructional leaders by providing a career pathway for
teachers interested in serving in leadership roles. Beginning
on July 1, 2007, the State Board, in consultation with the
State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and

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implement a teacher leader endorsement, to be known as a
teacher leader endorsement. Persons who meet the requirements
of and successfully complete the requirements of the
endorsement established under this Section on or before August
31, 2012 shall be issued a teacher leader endorsement for
serving in schools in this State. No teacher leader endorsement
under this Section shall be issued after December 31, 2012. The
endorsement shall be a career path endorsement but not a
restrictive endorsement available to: (i) teachers who are
certified through the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards and complete a specially designed strand of teacher
leadership courses; (ii) teachers who have completed a master's
degree program in teacher leadership; and (iii) proven teacher
leaders with a master's degree who complete a specially
designed strand of teacher leadership courses. Colleges and
universities shall have the authority to qualify the
proficiency of proven teacher leaders under clause (iii) of
this Section. A teacher who meets any of clauses (i) through
(iii) of this Section shall be deemed to satisfy the
requirements for the teacher leader endorsement. The State
Board may adopt rules that are consistent with this Section and
that the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement
this teacher leadership endorsement program.
This Section is repealed on January 1, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 94-1039, eff. 7-20-06.)

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(105 ILCS 5/21-7.6)
Sec. 21-7.6. Principal preparation programs.
(a) It is the policy of this State that an essential
element of improving student learning is supporting and
employing highly effective school principals in leadership
roles who improve teaching and learning and increase academic
achievement and the development of all students.
(b) No later than September July 1, 2014, all institutions
of higher education and not-for-profit entities approved by the
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, to offer principal preparation
programs must do all of the following:
(1) Meet the standards and requirements for such
programs in accordance with this Section and any rules
adopted by the State Board of Education.
(2) Prepare candidates to meet approved standards for
principal skills, knowledge, and responsibilities, which
shall include a focus on instruction and student learning
and which must be used for principal professional
development, mentoring, and evaluation.
(3) Include specific requirements for (i) the
selection and assessment of candidates, (ii) training in
the evaluation of staff, (iii) an internship, and (iv) a
partnership with one or more school districts or
State-recognized, non-public schools where the chief
administrator is required to have the certification

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necessary to be a principal in an Illinois public school
and where a majority of the instructors are required to
have the certification necessary to be instructors in an
Illinois public school.
In accordance with subsection (a) of Section 21-7.1 of this
Code, any principal preparation program offered in whole or in
part by a not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the
Board of Higher Education.
(c) No candidates may be admitted to an approved general
administrative preparation program after September 1, 2012.
Institutions of higher education currently offering general
administrative preparation programs may no longer entitle
principals with a general administrative endorsement after
August 31 June 30, 2014.
(d) Candidates successfully completing a principal
preparation program established pursuant to this Section shall
obtain a principal endorsement on an administrative
certificate and are eligible to work in, at a minimum, those
capacities set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of
Section 21-7.1 of this Code. Beginning on August 31 July 1,
2014, the general administrative endorsement shall no longer be
issued. Individuals who hold a valid and registered
administrative certificate with a general administrative
endorsement prior to July 1, 2014 and who have served for at
least one full year during the 5 years prior in a position
requiring a general administrative endorsement shall, upon

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request to the State Board of Education and through July 1,
2015, have their respective general administrative endorsement
converted to a principal endorsement. All other individuals
holding a valid and registered administrative certificate with
a general administrative endorsement prior to August 31 July 1,
2014 shall have such general administrative endorsement
converted to a principal endorsement upon request to the State
Board of Education and by completing one of the following
pathways:
(1) Take and pass a State principal assessment
developed by the State Board of Education.
(2) Through July 1, 2019, complete an Illinois
Administrators' Academy course designated by the State
Superintendent of Education.
(3) Complete a principal preparation program
established and approved pursuant to this Section and
applicable rules.
Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly
shall prevent an individual having a general administrative
endorsement from serving at any time in any position identified
in paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 21-7.1 of this
Code.
(e) The State Board of Education may adopt rules necessary
to implement and administer principal preparation programs
under this Section.
(f) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.

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(Source: P.A. 96-903, eff. 7-1-10.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-9)
Sec. 21-9. Substitute certificates and substitute
teaching.
(a) A substitute teacher's certificate may be issued for
teaching in all grades of the common schools. Such certificate
may be issued upon request of the regional superintendent of
schools of any region in which the teacher is to teach. A
substitute teacher's certificate is valid for teaching in the
public schools of any county. Such certificate may be issued to
persons who either (a) hold a certificate valid for teaching in
the common schools as shown on the face of the certificate, (b)
hold a bachelor's degree or higher bachelor of arts degree from
an institution of higher learning accredited by the North
Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting
association or have been graduated from a recognized
institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree or
higher, or (c) (blank) have had 2 years of teaching experience
and meet such other rules and regulations as may be adopted by
the State Board of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board. Such certificate shall expire on
June 30 in the fourth year from date of issue. Substitute
teacher's certificates are not subject to endorsement as
described in Section 21-1b of this Code.
(b) A teacher holding a substitute teacher's certificate

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may teach only in the place of a certified teacher who is under
contract with the employing board and may teach only when no
appropriate fully certified teacher is available to teach in a
substitute capacity. If, however, there is no certified teacher
under contract because of an emergency situation, then a school
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
advertising to hire a fully certified 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 90 school days for
any one certified teacher under contract in the same school
year.
A teacher holding an early childhood certificate, an
elementary certificate, a high school certificate, or a special
certificate may also substitute teach in grades K-12, but only
in the place of a certified teacher who is under contract with
the employing board, and may not teach for longer than 120 days

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for any one certified teacher under contract in the same school
year. A substitute teacher may teach only for a period not to
exceed 90 paid school days or 450 paid school hours in any one
school district in any one school term. However, a teacher
holding an early childhood, elementary, high school, or special
certificate may substitute teach for a period not to exceed 120
paid school days or 600 paid school hours in any one school
district in any one school term. Where such teaching is partly
on a daily and partly on an hourly basis, a school day shall be
considered as 5 hours. The teaching limitations imposed by this
subsection upon teachers holding substitute certificates shall
not apply in any school district operating under Article 34.
(c) (Blank). In order to substitute teach in the public
schools, a person holding a valid substitute teacher's
certificate or a person holding a valid early childhood
certificate, a valid elementary certificate, a valid high
school certificate, or a valid special certificate shall
register as a substitute teacher with the regional
superintendent of schools in each educational service region
where the person will be employed. A person who registers as a
substitute teacher with the regional superintendent of schools
is responsible for (1) the payment of fees to register the
certificate for its period of validity, (2) authorization of a
criminal history records check and checks of the Statewide Sex
Offender Database and Statewide Child Murderer and Violent
Offender Against Youth Database, as provided in Section 10-21.9

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of this Code, (3) payment of the cost of the criminal history
records check and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database
and Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth
Database, and (4) providing evidence of physical fitness and
freedom from communicable disease, including tuberculosis,
which may consist of a physical examination and a tuberculin
skin test as required by Section 24-5 of this Code.
The regional superintendent of schools shall maintain a
file for each registered substitute teacher in the educational
service region that includes a copy of the person's
certificate, the results from the criminal history records
check and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and
Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth
Database, a copy of the physical examination, and a copy of the
tuberculin skin test. The regional superintendent of schools
shall issue a signed and sealed certificate of authorization to
the substitute teacher that verifies that the substitute
teacher has completed the registration process and criminal
history records check and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender
Database and Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender
Against Youth Database and has a physical examination and
negative tuberculin test on file with the regional
superintendent of schools and is thereby approved to substitute
teach in the public schools of the educational service region.
This certificate must be presented to all prospective employing
school districts in the educational service region, who shall

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photocopy the certificate and keep a copy of the certificate
with employment records for the substitute teacher.
Persons wishing to substitute teach in more than one
educational service region shall register as a substitute
teacher with the appropriate regional superintendent of
schools. The registration process shall include all items
listed in the first paragraph of this subsection (b), with the
exception of the authorization of a criminal history records
check and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and
Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth
Database and the accompanying payment of associated fees. If
the substitute teacher has been issued a signed and sealed
certificate of authorization from another regional
superintendent of schools, the registering entity may
photocopy the certificate for its files and verify the
substitute teacher's registration status.
(d) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 96-1489, eff. 1-1-11.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-10)
Sec. 21-10. Provisional certificate.
(A) (Blank). Until July 1, 1972, the State Teacher
Certification Board may issue a provisional certificate valid
for teaching in elementary, high school or special subject
fields subject to the following conditions:
A provisional certificate may be issued to a person who

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presents certified evidence of having earned a bachelor's
degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. The
academic and professional courses offered as a basis of the
provisional certificate shall be courses approved by the State
Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board.
A certificate earned under this plan may be renewed at the
end of each two-year period upon evidence filed with the State
Teacher Certification Board that the holder has earned 8
semester hours of credit within the period; provided the
requirements for the certificate of the same type issued for
the teaching position for which the teacher is employed shall
be met by the end of the second renewal period. A second
provisional certificate shall not be issued. The credits so
earned must be approved by the State Board of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and
must meet the general pattern for a similar type of certificate
issued on the basis of credit. No more than 4 semester hours
shall be chosen from elective subjects.
(B) After July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification
Board may issue a provisional certificate valid for teaching in
early childhood, elementary, high school or special subject
fields, or for providing service as school service personnel or
for administering schools subject to the following conditions:
A provisional certificate may be issued to a person who meets
the requirements for a regular teaching, school service

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personnel or administrative certificate in another State and
who presents certified evidence of having earned a bachelor's
degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. The
academic and professional courses offered as a basis of the
provisional certificate shall be courses approved by the State
Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board. A certificate earned under this plan is
valid for a period of 2 years and shall not be renewed.
(C) The State Teacher Certification Board may also issue a
provisional vocational certificate and a temporary provisional
vocational certificate.
(1) The requirements for a provisional vocational
certificate shall be determined by the State Board of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board; provided, the following minimum
requirements are met: (a) after July 1, 1972, at least 30
semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of
higher learning; and (b) after July 1, 1974, at least 60
semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of
higher learning.
(2) The requirements for a temporary provisional
vocational certificate shall be determined by the State
Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board; provided, the following minimum
requirements are met: (a) after July 1, 1973, at least
4,000 hours of work experience in the skill to be certified

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for teaching; and (b) after July 1, 1975, at least 8,000
hours of work experience in the skill to be certified for
teaching. Any certificate issued under the provisions of
this paragraph shall expire on June 30 following the date
of issue. Renewals may be granted on a yearly basis, but
shall not be granted to any person who does not file with
the State Teacher Certification Board a transcript showing
at least 3 semester hours of credit earned during the
previous year in a recognized institution of learning. No
such certificate shall be issued except upon certification
by the employing board, subject to the approval of the
regional superintendent of schools, that no qualified
teacher holding a regular certificate or a provisional
vocational certificate is available and that actual
circumstances and need require such issuance.
The courses or work experience offered as a basis for the
issuance of the provisional vocational certificate or the
temporary provisional vocational certificate shall be approved
by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board.
(D) (Blank). Until July 1, 1972, the State Teacher
Certification Board may also issue a provisional foreign
language certificate valid for 4 years for teaching the foreign
language named therein in all grades of the common schools and
shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized
institution of higher learning with not fewer than 120 semester

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hours of credit and who have met other requirements as
determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with
the State Teacher Certification Board. If the holder of a
provisional foreign language certificate is not a citizen of
the United States within 6 years of the date of issuance of the
original certificate, such certificate shall be suspended by
the regional superintendent of schools of the region in which
the holder is engaged to teach and shall not be reinstated
until the holder is a citizen of the United States.
(E) Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary,
the State Teacher Certification Board shall issue part-time
provisional certificates to eligible individuals who are
professionals and craftsmen.
The requirements for a part-time provisional teachers
certificate shall be determined by the State Board of Education
in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board,
provided the following minimum requirements are met: 60
semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of
higher learning or 4000 hours of work experience in the skill
to be certified for teaching.
A part-time provisional certificate may be issued for
teaching no more than 2 courses of study for grades 6 through
12.
A part-time provisional teachers certificate shall be
valid for 2 years and may be renewed at the end of each 2 year
period.

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(F) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 96-689, eff. 8-25-09.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-11.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-11.1)
Sec. 21-11.1. Certificates for equivalent qualifications.
An applicant who holds or is eligible to hold a teacher's
certificate or license under the laws of another state or
territory of the United States may be granted a corresponding
teacher's certificate in Illinois on the written authorization
of the State Board of Education and the State Teacher
Certification Board upon the following conditions:
(1) That the applicant is at least 19 years of age, is
of good character, of good health, and a citizen of the
United States or legally present and authorized for
employment; and
(2) That the requirements for a similar teacher's
certificate in the particular state or territory were, at
the date of issuance of the certificate, substantially
equal to the requirements in force at the time the
application is made for the certificate in this State.
After January 1, 1988, in addition to satisfying the
foregoing conditions and requirements, an applicant for a
corresponding teaching certificate in Illinois also shall be
required to pass the examinations required under the provisions
of Section 21-1a as directed by the State Board of Education.
In determining good character under this Section, any

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felony conviction of the applicant may be taken into
consideration, but the conviction shall not operate as a bar to
registration.
The State Board of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board shall prescribe rules and
regulations establishing the similarity of certificates in
other states and the standards for determining the equivalence
of requirements.
This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 93-572, eff. 1-1-04.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-11.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-11.2)
Sec. 21-11.2. Additional certificates - Experienced
Employed Teachers. Experienced certified teachers employed in
Illinois public or private elementary and secondary schools
seeking additional teaching certificates as provided in
Sections 21-2.1, 21-3, 21-4 and 21-5 may submit an application
for evaluation of credentials to the State Teacher
Certification Board. Individuals obtaining a certificate by
transcript evaluation shall meet the minimum requirements for
the certificate as approved by the State Superintendent of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
Board.
This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 82-911.)

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(105 ILCS 5/21-11.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-11.3)
Sec. 21-11.3. Resident teacher certificate. A resident
teacher certificate shall be valid for 4 years for employment
as a resident teacher in a public school. It shall be issued
only to persons who have graduated from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education with a bachelor's degree, who
are enrolled in a program of preparation approved by the State
Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board, and who have passed the
appropriate tests as required in Section 21-1a and as
determined by the State Board of Education. A resident teacher
certificate may be issued for teaching children through grade 3
or for grades K-9, 6-12, or K-12 in a special subject area and
may not be renewed. A resident teacher may teach only under the
direction of a certified teacher as the resident teacher's
mentor and shall not teach in place of a certified teacher. The
holder of a resident teacher certificate shall be deemed to
have satisfied the requirements for the issuance of a Standard
Teaching Certificate if he or she has completed 4 years of
successful teaching, has passed all appropriate tests, and has
earned a master's degree in education.
No one may be admitted to a resident teacher program after
July 1, 2012.
This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 91-102, eff. 7-12-99; 92-560, eff. 6-24-02.)

