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2005 Illinois 105 ILCS 5/      School Code. Article 21 - Certification Of Teachers


      (105 ILCS 5/Art. 21 heading)
ARTICLE 21. CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑0.01)
    Sec. 21‑0.01. Powers after January 1, 1998. Beginning on January 1, 1998 and thereafter, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall have the power and authority to do all of the following:
        (1) set standards for teaching, supervising, or
    
holding other certificated employment in the public schools, and administer the certification process as provided in this Article; provided, however, that the State Teacher Certification Board shall be solely responsible for the renewal of Standard Teaching Certificates as provided in Sections 21‑2 and 21‑14 of this Code;
        (2) approve and evaluate teacher and administrator
    
preparation programs;
        (3) enter into agreements with other states relative
    
to reciprocal approval of teacher and administrator preparation programs;
        (4) establish standards for the issuance of new
    
types of certificates; and
        (5) take such other action relating to the
    
improvement of instruction in the public schools through teacher education and professional development and that attracts qualified candidates into teacher training programs as is appropriate and consistent with applicable laws.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑1)
    Sec. 21‑1. Qualification of teachers. No one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools of this State who is not of good character, of good health, a citizen of the United States or legally present and authorized for employment, and at least 19 years of age. An applicant for a certificate who is not a citizen of the United States must sign and file with the State Board of Education a letter of intent indicating that either (i) within 10 years after the date that the letter is filed or (ii) at the earliest opportunity after the person becomes eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, the person will apply for U.S. citizenship.
    Citizenship is not required for the issuance of a temporary part‑time certificate to participants in approved training programs for exchange students as described in Section 21‑10.2. A certificate issued under this plan shall expire on June 30 following the date of issue. One renewal for one year is authorized if the holder remains as an official participant in an approved exchange program.
    In determining good character under this Section, any felony conviction of the applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration.
    No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the right to be certified, to receive training for the purpose of becoming a teacher or to engage in practice teaching in any school because of a physical disability including but not limited to visual and hearing disabilities; nor shall any school district refuse to employ a teacher on such grounds, provided that the person is able to carry out the duties of the position for which he applies.
    No person may be granted or continue to hold a teaching certificate who has knowingly altered or misrepresented his or her teaching qualifications in order to acquire the certificate. Any other certificate held by such person may be suspended or revoked by the State Teacher Certification Board, depending upon the severity of the alteration or misrepresentation.
    No one may teach or supervise in the public schools nor receive for teaching or supervising any part of any public school fund, who does not hold a certificate of qualification granted by the State Board of Education or by the State Teacher Certification Board and a regional superintendent of schools as hereinafter provided, or by the board of education of a city having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants except as provided in Section 34‑6 and in Section 10‑22.34 or Section 10‑22.34b. However, the provisions of this Article do not apply to a member of the armed forces who is employed as a teacher of subjects in the Reserve Officer's Training Corps of any school. Sections 21‑2 through 21‑24 do not apply to cities having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants, until July 1, 1988.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the board of education of any school district may grant to a teacher of the district a leave of absence with full pay for a period of not more than one year to permit such teacher to teach in a foreign state under the provisions of the Exchange Teacher Program established under Public Law 584, 79th Congress, and Public Law 402, 80th Congress, as amended. The school board granting such leave of absence may employ with or without pay a national of the foreign state wherein the teacher on leave of absence will teach, if the national is qualified to teach in that foreign state, and if that national will teach in a grade level similar to the one which was taught in such foreign state. The State Board of Education shall promulgate and enforce such reasonable rules as may be necessary to effectuate this paragraph.
(Source: P.A. 93‑572, eff. 1‑1‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑1a)(from Ch. 122, par. 21‑1a)
    Sec. 21‑1a. Tests required for certification and teacher preparation.
    (a) After July 1, 1988, in addition to all other requirements, early childhood, elementary, special, high school, school service personnel, or, except as provided in Section 34‑6, administrative certificates shall be issued to persons who have satisfactorily passed a test of basic skills and subject matter knowledge. A person who holds a valid and comparable out‑of‑state certificate, however, is not required to take a test of basic skills and is not required to take a test of subject matter knowledge, provided that the person has successfully passed a test of subject matter knowledge in another state or territory of the United States that is directly related in content to the specific subject area of certification. The tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall be the tests which from time to time are designated by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and may be tests prepared by an educational testing organization or tests designed by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The areas to be covered by the test of basic skills shall include the basic skills of reading, writing, grammar and mathematics. The test of subject matter knowledge shall assess content knowledge in the specific subject field. The tests shall be designed to be racially neutral to assure that no person in taking the tests is thereby discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin or other factors unrelated to the person's ability to perform as a certificated employee. The score required to pass the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall be fixed by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The tests shall be held not fewer than 3 times a year at such time and place as may be designated by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b) Except as provided in Section 34‑6, the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section shall apply equally in any school district subject to Article 34, provided that the State Board of Education shall determine which certificates issued under Sections 34‑8.1 and 34‑83 prior to July 1, 1988 are comparable to any early childhood certificate, elementary school certificate, special certificate, high school certificate, school service personnel certificate or administrative certificate issued under this Article as of July 1, 1988.
