Bill Text: IL SB2689 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. By June 1, 2025, requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, to establish, by rule, a Montessori education endorsement to be added to a Professional Educator License. Requires the rules adopted by the State Board of Education to outline the requirements for obtaining the endorsement. Provides that these provisions are inoperative on and after January 1, 2026.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-05-03 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [SB2689 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2689-Introduced.html

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2689

Introduced 1/10/2024, by Sen. Robert Peters

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/21B-20
105 ILCS 5/21B-30
105 ILCS 5/21B-40

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides for the issuance of a Montessori educator license to qualified individuals to teach using the Montessori method in public school programs that use the Montessori method as the primary method of instruction. Sets forth the requirements that an individual must satisfy to be issued a Montessori educator license, which include requiring the applicant to have (i) graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a bachelor's degree, (ii) a Montessori certificate or credential issued by an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, by the American Montessori Society, or by the Association Montessori Internationale, and (iii) successfully completed required testing. Makes related changes to provisions concerning educator testing and fees.
LRB103 36249 RJT 66346 b

A BILL FOR

SB2689LRB103 36249 RJT 66346 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 Sections
521B-20, 21B-30, and 21B-40 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
7 Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of
8Education shall implement a system of educator licensure,
9whereby individuals employed in school districts who are
10required to be licensed must have one of the following
11licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an
12educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute
13teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2028, a short-term
14substitute teaching license; or (v) a Montessori educator
15license. References in law regarding individuals certified or
16certificated or required to be certified or certificated under
17Article 21 of this Code shall also include individuals
18licensed or required to be licensed under this Article. The
19first year of all licenses ends on June 30 following one full
20year of the license being issued.
21 The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
22State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
23rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for

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1licenses and endorsements under this Section.
2 (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
3 have successfully completed an approved educator
4 preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
5 the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
6 program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
7 testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
8 successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
9 the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
10 the exceptional child, including, without limitation,
11 children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
12 successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
13 and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other
14 criteria established by rule of the State Board of
15 Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License.
16 All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30
17 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued.
18 The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with
19 specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is
20 eligible to practice. For an early childhood education
21 endorsement, an individual may satisfy the student
22 teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher
23 preparation program through placement in a setting with
24 children from birth through grade 2, and the individual
25 may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. The
26 student teaching experience must meet the requirements of

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1 and be approved by the individual's early childhood
2 teacher preparation program.
3 Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
4 Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
5 shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
6 in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable
7 content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
8 (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
9 License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
10 that limits the license holder to one particular position
11 or does not require completion of an approved educator
12 program or both.
13 An individual with an Educator License with
14 Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
15 any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
16 who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
17 An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
18 with the following endorsements:
19 (A) (Blank).
20 (B) Alternative provisional educator. An
21 alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
22 Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
23 applicant who, at the time of applying for the
24 endorsement, has done all of the following:
25 (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
26 college or university with a minimum of a

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1 bachelor's degree.
2 (ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
3 the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
4 Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
5 Code.
6 (iii) Passed a content area test, as required
7 under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
8 The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
9 valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a
10 third year by an individual meeting the requirements set
11 forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
12 (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
13 alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
14 an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
15 holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
16 superintendent in a school district's central office.
17 This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
18 who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
19 done all of the following:
20 (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
21 college or university with a minimum of a master's
22 degree in a management field other than education.
23 (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
24 years in a management level position in a field
25 other than education.
26 (iii) Successfully completed the first phase

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1 of an alternative route to superintendent
2 endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
3 of this Code.
4 (iv) Passed a content area test required under
5 Section 21B-30 of this Code.
6 The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
7 order to complete one full year of serving as a
8 superintendent or assistant superintendent.
9 (D) (Blank).
10 (E) Career and technical educator. A career and
11 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
12 with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
13 has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
14 regionally accredited institution of higher education
15 or an accredited trade and technical institution and
16 has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of
17 education in each area to be taught.
18 The career and technical educator endorsement on
19 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
20 June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
21 endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
22 An individual who holds a valid career and
23 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
24 with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's
25 degree may substitute teach in career and technical
26 education classrooms.