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(105 ILCS 5/21-11.4)
Sec. 21-11.4. Illinois Teacher Corps.
(a) The General Assembly finds and determines that (i) it
is important to encourage the entry of qualified professionals
into elementary and secondary teaching as a second career; and
(ii) there are a number of individuals who have bachelors'
degrees, experience in the work force, and an interest in
serving youth that creates a special talent pool with great
potential for enriching the lives of Illinois children as
teachers. To provide this talent pool with the opportunity to
serve children as teachers, school districts, colleges, and
universities are encouraged, as part of the public policy of
this State, to enter into collaborative programs to educate and
induct these non-traditional candidates into the teaching
profession. To facilitate the certification of such
candidates, the State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Teacher Certification Board, shall assist
institutions of higher education and school districts with the
implementation of the Illinois Teacher Corps.
(b) Individuals who wish to become candidates for the
Illinois Teacher Corps program must earn a resident teacher
certificate as defined in Section 21-11.3, including:
(1) graduation from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education with a bachelor's degree
and at least a 3.00 out of a 4.00 grade point average;
(2) a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in

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the area the candidate wishes to teach;
(3) passing the examinations required by the State
Board of Education;
(4) enrollment in a Masters of Education Degree program
approved by the State Superintendent of Education in
consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board;
and
(5) completion of a 6 week summer intensive teacher
preparation course which is the first component of the
Masters Degree program.
(c) School districts may hire an Illinois Teacher Corps
candidate after the candidate has received his or her resident
teacher certificate. The school district has the
responsibility of ensuring that the candidates receive the
supports necessary to become qualified, competent and
productive teachers. To be eligible to participate in the
Illinois Teacher Corps program, school districts must provide a
minimum of the following supports to the candidates:
(1) a salary and benefits package as negotiated through
the teacher contracts;
(2) a mentor certified teacher who will provide
guidance to one or more candidates under a program
developed collaboratively by the school district and
university;
(3) at least quarterly evaluations performed of each
candidate jointly by the mentor teacher and the principal

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of the school or the principal's designee; and
(4) a written and signed document from the school
district outlining the support the district intends to
provide to the candidates, for approval by the State
Teacher Certification Board.
(d) Illinois institutions of higher education shall work
collaboratively with school districts and the State Teacher
Certification Board to academically prepare the candidates for
the teaching profession. To be eligible to participate, the
College or School of Education of a participating Illinois
institution of higher education must develop a curriculum that
provides, upon completion, a Masters Degree in Education for
the candidates. The Masters Degree program must:
(1) receive approval from the State Teacher
Certification Board; and
(2) take no longer than 3 summers and 2 academic years
to complete, and balance the needs and time constraints of
the candidates.
(e) Upon successful completion of the Masters Degree
program, the candidate receives an Initial Teaching
Certificate in the State of Illinois.
(f) If an individual wishes to become a candidate in the
Illinois Teacher Corps program, but does not possess 5 years of
professional experience, the individual may qualify for the
program by participating in a one year internship teacher
preparation program with a school district. The one year

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internship shall be developed collaboratively by the school
district and the Illinois institution of higher education, and
shall be approved by the State Teacher Certification Board.
(g) The State Board of Education is authorized to award
grants to school districts that seek to prepare candidates for
the teaching profession who have bachelors' degrees and
professional work experience in subjects relevant to teaching
fields, but who do not have formal preparation for teaching.
Grants may be made to school districts for up to $3,000 per
candidate when the school district, in cooperation with a
public or private university and the school district's teacher
bargaining unit, develop a program designed to prepare teachers
pursuant to the Illinois Teacher Corps program under this
Section.
(h) Beginning September 1, 2011, individuals may no longer
be admitted to Illinois Teacher Corps programs.
(i) This Section is repealed on September 1, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98; 91-102, eff. 7-12-99.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-12)
Sec. 21-12. Printing; Seal; Signature; Credentials.
(a) All certificates shall be printed by and bear the
signatures of the chairman and of the secretary of the State
Teacher Certification Board. Each certificate shall show the
integrally printed seal of the State Teacher Certification
Board. All college credentials offered as the basis of a

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certificate shall be presented to the secretary of the State
Teacher Certification Board for inspection and approval. The
regional superintendent of schools, however, has the duty,
after appropriate training, to accept and review all
transcripts for new initial certificate applications and
ensure that each applicant has met all of the criteria
established by the State Board of Education in consultation
with the State Teacher Certification Board.
(b) Until December 31, 2011 Commencing July 1, 1999, each
application for a certificate or evaluation of credentials
shall be accompanied by an evaluation fee of $30 payable to the
State Superintendent of Education, which is not refundable,
except that no application or evaluation fee shall be required
for a Master Certificate issued pursuant to subsection (d) of
Section 21-2 of this Code.
(c) Beginning on January 1, 2012, each application for a
certificate or evaluation of credentials must be accompanied by
an evaluation fee of $75 payable to the State Superintendent of
Education, which is non-refundable.
(d) The proceeds of each $30 fee shall be paid into the
Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund, created under Section
21-1b of this Code; and the moneys in that Fund shall be
appropriated and used to provide the technology and other
resources necessary for the timely and efficient processing of
certification requests.
(e) The State Board of Education and each regional office

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of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience
fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of
certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not
exceed the amount required by the credit card processing
company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the
State Board or regional office of education for this purpose,
and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.
When evaluation verifies the requirements for a valid
certificate, the applicant shall be issued an entitlement card
that may be presented to a regional superintendent of schools
for issuance of a certificate.
(f) The applicant shall be notified of any deficiencies.
(g) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-14)
Sec. 21-14. Registration and renewal of certificates.
(a) A limited four-year certificate or a certificate issued
after July 1, 1955, shall be renewable at its expiration or
within 60 days thereafter by the county superintendent of
schools having supervision and control over the school where
the teacher is teaching upon certified evidence of meeting the
requirements for renewal as required by this Act and prescribed
by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board. An elementary supervisory
certificate shall not be renewed at the end of the first

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four-year period covered by the certificate unless the holder
thereof has filed certified evidence with the State Teacher
Certification Board that he has a master's degree or that he
has earned 8 semester hours of credit in the field of
educational administration and supervision in a recognized
institution of higher learning. The holder shall continue to
earn 8 semester hours of credit each four-year period until
such time as he has earned a master's degree.
All certificates not renewed as provided in this Section or
registered in accordance with this Code shall lapse after a
period of 6 months from the expiration of the last year of
registration. The certificate may be reinstated once the
applicant has demonstrated proficiency by completing 9
semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education in the content area that most
aligns with the educator's endorsement area or areas. Before
the certificate may be reinstated, the applicant shall pay all
back fees owed from the time of expiration of the certificate
until the date of reinstatement. Any certificate may be
voluntarily surrendered by the certificate holder. A
voluntarily surrendered certificate shall be treated as a
revoked certificate. All certificates not renewed or
registered as herein provided shall lapse after a period of 5
years from the expiration of the last year of registration.
Such certificates may be reinstated for a one year period upon
payment of all accumulated registration fees. Such reinstated

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certificates shall only be renewed: (1) by earning 5 semester
hours of credit in a recognized institution of higher learning
in the field of professional education or in courses related to
the holder's contractual teaching duties; or (2) by presenting
evidence of holding a valid regular certificate of some other
type. Any certificate may be voluntarily surrendered by the
certificate holder. A voluntarily surrendered certificate
shall be treated as a revoked certificate.
(b) When those teaching certificates issued before
February 15, 2000 are renewed for the first time after February
15, 2000, all such teaching certificates shall be exchanged for
Standard Teaching Certificates as provided in subsection (c) of
Section 21-2. All Initial and Standard Teaching Certificates,
including those issued to persons who previously held teaching
certificates issued before February 15, 2000, shall be
renewable under the conditions set forth in this subsection
(b).
Initial Teaching Certificates are valid for 4 years of
teaching, as provided in subsection (b) of Section 21-2 of this
Code, and are renewable every 4 years until the person
completes 4 years of teaching. If the holder of an Initial
Certificate has completed 4 years of teaching but has not
completed the requirements set forth in paragraph (2) of
subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code, then the Initial
Certificate may be reinstated for one year, during which the
requirements must be met. A holder of an Initial Certificate

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who has not completed 4 years of teaching may continuously
register the certificate for additional 4-year periods without
penalty. Initial Certificates that are not registered shall
lapse consistent with subsection (a) of this Section and may be
reinstated only in accordance with subsection (a). Standard
Teaching Certificates are renewable every 5 years as provided
in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 and subsection (c) of this
Section. For purposes of this Section, "teaching" is defined as
employment and performance of services in an Illinois public or
State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
of control, in a certificated teaching position, or a charter
school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law.
(c) In compliance with subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of
this Code, which provides that a Standard Teaching Certificate
may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification Board based
upon proof of continuing professional development, the State
Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board
shall jointly:
(1) establish a procedure for renewing Standard
Teaching Certificates, which shall include but not be
limited to annual timelines for the renewal process and the
components set forth in subsections (d) through (k) of this
Section;
(2) establish the standards for certificate renewal;
(3) approve or disapprove the providers of continuing

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professional development activities;
(4) determine the maximum credit for each category of
continuing professional development activities, based upon
recommendations submitted by a continuing professional
development activity task force, which shall consist of 6
staff members from the State Board of Education, appointed
by the State Superintendent of Education, and 6 teacher
representatives, 3 of whom are selected by the Illinois
Education Association and 3 of whom are selected by the
Illinois Federation of Teachers;
(5) designate the type and amount of documentation
required to show that continuing professional development
activities have been completed; and
(6) provide, on a timely basis to all Illinois
teachers, certificate holders, regional superintendents of
schools, school districts, and others with an interest in
continuing professional development, information about the
standards and requirements established pursuant to this
subsection (c).
(d) Any Standard Teaching Certificate held by an individual
employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
of control in a certificated teaching position or a charter
school in compliance with the Charter Schools Law must be
maintained Valid and Active through certificate renewal

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activities specified in the certificate renewal procedure
established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section,
provided that a holder of a Valid and Active certificate who is
only employed on either a part-time basis or day-to-day basis
as a substitute teacher shall pay only the required
registration fee to renew his or her certificate and maintain
it as Valid and Active. All other Standard Teaching
Certificates held may be maintained as Valid and Exempt through
the registration process provided for in the certificate
renewal procedure established pursuant to subsection (c) of
this Section. A Valid and Exempt certificate must be
immediately activated, through procedures developed jointly by
the State Board of Education and the State Teacher
Certification Board, upon the certificate holder becoming
employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
of control in a certificated teaching position or a charter
school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law. A
holder of a Valid and Exempt certificate may activate his or
her certificate through procedures provided for in the
certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to
subsection (c) of this Section.
(e)(1) A Standard Teaching Certificate that has been
maintained as Valid and Active for the 5 years of the
certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid and Active

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upon the certificate holder: (i) completing an advanced degree
from an approved institution in an education-related field;
(ii) completing at least 8 semester hours of coursework as
described in subdivision (B) of paragraph (3) of this
subsection (e); (iii) (blank); (iv) completing the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards process as described
in subdivision (D) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e); or
(v) earning 120 continuing professional development units
("CPDU") as described in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of
this subsection (e). The maximum continuing professional
development units for each continuing professional development
activity identified in subdivisions (F) through (J) of
paragraph (3) of this subsection (e) shall be jointly
determined by the State Board of Education and the State
Teacher Certification Board. If, however, the certificate
holder has maintained the certificate as Valid and Exempt for a
portion of the 5-year period of validity, the number of
continuing professional development units needed to renew the
certificate as Valid and Active shall be proportionately
reduced by the amount of time the certificate was Valid and
Exempt. Furthermore, if a certificate holder is employed and
performs teaching services on a part-time basis for all or a
portion of the certificate's 5-year period of validity, the
number of continuing professional development units needed to
renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be reduced by
50% for the amount of time the certificate holder has been

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employed and performed teaching services on a part-time basis.
Part-time shall be defined as less than 50% of the school day
or school term.
Notwithstanding any other requirements to the contrary, if
a Standard Teaching Certificate has been maintained as Valid
and Active for the 5 years of the certificate's validity and
the certificate holder has completed his or her certificate
renewal plan before July 1, 2002, the certificate shall be
renewed as Valid and Active.
(2) Beginning July 1, 2004, in order to satisfy the
requirements for continuing professional development provided
for in subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code, each Valid
and Active Standard Teaching Certificate holder shall complete
professional development activities that address the
certificate or those certificates that are required of his or
her certificated teaching position, if the certificate holder
is employed and performing services in an Illinois public or
State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
of control, or that certificate or those certificates most
closely related to his or her teaching position, if the
certificate holder is employed in a charter school. Except as
otherwise provided in this subsection (e), the certificate
holder's activities must address purposes (A), (B), (C), or (D)
and must reflect purpose (E) of the following continuing
professional development purposes:

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(A) Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
and skills as a teacher consistent with the Illinois
Professional Teaching Standards and the Illinois Content
Area Standards in the certificate holder's areas of
certification, endorsement, or teaching assignment in
order to keep the certificate holder current in those
areas.
(B) Develop the certificate holder's knowledge and
skills in areas determined to be critical for all Illinois
teachers, as defined by the State Board of Education, known
as "State priorities".
(C) Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the
certificate holder's local school improvement plan, if the
teacher is employed in an Illinois public or State-operated
elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or
joint agreement with a governing body or board of control.
(D) Expand the certificate holder's knowledge and
skills in an additional teaching field or toward the
acquisition of another teaching certificate, endorsement,
or relevant education degree.
(E) Address the needs of serving students with
disabilities, including adapting and modifying the general
curriculum related to the Illinois Learning Standards to
meet the needs of students with disabilities and serving
such students in the least restrictive environment.
Teachers who hold certificates endorsed for special

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education must devote at least 50% of their continuing
professional development activities to this purpose.
Teachers holding other certificates must devote at least
20% of their activities to this purpose.
A speech-language pathologist or audiologist who is
licensed under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and
Audiology Practice Act and who has met the continuing education
requirements of that Act and the rules promulgated under that
Act shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing
professional development requirements established by the State
Board of Education and the Teacher Certification Board to renew
a Standard Certificate.
(3) Continuing professional development activities may
include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
(A) completion of an advanced degree from an approved
institution in an education-related field;
(B) at least 8 semester hours of coursework in an
approved education-related program, of which at least 2
semester hours relate to the continuing professional
development purpose set forth in purpose (A) of paragraph
(2) of this subsection (e), completion of which means no
other continuing professional development activities are
required;
(C) (blank);
(D) completion of the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards ("NBPTS") process for certification or

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recertification, completion of which means no other
continuing professional development activities are
required;
(E) completion of 120 continuing professional
development units that satisfy the continuing professional
development purposes set forth in paragraph (2) of this
subsection (e) and may include without limitation the
activities identified in subdivisions (F) through (J) of
this paragraph (3);
(F) collaboration and partnership activities related
to improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a
teacher, including the following:
(i) participating on collaborative planning and
professional improvement teams and committees;
(ii) peer review and coaching;
(iii) mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
including service as a consulting teacher
participating in a remediation process formulated
under Section 24A-5 of this Code;
(iv) participating in site-based management or
decision making teams, relevant committees, boards, or
task forces directly related to school improvement
plans;
(v) coordinating community resources in schools,
if the project is a specific goal of the school
improvement plan;

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(vi) facilitating parent education programs for a
school, school district, or regional office of
education directly related to student achievement or
school improvement plans;
(vii) participating in business, school, or
community partnerships directly related to student
achievement or school improvement plans; or
(viii) supervising a student teacher or teacher
education candidate in clinical supervision, provided
that the supervision may only be counted once during
the course of 5 years;
(G) college or university coursework related to
improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher
as follows:
(i) completing undergraduate or graduate credit
earned from a regionally accredited institution in
coursework relevant to the certificate area being
renewed, including coursework that incorporates
induction activities and development of a portfolio of
both student and teacher work that provides experience
in reflective practices, provided the coursework meets
Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or Illinois
Content Area Standards and supports the essential
characteristics of quality professional development;
or
(ii) teaching college or university courses in

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areas relevant to the certificate area being renewed,
provided that the teaching may only be counted once
during the course of 5 years;
(H) conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, and
symposiums related to improving the teacher's knowledge
and skills as a teacher, subject to disapproval of the
activity or event by the State Teacher Certification Board
acting jointly with the State Board of Education, including
the following:
(i) completing non-university credit directly
related to student achievement, school improvement
plans, or State priorities;
(ii) participating in or presenting at workshops,
seminars, conferences, institutes, and symposiums;
(iii) training as external reviewers for Quality
Assurance;
(iv) training as reviewers of university teacher
preparation programs; or
(v) participating in or presenting at in-service
training programs on suicide prevention.
A teacher, however, may not receive credit for conferences,
workshops, institutes, seminars, or symposiums that are
designed for entertainment, promotional, or commercial
purposes or that are solely inspirational or motivational.
The State Superintendent of Education and regional
superintendents of schools are authorized to review the

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activities and events provided or to be provided under this
subdivision (H) and to investigate complaints regarding
those activities and events, and either the State
Superintendent of Education or a regional superintendent
of schools may recommend that the State Teacher
Certification Board and the State Board of Education
jointly disapprove those activities and events considered
to be inconsistent with this subdivision (H);
(I) other educational experiences related to improving
the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including
the following:
(i) participating in action research and inquiry
projects;
(ii) observing programs or teaching in schools,
related businesses, or industry that is systematic,
purposeful, and relevant to certificate renewal;
(iii) traveling related to one's teaching
assignment, directly related to student achievement or
school improvement plans and approved by the regional
superintendent of schools or his or her designee at
least 30 days prior to the travel experience, provided
that the traveling shall not include time spent
commuting to destinations where the learning
experience will occur;
(iv) participating in study groups related to
student achievement or school improvement plans;