    (c) A person who holds an early childhood, elementary, special, high school or school service personnel certificate issued under this Article on or at any time before July 1, 1988, including a person who has been issued any such certificate pursuant to Section 21‑11.1 or in exchange for a comparable certificate theretofore issued under Section 34‑8.1 or Section 34‑83, shall not be required to take or pass the tests in order to thereafter have such certificate renewed.
    (d) The State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall conduct a pilot administration of the tests by administering the test to students completing teacher education programs in the 1986‑87 school year for the purpose of determining the effect and impact of testing candidates for certification.
    Beginning with the 2002‑2003 academic year, a student may not enroll in a teacher preparation program at a recognized teacher training institution until he or she has passed the basic skills test.
    Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, prior to completing an approved teacher preparation program, a preservice education candidate must satisfactorily pass the test of subject matter knowledge in the discipline in which he or she will be certified to teach. The teacher preparation program may require passage of the test of subject matter knowledge at any time during the program, including prior to student teaching.
    (e) The rules and regulations developed to implement the required test of basic skills and subject matter knowledge shall include the requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (c) and shall include specific regulations to govern test selection; test validation and determination of a passing score; administration of the tests; frequency of administration; applicant fees; frequency of applicants' taking the tests; the years for which a score is valid; and, waiving certain additional tests for additional certificates to individuals who have satisfactorily passed the test of basic skills and subject matter knowledge as required in subsection (a). The State Board of Education shall provide, by rule, specific policies that assure uniformity in the difficulty level of each form of the basic skills test and each subject matter knowledge test from test‑to‑test and year‑to‑year. The State Board of Education shall also set a passing score for the tests.
    (f) The State Teacher Certification Board may issue a nonrenewable temporary certificate between July 1, 1988 and August 31, 1988 to individuals who have taken the tests of basic skills and subject matter knowledge prescribed by this Section but have not received such test scores by August 31, 1988. Such temporary certificates shall expire on December 31, 1988.
    (g) Beginning February 15, 2000, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall implement and administer a new system of certification for teachers in the State of Illinois. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall design and implement a system of examinations and various other criteria which shall be required prior to the issuance of Initial Teaching Certificates and Standard Teaching Certificates. These examinations and indicators shall be based on national and State professional teaching standards, as determined by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The State Board of Education may adopt any and all regulations necessary to implement and administer this Section.
    (h) The State Board of Education shall report to the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor with recommendations for further changes and improvements to the teacher certification system no later than July 1, 1999 and on an annual basis until July 1, 2001.
(Source: P.A. 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04; 94‑208, eff. 7‑14‑05.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑1b)(from Ch. 122, par. 21‑1b)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 93‑679)
    Sec. 21‑1b. Subject endorsement on certificates. All certificates initially issued under this Article after June 30, 1986, shall be specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each subject the holder of the certificate is legally qualified to teach, such endorsements to be made in accordance with standards promulgated by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. All certificates which are issued under this Article prior to July 1, 1986 may, by application to the State Board of Education, be specifically endorsed for each subject the holder is legally qualified to teach. Endorsements issued under this Section shall not apply to substitute teacher's certificates issued under Section 21‑9 of this Code.
    Commencing July 1, 1999, each application for endorsement of an existing teaching certificate shall be accompanied by a $30 nonrefundable fee. There is hereby created a Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund as a special fund within the State Treasury. The proceeds of each $30 fee shall be paid into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund; and the moneys in that Fund shall be appropriated and used to provide the technology and other resources necessary for the timely and efficient processing of certification requests.
    The State Board of Education and each regional office of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not exceed the amount required by the credit card processing company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the State Board or regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.
(Source: P.A. 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 93‑1036)
    Sec. 21‑1b. Subject endorsement on certificates. All certificates initially issued under this Article after June 30, 1986, shall be specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each subject the holder of the certificate is legally qualified to teach, such endorsements to be made in accordance with standards promulgated by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The regional superintendent of schools, however, has the duty, after appropriate training, to accept and review all transcripts for new initial certificate applications and ensure that each applicant has met all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. All certificates which are issued under this Article prior to July 1, 1986 may, by application to the State Board of Education, be specifically endorsed for each subject the holder is legally qualified to teach. Endorsements issued under this Section shall not apply to substitute teacher's certificates issued under Section 21‑9 of this Code.
    Commencing July 1, 1999, each application for endorsement of an existing teaching certificate shall be accompanied by a $30 nonrefundable fee. There is hereby created a Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund as a special fund within the State Treasury. The proceeds of each $30 fee shall be paid into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund; and the moneys in that Fund shall be appropriated and used to provide the technology and other resources necessary for the timely and efficient processing of certification requests.