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1 (F) (Blank).
2 (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
3 transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
4 Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
5 the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
6 with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
7 provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets
8 all of the following requirements:
9 (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
10 writing ability in the language other than English
11 in which transitional bilingual education is
12 offered.
13 (ii) Has the ability to successfully
14 communicate in English.
15 (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
16 previous to his or her applying for a transitional
17 bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
18 comparable teaching certificate or comparable
19 authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
20 a degree from an institution of higher learning in
21 a foreign country that the State Educator
22 Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
23 the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
24 regionally accredited institution of higher
25 learning in the United States.
26 A transitional bilingual educator endorsement

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1 shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12,
2 is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
3 of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be
4 renewed.
5 Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
6 endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
7 presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
8 replaced for any reason.
9 (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
10 alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
11 other than English in the public schools, an
12 individual who holds an Educator License with
13 Stipulations may also apply for a language
14 endorsement, provided that the applicant provides
15 satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the
16 following requirements:
17 (i) Holds a transitional bilingual
18 endorsement.
19 (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
20 language for which the endorsement is to be issued
21 by passing the applicable language content test
22 required by the State Board of Education.
23 (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
24 a regionally accredited institution of higher
25 education or, for individuals educated in a
26 country other than the United States, holds a

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1 degree from an institution of higher learning in a
2 foreign country that the State Educator
3 Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
4 the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
5 regionally accredited institution of higher
6 learning in the United States.
7 (iv) (Blank).
8 A language endorsement on an Educator License with
9 Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
10 grade 12 for the same validity period as the
11 individual's transitional bilingual educator
12 endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
13 and shall not be renewed.
14 (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
15 international educator endorsement on an Educator
16 License with Stipulations may be issued to an
17 individual who is being recruited by a particular
18 school district that conducts formal recruitment
19 programs outside of the United States to secure the
20 services of qualified teachers and who meets all of
21 the following requirements:
22 (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
23 bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
24 (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
25 grade level for which he or she will be employed.
26 (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the

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1 subject to be taught.
2 (iv) Has an adequate command of the English
3 language.
4 A holder of a visiting international educator
5 endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
6 shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
7 programs in the language that was the medium of
8 instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
9 provided that he or she passes the English Language
10 Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
11 skills in English identified by the State Board of
12 Education, in consultation with the State Educator
13 Preparation and Licensure Board.
14 A visiting international educator endorsement on
15 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5
16 years and shall not be renewed.
17 (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
18 educator endorsement on an Educator License with
19 Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
20 high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
21 (i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
22 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
23 institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a
24 paraprofessional competency test under subsection
25 (c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years
26 of age and will be using the Educator License with

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1 Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten
2 through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age
3 of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a
4 paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this
5 subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator
6 endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately
7 following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and
8 may be renewed through application and payment of the
9 appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of
10 this Code. An individual who holds only a
11 paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject
12 to additional requirements in order to renew the
13 endorsement.
14 (K) Chief school business official. A chief school
15 business official endorsement on an Educator License
16 with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
17 qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
18 years of full-time administrative experience in school
19 business management or 2 years of university-approved
20 practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
21 hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
22 State Board of Education for the preparation of school
23 business administrators and by passage of the
24 applicable State tests, including an applicable
25 content area test.
26 The chief school business official endorsement may

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1 also be affixed to the Educator License with
2 Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
3 master's degree in business administration, finance,
4 accounting, or public administration and who completes
5 an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school
6 business management from a regionally accredited
7 institution of higher education and passes the
8 applicable State tests, including an applicable
9 content area test. This endorsement shall be required
10 for any individual employed as a chief school business
11 official.
12 The chief school business official endorsement on
13 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
14 June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
15 endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the
16 license holder completes renewal requirements as
17 required for individuals who hold a Professional
18 Educator License endorsed for chief school business
19 official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
20 rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
21 Education.
22 The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
23 necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
24 (L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
25 in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
26 with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has

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1 completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
2 program at an Illinois institution of higher education
3 and who has not successfully completed an
4 evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
5 who meets all of the following requirements:
6 (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
7 (ii) Has completed an approved educator
8 preparation program at an Illinois institution.
9 (iii) Has passed an applicable content area
10 test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
11 (iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
12 assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
13 minimum score on that assessment, as established
14 by the State Board of Education in consultation
15 with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
16 Board.
17 A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
18 Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one
19 full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
20 be renewed.
21 (M) (Blank).
22 (N) Specialized services. A specialized services
23 endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
24 may be issued as defined and specified by rule.
25 (O) Provisional career and technical educator. A
26 provisional career and technical educator endorsement