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(v) serving on a statewide education-related
committee, including but not limited to the State
Teacher Certification Board, State Board of Education
strategic agenda teams, or the State Advisory Council
on Education of Children with Disabilities;
(vi) participating in work/learn programs or
internships; or
(vii) developing a portfolio of student and
teacher work;
(J) professional leadership experiences related to
improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher,
including the following:
(i) participating in curriculum development or
assessment activities at the school, school district,
regional office of education, State, or national
level;
(ii) participating in team or department
leadership in a school or school district;
(iii) participating on external or internal school
or school district review teams;
(iv) publishing educational articles, columns, or
books relevant to the certificate area being renewed;
or
(v) participating in non-strike related
professional association or labor organization service
or activities related to professional development;

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(K) receipt of a subsequent Illinois certificate or
endorsement pursuant to this Article;
(L) completion of requirements for meeting the
Illinois criteria for becoming "highly qualified" (for
purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public
Law 107-110) in an additional teaching area;
(M) successful completion of 4 semester hours of
graduate-level coursework on the assessment of one's own
performance in relation to the Illinois Teaching
Standards, as described in clause (B) of paragraph (2) of
subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code; or
(N) successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester
hours of graduate-level coursework addressing preparation
to meet the requirements for certification by the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards, as described in
clause (C) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section
21-2 of this Code.
(4) A person must complete the requirements of this
subsection (e) before the expiration of his or her Standard
Teaching Certificate and must submit assurance to the regional
superintendent of schools or, if applicable, a local
professional development committee authorized by the regional
superintendent to submit recommendations to him or her for this
purpose. The statement of assurance shall contain a list of the
activities completed, the provider offering each activity, the
number of credits earned for each activity, and the purposes to

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which each activity is attributed. The certificate holder shall
maintain the evidence of completion of each activity for at
least one certificate renewal cycle. The certificate holder
shall affirm under penalty of perjury that he or she has
completed the activities listed and will maintain the required
evidence of completion. The State Board of Education or the
regional superintendent of schools for each region shall
conduct random audits of assurance statements and supporting
documentation.
(5) (Blank).
(6) (Blank).
(f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, a
school district is authorized to enter into an agreement with
the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, to form a
local professional development committee (LPDC). The
membership and terms of members of the LPDC may be determined
by the agreement. Provisions regarding LPDCs contained in a
collective bargaining agreement in existence on the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly
between a school district and the exclusive bargaining
representative shall remain in full force and effect for the
term of the agreement, unless terminated by mutual agreement.
The LPDC shall make recommendations to the regional
superintendent of schools on renewal of teaching certificates.
The regional superintendent of schools for each region shall
perform the following functions:

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(1) review recommendations for certificate renewal, if
any, received from LPDCs;
(2) (blank);
(3) (blank);
(4) (blank);
(5) determine whether certificate holders have met the
requirements for certificate renewal and notify
certificate holders if the decision is not to renew the
certificate;
(6) provide a certificate holder with the opportunity
to appeal a recommendation made by a LPDC, if any, not to
renew the certificate to the regional professional
development review committee;
(7) issue and forward recommendations for renewal or
nonrenewal of certificate holders' Standard Teaching
Certificates to the State Teacher Certification Board; and
(8) (blank).
(g)(1) Each regional superintendent of schools shall
review and concur or nonconcur with each recommendation for
renewal or nonrenewal of a Standard Teaching Certificate he or
she receives from a local professional development committee,
if any, or, if a certificate holder appeals the recommendation
to the regional professional development review committee, the
recommendation for renewal or nonrenewal he or she receives
from a regional professional development review committee and,
within 14 days of receipt of the recommendation, shall provide

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the State Teacher Certification Board with verification of the
following, if applicable:
(A) the certificate holder has satisfactorily
completed professional development and continuing
education activities set forth in paragraph (3) of
subsection (e) of this Section;
(B) the certificate holder has submitted the statement
of assurance required under paragraph (4) of subsection (e)
of this Section, and this statement has been attached to
the application for renewal;
(C) the local professional development committee, if
any, has recommended the renewal of the certificate
holder's Standard Teaching Certificate and forwarded the
recommendation to the regional superintendent of schools;
(D) the certificate holder has appealed his or her
local professional development committee's recommendation
of nonrenewal, if any, to the regional professional
development review committee and the result of that appeal;
(E) the regional superintendent of schools has
concurred or nonconcurred with the local professional
development committee's or regional professional
development review committee's recommendation, if any, to
renew or nonrenew the certificate holder's Standard
Teaching Certificate and made a recommendation to that
effect; and
(F) the established registration fee for the Standard

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Teaching Certificate has been paid.
If the notice required by this subsection (g) includes a
recommendation of certificate nonrenewal, then, at the same
time the regional superintendent of schools provides the State
Teacher Certification Board with the notice, he or she shall
also notify the certificate holder in writing, by certified
mail, return receipt requested, that this notice has been
provided to the State Teacher Certification Board.
(2) Each certificate holder shall have the right to appeal
his or her local professional development committee's
recommendation of nonrenewal, if any, to the regional
professional development review committee, within 14 days of
receipt of notice that the recommendation has been sent to the
regional superintendent of schools. Each regional
superintendent of schools shall establish a regional
professional development review committee or committees for
the purpose of advising the regional superintendent of schools,
upon request, and handling certificate holder appeals. This
committee shall consist of at least 4 classroom teachers, one
non-administrative certificated educational employee, 2
administrators, and one at-large member who shall be either (i)
a parent, (ii) a member of the business community, (iii) a
community member, or (iv) an administrator, with preference
given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed
in items (i), (ii), and (iii) in order to secure representation
of an interest not already represented on the committee. The

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teacher and non-administrative certificated educational
employee members of the review committee shall be selected by
their exclusive representative, if any, and the administrators
and at-large member shall be selected by the regional
superintendent of schools. A regional superintendent of
schools may add additional members to the committee, provided
that the same proportion of teachers to administrators and
at-large members on the committee is maintained. Any additional
teacher and non-administrative certificated educational
employee members shall be selected by their exclusive
representative, if any. Vacancies in positions on a regional
professional development review committee shall be filled in
the same manner as the original selections. Committee members
shall serve staggered 3-year terms. All individuals selected to
serve on regional professional development review committees
must be known to demonstrate the best practices in teaching or
their respective field of practice.
(h)(1) The State Teacher Certification Board shall review
the regional superintendent of schools' recommendations to
renew or nonrenew Standard Teaching Certificates and notify
certificate holders in writing whether their certificates have
been renewed or nonrenewed within 90 days of receipt of the
recommendations, unless a certificate holder has appealed a
regional superintendent of schools' recommendation of
nonrenewal, as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection
(h). The State Teacher Certification Board shall verify that

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the certificate holder has met the renewal criteria set forth
in paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this Section.
(2) Each certificate holder shall have the right to appeal
a regional superintendent of school's recommendation to
nonrenew his or her Standard Teaching Certificate to the State
Teacher Certification Board, within 14 days of receipt of
notice that the decision has been sent to the State Teacher
Certification Board, which shall hold an appeal hearing within
60 days of receipt of the appeal. When such an appeal is taken,
the certificate holder's Standard Teaching Certificate shall
continue to be valid until the appeal is finally determined.
The State Teacher Certification Board shall review the regional
superintendent of school's recommendation, the regional
professional development review committee's recommendation, if
any, and the local professional development committee's
recommendation, if any, and all relevant documentation to
verify whether the certificate holder has met the renewal
criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this
Section. The State Teacher Certification Board may request that
the certificate holder appear before it. All actions taken by
the State Teacher Certification Board shall require a quorum
and be by a simple majority of those present and voting. A
record of all votes shall be maintained. The State Teacher
Certification Board shall notify the certificate holder in
writing, within 7 days of completing the review, whether his or
her Standard Teaching Certificate has been renewed or

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nonrenewed, provided that if the State Teacher Certification
Board determines to nonrenew a certificate, the written notice
provided to the certificate holder shall be by certified mail,
return receipt requested. All certificate renewal or
nonrenewal decisions of the State Teacher Certification Board
are final and subject to administrative review, as set forth in
Section 21-24 of this Code.
(i) Holders of Master Teaching Certificates shall meet the
same requirements and follow the same procedures as holders of
Standard Teaching Certificates, except that their renewal
cycle shall be as set forth in subsection (d) of Section 21-2
of this Code and their renewal requirements shall be subject to
paragraph (8) of subsection (c) of Section 21-2 of this Code.
A holder of a teaching certificate endorsed as a
speech-language pathologist who has been granted the
Certificate of Clinical Competence by the American
Speech-Language Hearing Association may renew his or her
Standard Teaching Certificate pursuant to the 10-year renewal
cycle set forth in subsection (d) of Section 21-2 of this Code.
(j) Holders of Valid and Exempt Standard and Master
Teaching Certificates who are not employed and performing
services in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary
school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement
with a governing body or board of control, in a certificated
teaching position, may voluntarily activate their certificates
through the regional superintendent of schools of the regional

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office of education for the geographic area where their
teaching is done. These certificate holders shall follow the
same renewal criteria and procedures as all other Standard and
Master Teaching Certificate holders, except that their
continuing professional development activities need not
reflect or address the knowledge, skills, and goals of a local
school improvement plan.
(k) (Blank).
(l) (Blank).
(m) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
of the 93rd General Assembly that affect renewal of Standard
and Master Certificates shall apply to those persons who hold
Standard or Master Certificates on or after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and shall
be given effect upon renewal of those certificates.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-793, eff. 1-1-09;
96-951, eff. 6-28-10.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-16)
Sec. 21-16. Fees - Requirement for registration.
(a) (Blank). Until February 15, 2000, every applicant when
issued a certificate shall pay to the regional superintendent
of schools a fee of $1, which shall be paid into the institute
fund. Every certificate issued under the provisions of this Act
shall be registered annually or, at the option of the holder of
the certificate, once every 3 years. The regional

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superintendent of schools having supervision and control over
the school where the teaching is done shall register the
certificate before the holder begins to teach, otherwise it
shall be registered in any county in the State of Illinois; and
one fee of $4 per year for registration or renewal of one or
more certificates which have been issued to the same holder
shall be paid into the institute fund.
Until February 15, 2000, requirements for registration of
any certificate limited in time shall include evidence of
professional growth defined as successful teaching experience
since last registration of certificate, attendance at
professional meetings, membership in professional
organizations, additional credits earned in recognized
teacher-training institutions, travel specifically for
educational experience, reading of professional books and
periodicals, filing all reports as required by the regional
superintendent of schools and the State Superintendent of
Education or such other professional experience or combination
of experiences as are presented by the teacher and are approved
by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with
the State Teacher Certification Board. A duplicate certificate
may be issued to the holder of a valid life certificate or
valid certificate limited in time by the State Superintendent
of Education; however, it shall only be issued upon request of
a regional superintendent of schools and upon payment to the
regional superintendent of schools who requests such duplicate

09700SB1799ham001 - 130 - LRB097 07217 NHT 55008 a
a fee of $4.
(b) Until December 31, 2011 Beginning February 15, 2000,
all persons who are issued Standard Teaching Certificates
pursuant to clause (ii) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of
Section 21-2 and all persons who renew Standard Teaching
Certificates shall pay a $25 fee for registration of all
certificates held. All persons who are issued Standard Teaching
Certificates under clause (i) of paragraph (1) of subsection
(c) of Section 21-2 and all other applicants for Standard
Teaching Certificates shall pay an original application fee,
pursuant to Section 21-12, and a $25 fee for registration of
all certificates held. These certificates shall be registered
and the registration fee paid once every 5 years. Standard
Teaching Certificate applicants and holders shall not be
required to pay any other registration fees for issuance or
renewal of their certificates, except as provided in Section
21-17 of this Code. Beginning February 15, 2000, Master
Teaching Certificates shall be issued and renewed upon payment
by the applicant or certificate holder of a $50 fee for
registration of all certificates held. These certificates
shall be registered and the fee paid once every 10 years.
Master Teaching Certificate applicants and holders shall not be
required to pay any other application or registration fees for
issuance or renewal of their certificates, except as provided
in Section 21-17 of this Code. All other certificates issued
under the provisions of this Code shall be registered for the

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validity period of the certificate at the rate of $5 per year
for the total number of years for which the certificate is
valid for registration of all certificates held, or for a
maximum of 5 years for life certificates. The regional
superintendent of schools having supervision and control over
the school where the teaching is done shall register the
certificate before the holder begins to teach, otherwise it
shall be registered in any county in the State of Illinois.
Each holder shall pay the appropriate registration fee to the
regional superintendent of schools. The regional
superintendent of schools shall deposit the registration fees
into the institute fund. Any certificate holder who teaches in
more than one educational service region shall register the
certificate or certificates in all regions where the teaching
is done, but shall be required to pay one registration fee for
all certificates held, provided holders of certificates issued
pursuant to Section 21-9 of this Code shall be required to pay
one registration fee, in each educational service region in
which his or her certificate or certificates are registered,
for all certificates held.
A duplicate certificate may be issued to the holder of a
valid life certificate or valid certificate limited in time by
the State Superintendent of Education; however, it shall only
be issued upon request of a regional superintendent of schools
and upon payment to the regional superintendent of schools who
requests the duplicate a fee of $4, which shall be deposited

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into the institute fund.
(c) Beginning on January 1, 2012, all certificate holders
are required to pay a $10 per year registration fee for the
course of the validity cycle to register the certificate, which
must be paid to the regional office of education having
supervision and control over the school in which the individual
holding the certificate is to be employed. If the individual
holding the certificate is not yet employed, then the
certificate may be registered in any county in this State. The
registration fee must be paid in its entirety the first time
the individual registers the certificate for a particular
validity period in a single region. No additional fee may be
charged for that validity period should the individual
subsequently register the certificate in additional regions.
Individuals must register the certificate (i) immediately
after initial issuance of the license and (ii) at the beginning
of each renewal cycle if the individual has satisfied the
renewal requirements required under this Code.
The regional superintendent of schools shall deposit the
registration fees paid pursuant to this subsection (c) into the
institute fund established pursuant to Section 3-11 of this
Code.
(d) The State Board of Education and each regional office
of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience
fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of
certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not

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exceed the amount required by the credit card processing
company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the
State Board or regional office of education for this purpose,
and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.
(e) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 92-796, eff. 8-10-02; 93-679, eff. 6-30-04.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-22)
Sec. 21-22. Expiration of first year. The first year of all
certificates ends on June 30 following one full year of the
certificate being issued shall expire on June 30 following the
date of issue.
This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-25) (from Ch. 122, par. 21-25)
Sec. 21-25. School service personnel certificate.
(a) For purposes of this Section, "school service
personnel" means persons employed and performing appropriate
services in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary
school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement
with a governing body or board of control or a charter school
operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law in a
position requiring a school service personnel certificate.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21-1a, a school
service personnel certificate shall be issued to those

09700SB1799ham001 - 134 - LRB097 07217 NHT 55008 a
applicants of good character, good health, a citizen of the
United States and at least 19 years of age who have a
Bachelor's degree with not fewer than 120 semester hours from a
regionally accredited institution of higher learning and who
meets the requirements established by the State Superintendent
of Education in consultation with the State Teacher
Certification Board. A school service personnel certificate
with a school nurse endorsement may be issued to a person who
holds a bachelor of science degree from an institution of
higher learning accredited by the North Central Association or
other comparable regional accrediting association. Persons
seeking any other endorsement on the school service personnel
certificate shall be recommended for the endorsement by a
recognized teacher education institution as having completed a
program of preparation approved by the State Superintendent of
Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification
Board.
(b) Until August 30, 2002, a school service personnel
certificate endorsed for school social work may be issued to a
student who has completed a school social work program that has
not been approved by the State Superintendent of Education,
provided that each of the following conditions is met:
(1) The program was offered by a recognized, public
teacher education institution that first enrolled students
in its master's degree program in social work in 1998;
(2) The student applying for the school service

09700SB1799ham001 - 135 - LRB097 07217 NHT 55008 a
personnel certificate was enrolled in the institution's
master's degree program in social work on or after May 11,
1998;
(3) The State Superintendent verifies that the student
has completed coursework that is substantially similar to
that required in approved school social work programs,
including (i) not fewer than 600 clock hours of a
supervised internship in a school setting or (ii) if the
student has completed part of a supervised internship in a
school setting prior to the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly and receives
the prior approval of the State Superintendent, not fewer
than 300 additional clock hours of supervised work in a
public school setting under the supervision of a certified
school social worker who certifies that the supervised work
was completed in a satisfactory manner; and
(4) The student has passed a test of basic skills and
the test of subject matter knowledge required by Section
21-1a.
This subsection (b) does not apply after August 29, 2002.
(c) A school service personnel certificate shall be
endorsed with the area of Service as determined by the State
Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State
Teacher Certification Board.
The holder of such certificate shall be entitled to all of
the rights and privileges granted holders of a valid teaching

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certificate, including teacher benefits, compensation and
working conditions.
When the holder of such certificate has earned a master's
degree, including 8 semester hours of graduate professional
education from a recognized institution of higher learning, and
has at least 2 years of successful school experience while
holding such certificate, the certificate may be endorsed for
supervision.
(d) Persons who have successfully achieved National Board
certification through the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards shall be issued a Master School Service
Personnel Certificate, valid for 10 years and renewable
thereafter every 10 years through compliance with requirements
set forth by the State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Teacher Certification Board. However, each holder of
a Master School Service Personnel Certificate shall be eligible
for a corresponding position in this State in the areas for
which he or she holds a Master Certificate without satisfying
any other requirements of this Code, except for those
requirements pertaining to criminal background checks.
(e) School service personnel certificates are renewable
every 5 years and may be renewed as provided in this Section.
Requests for renewals must be submitted, in a format prescribed
by the State Board of Education, to the regional office of
education responsible for the school where the holder is
employed.