(Source: P.A. 93‑1036, eff. 9‑14‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑1c)(from Ch. 122, par. 21‑1c)
    Sec. 21‑1c. Exclusive certificate authority. Only the State Board of Education and State Teacher Certification Board, acting in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Act and the rules, regulations and standards promulgated thereunder, shall have the authority to issue or endorse any certificate required for teaching, supervising or holding certificated employment in the public schools; and no other State agency shall have any power or authority (i) to establish or prescribe any qualifications or other requirements applicable to the issuance or endorsement of any such certificate, or (ii) to establish or prescribe any licensure or equivalent requirement which must be satisfied in order to teach, supervise or hold certificated employment in the public schools. The regional superintendent of schools, however, has the duty, after appropriate training, to accept and review all transcripts for new initial certificate applications and ensure that each applicant has met all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. This Section does not prohibit the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, from delegating to regional superintendents of schools the authority to grant temporary employment authorizations to teacher applicants whose qualifications have been confirmed by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
(Source: P.A. 93‑1036, eff. 9‑14‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑2) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑2)
    Sec. 21‑2. Grades of certificates.
    (a) All certificates issued under this Article shall be State certificates valid, except as limited in Section 21‑1, in every school district coming under the provisions of this Act and shall be limited in time and designated as follows: Provisional vocational certificate, temporary provisional vocational certificate, early childhood certificate, elementary school certificate, special certificate, secondary certificate, school service personnel certificate, administrative certificate, provisional certificate, and substitute certificate. The requirement of student teaching under close and competent supervision for obtaining a teaching certificate may be waived by the State Teacher Certification Board upon presentation to the Board by the teacher of evidence of 5 years successful teaching experience on a valid certificate and graduation from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree.
    (b) Initial Teaching Certificate. Persons who (1) have completed an approved teacher preparation program, (2) are recommended by an approved teacher preparation program, (3) have successfully completed the Initial Teaching Certification examinations required by the State Board of Education, and (4) have met all other criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall be issued an Initial Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching, as defined in Section 21‑14 of this Code. Initial Teaching Certificates shall be issued for categories corresponding to Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, and Special K‑12, with special certification designations for Special Education, Bilingual Education, fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, an Initial Teaching Certificate shall be automatically extended for one year for all persons who (i) have been issued an Initial Teaching Certificate that expires on June 30, 2004 and (ii) have not met, prior to July 1, 2004, the Standard Certificate requirements under paragraph (c) of this Section. An application and fee shall not be required for this extension.
    (b‑5) A person who holds an out‑of‑state certificate and who is otherwise eligible for a comparable Illinois certificate may be issued an Initial Certificate if that person has not completed 4 years of teaching. Upon completion of 4 years of teaching, the person is eligible for a Standard Certificate. Beginning July 1, 2004, an out‑of‑state candidate who has already earned a second‑tier certificate in another state is not subject to any Standard Certificate eligibility requirements stated in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this Section other than completion of the 4 years of teaching. An out‑of‑state candidate who has completed less than 4 years of teaching and does not hold a second‑tier certificate from another state must meet the requirements stated in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of this Section, proportionately reduced by the amount of time remaining to complete the 4 years of teaching.
    (c) Standard Certificate.
    (1) Persons who (i) have completed 4 years of teaching, as defined in Section 21‑14 of this Code, with an Initial Certificate or an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate and have met all other criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, (ii) have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid equivalent certificate in another State or territory of the United States, or have completed 4 years of teaching in a nonpublic Illinois elementary or secondary school with an Initial Certificate or an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate, and have met all other criteria established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, or (iii) were issued teaching certificates prior to February 15, 2000 and are renewing those certificates after February 15, 2000, shall be issued a Standard Certificate valid for 5 years, which may be renewed thereafter every 5 years by the State Teacher Certification Board based on proof of continuing education or professional development. Beginning July 1, 2003, persons who have completed 4 years of teaching, as described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph (1), have successfully completed the requirements of paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection (c), and have met all other criteria established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall be issued Standard Certificates. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold valid out‑of‑state certificates and have completed 4 years of teaching on a valid equivalent certificate in another State or territory of the United States shall be issued comparable Standard Certificates. Beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold valid out‑of‑state certificates as described in subsection (b‑5) of this Section are subject to the requirements of paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection (c), as required in subsection (b‑5) of this Section, in order to receive a Standard Certificate. Standard Certificates shall be issued for categories corresponding to Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, and Special K‑12, with special certification designations for Special Education, Bilingual Education, fundamental learning areas (including Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Development and Health, Fine Arts, and Foreign Language), and other areas designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (2) This paragraph (2) applies only to those persons required to successfully complete the requirements of this paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). In order to receive a Standard Teaching Certificate, a person must satisfy one of the following requirements:
        (A) Completion of a program of induction and
    
