103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4067
 
Introduced , by Rep. Dan Swanson
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:



105 ILCS 5/21B-45

 Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows approved providers of professional development activities to make available professional development opportunities that provide educators with training on reading and literacy instruction.



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A BILL FOR
 


HB4067LRB103 31994 NHT 60804 b



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, 
14unless otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds 
15a license 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. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if 
22a license holder's electronic mail address is available, the 
23State Board of Education shall send him or her notification 
 
 
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1electronically that his or her license will lapse if not 
2renewed, to be sent no more than 6 months prior to the license 
3lapsing. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon 
4(i) payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of 
5a $50 penalty or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by 
6completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally 
7accredited institution of higher education in the content area 
8that most aligns with one or more of the educator's 
9endorsement areas. Any and all back fees, including without 
10limitation registration fees owed from the time of expiration 
11of the license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid 
12and kept in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this 
13Code concerning an institute fund and the provisions in 
14Article 21B of this Code concerning fees and requirements for 
15registration. Licenses not registered in accordance with 
16Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6 
17months from the expiration of the last year of registration or 
18on January 1 of the fiscal year following initial issuance of 
19the license. An unregistered license is invalid after 
20September 1 for employment and performance of services in an 
21Illinois public or State-operated school or cooperative and in 
22a charter school. Any license or endorsement may be 
23voluntarily surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily 
24surrendered license shall be treated as a revoked license. An 
25Educator License with Stipulations with only a 
26paraprofessional endorsement does not lapse. 

 
 
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1 (c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to 
2satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in 
3this Section, each professional educator licensee with an 
4administrative endorsement who is working in a position 
5requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois 
6Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of 
7this Code, per fiscal year.
8 (c-5) All licenses issued by the State Board of Education 
9under this Article that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not 
10been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be 
11extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021. 
12 (d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the 
13requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this 
14Section, each professional educator licensee may create a 
15professional development plan each year. The plan shall 
16address one or more of the endorsements that are required of 
17his or her educator position if the licensee is employed and 
18performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated 
19school or cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a 
20charter school, the plan shall address that endorsement or 
21those endorsements most closely related to his or her educator 
22position. Licensees employed and performing services in any 
23other Illinois schools may participate in the renewal 
24requirements by adhering to the same process.
25 Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the 
26licensee's professional development activities shall align 
 
 
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1with one or more of the following criteria:
2  (1) activities are of a type that engages engage 
3 participants over a sustained period of time allowing for 
4 analysis, discovery, and application as they relate to 
5 student learning, social or emotional achievement, or 
6 well-being;
7  (2) professional development aligns to the licensee's 
8 performance;
9  (3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student 
10 growth or district improvement;
11  (4) activities align to State-approved standards;
and
12  (5) higher education coursework.
13 (e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator 
14licensee shall engage in professional development activities. 
15Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into 
16the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name, 
17date, and location of the activity, the number of professional 
18development hours, and the provider's name. The following 
19provisions shall apply concerning professional development 
20activities:
21  (1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours 
22 of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in 
23 order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided 
24 in this Section.
25  (2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle, 
26 any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not 
 
 
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1 working in a position requiring such endorsement is not 
2 required to complete Illinois Administrators' Academy 
3 courses, as described in Article 2 of this Code. Such 
4 licensees must complete one Illinois Administrators' 
5 Academy course within one year after returning to a 
6 position that requires the administrative endorsement. 
7  (3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement 
8 who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or 
9 an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in 
10 an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall 
11 complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as 
12 described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in 
13 addition to 100 hours of professional development per 
14 5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code. 
15 However, for the 2021-2022 school year only, a licensee 
16 under this paragraph (3) is not required to complete an 
17 Illinois Administrators' Academy course.
18  (4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for 
19 Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher 
20 designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of 
21 professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order 
22 to renew the license.
23  (5) Licensees working in a position that does not 
24 require educator licensure or working in a position for 
25 less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be 
26 exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration 
 
 
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1 fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the 
2 license.
3  (6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits 
4 from a State of Illinois retirement system shall be listed 
5 as retired, and the license shall be maintained in retired 
6 status. For any renewal cycle in which a licensee retires 
7 during the renewal cycle, the licensee must complete 
8 professional development activities on a prorated basis 
9 depending on the number of years during the renewal cycle 
10 the educator held an active license. If a licensee retires 
11 during a renewal cycle, the license status must be updated 
12 using ELIS indicating that the licensee wishes to maintain 
13 the license in retired status and the licensee must show 
14 proof of completion of professional development activities 
15 on a prorated basis for all years of that renewal cycle for 
16 which the license was active. An individual with a license 
17 in retired status shall not be required to complete 
18 professional development activities until returning to a 
19 position that requires educator licensure. Upon returning 
20 to work in a position that requires the Professional 
21 Educator License, the license status shall immediately be 
22 updated using ELIS and the licensee shall complete renewal 
23 requirements for that year. A retired teacher, even if 
24 returning to a position that requires educator licensure, 
25 shall not be required to pay registration fees. A license 
26 in retired status cannot lapse. Beginning on January 6, 
 