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1 on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
2 to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of
3 work experience in the skill for which the applicant
4 is seeking the endorsement. Each employing school
5 board and regional office of education shall provide
6 verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent
7 of Education at the time the application is submitted
8 that no qualified teacher holding a Professional
9 Educator License or an Educator License with
10 Stipulations with a career and technical educator
11 endorsement is available to teach and that actual
12 circumstances require such issuance.
13 A provisional career and technical educator
14 endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
15 is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
16 of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
17 An individual who holds a provisional career and
18 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
19 with Stipulations may teach as a substitute teacher in
20 career and technical education classrooms.
21 (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
22 License may be issued to qualified applicants for
23 substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
24 prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
25 Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
26 a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's

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1 degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
2 of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved
3 educator preparation program in this State and have earned
4 at least 90 credit hours.
5 Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
6 Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
7 teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
8 has had his or her Professional Educator License or
9 Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked,
10 then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
11 Substitute Teaching License.
12 A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
13 licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
14 board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under
15 contract because of an emergency situation, then a
16 district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer
17 than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the
18 district if the district notifies the appropriate regional
19 office of education within 5 business days after the
20 employment of the substitute teacher in that vacant
21 position. A district may continue to employ that same
22 substitute teacher in that same vacant position for 90
23 calendar days or until the end of the semester, whichever
24 is greater, if, prior to the expiration of the
25 30-calendar-day period then current, the district files a
26 written request with the appropriate regional office of

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1 education for a 30-calendar-day extension on the basis
2 that the position remains vacant and the district
3 continues to actively seek qualified candidates and
4 provides documentation that it has provided training
5 specific to the position, including training on meeting
6 the needs of students with disabilities and English
7 learners if applicable. Each extension request shall be
8 granted in writing by the regional office of education. An
9 emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy
10 has occurred and (i) a teacher is unexpectedly unable to
11 fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher
12 capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications
13 or vacancies are unfilled due to a lack of qualified
14 candidates, and the district is actively engaged in
15 advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the
16 vacant position.
17 There is no limit on the number of days that a
18 substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
19 provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
20 than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year
21 through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school
22 days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
23 same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a
24 Professional Educator License or Educator License with
25 Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days
26 for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same

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1 school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the
2 number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not
3 apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of
4 this Code.
5 A school district may not require an individual who
6 holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator
7 License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute
8 Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
9 (4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
10 on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2028, applicants may
11 apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a
12 Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. A Short-Term
13 Substitute Teaching License may be issued to a qualified
14 applicant for substitute teaching in all grades of the
15 public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
16 Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible
17 for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term Substitute
18 Teaching License must hold an associate's degree or have
19 completed at least 60 credit hours from a regionally
20 accredited institution of higher education.
21 Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
22 substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an
23 individual has had his or her Professional Educator
24 License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or
25 revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
26 Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.

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1 The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this
2 Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.
3 An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
4 License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per
5 licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher
6 absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who
7 is under contract, a school district may not hire an
8 individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
9 License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due
10 to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
11 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual
12 holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must
13 complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or
14 34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public
15 school. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses under this
16 Section are valid for 5 years.
17 (5) Montessori Educator License. Persons who (i) have
18 graduated from a regionally accredited institution of
19 higher education with a bachelor's degree, (ii) have a
20 Montessori certificate or credential issued by an
21 institution or program accredited by the Montessori
22 Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, by the
23 American Montessori Society, or by the Association
24 Montessori Internationale, (iii) have successfully
25 completed the required testing under Section 21B-30 of
26 this Code, (iv) have successfully completed coursework on