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Upon completion of at least 80 hours of continuing
professional development as provided in this subsection (e), a
person who holds a valid school service personnel certificate
shall have his or her certificate renewed for a period of 5
years. A person who (i) holds an active license issued by the
State as a clinical professional counselor, a professional
counselor, a clinical social worker, a social worker, or a
speech-language pathologist; (ii) holds national certification
as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist from the National
School Psychology Certification Board; (iii) is nationally
certified as a National Certified School Nurse from the
National Board for Certification of School Nurses; (iv) is
nationally certified as a National Certified Counselor or
National Certified School Counselor from the National Board for
Certified Counselors; or (v) holds a Certificate of Clinical
Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing
professional development requirements established by the State
Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board to
renew a school service personnel certificate.
School service personnel certificates may be renewed by the
State Teacher Certification Board based upon proof of
continuing professional development. The State Board of
Education shall (i) establish a procedure for renewing school
service personnel certificates, which shall include without
limitation annual timelines for the renewal process and the

09700SB1799ham001 - 138 - LRB097 07217 NHT 55008 a
components set forth in this Section; (ii) approve or
disapprove the providers of continuing professional
development activities; and (iii) provide, on a timely basis to
all school service personnel certificate holders, regional
superintendents of schools, school districts, and others with
an interest in continuing professional development,
information about the standards and requirements established
pursuant to this subsection (e).
Any school service personnel certificate held by an
individual employed and performing services in an Illinois
public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school,
or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or
board of control in a certificated school service personnel
position or in a charter school in compliance with the Charter
Schools Law must be maintained Valid and Active through
certificate renewal activities specified in the certificate
renewal procedure established pursuant to this Section,
provided that a holder of a Valid and Active certificate who is
only employed on either a part-time basis or day-to-day basis
as a substitute shall pay only the required registration fee to
renew his or her certificate and maintain it as Valid and
Active. All other school service personnel certificates held
may be maintained as Valid and Exempt through the registration
process provided for in the certificate renewal procedure
established pursuant to Section 21-14 of this Code. A Valid and
Exempt certificate must be immediately activated, through

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procedures developed by the State Board of Education upon the
certificate holder becoming employed and performing services
in an Illinois public or State-operated elementary school,
secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a
governing body or board of control in a certificated school
service personnel position or in a charter school operating in
compliance with the Charter Schools Law. A holder of a Valid
and Exempt certificate may activate his or her certificate
through procedures provided for in the certificate renewal
procedure established pursuant to this Section.
A school service personnel certificate that has been
maintained as Valid and Active for the 5 years of the
certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid and Active
upon the certificate holder (i) completing the National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards process in an area of
concentration comparable to the holder's school service
personnel certificate of endorsement or (ii) earning 80
continuing professional development units as described in this
Section. If, however, the certificate holder has maintained the
certificate as Valid and Exempt for a portion of the 5-year
period of validity, the number of continuing professional
development units needed to renew the certificate as Valid and
Active must be proportionately reduced by the amount of time
the certificate was Valid and Exempt. If a certificate holder
is employed and performs services requiring the holder's school
service personnel certificate on a part-time basis for all or a

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portion of the certificate's 5-year period of validity, the
number of continuing professional development units needed to
renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be reduced by
50% for the amount of time the certificate holder has been
employed and performing such services on a part-time basis.
"Part-time" means less than 50% of the school day or school
term.
Beginning July 1, 2008, in order to satisfy the
requirements for continuing professional development provided
for in this Section, each Valid and Active school service
personnel certificate holder shall complete professional
development activities that address the certificate or those
certificates that are required of his or her certificated
position, if the certificate holder is employed and performing
services in an Illinois public or State operated elementary
school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement
with a governing body or board of control, or that certificate
or those certificates most closely related to his or her
teaching position, if the certificate holder is employed in a
charter school. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection
(e), the certificate holder's activities must address and must
reflect the following continuing professional development
purposes:
(1) Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
and skills consistent with the Illinois Standards for the
service area in which the certificate is endorsed in order

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to keep the certificate holder current in that area.
(2) Develop the certificate holder's knowledge and
skills in areas determined by the State Board of Education
to be critical for all school service personnel.
(3) Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the
certificate holder's local school improvement plan, if the
certificate holder is employed in an Illinois public or
State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or
board of control.
(4) Address the needs of serving students with
disabilities, including adapting and modifying clinical or
professional practices to meet the needs of students with
disabilities and serving such students in the least
restrictive environment.
The coursework or continuing professional development
units ("CPDU") required under this subsection (e) must total 80
CPDUs or the equivalent and must address 3 of the 4 purposes
described in items (1) through (4) of this subsection (e).
Holders of school service personnel certificates may fulfill
this obligation with any combination of semester hours or CPDUs
as follows:
(A) Collaboration and partnership activities related
to improving the school service personnel certificate
holder's knowledge and skills, including (i) participating
on collaborative planning and professional improvement

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teams and committees; (ii) peer review and coaching; (iii)
mentoring in a formal mentoring program, including service
as a consulting teacher participating in a remediation
process formulated under Section 24A-5 of this Code; (iv)
participating in site-based management or decision-making
teams, relevant committees, boards, or task forces
directly related to school improvement plans; (v)
coordinating community resources in schools, if the
project is a specific goal of the school improvement plan;
(vi) facilitating parent education programs for a school,
school district, or regional office of education directly
related to student achievement or school improvement
plans; (vii) participating in business, school, or
community partnerships directly related to student
achievement or school improvement plans; or (viii)
supervising a student teacher (student services personnel)
or teacher education candidate in clinical supervision,
provided that the supervision may be counted only once
during the course of 5 years.
(B) Coursework from a regionally accredited
institution of higher learning related to one of the
purposes listed in items (1) through (4) of this subsection
(e), which shall apply at the rate of 15 continuing
professional development units per semester hour of credit
earned during the previous 5-year period when the status of
the holder's school service personnel certificate was

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Valid and Active. Proportionate reductions shall apply
when the holder's status was Valid and Active for less than
the 5-year period preceding the renewal.
(C) Teaching college or university courses in areas
relevant to the certificate area being renewed, provided
that the teaching may be counted only once during the
course of 5 years.
(D) Conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, or
symposiums designed to improve the certificate holder's
knowledge and skills in the service area and applicable to
the purposes listed in items (1) through (4) of this
subsection (e). One CPDU shall be awarded for each hour of
attendance. No one shall receive credit for conferences,
workshops, institutes, seminars, or symposiums that are
designed for entertainment, promotional, or commercial
purposes or that are solely inspirational or motivational.
The State Superintendent of Education and regional
superintendents of schools are authorized to review the
activities and events provided or to be provided under this
subdivision (D) and to investigate complaints regarding
those activities and events. Either the State
Superintendent of Education or a regional superintendent
of schools may recommend that the State Board of Education
disapprove those activities and events considered to be
inconsistent with this subdivision (D).
(E) Completing non-university credit directly related

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to student achievement, school improvement plans, or State
priorities.
(F) Participating in or presenting at workshops,
seminars, conferences, institutes, or symposiums.
(G) Training as external reviewers for quality
assurance.
(H) Training as reviewers of university teacher
preparation programs.
(I) Other educational experiences related to improving
the school service personnel's knowledge and skills as a
teacher, including (i) participating in action research
and inquiry projects; (ii) traveling related to one's
assignment and directly related to school service
personnel achievement or school improvement plans and
approved by the regional superintendent of schools or his
or her designee at least 30 days prior to the travel
experience, provided that the traveling shall not include
time spent commuting to destinations where the learning
experience will occur; (iii) participating in study groups
related to student achievement or school improvement
plans; (iv) serving on a statewide education-related
committee, including without limitation the State Teacher
Certification Board, State Board of Education strategic
agenda teams, or the State Advisory Council on Education of
Children with Disabilities; (v) participating in
work/learn programs or internships; or (vi) developing a

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portfolio of student and teacher work.
(J) Professional leadership experiences related to
improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher,
including (i) participating in curriculum development or
assessment activities at the school, school district,
regional office of education, State, or national level;
(ii) participating in team or department leadership in a
school or school district; (iii) participating on external
or internal school or school district review teams; (iv)
publishing educational articles, columns, or books
relevant to the certificate area being renewed; or (v)
participating in non-strike-related professional
association or labor organization service or activities
related to professional development.
(f) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013.
(Source: P.A. 94-105, eff. 7-1-05; 95-592, eff. 7-1-08.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-27)
Sec. 21-27. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.
(a) The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program is hereby
established. As used in this Section:
"Poverty or low-performing school" means a school in
academic early warning status or academic watch status or a
school in which 50% or more of its students are eligible for
free or reduced-price school lunches.
"Qualified educator" means a teacher or school counselor

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currently employed in a school district who is in the process
of obtaining certification through the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards or who has completed
certification and holds a Master Certificate or a retired
teacher or school counselor who holds a Master Certificate.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2011, any funds appropriated for
the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program must be used to
provide monetary assistance and incentives for qualified
educators who are employed by school districts and who have or
are in the process of obtaining licensure through the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The goal of the
program is to improve instruction and student performance.
The State Board of Education shall allocate an amount as
annually appropriated by the General Assembly for the Illinois
Teaching Excellence Program for (i) application fees for each
qualified educator seeking to complete certification through
the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, to be
paid directly to the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards, and (ii) incentives for each qualified educator to
be distributed to the respective school district. The school
district shall distribute this payment to each eligible teacher
or school counselor as a single payment.
The State Board of Education's annual budget must set out
by separate line item the appropriation for the program. Unless
otherwise provided by appropriation, qualified educators are
eligible for monetary assistance and incentives based on the

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priorities outlined in subsection (c) of this Section.
(c) When there are adequate funds available, priorities
(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), as outlined in this subsection
(c), must be funded. If full funding to meet all priorities as
outlined in this subsection (c) is not available, funding must
be distributed in the order of the priorities listed in this
subsection (c). If funding is insufficient to fund a priority
in full, then funding for that priority must be prorated and no
further priorities shall be funded.
Priorities for monetary assistance and incentives shall be
as follows:
(1) Priority 1: A maximum of $2,000 towards the
application fee for up to 750 teachers or school counselors
in a poverty or low-performing school who apply on a
first-come, first-serve basis for National Board
certification.
(2) Priority 2: A maximum of $2,000 towards the
application fee for up to 250 teachers or school counselors
in a school other than a poverty or low-performing school
who apply on a first-come, first-serve basis for National
Board certification. However, if there were fewer than 750
individuals supported in priority (1), then the number
supported in priority (2) may be increased as such that the
combination of priority (1) and priority (2) shall equal
1,000 applicants.
(3) Priority 3: The fee for the National Board for

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Professional Teaching Standards' Take One! (the test for
National Board certification) for up to 500 qualified
educators who apply on a first-come, first-serve basis.
(4) Priority 4: An annual incentive equal to $1,500,
which shall be paid to each qualified educator who holds
both a Master Certificate and a current corresponding
certificate issued by the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards, who is employed in a school district,
and who agrees, in writing, to provide 30 hours of
mentoring or National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards professional development or both during the
school year to teachers or school counselors in a poverty
or low-performing school, as applicable.
(5) Priority 5: An annual incentive equal to $1,500,
which shall be paid to each qualified educator currently
employed in a school district who holds both a Master
Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued
by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
and who agrees, in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of
mentoring or National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards professional development or both during the
school year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as
applicable.
Mentoring for all priorities shall include, either singly
or in combination, mentoring of the following:
(A) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

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certification candidates.
(B) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
re-take candidates.
(C) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
renewal candidates.
(D) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Take One! participants.
(d) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2013. to provide
categorical funding for monetary incentives and bonuses for
teachers and school counselors who are employed by school
districts and who hold a Master Certificate. The State Board of
Education shall allocate and distribute to each school district
an amount as annually appropriated by the General Assembly from
federal funds for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. The
State Board of Education's annual budget must set out by
separate line item the appropriation for the program. Unless
otherwise provided by appropriation, each school district's
annual allocation shall be the sum of the amounts earned for
the following incentives and bonuses:
(1) An annual payment of $3,000 to be paid to (A) each
teacher who holds both a Master Certificate and a
corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards and is employed as a
teacher by a school district and (B) each school counselor
who holds both a Master Certificate and a corresponding
certificate issued by the National Board for Professional

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Teaching Standards and is employed as a school counselor by
a school district. The school district shall distribute
this payment to each eligible teacher or school counselor
as a single payment or in not more than 3 payments.
(2) An annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be paid
to (A) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master
Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school
counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing,
to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year
to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable,
and (B) each retired teacher or school counselor who holds
both a Master Certificate and a current corresponding
certificate issued by the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards and who agrees, in writing, to provide
at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year to
classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable. An
additional annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be paid
to (I) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master
Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school
counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing,
to provide an additional 30 hours of mentoring during that
year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as
applicable, and (II) each retired teacher or school
counselor who holds both a Master Certificate and a current
corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees, in

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writing, to provide an additional 30 hours of mentoring
during that year to classroom teachers or school
counselors, as applicable, for a total of 60 hours of
mentoring and $2,000 in incentives under this paragraph
(2). Mentoring under this paragraph (2) may include, either
singly or in combination, (i) providing high quality
professional development for new and experienced teachers
or school counselors, as applicable, and/or (ii) assisting
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
candidates through the NBPTS certification process. The
school district shall distribute each annual incentive
payment upon completion of the 30 hours or 60 hours of
required mentoring, whichever is applicable.
(3) An annual incentive equal to $2,000 shall be paid
to (A) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master
Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school
counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing,
to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring during that year
to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable,
in schools on academic early warning status or in schools
in which 50% or more of the students receive free or
reduced price lunches, or both, and (B) each retired
teacher or school counselor who holds both a Master
Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued
by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
and who agrees, in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of

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mentoring during that year to classroom teachers or school
counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic early
warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the
students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both. An
additional annual incentive equal to $2,000 shall be paid
to (I) each teacher or school counselor who holds a Master
Certificate, who is employed as a teacher or school
counselor by a school district, and who agrees, in writing,
to provide an additional 30 hours of mentoring during that
year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as
applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or
in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive
free or reduced price lunches, or both, and (II) each
retired teacher or school counselor who holds both a Master
Certificate and a current corresponding certificate issued
by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
and who agrees, in writing, to provide an additional 30
hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers
or school counselors, as applicable, in schools on academic
early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of
the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or
both, for a total of 60 hours of mentoring and $4,000 in
incentives under this paragraph (3). Mentoring under this
paragraph (3) may include, either singly or in combination,
(i) providing high quality professional development for
new and experienced teachers or school counselors, as

