99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4024
 
Introduced , by Rep. Deborah Conroy
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:



105 ILCS 5/21B-45

 Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to ensure that professional educator licensees have access to professional development activities aligned with the best practices in civics education and to seek an efficient and effective method of providing professional development of civics content and skills.



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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 


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1 AN ACT concerning education.


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

3represented in the General Assembly:



4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 
521B-45 as follows:

6 (105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
7 Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal. 
8 (a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License 
9are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as 
10specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this 
11Code.
12 Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall 
13meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section, unless 
14otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds a 
15license endorsed in more than one area that has different 
16renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal 
17requirements for the position for which he or she spends the 
18majority of his or her time working.
19 (b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as 
20provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that 
21year. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon (i) 
22payment by the applicant of a $500 penalty to the State Board 
23of Education or, for individuals holding an Educator License 
 
 
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1with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement 
2only, payment by the applicant of a $150 penalty to the State 
3Board of Education or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by 
4completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally 
5accredited institution of higher education in the content area 
6that most aligns with one or more of the educator's endorsement 
7areas. Any and all back fees, including without limitation 
8registration fees owed from the time of expiration of the 
9certificate until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid and 
10kept in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this 
11Code concerning an institute fund and the provisions in Article 
1221B of this Code concerning fees and requirements for 
13registration. Licenses not registered in accordance with 
14Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6 
15months from the expiration of the last year of registration. An 
16unregistered license is invalid after September 1 for 
17employment and performance of services in an Illinois public or 
18State-operated school or cooperative and in a charter school. 
19Any license or endorsement may be voluntarily surrendered by 
20the license holder. A voluntarily surrendered license, except a 
21substitute teaching license issued under Section 21B-20 of this 
22Code, shall be treated as a revoked license. 

23 (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to 
24satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in 
25this Section, each professional educator licensee with an 
26administrative endorsement who is working in a position 
 
 
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1requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois 
2Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of 
3this Code, per fiscal year.
4 (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the 
5requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this 
6Section, each professional educator licensee may create a 
7professional development plan each year. The plan shall address 
8one or more of the endorsements that are required of his or her 
9educator position if the licensee is employed and performing 
10services in an Illinois public or State-operated school or 
11cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a charter school, 
12the plan shall address that endorsement or those endorsements 
13most closely related to his or her educator position. Licensees 
14employed and performing services in any other Illinois schools 
15may participate in the renewal requirements by adhering to the 
16same process.
17 Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the 
18licensee's professional development activities shall align 
19with one or more of the following criteria:
20  (1) activities are of a type that engage participants 
21 over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis, 
22 discovery, and application as they relate to student 
23 learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
24  (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's 
25 performance;
26  (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student 
 
 
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1 growth or district improvement;
2  (4) activities align to State-approved standards;
and
3  (5) higher education coursework.
4 (d-5) The State Board of Education shall ensure that 
5professional educator licensees have access to professional 
6development activities aligned with the best practices in 
7civics education and shall seek an efficient and effective 
8method of providing professional development of civics content 
9and skills. 
10 (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator 
11licensee shall engage in professional development activities. 
12Within 60 days after the conclusion of a professional 
13development activity, the licensee shall enter electronically 
14into the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name, 
15date, and location of the activity, the number of professional 
16development hours, and the provider's name. The following 
17provisions shall apply concerning professional development 
18activities:
19  (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours 
20 of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in 
21 order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided in 
22 this Section.
23  (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle, 
24 any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not 
25 working in a position requiring such endorsement shall 
26 complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as 
 
 
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1 described in Article 2 of this Code, in each 5-year renewal 
2 cycle in which the administrative endorsement was held for 
3 at least one year. The Illinois Administrators' Academy 
4 course may count toward the total of 120 hours per 5-year 
5 cycle.
6  (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement 
7 who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or 
8 an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in 
9 an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall 
10 complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as 
11 described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in 
12 addition to 100 hours of professional development per 
13 5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code. 
14  (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for 
15 Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher 
16 designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of 
17 professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order 
18 to renew the license.
19  (5) Licensees working in a position that does not 
20 require educator licensure or working in a position for 
21 less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be 
22 exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration 
23 fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the 
24 license.
25  (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits 
26 from a State retirement system shall notify the State Board 
 
 
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1 of Education using ELIS, and the license shall be 
2 maintained in retired status. An individual with a license 
3 in retired status shall not be required to complete 
4 professional development activities or pay registration 
5 fees until returning to a position that requires educator 
6 licensure. Upon returning to work in a position that 
7 requires the Professional Educator License, the licensee 
8 shall immediately pay a registration fee and complete 
9 renewal requirements for that year. A license in retired 
10 status cannot lapse.
11  (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional 
12 development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the 
13 licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the 
14 minimum professional development hours required in this 
15 Section prior to September 1 of that year. For any fiscal 
16 year or renewal cycle in which an Illinois Administrators' 
17 Academy course was required but not completed, the licensee 
18 shall complete any missed Illinois Administrators' Academy 
19 courses prior to September 1 of that year. The licensee may 
20 complete all deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' 
21 Academy courses while continuing to work in a position that 
22 requires that license until September 1 of that year.
23  (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the professional 
24 development renewal requirements set forth in this Section 
25 at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is ineligible to 
26 register his or her license and may submit an appeal to the 
 