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1 the psychology of, the identification of, and the methods
2 of instruction for the exceptional child, including
3 without limitation children with learning disabilities,
4 (v) have successfully completed coursework in methods of
5 reading and reading in the content area, and (vi) have met
6 all other criteria established by rule of the State Board
7 of Education shall be issued a Montessori Educator License
8 for the purpose of teaching using the Montessori method in
9 public school programs that use the Montessori method as
10 the primary method of instruction. All Montessori Educator
11 Licenses are valid until June 30 immediately following 5
12 years of the license being issued.
13(Source: P.A. 102-711, eff. 1-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22;
14102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717, eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff.
155-20-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23;
16103-193, eff. 1-1-24; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23.)
17 (105 ILCS 5/21B-30)
18 Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing.
19 (a) (Blank).
20 (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
21State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design
22and implement a system of examinations, which shall be
23required prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These
24examinations and indicators must be based on national and
25State professional teaching standards, as determined by the

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1State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
2Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of
3Education may adopt such rules as may be necessary to
4implement and administer this Section.
5 (c) (Blank).
6 (c-5) The State Board must adopt rules to implement a
7paraprofessional competency test. This test would allow an
8applicant seeking an Educator License with Stipulations with a
9paraprofessional educator endorsement to obtain the
10endorsement if he or she passes the test and meets the other
11requirements of subparagraph (J) of paragraph (2) of Section
1221B-20 other than the higher education requirements.
13 (d) All applicants seeking a State license shall be
14required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area
15of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. There
16shall be no exception to this requirement. No candidate shall
17be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record
18until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.
19 (d-5) The State Board shall consult with any applicable
20vendors within 90 days after July 28, 2023 (the effective date
21of Public Act 103-402) this amendatory Act of the 103rd
22General Assembly to develop a plan to transition the test of
23content area knowledge in the endorsement area of elementary
24education, grades one through 6, by July 1, 2026 to a content
25area test that contains testing elements that cover
26bilingualism, biliteracy, oral language development,

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1foundational literacy skills, and developmentally appropriate
2higher-order comprehension and on which a valid and reliable
3language and literacy subscore can be determined. The State
4Board shall base its rules concerning the passing subscore on
5the language and literacy portion of the test on the
6recommended cut-score determined in the formal
7standard-setting process. Candidates need not achieve a
8particular subscore in the area of language and literacy. The
9State Board shall aggregate and publish the number of
10candidates in each preparation program who take the test and
11the number who pass the language and literacy portion.
12 (e) (Blank).
13 (f) Beginning on August 4, 2023 (the effective date of
14Public Act 103-488) this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
15Assembly through August 31, 2025, no candidate completing a
16teacher preparation program in this State or candidate subject
17to Section 21B-35 of this Code is required to pass a teacher
18performance assessment. Except as otherwise provided in this
19Article, beginning on September 1, 2015 until August 4, 2023
20(the effective date of Public Act 103-488) this amendatory Act
21of the 103rd General Assembly and beginning again on September
221, 2025, all candidates completing teacher preparation
23programs in this State and all candidates subject to Section
2421B-35 of this Code are required to pass a teacher performance
25assessment approved by the State Board of Education, in
26consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure

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1Board. All candidates subject to paragraph (5) of Section
221B-20 of this Code are required to pass a teacher performance
3assessment approved by the State Board of Education, in
4consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
5Board. A candidate may not be required to submit test
6materials by video submission. Subject to appropriation, an
7individual who holds a Professional Educator License and is
8employed for a minimum of one school year by a school district
9designated as Tier 1 under Section 18-8.15 may, after
10application to the State Board, receive from the State Board a
11refund for any costs associated with completing the teacher
12performance assessment under this subsection.
13 (f-5) The Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force is
14created to evaluate potential performance-based and objective
15teacher performance assessment systems for implementation
16across all educator preparation programs in this State, with
17the intention of ensuring consistency across programs and
18supporting a thoughtful and well-rounded licensure system.
19Members appointed to the Task Force must reflect the racial,
20ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State. The Task Force
21shall consist of all of the following members:
22 (1) One member of the Senate, appointed by the
23 President of the Senate.
24 (2) One member of the Senate, appointed by the
25 Minority Leader of the Senate.
26 (3) One member of the House of Representatives,

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1 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
2 (4) One member of the House of Representatives,
3 appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
4 Representatives.
5 (5) One member who represents a statewide professional
6 teachers' organization, appointed by the State
7 Superintendent of Education.
8 (6) One member who represents a different statewide
9 professional teachers' organization, appointed by the
10 State Superintendent of Education.
11 (7) One member from a statewide organization
12 representing school principals, appointed by the State
13 Superintendent of Education.
14 (8) One member from a statewide organization
15 representing regional superintendents of schools,
16 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
17 (9) One member from a statewide organization
18 representing school administrators, appointed by the State
19 Superintendent of Education.
20 (10) One member representing a school district
21 organized under Article 34 of this Code, appointed by the
22 State Superintendent of Education.
23 (11) One member of an association representing rural
24 and small schools, appointed by the State Superintendent
25 of Education.
26 (12) One member representing a suburban school