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applicable, in schools on academic early warning status or
in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive
free or reduced price lunches, or both, and/or (ii)
assisting National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards (NBPTS) candidates through the NBPTS
certification process in schools on academic early warning
status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students
receive free or reduced price lunches, or both. The school
district shall distribute each annual incentive payment
upon completion of the 30 hours or 60 hours of required
mentoring, whichever is applicable.
(4) If funds are available under the Illinois Teaching
Excellence Program in a given fiscal year, the following
Master Certificate incentives shall be provided:
(A) As a first priority, monetary support of up to
$2,000 per person shall be provided for first-time
application fees.
(B) As a second priority, monetary support for
NBPTS's Take One! process of up to $395 per person
shall be provided for cohorts of teachers in schools on
academic early warning status or schools deemed to be a
priority by the State Board of Education.
(C) As a third priority, monetary support of up to
$350 per retake shall be provided for up to 3 retakes.
(D) As a fourth priority, monetary support of up to
$850 per person shall be provided for renewals for

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those persons who have not received prior State or
federal fee support.
(b) Each regional superintendent of schools shall provide
information about National Board certification administered by
the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)
and this Section to each individual seeking to register or
renew a certificate under Section 21-14 of this Code.
(c) After the incentives and bonuses under subsection (a)
of this Section have been expended in a given fiscal year, if
there are additional funds available under the Illinois
Teaching Excellence Program, up to $250,000 must be used for
the continuation of an appropriate electronic system to process
Master Certificates and various payments.
(d) After funds have been expended under priorities (A)
through (D) of paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this Section
in a given fiscal year and if there are any additional funds
available under the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program,
remaining funds must be spent on candidate support and
recruitment.
(Source: P.A. 94-105, eff. 7-1-05; 94-901, eff. 6-22-06;
95-996, eff. 10-3-08.)
(105 ILCS 5/Art. 21B heading new)
ARTICLE 21B. EDUCATOR LICENSURE
(105 ILCS 5/21B-5 new)

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Sec. 21B-5. Licensure powers of the State Board of
Education.
(a) Recognizing that the education of our citizens is the
single most important influence on the prosperity and success
of this State and recognizing that new developments in
education require a flexible approach to our educational
system, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall have the
power and authority to do all of the following:
(1) Set standards for teaching, supervising, or
otherwise holding licensed employment in the public
schools of this State and administer the licensure process
as provided in this Article.
(2) Approve, evaluate, and sanction educator
preparation programs.
(3) Enter into agreements with other states relative to
reciprocal approval of educator preparation programs.
(4) Establish standards for the issuance of new types
of educator licenses.
(5) Establish a code of ethics for all educators.
(6) Maintain a system of licensure examination aligned
with standards determined by the State Board of Education.
(7) Take such other action relating to the improvement
of instruction in the public schools as is appropriate and
consistent with applicable laws.
(b) Only the State Superintendent of Education, acting in

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accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article and
rules, shall have the authority to issue or endorse any license
required for teaching, supervising, or otherwise holding
licensed employment in the public schools; and no other State
agency shall have any power or authority (i) to establish or
prescribe any qualifications or other requirements applicable
to the issuance or endorsement of any such license or (ii) to
establish or prescribe any licensure or equivalent requirement
that must be satisfied in order to teach, supervise, or hold
licensed employment in the public schools.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-10 new)
Sec. 21B-10. State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board.
(a) The State Teacher Certification Board, which had been
established under Section 21-13 of the School Code prior to
this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, shall be
renamed the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
References in law to the State Teacher Certification Board
shall mean the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall
consist of the State Superintendent of Education or a
representative appointed by him or her, who shall be ex-officio
chairperson, 5 administrative or faculty members of public or
private colleges or universities located in this State, 3
administrators and 10 classroom teachers employed in the public

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schools (5 of whom must be members of and nominated by a
statewide professional teachers' organization and 5 of whom
must be members of and nominated by a different statewide
professional teachers' organization), and one regional
superintendent of schools, all of whom shall be appointed by
the State Board of Education; provided that at least one of the
administrators and at least 3 of the classroom teachers so
appointed must be employees of a school district that is
subject to the provisions of Article 34 of this Code. A
statewide professional teachers' organization and a different
statewide professional teachers' organization shall submit to
the State Board of Education for consideration at least 3 names
of accomplished teachers for every one vacancy or expiring term
in a classroom teacher position. The nominations submitted to
the State Board of Education under this Section to fill a
vacancy or an expiring term shall be advisory. Nomination for
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board members must be
submitted to the State Board of Education within 30 days after
the vacancy or vacancies occur. Nominations to fill an expiring
term must be submitted to the State Board of Education at least
30 days before the expiration of that term. Notwithstanding any
other provisions of this Section, if a sufficient number of
nominations are not received by the State Board of Education
for a vacancy or expiring term within the 30-day period, then
the State Board of Education may appoint any qualified person,
in the same manner as the original appointment, to fill the

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vacancy or expiring term. The regular term of each member is 3
years, and an individual may be appointed for no more than 2
consecutive terms. The term of an appointed member of the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall expire on June
30 of his or her final year.
(b) The State Board of Education shall appoint a secretary
of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
(c) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
shall hold regular meetings at least quarterly and such other
special meetings as may be necessary.
(d) The necessary expenses of the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board shall be provided through the
State Board of Education. The State Board of Education, in
consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary for the
administration of this Article.
(e) Individuals serving on the State Teacher Certification
Board on June 30, 2011 under Section 21-13 of this Code shall
continue to serve on the State Educator Preparation and
Licensure Board until the scheduled expiration of their
respective terms.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-15 new)
Sec. 21B-15. Qualifications of educators.
(a) No one may be licensed to teach or supervise or be
otherwise employed in the public schools of this State who is

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not of good character and at least 20 years of age.
In determining good character under this Section, the State
Superintendent of Education shall take into consideration the
disciplinary actions of other states or national entities
against certificates or licenses issued by those states and
held by individuals from those states. In addition, any felony
conviction of the applicant may be taken into consideration;
however, no one may be licensed to teach or supervise in the
public schools of this State who has been convicted of an
offense set forth in Section 21B-80 of this Code. Unless the
conviction is for an offense set forth in Section 21B-80 of
this Code, an applicant must be permitted to submit character
references or other written material before such a conviction
or other information regarding the applicant's character may be
used by the State Superintendent of Education as a basis for
denying the application.
(b) No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the right
to be licensed or to receive training for the purpose of
becoming an educator because of a physical disability,
including, but not limited to, visual and hearing disabilities;
nor shall any school district refuse to employ a teacher on
such grounds, provided that the person is able to carry out the
duties of the position for which he or she applies.
(c) No person may be granted or continue to hold an
educator license who has knowingly altered or misrepresented
his or her qualifications, in this State or any other state, in

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order to acquire or renew the license. Any other license issued
under this Article held by the person may be suspended or
revoked by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board,
depending upon the severity of the alteration or
misrepresentation.
(d) No one may teach or supervise in the public schools nor
receive for teaching or supervising any part of any public
school fund who does not hold an educator license granted by
the State Superintendent of Education as provided in this
Article. However, the provisions of this Article do not apply
to a member of the armed forces who is employed as a teacher of
subjects in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of any school,
nor to an individual teaching a dual credit course as provided
for in the Dual Credit Quality Act.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the
school board of a school district may grant to a teacher of the
district a leave of absence with full pay for a period of not
more than one year to permit the teacher to teach in a foreign
state under the provisions of the Exchange Teacher Program
established under Public Law 584, 79th Congress, and Public Law
402, 80th Congress, as amended. The school board granting the
leave of absence may employ, with or without pay, a national of
the foreign state wherein the teacher on the leave of absence
is to teach if the national is qualified to teach in that
foreign state and if that national is to teach in a grade level
similar to the one that was taught in the foreign state. The

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State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt rules as
may be necessary to implement this subsection (e).
(105 ILCS 5/21B-20 new)
Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. Before July 1, 2013, 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) a
professional educator license with stipulations; or (iii) a
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

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testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
and reading in the content area, and (iv) 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.
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, unless otherwise specified by
rule, and passage of the applicable content area test.
(2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
that (i) is non-renewable, (ii) limits the license holder
to one particular position, or (iii) does not require
completion of an approved educator program or any
combination of items (i) through (iii) of this paragraph
(2).
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.

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An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
with the following endorsements:
(A) Provisional educator. A provisional educator
endorsement in a specific content area or areas on an
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
applicant who holds an educator license with a minimum
of 15 semester hours in content coursework from another
state, U.S. territory, or foreign country and who, at
the time of applying for an Illinois license, does not
meet the minimum requirements under Section 21B-35 of
this Code, but does, at a minimum, meet both of the
following requirements:
(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
bachelor's degree, unless a master's degree is
required for the endorsement, from a regionally
accredited college or university or, for
individuals educated in a country other than the
United States, the equivalent of a minimum of a
bachelor's degree issued in the United States,
unless a master's degree is required for the
endorsement.
(ii) Has passed a test of basic skills and
content area test, as required by Section 21B-30 of
this Code.
However, a provisional educator endorsement for principals
may not be issued, nor may any person with a provisional

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educator endorsement serve as a principal in a public
school in this State. In addition, out-of-state applicants
shall not receive a provisional educator endorsement if the
person completed an alternative licensure program in
another state, unless the program has been determined to be
equivalent to Illinois program requirements.
A provisional educator endorsement is valid until June
30 immediately following 2 years of the license being
issued, during which time any remaining testing and
coursework deficiencies must be met. Failure to satisfy all
stated deficiencies shall mean the individual is
ineligible to receive a Professional Educator License at
that time. A provisional educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations shall not be renewed.
(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.

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(iii) Passed a test of basic skills and 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.
(iv) Passed a test of basic skills and content

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area tests required under Section 21B-30 of this
Code.
The endorsement may be registered for 2 fiscal
years in order to complete one full year of serving as
a superintendent or assistant superintendent.
(D) Resident teacher endorsement. A resident
teacher 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
institution of higher education with a minimum of a
bachelor's degree.
(ii) Enrolled in an approved Illinois educator
preparation program.
(iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content
area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
Code.
The resident teacher endorsement on an Educator
License with Stipulations is valid for 4 years of
teaching and shall not be renewed.
A resident teacher may teach only under the
direction of a licensed teacher, who shall act as the
resident mentor teacher, and may not teach in place of
a licensed teacher. A resident teacher endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations shall no longer

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be valid after June 30, 2017.
(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,
has passed a test of basic skills required under
Section 21B-30 of this Code, and has a minimum of 2,000
hours of experience in the last 10 years 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.
(F) Provisional career and technical educator. A
Provisional career and technical educator endorsement
on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of
work experience in the skill for which the applicant is
seeking the endorsement. It is the responsibility of
each employing school board and regional office of
education to provide verification, in writing, to the
State Superintendent of Education at the time the
application is submitted that no qualified teacher
holding a Professional Educator License or an Educator
License with Stipulations with a career and technical

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educator endorsement is available and that actual
circumstances require such issuance.
The provisional 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 only
one time for 5 years if the individual passes a test of
basic skills, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
Code, and has completed a minimum of 20 semester hours
from a regionally accredited institution.
(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.
(iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
previous to his or her applying for a transitional
bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and

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comparable teaching certificate or comparable
authorization issued by a foreign county 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 satisfactory evidence that he
or she meets all of the following requirements:
(i) Holds a transitional bilingual
endorsement.
(ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the

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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) Has passed a test of basic skills, as
required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
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

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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
an educator license with stipulations is valid for 3
years and shall not be renewed.
(J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
educator endorsement on an Educator License with

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Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
either holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education or has passed a test of
basic skills required under Section 21B-30 of this
Code. 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.
(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.
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years and
may be renewed if the individual has passed a test of basic
skills, as authorized under Section 21B-30 of this Code. An
individual who has passed a test of basic skills for the

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first licensure renewal is not required to retake the test
again for further renewals.
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 or
has not met the renewal requirements for licensure, 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 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,

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provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
than 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.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-25 new)
Sec. 21B-25. Endorsement on licenses. All licenses issued
under paragraph (1) of Section 21B-20 of this Code shall be
specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each
content area, school support area, and administrative area for
which the holder of the license is qualified. Recognized
institutions approved to offer educator preparation programs
shall be trained to add endorsements to licenses issued to
applicants who meet all of the requirements for the endorsement
or endorsements, including passing any required tests. The
State Superintendent of Education shall randomly audit
institutions to ensure that all rules and standards are being
followed for entitlement or when endorsements are being
recommended.
(1) The State Board of Education, in consultation with

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the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall
establish, by rule, the grade level and subject area
endorsements to be added to the Professional Educator
License. These rules shall outline the requirements for
obtaining each endorsement.
(2) In addition to any and all grade level and content
area endorsements developed by rule, the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board, shall develop the
requirements for the following endorsements:
(A) General administrative endorsement. A general
administrative endorsement shall be added to a
Professional Educator License, provided that an
approved program has been completed. An individual
holding a general administrative endorsement may work
only as a principal or assistant principal or in a
related or similar position, as determined by the State
Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
Beginning on September 1, 2014, the general
administrative endorsement shall no longer be issued.
Individuals who hold a valid and registered
administrative certificate with a general
administrative endorsement issued under Section 21-7.1
of this Code or a Professional Educator License with an
general administrative endorsement issued prior to

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September 1, 2014 and who have served for at least one
full year during the 5 years prior in a position
requiring a general administrative endorsement shall,
upon request to the State Board of Education and
through July 1, 2015, have their respective general
administrative endorsement converted to a principal
endorsement on the Professional Educator License.
Candidates shall not be admitted to an approved general
administrative preparation program after September 1,
2012.
All other individuals holding a valid and
registered administrative certificate with a general
administrative endorsement issued pursuant to Section
21-7.1 of this Code or a general administrative
endorsement on a Professional Educator License issued
prior to September 1, 2014 shall have the general
administrative endorsement converted to a principal
endorsement on a Professional Educator License upon
request to the State Board of Education and by
completing one of the following pathways:
(i) Passage of the State principal assessment
developed by the State Board of Education.
(ii) Through July 1, 2019, completion of an
Illinois Educators' Academy course designated by
the State Superintendent of Education.
(iii) Completion of a principal preparation

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program established and approved pursuant to Section
21B-60 of this Code and applicable rules.
Individuals who do not choose to convert the
general administrative endorsement on the
administrative certificate issued pursuant to Section
21-7.1 of this Code or on the Professional Educator
License shall continue to be able to serve in any
position previously allowed under paragraph (2) of
subsection (e) of Section 21-7.1 of this Code.
The general administrative endorsement on the
Professional Educator License is available only to
individuals who, prior to September 1, 2014, had such
an endorsement on the administrative certificate
issued pursuant to Section 21-7.1 of this Code or who
already have a Professional Educator License and have
completed a general administrative program and who do
not choose to convert the general administrative
endorsement to a principal endorsement pursuant to the
options in this Section.
(B) Principal endorsement. A principal endorsement
shall be affixed to a Professional Educator License of
any holder who qualifies by having all of the
following:
(i) Successful completion of a principal
preparation program approved in accordance with
Section 21B-60 of this Code and any applicable

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rules.
(ii) Four years of teaching in a public school
or nonpublic school recognized by the State Board
of Education; however, the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board, shall allow, by
rules, for fewer than 4 years of experience based
on meeting standards set forth in such rules,
including without limitation a review of
performance evaluations or other evidence of
demonstrated qualifications.
(iii) A master's degree or higher from a
regionally accredited college or university.
(C) Chief school business official endorsement. A
chief school business official endorsement shall be
affixed to the Professional Educator License of any
holder 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. The chief
school business official endorsement may also be
affixed to the Professional Educator License of any

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holder who qualifies by having a master's degree in
business administration, finance, or accounting 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. This
endorsement shall be required for any individual
employed as a chief school business official.
(D) Superintendent endorsement. A superintendent
endorsement shall be affixed to the Professional
Educator License of any holder who has completed a
program approved by the State Board of Education for
the preparation of superintendents of schools, has had
at least 2 years of experience employed as a full-time
principal, director of special education, or chief
school business official in the public schools or in a
State-recognized nonpublic school in which the chief
administrator is required to have the licensure
necessary to be a principal in a public school in this
State and where a majority of the teachers are required
to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a
public school in this State, and has passed the
required State tests; or of any holder who has
completed a program from out-of-state that has a
program with recognition standards comparable to those
approved by the State Superintendent of Education and

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holds the general administrative, principal, or chief
school business official endorsement and who has had 2
years of experience as a principal, director of special
education, or chief school business official while
holding a valid educator license or certificate
comparable in validity and educational and experience
requirements and has passed the appropriate State
tests, as provided in Section 21B-30 of this Code. The
superintendent endorsement shall allow individuals to
serve only as a superintendent or assistant
superintendent.
(E) Teacher leader endorsement. It shall be the
policy of this State to improve the quality of
instructional leaders by providing a career pathway
for teachers interested in serving in leadership
roles, but not as principals. The State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board, may issue a teacher
leader endorsement under this subdivision (E). Persons
who meet and successfully complete the requirements of
the endorsement shall be issued a teacher leader
endorsement on the Professional Educator License for
serving in schools in this State. Teacher leaders may
qualify to serve in such positions as department
chairs, coaches, mentors, curriculum and instruction
leaders, or other leadership positions as defined by

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the district. The endorsement shall be available to
those teachers who (i) hold a Professional Educator
License, (ii) hold a master's degree or higher from a
regionally accredited institution, (iii) have
completed a program of study that has been approved by
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and
(iv) have taken coursework in all of the following
areas:
(I) Leadership.
(II) Designing professional development to
meet teaching and learning needs.
(III) Building school culture that focuses on
student learning.
(IV) Using assessments to improve student
learning and foster school improvement.
(V) Building collaboration with teachers and
stakeholders.
A teacher who meets the requirements set forth in
this Section and holds a teacher leader endorsement may
evaluate teachers pursuant to Section 24A-5 of this
Code, provided that the individual has completed the
evaluation component required by Section 24A-3 of this
Code and a teacher leader is allowed to evaluate
personnel under the respective school district's
collective bargaining agreement.

