Bill Text: IL SB2711 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the State Finance Act. Permits the State Board of Education to make payments for grants provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Education, or any other federal agency for any fiscal year without regard to the fact that the services being compensated for by such payment may have been rendered in a prior fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2014.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-12-31 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 98-1147 [SB2711 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-SB2711-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 098-1147
SB2711 Enrolled LRB098 14599 OMW 49390 b
AN ACT concerning finance.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
21B-25 and 21B-45 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/21B-25)
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
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 a
general administrative endorsement issued prior to
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
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
rules.
(ii) At least 4 total Four years of teaching
or, until June 30, 2019, working in the capacity of

school support personnel in an Illinois a public
school or nonpublic school recognized by the State
Board of Education or in an out-of-state public
school or out-of-state nonpublic school meeting
out-of-state recognition standards comparable to
those approved by the State Superintendent 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
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 full-time in a
general administrative position or 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
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
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.
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) Special education endorsement. A special
education endorsement in one or more areas shall be
affixed to a Professional Educator License for any
individual that meets those requirements established
by the State Board of Education in rules. Special
education endorsement areas shall include without
limitation the following:
(i) Learning Behavior Specialist I;
(ii) Learning Behavior Specialist II;
(iii) Speech Language Pathologist;
(iv) Blind or Visually Impaired;
(v) Deaf-Hard of Hearing; and
(vi) Early Childhood Special Education.
Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary,
the State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may

add additional areas of special education by rule.
(G) School support personnel endorsement. School
support personnel endorsement areas shall include, but
are not limited to, school counselor, marriage and
family therapist, 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 (G).
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.
Beginning on January 1, 2014 and ending on April
30, 2014, a person holding a Professional Educator
License with a school speech and language pathologist
(teaching) endorsement may exchange his or her school
speech and language pathologist (teaching) endorsement

for a school speech and language pathologist
(non-teaching) endorsement through application to the
State Board of Education. There shall be no cost for
this exchange.
(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 98-413, eff. 8-16-13;
98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 98-872, eff. 8-11-14; 98-917, eff.
8-15-14; revised 9-2-14.)
(105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.
(a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License
are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as
specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this
Code.
Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall
meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section, unless
otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds a
license endorsed in more than one area that has different
renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal
requirements for the position for which he or she spends the
majority of his or her time working.
(b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as
provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that
year. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon (i)
payment by the applicant of a $500 penalty to the State Board
of Education or, for individuals holding an Educator License

with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement
only, payment by the applicant of a $150 penalty to the State
Board of Education or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by
completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education in the content area
that most aligns with one or more of the educator's endorsement
areas. Any and all back fees, including without limitation
registration fees owed from the time of expiration of the
certificate until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid and
kept in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this
Code concerning an institute fund and the provisions in Article
21B of this Code concerning fees and requirements for
registration. Licenses not registered in accordance with
Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6
months from the expiration of the last year of registration. An
unregistered license is invalid after September 1 for
employment and performance of services in an Illinois public or
State-operated school or cooperative and in a charter school.
Any license or endorsement may be voluntarily surrendered by
the license holder. A voluntarily surrendered license, except a
substitute teaching license issued under Section 21B-20 of this
Code, shall be treated as a revoked license.
(c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to
satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in
this Section, each professional educator licensee with an
administrative endorsement who is working in a position

requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois
Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of
this Code, per fiscal year.
(d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
professional development plan each year. The plan shall address
one or more of the endorsements that are required of his or her
educator position if the licensee is employed and performing
services in an Illinois public or State-operated school or
cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a charter school,
the plan shall address that endorsement or those endorsements
most closely related to his or her educator position. Licensees
employed and performing services in any other Illinois schools
may participate in the renewal requirements by adhering to the
same process.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the
licensee's professional development activities shall align
with one or more of the following criteria:
(1) activities are of a type that engage participants
over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,
discovery, and application as they relate to student
learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
(2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
performance;
(3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student

growth or district improvement;
(4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
(5) higher education coursework.
(e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
Within 60 days after the conclusion of a professional
development activity, the licensee shall enter electronically
into the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
development hours, and the provider's name. The following
provisions shall apply concerning professional development
activities:
(1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours
of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in
order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided in
this Section.
(2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,
any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not
working in a position requiring such endorsement shall
complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
described in Article 2 of this Code, in each 5-year renewal
cycle in which the administrative endorsement was held for
at least one year. The Illinois Administrators' Academy
course may count toward the total of 120 hours per 5-year
cycle.
(3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement