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1 district, appointed by the State Superintendent of
2 Education.
3 (13) One member from a statewide organization
4 representing school districts in the southern suburbs of
5 the City of Chicago, appointed by the State Superintendent
6 of Education.
7 (14) One member from a statewide organization
8 representing large unit school districts, appointed by the
9 State Superintendent of Education.
10 (15) One member from a statewide organization
11 representing school districts in the collar counties of
12 the City of Chicago, appointed by the State Superintendent
13 of Education.
14 (16) Three members, each representing a different
15 public university in this State and each a current member
16 of the faculty of an approved educator preparation
17 program, appointed by the State Superintendent of
18 Education.
19 (17) Three members, each representing a different
20 4-year nonpublic university or college in this State and
21 each a current member of the faculty of an approved
22 educator preparation program, appointed by the State
23 Superintendent of Education.
24 (18) One member of the Board of Higher Education,
25 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
26 (19) One member representing a statewide policy

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1 organization advocating on behalf of multilingual students
2 and families, appointed by the State Superintendent of
3 Education.
4 (20) One member representing a statewide organization
5 focused on research-based education policy to support a
6 school system that prepares all students for college, a
7 career, and democratic citizenship, appointed by the State
8 Superintendent of Education.
9 (21) Two members representing an early childhood
10 advocacy organization, appointed by the State
11 Superintendent of Education.
12 (22) One member representing a statewide organization
13 that partners with educator preparation programs and
14 school districts to support the growth and development of
15 preservice teachers, appointed by the State Superintendent
16 of Education.
17 (23) One member representing a statewide organization
18 that advocates for educational equity and racial justice
19 in schools, appointed by the State Superintendent of
20 Education.
21 (24) One member representing a statewide organization
22 that represents school boards, appointed by the State
23 Superintendent of Education.
24 (25) One member who has, within the last 5 years,
25 served as a cooperating teacher, appointed by the State
26 Superintendent of Education.

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1 Members of the Task Force shall serve without
2compensation. The Task Force shall first meet at the call of
3the State Superintendent of Education, and each subsequent
4meeting shall be called by the chairperson of the Task Force,
5who shall be designated by the State Superintendent of
6Education. The State Board of Education shall provide
7administrative and other support to the Task Force.
8 On or before August 1, 2024, the Task Force shall report on
9its work, including recommendations on a teacher performance
10assessment system in this State, to the State Board of
11Education and the General Assembly. The Task Force is
12dissolved upon submission of this report.
13 (g) The content area knowledge test and the teacher
14performance assessment shall be the tests that from time to
15time are designated by the State Board of Education, in
16consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
17Board, and may be tests prepared by an educational testing
18organization or tests designed by the State Board of
19Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
20and Licensure Board. The test of content area knowledge shall
21assess content knowledge in a specific subject field. The
22tests must be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no
23person taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis
24of race, color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to
25the person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The
26score required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State

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1Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator
2Preparation and Licensure Board. The tests shall be
3administered not fewer than 3 times a year at such time and
4place as may be designated by the State Board of Education, in
5consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
6Board.
7 The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess
8the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of
9applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under
10subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this
11Code in the English language and in the language of the
12transitional bilingual education program requested by the
13applicant.
14 (h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the
15provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school
16district subject to Article 34 of this Code.
17 (i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the
18testing requirements under this Section shall include, without
19limitation, provisions governing test selection, test
20validation, and determination of a passing score,
21administration of the tests, frequency of administration,
22applicant fees, frequency of applicants taking the tests, the
23years for which a score is valid, and appropriate special
24accommodations. The State Board of Education shall develop
25such rules as may be needed to ensure uniformity from year to
26year in the level of difficulty for each form of an assessment.