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The State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board,
may adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish
and implement the teacher leader endorsement program
and to specify the positions for which this endorsement
shall be required.
(F) School support personnel endorsement. School
support personnel endorsement areas shall include, but
are not limited to, school counselor, school
psychologist, school speech and language pathologist,
school nurse, and school social worker. This
endorsement is for individuals who are not teachers or
administrators, but still require licensure to work in
an instructional support position in a public or
State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or
cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or
board of control or a charter school operating in
compliance with the Charter Schools Law. The school
support personnel endorsement shall be affixed to the
Professional Educator License and shall meet all of the
requirements established in any rules adopted to
implement this subdivision (F). The holder of such an
endorsement is entitled to all of the rights and
privileges granted holders of any other Professional
Educator License, including teacher benefits,
compensation, and working conditions.

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(105 ILCS 5/21B-30 new)
Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing.
(a) This Section applies beginning on July 1, 2012.
(b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design
and implement a system of examinations, which shall be required
prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These examinations
and indicators must be based on national and State professional
teaching standards, as determined by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board. The State Board of Education may adopt
such rules as may be necessary to implement and administer this
Section. No score on a test required under this Section, other
than a test of basic skills, shall be more than 5 years old at
the time that an individual makes application for an educator
license or endorsement.
(c) Applicants seeking a Professional Educator License or
an Educator License with Stipulations shall be required to pass
a test of basic skills, unless the endorsement the individual
is seeking does not require passage of the test.
No candidate may be fully admitted into an educator
preparation program at a recognized Illinois institution until
he or she has passed a test of basic skills. An individual who
passes a test of basic skills does not need to do so again for
subsequent endorsements or other educator licenses.

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(d) All applicants seeking a State license shall be
required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area
of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. There
shall be no exception to this requirement. No candidate shall
be allowed to student teach, serve as the teacher of record, or
begin an internship or residency required for licensure until
he or she has passed the applicable content area test.
(e) All applicants seeking a State license endorsed in a
teaching field shall pass the assessment of professional
teaching (APT). Passage of the APT is required for completion
of an approved Illinois educator preparation program.
(f) Beginning on September 1, 2015, all candidates
completing teacher preparation programs in this State are
required to pass an evidence-based assessment of teacher
effectiveness approved by the State Board of Education, in
consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board. All recognized institutions offering approved teacher
preparation programs must begin phasing in the approved teacher
performance assessment no later than July 1, 2013.
(g) Tests of basic skills and content area knowledge and
the assessment of professional teaching shall be the tests that
from time to time are designated by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board, and may be tests prepared by an
educational testing organization or tests designed by the State
Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator

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Preparation and Licensure Board. The areas to be covered by a
test of basic skills shall include reading, language arts, and
mathematics. The test of content area knowledge shall assess
content knowledge in a specific subject field. The tests must
be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no person
taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis of race,
color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to the
person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The score
required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board. The tests shall be administered not fewer
than 3 times a year at such time and place as may be designated
by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess
the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of
applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under
subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this Code
in the English language and in the language of the transitional
bilingual education program requested by the applicant.
(h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the
provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school
district subject to Article 34 of this Code.
(i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the
testing requirements under this Section shall include
provisions governing test selection, test validation and

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determination of a passing score, administration of the tests,
frequency of administration, applicant fees, frequency of
applicants' taking the tests, the years for which a score is
valid, and appropriate special accommodations. The State Board
of Education shall develop such rules as may be needed to
ensure uniformity from year to year in the level of difficulty
for each form of an assessment.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-35 new)
Sec. 21B-35. Minimum requirements for educators trained in
other states or countries.
(a) All out-of-state applicants applying for an
Professional Educator License must meet all of the following
requirements:
(1) Have completed a comparable state-approved
education program, as defined by the State Superintendent
of Education.
(2) Have a degree from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education and the degreed major or a
constructed major must directly correspond to the license
or endorsement sought.
(3) Have completed a minimum of one course in the
methods of instruction of the exceptional child.
(4) Have completed a minimum of 6 semester hours of
coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content
area.

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(5) Have completed a minimum of one course in
instructional strategies for English language learners.
(6) Have successfully met all Illinois examination
requirements.
(7) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent
experience.
If one or more of the criteria in subsection (a) of this
Section are not met, then out-of-state applicants who hold a
valid, comparable certificate from another state and have
passed a test of basic skills and content area test, as
required by Section 21B-20 of this Code, may qualify for a
provisional educator endorsement on an Educator License with
Stipulations, in accordance with Section 21B-20 of this Code,
with the exception that an individual shall not serve as a
principal or assistant principal while holding the provisional
educator endorsement.
(b) In order to receive a Professional Educator License,
applicants trained in another country must meet all of the
following requirements:
(1) Have completed a comparable education program in
another country.
(2) Have had transcripts evaluated by an evaluation
service approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
(3) Hold a degreed major that must directly correspond
to the license or endorsement sought.
(4) Have completed a minimum of one course in the

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methods of instruction of the exceptional child.
(5) Have completed a minimum of 6 semester hours of
coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content
area.
(6) Have completed a minimum of one course in
instructional strategies for English language learners.
(7) Have successfully met all State licensure
examination requirements.
(8) Have completed student teaching or an equivalent
experience.
If one or more of these criteria are not met, then an
applicant trained in another country who has passed a test of
basic skills and content area test, as required by Section
21B-20 of this Code, may qualify for a provisional educator
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations, with the
exception that an individual shall not serve as a principal or
assistant principal while holding the provisional educator
endorsement.
(c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be necessary to implement this Section.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-40 new)
Sec. 21B-40. Fees.
(a) Beginning with the start of the new licensure system
established pursuant to this Article, the following fees shall

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be charged to applicants:
(1) A $75 application fee for a Professional Educator
License or an Educator License with Stipulations and for
individuals seeking a Substitute Teaching License.
However, beginning on January 1, 2015, the application fee
for a Professional Educator License, Educator License with
Stipulations, or Substitute Teaching License shall be
$100.
(2) A $150 application fee for individuals who have
completed an approved educator preparation program outside
of this State or who hold a valid, comparable credential
from another state or country and are seeking any of the
licenses set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection
(a).
(3) A $50 application fee for each endorsement or
approval an individual holding a license wishes to add to
that license.
(4) A $10 per year registration fee for the course of
the validity cycle to register the license, which shall be
paid to the regional office of education having supervision
and control over the school in which the individual holding
the license is to be employed. If the individual holding
the license is not yet employed, then the license may be
registered in any county in this State. The registration
fee must be paid in its entirety the first time the
individual registers the license for a particular validity

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period in a single region. No additional fee may be charged
for that validity period should the individual
subsequently register the license in additional regions.
An individual must register the license (i) immediately
after initial issuance of the license and (ii) at the
beginning of each renewal cycle if the individual has
satisfied the renewal requirements required under this
Code.
(b) All application fees paid pursuant to subdivisions (1)
through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section shall be
deposited into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund and
shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board of
Education to provide the technology and human resources
necessary for the timely and efficient processing of
applications. The Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund is not
subject to administrative charge transfers, authorized under
Section 8h of the State Finance Act, from the Teacher
Certificate Fee Revolving Fund into any other fund of this
State, and moneys in the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund
shall not revert back to the General Revenue Fund at any time.
The regional superintendent of schools shall deposit the
registration fees paid pursuant to subdivision (4) of
subsection (a) of this Section into the institute fund
established pursuant to Section 3-11 of this Code.
(c) The State Board of Education and each regional office
of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience

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fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of license
fees. This service or convenience fee shall not exceed the
amount required by the credit card processing company or vendor
that has entered into a contract with the State Board or
regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee must
be paid to that company or vendor.
(d) If, at the time a certificate issued under Article 21
of this Code is exchanged for a license issued under this
Article, a person has paid registration fees for any years of
the validity period of the certificate and these years have not
expired when the certificate is exchanged, then those fees must
be applied to the registration of the new license.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-45 new)
Sec. 21B-45. Licensure renewal. All licenses with
endorsements 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
endorsed in a teaching field shall meet the renewal
requirements set forth in subsection (e) of Section 21-14 of
this Code. An individual holding a Professional Educator
License with a general administrative, principal, chief school
business official, or superintendent endorsement issued under
this Article who is also working in a position using or
requiring that endorsement is subject to the renewal

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requirements in subsection (c-10) of Section 21-7.1 of this
Code. An individual holding a Professional Educator License
with a school personnel support endorsement and working in a
position for which that endorsement is required must complete
the licensure renewal requirements under Section 21-25 of this
Code. If an individual holds licensure 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.
All licenses not renewed as provided in this Section or
registered in accordance with Section 21B-40 this Code shall
lapse after a period of 6 months from the expiration of the
last year of registration. The license may be reinstated once
the applicant has demonstrated proficiency by completing 9
semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education in the content area that most
aligns with the educator's endorsement area or areas. Before
the license may be reinstated, the applicant shall pay all back
fees owed from the time of expiration of the license until the
date of reinstatement. Any license may be voluntarily
surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily surrendered
license shall be treated as a revoked license.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-50 new)
Sec. 21B-50. Alternative educator licensure program.
(a) There is established an alternative educator licensure

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program, to be known as the Alternative Educator Licensure
Program for Teachers.
(b) Beginning on January 1, 2013, the Alternative Educator
Licensure Program for Teachers may be offered by a recognized
institution approved to offer educator preparation programs by
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Any program offered
be a not-for-profit entity also must be approved by the Board
of Higher Education.
The program shall be comprised of 4 phases:
(1) A course of study that at a minimum includes
instructional planning; instructional strategies,
including special education, reading, and English language
learning; classroom management; and the assessment of
students and use of data to drive instruction.
(2) A year of a residency, which is a candidate's
assignment to a full-time teaching position or as a
co-teacher for one full school year. An individual must
hold an Educator License with Stipulations with an
alternative provisional educator endorsement in order to
enter the residency and must complete additional program
requirements that address required State and national
standards, pass the assessment of professional teaching
before entering the second residency year, as required
under phase (3) of this subsection (b), and be recommended
by the principal and program coordinator to continue with

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the second year of the residency.
(3) A second year of residency, which shall include the
candidate's assignment to a full-time teaching position
for one school year. The candidate must be assigned an
experienced teacher to act as a mentor and coach the
candidate through the second year of residency.
(4) A comprehensive assessment of the candidate's
teaching effectiveness, as evaluated by the principal and
the program coordinator, at the end of the second year of
residency. If there is disagreement between the 2
evaluators about the candidate's teaching effectiveness,
the candidate may complete one additional year of residency
teaching under a professional development plan developed
by the principal and preparation program. At the completion
of the third year, a candidate must have positive
evaluations and a recommendation for full licensure from
both the principal and the program coordinator or no
Professional Educator License shall be issued.
Successful completion of the program shall be deemed to
satisfy any other practice or student teaching and content
matter requirements established by law.
(c) An alternative provisional educator endorsement on a
Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 2 years of
teaching in the public schools or in a State-recognized
nonpublic school in which the chief administrator is required
to have the licensure necessary to be a principal in a public

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school in this State and in which a majority of the teachers
are required to have the licensure necessary to be instructors
in a public school in this State, but may be renewed for a
third year if needed to complete the Alternative Educator
Licensure Program for Teachers. The endorsement shall be issued
only once to an individual who meets all of the following
requirements:
(1) Has graduated from a regionally accredited college
or university with a bachelor's degree or higher.
(2) Has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or
greater on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent on another scale.
(3) Has completed a major in the content area if
seeking a middle or secondary level endorsement or, if
seeking an early childhood, elementary, or special
education endorsement, has completed a major in the content
area of reading, English/language arts, mathematics, or
one of the sciences. If the individual does not have a
major in a content area for any level of teaching, he or
she must submit transcripts to the State Superintendent of
Education to be reviewed for equivalency.
(4) Has successfully completed phase (1) of subsection
(b) of this Section.
(5) Has passed a test of basic skills and content area
test required for the specific endorsement for admission
into the program, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
Code.

