Bill Text: IL SB3215 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

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 alleviate the financial burden of student teaching, to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage, and to encourage teachers to be matched with student teachers. 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 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. 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 $2,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning the distribution of funds to eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning cooperating teacher training. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, shall submit a report evaluating the impact of the stipend program on educator preparation programs to the General Assembly and Governor on or before June 30, 2028. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-05 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024 [SB3215 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB3215-Introduced.html

---

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3215 Introduced 2/6/2024, by Sen. Doris Turner 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 alleviate the financial burden of student teaching, to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage, and to encourage teachers to be matched with student teachers. 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 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. 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 $2,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning the distribution of funds to eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning cooperating teacher training. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, shall submit a report evaluating the impact of the stipend program on educator preparation programs to the General Assembly and Governor on or before June 30, 2028. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately.
LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b
A BILL FOR
SB3215 LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b
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:
"Educator preparation program" means an approved educator
preparation program offered by a recognized school or
institution under Article 21B of the School Code.
"Eligible cooperating teacher" means a teacher who is
licensed under Article 21B of the School Code or has attained
the Department of Human Services' Gateways to Opportunity
Early Childhood Education Credential Level 5 or 6, who is
qualified to teach in the subject area assigned, and who is
matched with an eligible student.
"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

SB3215 - 2 - LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b
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 alleviate the financial
burden of student teaching, to encourage students to pursue
teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage,
and to encourage teachers to be matched with student teachers.
(c) An educator preparation program shall notify the Board
of all eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers who
qualify for 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 per semester for up to 2
consecutive semesters, 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) Under the stipend program and 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 $2,000 per semester for
up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus
additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the

SB3215 - 3 - LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b
stipend program. The educator preparation program shall
distribute stipend funds to an eligible cooperating teacher in
one payment.
(f) If there is a surplus appropriated in a fiscal year for
the stipend program, then the Board shall increase the amount
distributed to each educator preparation program by the same
percentage that the surplus bears to the amount required to
fully fund the total number of eligible students and eligible
cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend program that
fiscal year. An educator preparation program shall increase
the stipend amount distributed to each eligible student or
eligible cooperating teacher in proportion to the surplus.
(g) If the amount appropriated in a fiscal year for the
stipend program is insufficient to fully fund stipends for the
total number of eligible students and eligible cooperating
teachers for that fiscal year, then the Board shall reduce the
amount distributed to each educator preparation program by the
same percentage that the deficit bears to the amount required
to fully fund the total number of eligible students and
eligible cooperating teachers who qualify for the stipend
program. An educator preparation program shall reduce the
stipend amount distributed to each eligible student or
eligible cooperating teacher in proportion to the deficit.
(h) Funds not distributed in a particular fiscal year by
an educator preparation program under this Section shall be
returned to the Board to be used for the subsequent fiscal

SB3215 - 4 - LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b
year's stipend program.
(i) An educator preparation program may not prohibit an
eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from
participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend
from the stipend program.
(j) Nothing in this Section is intended to preclude an
educator preparation program from providing an eligible
cooperating teacher with additional incentives.
(k) An eligible cooperating teacher participating in the
stipend program may receive professional development hours for
completing cooperating teacher training that count toward the
eligible cooperating teacher's license renewal or the
equivalent for early childhood education. The State Board of
Education shall provide guidance for the development and
implementation of evidence-based cooperating teacher training
for an eligible cooperating teacher that aligns with training
for instructional coaches, covers basic responsibilities of a
cooperating teacher, includes evidence-based practices in
supporting student teachers in school or early childhood
settings, and includes the effective assessment of student
teachers that aligns with State educator performance
evaluation requirements or the equivalent for early childhood
education.
(l) Subject to available appropriations, the Board shall
issue a report evaluating the impact of the stipend program on
educator preparation programs, including enrollment and

SB3215 - 5 - LRB103 37031 RJT 67146 b
completion rates, hiring rates, and retention rates. The Board
shall issue this report in collaboration with the State Board
of Education. The Board shall submit this report to the
General Assembly and Governor on or before June 30, 2028.
(m) The Board shall adopt rules regarding the
administration of the stipend program.