mentoring for new teachers that is based upon a specific plan approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Nothing in this Section, however, prohibits an induction or mentoring program from operating prior to approval. Holders of Initial Certificates issued before September 1, 2007 must complete, at a minimum, an approved one‑year induction and mentoring program. Holders of Initial Certificates issued on or after September 1, 2007 must complete an approved 2‑year induction and mentoring program. The plan must describe the role of mentor teachers, the criteria and process for their selection, and how all the following components are to be provided:
            (i) Assignment of a formally trained mentor
        
teacher to each new teacher for a specified period of time, which shall be established by the employing school or school district, provided that a mentor teacher may not directly or indirectly participate in the evaluation of a new teacher pursuant to Article 24A of this Code or the evaluation procedure of the school.
            (ii) Formal mentoring for each new teacher.
            (iii) Support for each new teacher in relation
        
to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, the content‑area standards applicable to the new teacher's area of certification, and any applicable local school improvement and professional development plans.
            (iv) Professional development specifically
        
designed to foster the growth of each new teacher's knowledge and skills.
            (v) Formative assessment that is based on the
        
Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and designed to provide feedback to the new teacher and opportunities for reflection on his or her performance, which must not be used directly or indirectly in any evaluation of a new teacher pursuant to Article 24A of this Code or the evaluation procedure of the school and which must include the activities specified in clauses (B)(i), (B)(ii), and (B)(iii) of this paragraph (2).
            (vi) Assignment of responsibility for
        
coordination of the induction and mentoring program within each school district participating in the program.
        (B) Successful completion of 4 semester hours of
    
graduate‑level coursework on the assessment of one's own performance in relation to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. The coursework must be approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board; must be offered either by an institution of higher education, by such an institution in partnership with a teachers' association or union or with a regional office of education, or by another entity authorized to issue college credit; and must include demonstration of performance through all of the following activities for each of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards:
            (i) Observation, by the course instructor or
        
another experienced teacher, of the new teacher's classroom practice (the observation may be recorded for later viewing) for the purpose of identifying and describing how the new teacher made content meaningful for students; how the teacher motivated individuals and the group and created an environment conducive to positive social interactions, active learning, and self‑motivation; what instructional strategies the teacher used to encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance; how the teacher communicated using written, verbal, nonverbal, and visual communication techniques; and how the teacher maintained standards of professional conduct and provided leadership to improve students' learning.
            (ii) Review and analysis, by the course
        
instructor or another experienced teacher, of written documentation (i.e., lesson plans, assignments, assessment instruments, and samples of students' work) prepared by the new teacher for at least 2 lessons. The documentation must provide evidence of classroom performance related to Illinois Professional Teaching Standards 1 through 9, with an emphasis on how the teacher used his or her understanding of students, assessment data, and subject matter to decide on learning goals; how the teacher designed or selected activities and instructional materials and aligned instruction to the relevant Illinois Learning Standards; how the teacher adapted or modified curriculum to meet individual students' needs; and how the teacher sequenced instruction and designed or selected student assessment strategies.
            (iii) Demonstration of professional expertise on
        