 
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1 State Superintendent of Education for reinstatement of the 
2 license. 
3  (9) If professional development opportunities were 
4 unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were 
5 unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond 
6 August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be 
7 submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the 
8 State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an 
9 extension is approved, the license shall remain valid 
10 during the extension period. 
11  (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to the 
12 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General 
13 Assembly shall commence the annual renewal process with the 
14 first scheduled registration due after the effective date 
15 of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly. 
16 (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to 
17the required questions under penalty of perjury.
18 (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved 
19to provide professional development activities for the renewal 
20of Professional Educator Licenses:
21  (1) The State Board of Education.
22  (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate 
23 service centers.
24  (3) Illinois professional associations representing 
25 the following groups that are approved by the State 
26 Superintendent of Education:
 
 
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1   (A) school administrators;
2   (B) principals;
3   (C) school business officials;
4   (D) teachers, including special education 
5 teachers;
6   (E) school boards;
7   (F) school districts;
8   (G) parents; and 
9   (H) school service personnel. 
10  (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher 
11 education that offer Illinois-approved educator 
12 preparation programs.
13  (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools 
14 authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint 
15 educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this 
16 Code for the purposes of providing career and technical 
17 education or special education services.
18  (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of the 
19 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General 
20 Assembly, has had or has a grant from or a contract with 
21 the State Board of Education to provide professional 
22 development services in the area of English Language 
23 Learning to Illinois school districts, teachers, or 
24 administrators. 
25 (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section 
26shall make available professional development opportunities 
 
 
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1that satisfy at least one of the following: 
2  (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and 
3 district leaders who guide continuous professional 
4 development;
5  (2) improve the learning of students;
6  (3) organize adults into learning communities whose 
7 goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
8  (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
9  (5) provide educators with research-based 
10 instructional strategies to assist students in meeting 
11 rigorous academic standards;
12  (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various 
13 types of classroom assessments;
14  (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the 
15 intended goals;
16  (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to 
17 collaborate; or
18  (9) prepare educators to apply research to 
19 decision-making.
20 (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section 
21shall do the following:
22  (1) align professional development activities to the 
23 State-approved national standards for professional 
24 learning;
25  (2) meet the professional development criteria for 
26 Illinois licensure renewal;
 
 
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1  (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains 
2 how it aligns to State standards and identify the 
3 assessment for determining the expected impact on student 
4 learning or school improvement;
5  (4) maintain original documentation for completion of 
6 activities; and
7  (5) provide license holders with evidence of 
8 completion of activities.
9 (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual 
10audits of approved providers, except for school districts, 
11which shall be audited by regional offices of education and 
12intermediate service centers. The State Board of Education 
13shall complete random audits of licensees.
14  (1) Approved providers shall annually submit to the 
15 State Board of Education a list of subcontractors used for 
16 delivery of professional development activities for which 
17 renewal credit was issued and other information as defined 
18 by rule.
19  (2) Approved providers shall annually submit data to 
20 the State Board of Education demonstrating how the 
21 professional development activities impacted one or more 
22 of the following:
23   (A) educator and student growth in regards to 
24 content knowledge or skills, or both;
25   (B) educator and student social and emotional 
26 growth; or
 
 
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1   (C) alignment to district or school improvement 
2 plans.
3  (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review 
4 the annual data collected by the State Board of Education, 
5 regional offices of education, and intermediate service 
6 centers in audits to determine if the approved provider has 
7 met the criteria and should continue to be an approved 
8 provider or if further action should be taken as provided 
9 in rules.
10 (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal 
11cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each 
125-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional 
13development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed and 
14entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the 
15registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or 
16debit card. 
17 (l) Beginning July 1, 2014, any professional educator 
18licensee endorsed for school support personnel who is employed 
19and performing services in Illinois public schools and who 
20holds an active and current professional license issued by the 
21Department of Financial and Professional Regulation related to 
22the endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License 
23shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional 
24development requirements provided for in this Section. Such 
25individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to 
26renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who does 
 
 
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1not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial and 
2Professional Regulation shall complete professional 
3development requirements for the renewal of a Professional 
4Educator License provided for in this Section.
5 (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure 
6Board
must be made within 30 days after receipt of notice from 
7the State Superintendent of Education that a license will not 
8be renewed based upon failure to complete the requirements of 
9this Section. A licensee may appeal that decision to the State 
10Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in a manner prescribed 
11by rule.
12  (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State 
13 Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be 
14 sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the 
15 State Board of Education.
16  (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board 
17 shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license 
18 within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to 
19 determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of 
20 this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure 
21 Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its 
22 determination based upon the record of review, which shall 
23 consist of the following:
24   (A) the regional superintendent of education's 
25 rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license, 
26 if applicable;
 
 
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1   (B) any evidence submitted to the State 
2 Superintendent along with the individual's electronic 
3 statement of assurance for renewal; and
4   (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for 
5 nonrenewal of the license.
6  (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board 
7 shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding license 
8 renewal by certified mail, return receipt requested, no 
9 later than 30 days after reaching a decision. Upon receipt 
10 of notification of renewal, the licensee, using ELIS, shall 
11 pay the applicable registration fee for the next cycle 
12 using a form of credit or debit card.
13 (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be 
14necessary to implement this Section.
15(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 
1698-1147, eff. 12-31-14.)