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A candidate possessing the alternative provisional
educator endorsement may receive a salary, benefits, and any
other terms of employment offered to teachers in the school who
are members of an exclusive bargaining representative, if any,
but a school is not required to provide these benefits during
the years of residency if the candidate is serving only as a
co-teacher. If the candidate is serving as the teacher of
record, the candidate must receive a salary, benefits, and any
other terms of employment. Residency experiences must not be
counted towards tenure.
(d) The recognized institution offering the Alternative
Educator Licensure Program for Teachers must partner with a
school district or a State-recognized, nonpublic school in this
State in which the chief administrator is required to have the
licensure necessary to be a principal in a public school in
this State and in which a majority of the teachers are required
to have the licensure necessary to be instructors in a public
school in this State. The program presented for approval by the
State Board of Education must demonstrate the supports that are
to be provided to assist the provisional teacher during the
2-year residency period. These supports must provide
additional contact hours with mentors during the first year of
residency.
(e) Upon completion of the 4 phases outlined in subsection
(b) of this Section and all assessments required under Section
21B-30 of this Code, an individual shall receive a Professional

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Educator License.
(f) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be necessary to establish and implement the
Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-55 new)
Sec. 21B-55. Alternative route to superintendent
endorsement.
(a) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may approve
programs designed to provide an alternative route to
superintendent endorsement on a Professional Educator License.
(b) Entities offering an alternative route to
superintendent endorsement program must have the program
approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
(c) All programs approved under this Section shall be
comprised of the following 3 phases:
(1) A course of study offered on an intensive basis in
education management, governance, organization, and
instructional and district planning.
(2) The person's assignment to a full-time position for
one school year as a superintendent.
(3) A comprehensive assessment of the person's
performance by school officials and a recommendation to the

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State Superintendent of Education that the person be issued
a superintendent endorsement on a Professional Educator
License.
(d) In order to be admitted to an alternative route to
superintendent endorsement program, a candidate shall pass a
test of basic skills, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
Code. In order to serve as a superintendent under phase (2) of
subsection (c) of this Section, an individual must be issued an
alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations, to be valid for only one
year of serving as a superintendent. In order to receive the
provisional alternative superintendent endorsement under this
Section, an individual must meet all of the following
requirements:
(1) Have graduated from a regionally accredited
college or university with a minimum of a master's degree
in a management field other than education.
(2) Have been employed for a period of at least 5 years
in a management level position other than education.
(3) Have successfully completed phase (1) of
subsection (c) of this Section.
(4) Have passed examinations required by Section
21B-30 of this Code.
(e) Successful completion of an alternative route to
superintendent endorsement program shall be deemed to satisfy
any other supervisory, administrative, or management

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experience requirements established by law, and, once
completed, an individual shall be eligible for a superintendent
endorsement on a Professional Educator License.
(f) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be needed to establish and implement these
alternative route to superintendent endorsement programs.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-60 new)
Sec. 21B-60. Principal preparation programs.
(a) It is the policy of this State that an essential
element of improving student learning is supporting and
employing highly effective school principals in leadership
roles who improve teaching and learning and increase academic
achievement and the development of all students.
(b) No later than September 1, 2014, recognized
institutions approved by the State Board of Education, in
consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board, to offer principal preparation programs must do all of
the following:
(1) Meet the standards and requirements for such
programs in accordance with this Section and any rules
adopted by the State Board of Education, in consultation
with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
(2) Prepare candidates to meet required standards for
principal skills, knowledge, and responsibilities, which

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shall include a focus on instruction and student learning
and which must be used for principal professional
development, mentoring, and evaluation.
(3) Include specific requirements for (i) the
selection and assessment of candidates, (ii) training in
the evaluation of staff, (iii) an internship, and (iv) a
partnership with one or more school districts or
State-recognized, nonpublic schools in which the chief
administrator is required to have the licensure necessary
to be a principal in a public school in this State and in
which a majority of the teachers are required to have the
licensure necessary to be instructors in a public school in
this State.
Any principal preparation program offered in whole or in
part by a not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the
Board of Higher Education.
(c) Candidates successfully completing a principal
preparation program established pursuant to this Section shall
obtain a principal endorsement on a Professional Educator
License and are eligible to work as a principal or an assistant
principal or in related or similar positions, as determined by
the State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
(d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be necessary to implement and administer principal

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preparation programs under this Section.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-65 new)
Sec. 21B-65. National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards. Individuals holding certification issued by the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be
issued a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
designation on an existing Professional Educator License. The
designation shall be issued automatically and added to an
individual's Professional Educator License, and individuals
need not submit an application.
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
designation must be issued only for the same validity period as
the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
certification, and the designation must be removed from the
Professional Educator License when the educator no longer holds
the certification from the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards.
Beginning on July 1, 2013, individuals holding an Illinois
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards endorsement
issued pursuant to the requirements of Section 21-2 of this
Code must have a current certificate issued by the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards in order to maintain
the Illinois National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards endorsement.
Beginning on July 1, 2012, individuals with the National

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Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation in
specific areas may work only in an area in which he or she has a
comparable State endorsement on his or her Professional
Educator License.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-70 new)
Sec. 21B-70. Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Poverty or low-performing school" means a school in
academic early warning status or academic watch status or a
school in which 50% or more of its students are eligible for
free or reduced-price school lunches.
"Qualified educator" means a teacher or school counselor
currently employed in a school district who is in the process
of obtaining certification through the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards or who has completed
certification and holds a current Professional Educator
License with a National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards designation or a retired teacher or school counselor
who holds a Professional Educator License with a National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards designation.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2011, any funds appropriated for
the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program must be used to
provide monetary assistance and incentives for qualified
educators who are employed by school districts and who have or
are in the process of obtaining licensure through the National

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Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The goal of the
program is to improve instruction and student performance.
The State Board of Education shall allocate an amount as
annually appropriated by the General Assembly for the Illinois
Teaching Excellence Program for (i) application fees for each
qualified educator seeking to complete certification through
the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, to be
paid directly to the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards, and (ii) incentives for each qualified educator to
be distributed to the respective school district. The school
district shall distribute this payment to each eligible teacher
or school counselor as a single payment.
The State Board of Education's annual budget must set out
by separate line item the appropriation for the program. Unless
otherwise provided by appropriation, qualified educators are
eligible for monetary assistance and incentives based on the
priorities outlined in subsection (c) of this Section.
(c) When there are adequate funds available, priorities
(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), as outlined in this subsection
(c), must be funded. If full funding to meet all priorities as
outlined in this subsection (c) is not available, funding must
be distributed in the order of the priorities listed in this
subsection (c). If funding is insufficient to fund a priority
in full, then funding for that priority must be prorated and no
further priorities shall be funded.
Priorities for monetary assistance and incentives shall be

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as follows:
(1) Priority 1: A maximum of $2,000 towards the
application fee for up to 750 teachers or school counselors
in a poverty or low-performing school who apply on a
first-come, first-serve basis for National Board
certification.
(2) Priority 2: A maximum of $2,000 towards the
application fee for up to 250 teachers or school counselors
in a school other than a poverty or low-performing school
who apply on a first-come, first-serve basis for National
Board certification. However, if there were fewer than 750
individuals supported in priority (1), then the number
supported in priority (2) may be increased as such that the
combination of priority (1) and priority (2) shall equal
1,000 applicants.
(3) Priority 3: The fee for the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards' Take One! (the test for
National Board certification) for up to 500 qualified
educators who apply on a first-come, first-serve basis.
(4) Priority 4: An annual incentive equal to $1,500,
which shall be paid to each qualified educator who holds
both a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
designation and a current corresponding certificate issued
by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards,
who is employed in a school district, and who agrees, in
writing, to provide 30 hours of mentoring or National Board

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for Professional Teaching Standards professional
development or both during the school year to teachers or
school counselors in a poverty or low-performing school, as
applicable.
(5) Priority 5: An annual incentive equal to $1,500,
which shall be paid to each qualified educator currently
employed in a school district who holds both a National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation and
a current corresponding certificate issued by the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees,
in writing, to provide at least 30 hours of mentoring or
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
professional development or both during the school year to
classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable.
Mentoring for all priorities shall include, either singly
or in combination, mentoring of the following:
(A) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
certification candidates.
(B) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
re-take candidates.
(C) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
renewal candidates.
(D) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Take One! participants.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-75 new)

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Sec. 21B-75. Suspension or revocation of license.
(a) As used in this Section, "teacher" means any school
district employee regularly required to be licensed, as
provided in this Article, in order to teach or supervise in the
public schools.
(b) The State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive
authority, in accordance with this Section and any rules
adopted by the State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, to initiate
the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any
license issued pursuant to this Article for abuse or neglect of
a child, immorality, a condition of health detrimental to the
welfare of pupils, incompetency, unprofessional conduct (which
includes the failure to disclose on an employment application
any previous conviction for a sex offense, as defined in
Section 21B-80 of this Code, or any other offense committed in
any other state or against the laws of the United States that,
if committed in this State, would be punishable as a sex
offense, as defined in Section 21B-80 of this Code), the
neglect of any professional duty, willful failure to report an
instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the
Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, failure to establish
satisfactory repayment on an educational loan guaranteed by the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission, or other just cause.
Unprofessional conduct shall include the refusal to attend or
participate in institutes, teachers' meetings, or professional

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readings or to meet other reasonable requirements of the
regional superintendent of schools or State Superintendent of
Education. Unprofessional conduct also includes conduct that
violates the standards, ethics, or rules applicable to the
security, administration, monitoring, or scoring of or the
reporting of scores from any assessment test or examination
administered under Section 2-3.64 of this Code or that is known
or intended to produce or report manipulated or artificial,
rather than actual, assessment or achievement results or gains
from the administration of those tests or examinations.
Unprofessional conduct shall also include neglect or
unnecessary delay in the making of statistical and other
reports required by school officers.
(c) The State Superintendent of Education shall, upon
receipt of evidence of abuse or neglect of a child, immorality,
a condition of health detrimental to the welfare of pupils,
incompetency, unprofessional conduct, the neglect of any
professional duty, or other just cause, further investigate
and, if and as appropriate, serve written notice to the
individual and afford the individual opportunity for a hearing
prior to suspension or revocation; provided that the State
Superintendent is under no obligation to initiate such an
investigation if the Department of Children and Family Services
is investigating the same or substantially similar allegations
and its child protective service unit has not made its
determination, as required under Section 7.12 of the Abused and

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Neglected Child Reporting Act. If the State Superintendent of
Education does not receive from an individual a request for a
hearing within 10 days after the individual receives notice,
the suspension or revocation shall immediately take effect in
accordance with the notice. If a hearing is requested within 10
days after notice of an opportunity for hearing, it shall act
as a stay of proceedings until the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board issues a decision. Any hearing shall take
place in the educational service region where the educator is
or was last employed and in accordance with rules adopted by
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and such rules shall
include without limitation provisions for discovery and the
sharing of information between parties prior to the hearing.
The standard of proof for any administrative hearing held
pursuant to this Section shall be by the preponderance of the
evidence. The decision of the State Educator Preparation and
Licensure Board is a final administrative decision and is
subject to judicial review by appeal of either party.
The State Board of Education may refuse to issue or may
suspend the license of any person who fails to file a return or
to pay the tax, penalty, or interest shown in a filed return or
to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as
required by any tax Act administered by the Department of
Revenue, until such time as the requirements of any such tax
Act are satisfied.

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The exclusive authority of the State Superintendent of
Education to initiate suspension or revocation of a license
pursuant to this Section does not preclude a regional
superintendent of schools from cooperating with the State
Superintendent or a State's Attorney with respect to an
investigation of alleged misconduct.
(d) The State Superintendent of Education or his or her
designee may initiate and conduct such investigations as may be
reasonably necessary to establish the existence of any alleged
misconduct. At any stage of the investigation, the State
Superintendent may issue a subpoena requiring the attendance
and testimony of a witness, including the license holder, and
the production of any evidence, including files, records,
correspondence, or documents, relating to any matter in
question in the investigation. The subpoena shall require a
witness to appear at the State Board of Education at a
specified date and time and shall specify any evidence to be
produced. The license holder is not entitled to be present, but
the State Superintendent shall provide the license holder with
a copy of any recorded testimony prior to a hearing under this
Section. Such recorded testimony must not be used as evidence
at a hearing, unless the license holder has adequate notice of
the testimony and the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
Failure of a license holder to comply with a duly issued,
investigatory subpoena may be grounds for revocation,
suspension, or denial of a license.

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(e) All correspondence, documentation, and other
information so received by the regional superintendent of
schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board
of Education, or the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board under this Section is confidential and must not be
disclosed to third parties, except (i) as necessary for the
State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee to
investigate and prosecute pursuant to this Article, (ii)
pursuant to a court order, (iii) for disclosure to the license
holder or his or her representative, or (iv) as otherwise
required in this Article and provided that any such information
admitted into evidence in a hearing is exempt from this
confidentiality and non-disclosure requirement.
(f) The State Superintendent of Education or a person
designated by him or her shall have the power to administer
oaths to witnesses at any hearing conducted before the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board pursuant to this
Section. The State Superintendent of Education or a person
designated by him or her is authorized to subpoena and bring
before the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board any
person in this State and to take testimony either orally or by
deposition or by exhibit, with the same fees and mileage and in
the same manner as prescribed by law in judicial proceedings in
civil cases in circuit courts of this State.
(g) Any circuit court, upon the application of the State
Superintendent of Education or the license holder, may, by

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order duly entered, require the attendance of witnesses and the
production of relevant books and papers as part of any
investigation or at any hearing the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board is authorized to conduct pursuant to this
Section, and the court may compel obedience to its orders by
proceedings for contempt.
(h) The State Board of Education shall receive an annual
line item appropriation to cover fees associated with the
investigation and prosecution of alleged educator misconduct
and hearings related thereto.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-80 new)
Sec. 21B-80. Conviction of certain offenses as grounds for
revocation of license.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Narcotics offense" means any one or more of the following
offenses:
(1) Any offense defined in the Cannabis Control Act,
except those defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section
4 and subdivision (a) of Section 5 of the Cannabis Control
Act and any offense for which the holder of a license is
placed on probation under the provisions of Section 10 of
the Cannabis Control Act, provided that if the terms and
conditions of probation required by the court are not
fulfilled, the offense is not eligible for this exception.
(2) Any offense defined in the Illinois Controlled

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Substances Act, except any offense for which the holder of
a license is placed on probation under the provisions of
Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act,
provided that if the terms and conditions of probation
required by the court are not fulfilled, the offense is not
eligible for this exception.
(3) Any offense defined in the Methamphetamine Control
and Community Protection Act, except any offense for which
the holder of a license is placed on probation under the
provision of Section 70 of that Act, provided that if the
terms and conditions of probation required by the court are
not fulfilled, the offense is not eligible for this
exception.
(4) Any attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in
items (1) through (3) of this definition.
(5) Any offense committed or attempted in any other
state or against the laws of the United States that, if
committed or attempted in this State, would have been
punishable as one or more of the offenses listed in items
(1) through (4) of this definition.
The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 97th General
Assembly to the definition of "narcotics offense" are
declaratory of existing law.
"Sex offense" means any one or more of the following
offenses:
(A) Any offense defined in Sections 11-6 and 11-9

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through 11-9.5, inclusive, of the Criminal Code of 1961;
Sections 11-14 through 11-21, inclusive, of the Criminal
Code of 1961; Sections 11-23 (if punished as a Class 3
felony), 11-24, 11-25, and 11-26 of the Criminal Code of
1961; and Sections 12-4.9, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15,
12-16, 12-32, and 12-33 of the Criminal Code of 1961.
(B) Any attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in
item (A) of this definition.
(C) Any offense committed or attempted in any other
state that, if committed or attempted in this State, would
have been punishable as one or more of the offenses listed
in items (A) and (B) of this definition.
(b) Whenever the holder of any license issued pursuant to
this Article has been convicted of any sex offense or narcotics
offense, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith
suspend the license. If the conviction is reversed and the
holder is acquitted of the offense in a new trial or the
charges against him or her are dismissed, the State
Superintendent of Education shall forthwith terminate the
suspension of the license. When the conviction becomes final,
the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith revoke
the license.
(c) Whenever the holder of a license issued pursuant to
this Article has been convicted of first degree murder,
attempted first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first
degree murder, attempted conspiracy to commit first degree

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murder, or a Class X felony or any offense committed or
attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United
States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would
have been punishable as one or more of the foregoing offenses,
the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith suspend
the license. If the conviction is reversed and the holder is
acquitted of that offense in a new trial or the charges that he
or she committed that offense are dismissed, the State
Superintendent of Education shall forthwith terminate the
suspension of the license. When the conviction becomes final,
the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith revoke
the license.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-85 new)
Sec. 21B-85. Conviction of felony.
(a) Whenever the holder of any license issued under this
Article is employed by the school board of a school district,
including a special charter district or a school district
organized under Article 34 of this Code, and is convicted,
either after a bench trial, trial by jury, or plea of guilty,
of any offense for which a sentence to death or a term of
imprisonment in a penitentiary for one year or more is
provided, the school board shall promptly notify the State
Superintendent of Education, in writing, of the name of the
license holder, the fact of the conviction, and the name and
location of the court in which the conviction occurred.