the part of the new teacher in reflecting on his or her practice, which was observed under clause (B)(i) of this paragraph (2) and documented under clause (B)(ii) of this paragraph (2), in terms of teaching strengths, weaknesses, and implications for improvement according to the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.
        (C) Successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester
    
hours of graduate‑level coursework addressing preparation to meet the requirements for certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The coursework must be approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and must be offered either by an institution of higher education, by such an institution in partnership with a teachers' association or union or with a regional office of education, or by another entity authorized to issue college credit. The course must address the 5 NBPTS Core Propositions and relevant standards through such means as the following:
            (i) Observation, by the course instructor or
        
another experienced teacher, of the new teacher's classroom practice (the observation may be recorded for later viewing) for the purpose of identifying and describing how the new teacher made content meaningful for students; how the teacher motivated individuals and the group and created an environment conducive to positive social interactions, active learning, and self‑motivation; what instructional strategies the teacher used to encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance; how the teacher communicated using written, verbal, nonverbal, and visual communication techniques; and how the teacher maintained standards of professional conduct and provided leadership to improve students' learning.
            (ii) Review and analysis, by the course
        
instructor or another experienced teacher, of written documentation (i.e., lesson plans, assignments, assessment instruments, and samples of students' work) prepared by the new teacher for at least 2 lessons. The documentation must provide evidence of classroom performance, including how the teacher used his or her understanding of students, assessment data, and subject matter to decide on learning goals; how the teacher designed or selected activities and instructional materials and aligned instruction to the relevant Illinois Learning Standards; how the teacher adapted or modified curriculum to meet individual students' needs; and how the teacher sequenced instruction and designed or selected student assessment strategies.
            (iii) Demonstration of professional expertise on
        
the part of the new teacher in reflecting on his or her practice, which was observed under clause (C)(i) of this paragraph (2) and documented under clause (C)(ii) of this paragraph (2), in terms of teaching strengths, weaknesses, and implications for improvement.
        (C‑5) Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 12
    
semester hours of graduate credit towards an advanced degree in an education‑related field from an accredited institution of higher education.
        (D) Receipt of an advanced degree from an accredited
    
institution of higher education in an education‑related field that is earned by a person either while he or she holds an Initial Teaching Certificate or prior to his or her receipt of that certificate.
        (E) Accumulation of 60 continuing professional
    
development units (CPDUs), earned by completing selected activities that comply with paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection (c). However, for an individual who holds an Initial Teaching Certificate on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the number of CPDUs shall be reduced to reflect the teaching time remaining on the Initial Teaching Certificate.
        (F) Completion of a nationally normed,
    
performance‑based assessment, if made available by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, provided that the cost to the person shall not exceed the cost of the coursework described in clause (B) of this paragraph (2).
        (G) Completion of requirements for meeting the
    
Illinois criteria for becoming "highly qualified" (for purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public Law 107‑110) in an additional teaching area.
        (H) Receipt of a minimum 12‑hour, post‑baccalaureate,
    
education‑related professional development certificate issued by an Illinois institution of higher education and developed in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
        (I) Completion of the National Board for Professional
    
Teaching Standards (NBPTS) process.
        (J) Receipt of a subsequent Illinois certificate or
    
endorsement pursuant to Article 21 of this Code.
    (3) This paragraph (3) applies only to those persons required to successfully complete the requirements of this paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Persons who seek to satisfy the requirements of clause (E) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c) through accumulation of CPDUs may earn credit through completion of coursework, workshops, seminars, conferences, and other similar training events that are pre‑approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, for the purpose of reflection on teaching practices in order to address all of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards necessary to obtain a Standard Teaching Certificate. These activities must meet all of the following requirements:
        (A) Each activity must be designed to advance a
    
person's knowledge and skills in relation to one or more of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or in relation to the content‑area standards applicable to the teacher's field of certification.
        (B) Taken together, the activities completed must
    
address each of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards as provided in clauses (B)(i), (B)(ii), and (B)(iii) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).
        (C) Each activity must be provided by an entity
    
approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, for this purpose.
        (D) Each activity, integral to its successful
    
completion, must require participants to demonstrate the degree to which they have acquired new knowledge or skills, such as through performance, through preparation of a written product, through assembling samples of students' or teachers' work, or by some other means that is appropriate to the subject matter of the activity.
        (E) One CPDU shall be available for each hour of
    