who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in
an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
addition to 100 hours of professional development per
5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
(4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of
professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order
to renew the license.
(5) Licensees working in a position that does not
require educator licensure or working in a position for
less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration
fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
license.
(6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits
from a State retirement system shall notify the State Board
of Education using ELIS, and the license shall be
maintained in retired status. An individual with a license
in retired status shall not be required to complete
professional development activities or pay registration
fees until returning to a position that requires educator
licensure. Upon returning to work in a position that

requires the Professional Educator License, the licensee
shall immediately pay a registration fee and complete
renewal requirements for that year. A license in retired
status cannot lapse.
(7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
minimum professional development hours required in this
Section prior to September 1 of that year. For any fiscal
year or renewal cycle in which an Illinois Administrators'
Academy course was required but not completed, the licensee
shall complete any missed Illinois Administrators' Academy
courses prior to September 1 of that year. The licensee may
complete all deficient hours and Illinois Administrators'
Academy courses while continuing to work in a position that
requires that license until September 1 of that year.
(8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the professional
development renewal requirements set forth in this Section
at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is ineligible to
register his or her license and may submit an appeal to the
State Superintendent of Education for reinstatement of the
license.
(9) If professional development opportunities were
unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were
unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be

submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an
extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
during the extension period.
(10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General
Assembly shall commence the annual renewal process with the
first scheduled registration due after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.
(f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
the required questions under penalty of perjury.
(g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
to provide professional development activities for the renewal
of Professional Educator Licenses:
(1) The State Board of Education.
(2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
service centers.
(3) Illinois professional associations representing
the following groups that are approved by the State
Superintendent of Education:
(A) school administrators;
(B) principals;
(C) school business officials;
(D) teachers, including special education
teachers;
(E) school boards;

(F) school districts;
(G) parents; and
(H) school service personnel.
(4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher
education that offer Illinois-approved educator
preparation programs.
(5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
education or special education services.
(6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General
Assembly, has had or has a grant from or a contract with
the State Board of Education to provide professional
development services in the area of English Language
Learning to Illinois school districts, teachers, or
administrators.
(h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section
shall make available professional development opportunities
that satisfy at least one of the following:
(1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
district leaders who guide continuous professional
development;
(2) improve the learning of students;
(3) organize adults into learning communities whose

goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
(4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
(5) provide educators with research-based
instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
rigorous academic standards;
(6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
types of classroom assessments;
(7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
intended goals;
(8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to
collaborate; or
(9) prepare educators to apply research to
decision-making.
(i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this Section
shall do the following:
(1) align professional development activities to the
State-approved national standards for professional
learning;
(2) meet the professional development criteria for
Illinois licensure renewal;
(3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains
how it aligns to State standards and identify the
assessment for determining the expected impact on student
learning or school improvement;
(4) maintain original documentation for completion of
activities; and

(5) provide license holders with evidence of
completion of activities.
(j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
audits of approved providers, except for school districts,
which shall be audited by regional offices of education and
intermediate service centers. The State Board of Education
shall complete random audits of licensees.
(1) Approved providers shall annually submit to the
State Board of Education a list of subcontractors used for
delivery of professional development activities for which
renewal credit was issued and other information as defined
by rule.
(2) Approved providers shall annually submit data to
the State Board of Education demonstrating how the
professional development activities impacted one or more
of the following:
(A) educator and student growth in regards to
content knowledge or skills, or both;
(B) educator and student social and emotional
growth; or
(C) alignment to district or school improvement
plans.
(3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
the annual data collected by the State Board of Education,
regional offices of education, and intermediate service
centers in audits to determine if the approved provider has

met the criteria and should continue to be an approved
provider or if further action should be taken as provided
in rules.
(k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
5-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed and
entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
debit card.
(l) Beginning July 1, 2014, any professional educator
licensee endorsed for school support personnel who is employed
and performing services in Illinois public schools and who
holds an active and current professional license issued by the
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation related to
the endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License
shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional
development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to
renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who does
not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation shall complete professional
development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
Educator License provided for in this Section.
(m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of notice from

the State Superintendent of Education that a license will not
be renewed based upon failure to complete the requirements of
this Section. A licensee may appeal that decision to the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in a manner prescribed
by rule.
(1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
State Board of Education.
(2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to
determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of
this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
determination based upon the record of review, which shall
consist of the following:
(A) the regional superintendent of education's
rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,
if applicable;
(B) any evidence submitted to the State
Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
statement of assurance for renewal; and
(C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
nonrenewal of the license.
(3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board

shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding license
renewal by certified mail, return receipt requested, no
later than 30 days after reaching a decision. Upon receipt
of notification of renewal, the licensee, using ELIS, shall
pay the applicable registration fee for the next cycle
using a form of credit or debit card.
(n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11; 98-610, eff. 12-27-13.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.