Bill Text: IL HB5414 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to reduce financial barriers into the teaching profession and increase the quality of the student teaching experience in order to better prepare teaching candidates for the classroom and increase teacher retention. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1. Provides that all eligible students shall be enrolled in the stipend program. Provides that subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 for one academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning funding if the amount appropriated for the program is insufficient to fund all eligible students. Provides that subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $1,500 per academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that a cooperating teacher may receive professional development hours for completing cooperating teacher training that counts towards the cooperating teacher's license renewal or Gateways credential. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible teacher from participating in the program or receiving a stipend from the program. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the State Board of Education shall report and evaluate about the program to the Governor and General Assembly on or before June 30, 2028 and each June 30 thereafter. Provides for rulemaking.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 24-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-05 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB5414 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB5414-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5414 Introduced , by Rep. Laura Faver Dias SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 205/9.44 new
Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to reduce financial barriers into the teaching profession and increase the quality of the student teaching experience in order to better prepare teaching candidates for the classroom and increase teacher retention. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1. Provides that all eligible students shall be enrolled in the stipend program. Provides that subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 for one academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning funding if the amount appropriated for the program is insufficient to fund all eligible students. Provides that subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $1,500 per academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that a cooperating teacher may receive professional development hours for completing cooperating teacher training that counts towards the cooperating teacher's license renewal or Gateways credential. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible teacher from participating in the program or receiving a stipend from the program. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the State Board of Educations shall report and evaluate about the program to the Governor and General Assembly on or before June 30, 2028 and each June 30 thereafter. Provides for rulemaking.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by
adding Section 9.44 as follows:
(110 ILCS 205/9.44 new)
Sec. 9.44. Student teaching stipend program.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Cooperating teacher" means a licensed teacher or a
teacher who has attained a Gateways Credential in Level 5 or
higher and who is qualified to teach in the subject area
assigned. "Educator preparation program" means an approved
educator preparation program offered by a recognized school or
institution under Article 21B of the School Code.
"Eligible student" means a student who is enrolled in an
educator preparation program, who is maintaining satisfactory
academic progress, who is in a student teaching placement, and
who is not contracted as the teacher of record for the student
teaching placement. "Student teaching" means a supervised
clinical experience that prepares a candidate to take full
responsibility in an instructional setting.
(b) Subject to appropriation, the Board shall create a
student teaching stipend program to reduce financial barriers

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into the teaching profession and increase the quality of the
student teaching experience in order to better prepare
teaching candidates for the classroom and increase teacher
retention.
(c) To participate in the stipend program, an eligible
student must be placed as a student teacher. An educator
preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible
students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1. All
eligible students shall be enrolled in the stipend program.
(d) Under the stipend program and subject to available
appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator
preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible
student a stipend of up to $10,000 for one academic semester,
plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the
stipend program. The educator preparation program shall
distribute stipend funds using the standard methods for
allocating State-based financial aid or as wages for
employment to each eligible student in monthly installments.
(e) If the amount appropriated in a fiscal year is
insufficient to fully fund stipends for the total number of
eligible students for that fiscal year, the Board shall
prioritize granting stipend funds to students in the following
order:
(1) Fully funding stipends for all eligible students
who demonstrate financial need based on federal Pell Grant
eligibility, Monetary Award Program eligibility, Free

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Application for Federal Student Aid eligibility, or as
otherwise determined by the Board.
(2) Fully funding stipends for all eligible students
pursuing credentials in high-need certification areas, as
determined by the State Board of Education.
(3) Fully funding stipends for all other eligible
students.
If the appropriated funds are insufficient to fully fund
all eligible students, the remaining funds shall be prorated
across all members of the last unfunded group under this
subsection (e).
(f) Under the stipend program and subject to available
appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator
preparation program funds to distribute to each student
teacher or cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $1,500 per
academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct
costs of operating the stipend program. The educator
preparation program shall distribute stipend funds to each
cooperating teacher in one payment.
(g) To participate in the stipend program, the Board shall
require a cooperating teacher to complete evidence-based
training that covers basic responsibilities of a cooperating
teacher, practices in supporting student teachers in school
and early childhood education-based settings, including an
evidence-based model of coaching, and the effective assessment
of student teachers that aligns with relevant State educator

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performance evaluation requirements.
(h) A cooperating teacher may receive professional
development hours for completing cooperating teacher training
that counts towards the cooperating teacher's license renewal
or Gateways credential.
(i) An educator preparation program may not prohibit an
eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from
participating in the program or receiving a stipend from the
program.
(j) No institution of higher education may establish or
maintain a policy which requires student teaching for
preservice teachers to be unpaid.
(k) Subject to available appropriations, the Board shall
report and evaluate the impact of the student teaching stipend
program created by this Section. The evaluation shall include
an analysis of the impact of the program on enrollment and
completions in State educator preparation programs, the racial
and ethnic diversity of educator preparation programs, hiring
rates of students who complete educator preparation programs
and work in public schools and early childhood programs in the
State, and the classroom effectiveness and retention of early
career teachers, State educator preparation, and retention
efforts. The Board shall write this report in collaboration
with the State Board of Education. The Board shall deliver
this report to the General Assembly and Governor on or before
June 30, 2028 and each June 30 thereafter.

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