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(b) Whenever the State Superintendent of Education
receives notice of a conviction under subsection (a) of this
Section or otherwise learns that any person who is a teacher,
as that term is defined in Section 16-106 of the Illinois
Pension Code, has been convicted, either after a bench trial,
trial by jury, or plea of guilty, of any offense for which a
sentence to death or a term of imprisonment in a penitentiary
for one year or more is provided, the State Superintendent of
Education shall promptly notify, in writing, the board of
trustees of the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of
Illinois and the board of trustees of the Public School
Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of the City of Chicago of
the name of the license holder, the fact of the conviction, the
name and location of the court in which the conviction
occurred, and the number assigned in that court to the case in
which the conviction occurred.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-90 new)
Sec. 21B-90. Administrative Review Law. In this Section,
"administrative decision" has the meaning ascribed to that term
in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
The provisions of the Administrative Review Law and the
rules adopted pursuant to the Administrative Review Law shall
apply to and govern all proceedings instituted for the judicial
review of final administrative decisions of the State Board of
Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board,

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and the regional superintendent of schools under this Article.
The commencement of any action for review shall operate as a
stay of enforcement, and no action based on any decision of the
State Board of Education, the State Educator Preparation and
Licensure Board, or the regional superintendent of schools
shall be taken pending final disposition of the review.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-95 new)
Sec. 21B-95. Denial of recommendation for licensure. Each
college or university providing an educator preparation
program approved and recognized pursuant to the provisions of
this Article shall establish procedures and standards to ensure
that no student is denied the opportunity to receive an
institutional recommendation for licensure or entitlement for
reasons that are not directly related to the candidate's
anticipated performance as a licensed educator. These
standards and procedures shall include the specific criteria
used by the institution for admission, retention, and
recommendation or entitlement for licensure; periodic
evaluations of the candidate's progress towards an
institutional recommendation; counseling and other supportive
services to correct any deficiencies that are considered
remedial; and provisions to ensure that no person is
discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national
origin, or a disability unrelated to the person's ability to
perform as a licensed educator. Each institution shall also

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establish a grievance procedure for those candidates who are
denied the institutional recommendation or entitlement for
licensure. Within 10 days after notification of such a denial,
the college or university shall notify the candidate, in
writing, of the reasons for the denial of recommendation for
licensure. Within 30 days after notification of the denial, the
candidate may request the college or university to review the
denial.
(105 ILCS 5/21B-100 new)
Sec. 21B-100. Licensure officers at higher education
institutions. Licensure officers at higher education
institutions shall adhere to this Code and any administrative
rules adopted to implement this Code when entitling candidates
for licensure or when adding endorsements. Violations of this
Code or implementing rules regarding the entitlement of
candidates by a licensure officer shall place the employing
institution's educator preparation program in jeopardy,
specifically regarding the institution's right to offer
programs and recommend or entitle candidates for licensure.
Licensure officers are required to attend training
conducted by the State Superintendent of Education and review
new legislation and administrative rules as such become
available. The State Superintendent of Education shall
communicate any policy changes to Licensure officers when such
changes occur.

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(105 ILCS 5/21B-105 new)
Sec. 21B-105. Granting of recognition; regional
accreditation; definitions.
(a) "Recognized", as used in this Article in connection
with the word "school" or "institution", means such college,
university, or not-for-profit entity that meets requirements
set by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Application
for recognition of the school or institution as a educator
preparation institution must be made to the State Board of
Education. The State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall set
the criteria by which the school or institution is to be judged
and, through the secretary of the State Board, arrange for an
official inspection and shall grant recognition of such school
or institution as may meet the required standards. If the
standards include requirements with regard to education in
acquiring skills in working with culturally distinctive
students, as defined by the State Board of Education, then the
rules of the State Board of Education shall include the
criteria used to evaluate compliance with this requirement. No
school or institution may make assignments of student teachers
or teachers for practice teaching so as to promote segregation
on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, or national
origin.

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Any not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the
Board of Higher Education.
All recommendations or entitlements for educator licensure
shall be made by a recognized institution operating a program
of preparation for the license that is approved by the State
Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
and Licensure Board, shall have the power to define a major or
minor when used as a basis for recognition and licensure
purposes.
(b) "Regionally accredited", or "accredited", as used in
this Article in connection with a university or institution,
means an institution of higher education accredited by the
North Central Association or other comparable regional
accrediting association.
(105 ILCS 5/24-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 24-14)
Sec. 24-14. Termination of contractual continued service
by teacher. A teacher who has entered into contractual
continued service may resign at any time by obtaining
concurrence of the board or by serving at least 30 days'
written notice upon the secretary of the board. However, no
teacher may resign during the school term, without the
concurrence of the board, in order to accept another teaching
assignment. Any teacher terminating said service not in

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accordance with this Section is guilty of unprofessional
conduct and liable to suspension of licensure certificate for a
period not to exceed 1 year, as provided in Section 21B-75 of
this Code 21-23.
(Source: P.A. 85-256.)
(105 ILCS 5/34-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-6)
Sec. 34-6. Superintendent of schools. After June 30, 1999,
the board may, by a vote of a majority of its full membership,
appoint a general superintendent of schools to serve pursuant
to a performance-based contract for a term ending on June 30th
of the third calendar year after his or her appointment. He
shall be the chief administrative officer of the board and
shall have charge and control, subject to the approval of the
board and to other provisions of this Article, of all
departments and the employees therein of public schools, except
the law department. He shall negotiate contracts with all labor
organizations which are exclusive representatives of
educational employees employed under the Illinois Educational
Labor Relations Act. All contracts shall be subject to approval
of the Board of Education. The board may conduct a national
search for a general superintendent. An incumbent general
superintendent may not be precluded from being included in such
national search. Persons appointed pursuant to this Section
shall be exempt from the provisions and requirements of
Sections 21-1, 21-1a, and 21-7.1, and 21B-15 of this Code.

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(Source: P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)
(105 ILCS 5/34-18.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.5)
Sec. 34-18.5. Criminal history records checks and checks of
the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Child
Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database.
(a) Certified and noncertified applicants for employment
with the school district are required as a condition of
employment to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history
records check to determine if such applicants have been
convicted of any of the enumerated criminal or drug offenses in
subsection (c) of this Section or have been convicted, within 7
years of the application for employment with the school
district, of any other felony under the laws of this State or
of any offense committed or attempted in any other state or
against the laws of the United States that, if committed or
attempted in this State, would have been punishable as a felony
under the laws of this State. Authorization for the check shall
be furnished by the applicant to the school district, except
that if the applicant is a substitute teacher seeking
employment in more than one school district, or a teacher
seeking concurrent part-time employment positions with more
than one school district (as a reading specialist, special
education teacher or otherwise), or an educational support
personnel employee seeking employment positions with more than
one district, any such district may require the applicant to

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furnish authorization for the check to the regional
superintendent of the educational service region in which are
located the school districts in which the applicant is seeking
employment as a substitute or concurrent part-time teacher or
concurrent educational support personnel employee. Upon
receipt of this authorization, the school district or the
appropriate regional superintendent, as the case may be, shall
submit the applicant's name, sex, race, date of birth, social
security number, fingerprint images, and other identifiers, as
prescribed by the Department of State Police, to the
Department. The regional superintendent submitting the
requisite information to the Department of State Police shall
promptly notify the school districts in which the applicant is
seeking employment as a substitute or concurrent part-time
teacher or concurrent educational support personnel employee
that the check of the applicant has been requested. The
Department of State Police and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based
criminal history records check, records of convictions, until
expunged, to the president of the school board for the school
district that requested the check, or to the regional
superintendent who requested the check. The Department shall
charge the school district or the appropriate regional
superintendent a fee for conducting such check, which fee shall
be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not
exceed the cost of the inquiry; and the applicant shall not be

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charged a fee for such check by the school district or by the
regional superintendent. Subject to appropriations for these
purposes, the State Superintendent of Education shall
reimburse the school district and regional superintendent for
fees paid to obtain criminal history records checks under this
Section.
(a-5) The school district or regional superintendent shall
further perform a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database,
as authorized by the Sex Offender Community Notification Law,
for each applicant.
(a-6) The school district or regional superintendent shall
further perform a check of the Statewide Child Murderer and
Violent Offender Against Youth Database, as authorized by the
Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Community
Notification Law, for each applicant.
(b) Any information concerning the record of convictions
obtained by the president of the board of education or the
regional superintendent shall be confidential and may only be
transmitted to the general superintendent of the school
district or his designee, the appropriate regional
superintendent if the check was requested by the board of
education for the school district, the presidents of the
appropriate board of education or school boards if the check
was requested from the Department of State Police by the
regional superintendent, the State Superintendent of
Education, the State Teacher Certification Board or any other

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person necessary to the decision of hiring the applicant for
employment. A copy of the record of convictions obtained from
the Department of State Police shall be provided to the
applicant for employment. Upon the check of the Statewide Sex
Offender Database, the school district or regional
superintendent shall notify an applicant as to whether or not
the applicant has been identified in the Database as a sex
offender. If a check of an applicant for employment as a
substitute or concurrent part-time teacher or concurrent
educational support personnel employee in more than one school
district was requested by the regional superintendent, and the
Department of State Police upon a check ascertains that the
applicant has not been convicted of any of the enumerated
criminal or drug offenses in subsection (c) or has not been
convicted, within 7 years of the application for employment
with the school district, of any other felony under the laws of
this State or of any offense committed or attempted in any
other state or against the laws of the United States that, if
committed or attempted in this State, would have been
punishable as a felony under the laws of this State and so
notifies the regional superintendent and if the regional
superintendent upon a check ascertains that the applicant has
not been identified in the Sex Offender Database as a sex
offender, then the regional superintendent shall issue to the
applicant a certificate evidencing that as of the date
specified by the Department of State Police the applicant has

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not been convicted of any of the enumerated criminal or drug
offenses in subsection (c) or has not been convicted, within 7
years of the application for employment with the school
district, of any other felony under the laws of this State or
of any offense committed or attempted in any other state or
against the laws of the United States that, if committed or
attempted in this State, would have been punishable as a felony
under the laws of this State and evidencing that as of the date
that the regional superintendent conducted a check of the
Statewide Sex Offender Database, the applicant has not been
identified in the Database as a sex offender. The school board
of any school district may rely on the certificate issued by
any regional superintendent to that substitute teacher,
concurrent part-time teacher, or concurrent educational
support personnel employee or may initiate its own criminal
history records check of the applicant through the Department
of State Police and its own check of the Statewide Sex Offender
Database as provided in subsection (a). Any person who releases
any confidential information concerning any criminal
convictions of an applicant for employment shall be guilty of a
Class A misdemeanor, unless the release of such information is
authorized by this Section.
(c) The board of education shall not knowingly employ a
person who has been convicted of any offense that would subject
him or her to license certification suspension or revocation
pursuant to Section 21B-80 21-23a of this Code. Further, the

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board of education shall not knowingly employ a person who has
been found to be the perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of
any minor under 18 years of age pursuant to proceedings under
Article II of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
(d) The board of education shall not knowingly employ a
person for whom a criminal history records check and a
Statewide Sex Offender Database check has not been initiated.
(e) Upon receipt of the record of a conviction of or a
finding of child abuse by a holder of any certificate issued
pursuant to Article 21 or Section 34-8.1 or 34-83 of the School
Code, the State Superintendent of Education may initiate
certificate suspension and revocation proceedings as
authorized by law.
(e-5) The general superintendent of schools shall, in
writing, notify the State Superintendent of Education of any
certificate holder whom he or she has reasonable cause to
believe has committed an intentional act of abuse or neglect
with the result of making a child an abused child or a
neglected child, as defined in Section 3 of the Abused and
Neglected Child Reporting Act, and that act resulted in the
certificate holder's dismissal or resignation from the school
district. This notification must be submitted within 30 days
after the dismissal or resignation. The certificate holder must
also be contemporaneously sent a copy of the notice by the
superintendent. All correspondence, documentation, and other
information so received by the State Superintendent of

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Education, the State Board of Education, or the State Teacher
Certification Board under this subsection (e-5) is
confidential and must not be disclosed to third parties, except
(i) as necessary for the State Superintendent of Education or
his or her designee to investigate and prosecute pursuant to
Article 21 of this Code, (ii) pursuant to a court order, (iii)
for disclosure to the certificate holder or his or her
representative, or (iv) as otherwise provided in this Article
and provided that any such information admitted into evidence
in a hearing is exempt from this confidentiality and
non-disclosure requirement. Except for an act of willful or
wanton misconduct, any superintendent who provides
notification as required in this subsection (e-5) shall have
immunity from any liability, whether civil or criminal or that
otherwise might result by reason of such action.
(f) After March 19, 1990, the provisions of this Section
shall apply to all employees of persons or firms holding
contracts with any school district including, but not limited
to, food service workers, school bus drivers and other
transportation employees, who have direct, daily contact with
the pupils of any school in such district. For purposes of
criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Sex
Offender Database on employees of persons or firms holding
contracts with more than one school district and assigned to
more than one school district, the regional superintendent of
the educational service region in which the contracting school

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districts are located may, at the request of any such school
district, be responsible for receiving the authorization for a
criminal history records check prepared by each such employee
and submitting the same to the Department of State Police and
for conducting a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database
for each employee. Any information concerning the record of
conviction and identification as a sex offender of any such
employee obtained by the regional superintendent shall be
promptly reported to the president of the appropriate school
board or school boards.
(g) In order to student teach in the public schools, a
person is required to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal
history records check and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender
Database and Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender
Against Youth Database prior to participating in any field
experiences in the public schools. Authorization for and
payment of the costs of the checks must be furnished by the
student teacher. Results of the checks must be furnished to the
higher education institution where the student teacher is
enrolled and the general superintendent of schools.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-431, eff. 8-13-09;
96-1452, eff. 8-20-10.)
Section 20. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
amended by changing Section 65.45 as follows:

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(110 ILCS 947/65.45)
Sec. 65.45. Special education grants.
(a) Special education grants shall be awarded by the
Commission to (i) teachers under contract who are teaching
special education courses in a school district within an area
designated as a poverty area by the Office of Economic
Opportunity, but who are not certified to teach special
education programs pursuant to Section 14-9.01 of the School
Code and (ii) teachers licensed certified pursuant to Section
21B-15 21-1 of the School Code, but who are not certified
pursuant to Section 14-9.01 of that Code. The amount of any
grant awarded a participating teacher under this Section shall
consist of (i) the tuition and other necessary fees required of
the teacher by the institution of higher learning at which he
or she enrolls under this Section, but limited to the maximum
amount to which a student enrolled in that institution would be
entitled as a scholarship under Section 35 of this Act, and
(ii) a stipend of $100 for each semester hour or equivalent,
not exceeding 21 semester hours, for continuous enrollment,
including summer sessions, in one calendar year. For purposes
of this Section "tuition and other necessary fees" has the
meaning ascribed to that term in Section 35 of this Act.
Participating teachers shall enroll in an institution of higher
learning providing special education programs. Such
institutions shall be approved by the Commission, in
conjunction with the State Board of Education and the Board of

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Higher Education.
(b) Teachers under contract who participate in this program
shall be required to contract with the Commission to teach a
special education program for 2 years in a school district
within an area designated as a poverty area by the Office of
Economic Opportunity. Such commitment shall begin at the
completion of the training program of the participating teacher
and shall be completed within 3 years unless extended by the
Commission. In addition, the participating teacher shall be
required to sign a note payable to the Commission, for the full
amount of benefits awarded to that teacher under this Section,
with interest as provided herein, subject to cancellation as
provided in this Section. Completion of one year of such
commitment shall operate to cancel 50% of the amount of
benefits provided a participating teacher. The failure of a
participating teacher to complete all or part of such
commitment shall obligate the participant to proportionately
repay the amount of benefits provided, plus 5% interest on that
amount. Participating teachers who are not under contract shall
be subject to those obligations, except that such teachers
shall be required to teach in a special education program for
such 2 year period in a school district within an area
designated as a poverty area by the Office of Economic
Opportunity.
(c) If a participating teacher fails to cancel his or her
commitment as provided in this Section, the Commission shall

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cause an appropriate action to be commenced on the note signed
by that teacher, except where the failure to cancel the
commitment was occasioned by the death or total and permanent
disability of that teacher.
(d) This Section is substantially the same as Section
30-14.3 of the School Code, which Section is repealed by this
amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a
continuation of the special education grant program
established by that prior law and not as a new or different
special education grant program. The State Board of Education
shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State
Board of Education for all purposes of administering and
implementing the provisions of this Section, all books,
accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements,
and pending business in any way relating to the special
education grant program continued under this Section; and all
grants at any time made under that program by, and all
applications for any such grants at any time made to, the State
Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the
Commission of all responsibility for the administration and
implementation of the special education grant program
continued under this Section. The State Board of Education
shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the
Commission may request to assist it in administering this
Section.
(e) As used in this Section the term "special education

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program" means a program provided for children who have such
disabilities as are set forth in Sections 14-1.02 through
14-1.07 of the School Code.
(Source: P.A. 88-228.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-0.01 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-1 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-1c rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-2b rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-5a rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-7.10 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-13 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-15 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-17 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-21 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-21.1 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-23 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-23a rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-23b rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-24 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-28 rep.)
(105 ILCS 5/21-29 rep.)
Section 25. The School Code is amended by repealing
Sections 21-0.01, 21-1, 21-1c, 21-2b, 21-5a, 21-7.10, 21-13,
21-15, 21-17, 21-21, 21-21.1, 21-23, 21-23a, 21-23b, 21-24,
21-28, and 21-29.

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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2011.".