 
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1 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-920) through 
2 December 31, 2017, any licensee who has retired and whose 
3 license has lapsed for failure to renew as provided in 
4 this Section may reinstate that license and maintain it in 
5 retired status upon providing proof to the State Board of 
6 Education using ELIS that the licensee is retired and is 
7 not working in a position that requires a Professional 
8 Educator License.
9  (7) For any renewal cycle in which professional 
10 development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the 
11 licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the 
12 minimum professional development hours required in this 
13 Section prior to September 1 of that year. Professional 
14 development hours used to fulfill the minimum required 
15 hours for a renewal cycle may be used for only one renewal 
16 cycle. For any fiscal year or renewal cycle in which an 
17 Illinois Administrators' Academy course was required but 
18 not completed, the licensee shall complete any missed 
19 Illinois Administrators' Academy courses prior to 
20 September 1 of that year. The licensee may complete all 
21 deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' Academy 
22 courses while continuing to work in a position that 
23 requires that license until September 1 of that year.
24  (8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the 
25 professional development renewal requirements set forth in 
26 this Section at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is 
 
 
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1 ineligible to register his or her license and may submit 
2 an appeal to the State Superintendent of Education for 
3 reinstatement of the license. 
4  (9) If professional development opportunities were 
5 unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were 
6 unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond 
7 August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be 
8 submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the 
9 State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an 
10 extension is approved, the license shall remain valid 
11 during the extension period. 
12  (10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to 
13 December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 
14 98-610) shall commence the annual renewal process with the 
15 first scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013 
16 (the effective date of Public Act 98-610). 
17  (11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
18 subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required 
19 number of professional development hours during a renewal 
20 cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned 
21 from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the 
22 renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must 
23 be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois 
24 Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those 
25 courses may not be carried over. 
26 (e-5) The number of professional development hours 
 
 
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1required under subsection (e) is reduced by 20% for any 
2renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school year. 
3 (f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to 
4the required questions under penalty of perjury.
5 (f-5) The State Board of Education shall conduct random 
6audits of licensees to verify a licensee's fulfillment of the 
7professional development hours required under this Section. 
8Upon completion of a random audit, if it is determined by the 
9State Board of Education that the licensee did not complete 
10the required number of professional development hours or did 
11not provide sufficient proof of completion, the licensee shall 
12be notified that his or her license has lapsed. A license that 
13has lapsed under this subsection may be reinstated as provided 
14in subsection (b). 
15 (g) The following entities shall be designated as approved 
16to provide professional development activities for the renewal 
17of Professional Educator Licenses:
18  (1) The State Board of Education.
19  (2) Regional offices of education and intermediate 
20 service centers.
21  (3) Illinois professional associations representing 
22 the following groups that are approved by the State 
23 Superintendent of Education:
24   (A) school administrators;
25   (B) principals;
26   (C) school business officials;
 
 
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1   (D) teachers, including special education 
2 teachers;
3   (E) school boards;
4   (F) school districts;
5   (G) parents; and 
6   (H) school service personnel. 
7  (4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher 
8 education that offer Illinois-approved educator 
9 preparation programs and public community colleges subject 
10 to the Public Community College Act.
11  (5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools 
12 authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint 
13 educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this 
14 Code for the purposes of providing career and technical 
15 education or special education services.
16  (6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December 
17 31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has 
18 had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board 
19 of Education to provide professional development services 
20 in the area of English Learning to Illinois school 
21 districts, teachers, or administrators. 
22  (7) State agencies, State boards, and State 
23 commissions. 
24  (8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum 
25 Disposition of Property Act. 
26 (h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this 
 
 
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1Section shall make available professional development 
2opportunities that satisfy at least one of the following: 
3  (1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and 
4 district leaders who guide continuous professional 
5 development;
6  (2) improve the learning of students;
7  (3) organize adults into learning communities whose 
8 goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
9  (4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
10  (5) provide educators with research-based 
11 instructional strategies to assist students in meeting 
12 rigorous academic standards;
13  (6) prepare educators to appropriately use various 
14 types of classroom assessments;
15  (7) use learning strategies appropriate to the 
16 intended goals;
17  (8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to 
18 collaborate;
19  (9) prepare educators to apply research to decision 
20 making;
21  (10) provide educators with training on inclusive 
22 practices in the classroom that examines instructional and 
23 behavioral strategies that improve academic and 
24 social-emotional outcomes for all students, with or 
25 without disabilities, in a general education setting; or
26  (11) beginning on July 1, 2022, provide educators with 
 
