Bill Text: IL HB6181 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Engrossed

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

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Bill Title: Amends provisions concerning educator licensure in the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall allow educators to earn professional development hours during the final 3 months of the school year and enter those professional development hours into the Educator Licensure Information System.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Passed) 2016-07-22 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0591 [HB6181 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB6181-Engrossed.html

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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 School Code is amended by changing Section
21B-45 as follows:
(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 (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by

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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
license 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. An Educator License with
Stipulations with only a paraprofessional endorsement does not
lapse.
(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

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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;

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(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.
Prior to renewal, 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

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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

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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

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extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
during the extension period.
(10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 98-610)
this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly shall
commence the annual renewal process with the first
scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013 (the
effective date of Public Act 98-610) this amendatory Act of
the 98th General Assembly.
(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required
number of professional development hours during a renewal
cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned
from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the
renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must
be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois
Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those
courses may not be carried over.
(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.

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(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 and public community colleges subject
to the Public Community College Act.
(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 December
31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147) 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

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the area of English Learning to Illinois school districts,
teachers, or administrators.
(7) State agencies, State boards, and State
commissions.
(8) (7) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum
Disposition of Property Act.
(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

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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.

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(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

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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

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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. 98-610, eff. 12-27-13; 98-1147, eff. 12-31-14;
99-58, eff. 7-16-15; 99-130, eff. 7-24-15; revised 10-21-15.)