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1(Source: P.A. 102-301, eff. 8-26-21; 103-402, eff. 7-28-23;
2103-488, eff. 8-4-23; revised 9-1-23.)
3 (105 ILCS 5/21B-40)
4 Sec. 21B-40. Fees.
5 (a) The Beginning with the start of the new licensure
6system established pursuant to this Article, the following
7fees shall be charged to applicants:
8 (1) A $100 application fee for a Professional Educator
9 License or an Educator License with Stipulations.
10 (1.5) A $50 application fee for a Substitute Teaching
11 License. If the application for a Substitute Teaching
12 License is made and granted after July 1, 2017, the
13 licensee may apply for a refund of the application fee
14 within 18 months of issuance of the new license and shall
15 be issued that refund by the State Board of Education if
16 the licensee provides evidence to the State Board of
17 Education that the licensee has taught pursuant to the
18 Substitute Teaching License at least 10 full school days
19 within one year of issuance.
20 (1.7) A $25 application fee for a Short-Term
21 Substitute Teaching License. The Short-Term Substitute
22 Teaching License must be registered in at least one region
23 in this State, but does not require a registration fee.
24 The licensee may apply for a refund of the application fee
25 within 18 months of issuance of the new license and shall

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1 be issued that refund by the State Board of Education if
2 the licensee provides evidence to the State Board of
3 Education that the licensee has taught pursuant to the
4 Short-Term Substitute Teaching License at least 10 full
5 school days within one year of issuance. The application
6 fee for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License shall be
7 waived when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a
8 public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
9 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
10 (1.9) A $100 application fee for a Montessori Educator
11 License.
12 (2) A $150 application fee for individuals who have
13 not been entitled by an Illinois-approved educator
14 preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher
15 education and are seeking any of the licenses set forth in
16 subdivision (1) of this subsection (a).
17 (3) A $50 application fee for each endorsement or
18 approval.
19 (4) A $10 per year registration fee for the course of
20 the validity cycle to register the license, which shall be
21 paid to the regional office of education having
22 supervision and control over the school in which the
23 individual holding the license is to be employed. If the
24 individual holding the license is not yet employed, then
25 the license may be registered in any county in this State.
26 The registration fee must be paid in its entirety the

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1 first time the individual registers the license for a
2 particular validity period in a single region. No
3 additional fee may be charged for that validity period
4 should the individual subsequently register the license in
5 additional regions. An individual must register the
6 license (i) immediately after initial issuance of the
7 license and (ii) at the beginning of each renewal cycle if
8 the individual has satisfied the renewal requirements
9 required under this Code.
10 Beginning on July 1, 2017, at the beginning of each
11 renewal cycle, individuals who hold a Substitute Teaching
12 License may apply for a reimbursement of the registration
13 fee within 18 months of renewal and shall be issued that
14 reimbursement by the State Board of Education from funds
15 appropriated for that purpose if the licensee provides
16 evidence to the State Board of Education that the licensee
17 has taught pursuant to the Substitute Teaching License at
18 least 10 full school days within one year of renewal.
19 (5) The license renewal fee for an Educator License
20 with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator
21 endorsement is $25.
22 (b) All application fees paid pursuant to subdivisions (1)
23through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section shall be
24deposited into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund and
25shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board of
26Education to provide the technology and human resources

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1necessary for the timely and efficient processing of
2applications and for the renewal of licenses. Funds available
3from the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund may also be
4used by the State Board of Education to support the
5recruitment and retention of educators, to support educator
6preparation programs as they seek national accreditation, and
7to provide professional development aligned with the
8requirements set forth in Section 21B-45 of this Code. A
9majority of the funds in the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving
10Fund must be dedicated to the timely and efficient processing
11of applications and for the renewal of licenses. The Teacher
12Certificate Fee Revolving Fund is not subject to
13administrative charge transfers, authorized under Section 8h
14of the State Finance Act, from the Teacher Certificate Fee
15Revolving Fund into any other fund of this State, and moneys in
16the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund shall not revert
17back to the General Revenue Fund at any time.
18 The regional superintendent of schools shall deposit the
19registration fees paid pursuant to subdivision (4) of
20subsection (a) of this Section into the institute fund
21established pursuant to Section 3-11 of this Code.
22 (c) The State Board of Education and each regional office
23of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience
24fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of license
25fees. This service or convenience fee shall not exceed the
26amount required by the credit card processing company or

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