 
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1 training on the physical
and mental health needs of 
2 students, student safety, educator ethics, professional 
3 conduct, and
other topics that address the well-being of 
4 students and improve the academic and social-emotional

5 outcomes of students; or .
6  (12) provide educators with training on reading and 
7 literacy instruction. 
8 (i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this 
9Section shall do the following:
10  (1) align professional development activities to the 
11 State-approved national standards for professional 
12 learning;
13  (2) meet the professional development criteria for 
14 Illinois licensure renewal;
15  (3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains 
16 how it aligns to State standards and identify the 
17 assessment for determining the expected impact on student 
18 learning or school improvement;
19  (4) maintain original documentation for completion of 
20 activities;
21  (5) provide license holders with evidence of 
22 completion of activities;
23  (6) request an Illinois Educator Identification Number 
24 (IEIN) for each educator during each professional 
25 development activity; and 
26  (7) beginning on July 1, 2019, register annually with 
 
 
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1 the State Board of Education prior to offering any 
2 professional development opportunities in the current 
3 fiscal year. 
4 (j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual 
5audits of a subset of approved providers, except for school 
6districts, which shall be audited by regional offices of 
7education and intermediate service centers. The State Board of 
8Education shall ensure that each approved provider, except for 
9a school district, is audited at least once every 5 years. The 
10State Board of Education may conduct more frequent audits of 
11providers if evidence suggests the requirements of this 
12Section or administrative rules are not being met.
13  (1) (Blank).
14  (2) Approved providers shall comply with the 
15 requirements in subsections (h) and (i) of this Section by 
16 annually submitting data to the State Board of Education 
17 demonstrating how the professional development activities 
18 impacted one or more of the following:
19   (A) educator and student growth in regards to 
20 content knowledge or skills, or both;
21   (B) educator and student social and emotional 
22 growth; or
23   (C) alignment to district or school improvement 
24 plans.
25  (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review 
26 the annual data collected by the State Board of Education, 
 
 
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1 regional offices of education, and intermediate service 
2 centers in audits to determine if the approved provider 
3 has met the criteria and should continue to be an approved 
4 provider or if further action should be taken as provided 
5 in rules.
6 (k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal 
7cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each 
85-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional 
9development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed 
10and entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the 
11registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or 
12debit card. 
13 (l) Any professional educator licensee endorsed for school 
14support personnel who is employed and performing services in 
15Illinois public schools and who holds an active and current 
16professional license issued by the Department of Financial and 
17Professional Regulation or a national certification board, as 
18approved by the State Board of Education, related to the 
19endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License shall 
20be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional 
21development requirements provided for in this Section. Such 
22individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to 
23renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who 
24does not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial 
25and Professional Regulation shall complete professional 
26development requirements for the renewal of a Professional 
 
 
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1Educator License provided for in this Section.
2 (m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and 
3Licensure Board
must be made within 30 days after receipt of 
4notice from the State Superintendent of Education that a 
5license will not be renewed based upon failure to complete the 
6requirements of this Section. A licensee may appeal that 
7decision to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board 
8in a manner prescribed by rule.
9  (1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State 
10 Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be 
11 sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the 
12 State Board of Education.
13  (2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board 
14 shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license 
15 within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to 
16 determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of 
17 this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure 
18 Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its 
19 determination based upon the record of review, which shall 
20 consist of the following:
21   (A) the regional superintendent of education's 
22 rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license, 
23 if applicable;
24   (B) any evidence submitted to the State 
25 Superintendent along with the individual's electronic 
26 statement of assurance for renewal; and
 
 
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1   (C) the State Superintendent's rationale for 
2 nonrenewal of the license.
3  (3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board 
4 shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding 
5 license renewal by certified mail, return receipt 
6 requested, no later than 30 days after reaching a 
7 decision. Upon receipt of notification of renewal, the 
8 licensee, using ELIS, shall pay the applicable 
9 registration fee for the next cycle using a form of credit 
10 or debit card.
11 (n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be 
12necessary to implement this Section.
13(Source: P.A. 101-85, eff. 1-1-20; 101-531, eff. 8-23-19; 
14101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-676, eff. 12-3-21; 102-710, eff. 
154-27-22; 102-730, eff. 5-6-22; 102-852, eff. 5-13-22; revised 
168-25-22.)