direct participation by a holder of an Initial Teaching Certificate in a qualifying activity. An activity may be attributed to more than one of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, but credit for any activity shall be counted only once.
    (4) This paragraph (4) applies only to those persons required to successfully complete the requirements of this paragraph under paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Persons who seek to satisfy the requirements of clause (E) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c) through accumulation of CPDUs may earn credit from the following, provided that each activity is designed to advance a person's knowledge and skills in relation to one or more of the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or in relation to the content‑area standards applicable to the person's field or fields of certification:
        (A) Collaboration and partnership activities related
    
to improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all of the following:
            (i) Peer review and coaching.
            (ii) Mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
        
including service as a consulting teacher participating in a remediation process formulated under Section 24A‑5 of this Code.
            (iii) Facilitating parent education programs
        
directly related to student achievement for a school, school district, or regional office of education.
            (iv) Participating in business, school, or
        
community partnerships directly related to student achievement.
        (B) Teaching college or university courses in areas
    
relevant to a teacher's field of certification, provided that the teaching may only be counted once during the course of 4 years.
        (C) Conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars,
    
and symposiums related to improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all of the following:
            (i) Completing non‑university credit directly
        
related to student achievement, the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, or content‑area standards.
            (ii) Participating in or presenting at
        
workshops, seminars, conferences, institutes, and symposiums.
            (iii) (Blank).
            (iv) Training as reviewers of university teacher
        
preparation programs.
        An activity listed in this clause (C) is creditable
    
only if its provider is approved for this purpose by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
        (D) Other educational experiences related to
    
improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all of the following:
            (i) Participating in action research and inquiry
        
projects.
            (ii) Observing programs or teaching in schools,
        
related businesses, or industry that is systematic, purposeful, and relevant to a teacher's field of certification.
            (iii) Participating in study groups related to
        
student achievement, the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, or content‑area standards.
            (iv) Participating in work/learn programs or
        
internships.
            (v) Developing a portfolio of students' and
        
teacher's work.
        (E) Professional leadership experiences related to
    
improving a person's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including all of the following:
            (i) Participating in curriculum development or
    
assessment activities at the school, school district, regional office of education, State, or national level.
            (ii) Participating in team or department
        
leadership in a school or school district.
            (iii) (Blank).
            (iv) Publishing educational articles, columns,
        
or books relevant to a teacher's field of certification.
            (v) Participating in non‑strike related
        
activities of a professional association or labor organization that are related to professional development.
    (5) A person must complete the requirements of this subsection (c) before the expiration of his or her Initial Teaching Certificate and must submit assurance of having done so to the regional superintendent of schools or a local professional development committee authorized by the regional superintendent to submit recommendations to him or her for this purpose.
    Within 30 days after receipt, the regional superintendent of schools shall review the assurance of completion submitted by a person and, based upon compliance with all of the requirements for receipt of a Standard Teaching Certificate, shall forward to the State Board of Education a recommendation for issuance of the Standard Certificate or non‑issuance. The regional superintendent of schools shall notify the affected person if the recommendation is for non‑issuance of the Standard Certificate. A person who is considered not to be eligible for a Standard Certificate and who has received the notice of non‑issuance may appeal this determination to the Regional Professional Development Review Committee (RPDRC). The recommendation of the regional superintendent and the RPDRC, along with all supporting materials, must then be forwarded to the State Board of Education for a final determination.
    Upon review of a regional superintendent of school's recommendations, the State Board of Education shall issue Standard Teaching Certificates to those who qualify and shall notify a person, in writing, of a decision denying a Standard Teaching Certificate. Any decision denying issuance of a Standard Teaching Certificate to a person may be appealed to the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (6) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, may adopt rules to implement this subsection (c) and may periodically evaluate any of the methods of qualifying for a Standard Teaching Certificate described in this subsection (c).
    (7) The changes made to paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subsection (c) by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall apply to those persons who hold or are eligible to hold an Initial Certificate on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and shall be given effect upon their application for a Standard Certificate.
    (8) Beginning July 1, 2004, persons who hold a Standard Certificate and have acquired one master's degree in an education‑related field are eligible for certificate renewal upon completion of two‑thirds of the continuing education units specified in subdivision (C) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section 21‑14 of this Code or of the continuing professional development units specified in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section 21‑14 of this Code. Persons who hold a Standard Certificate and have acquired a second master's degree, an education specialist, or a doctorate in an education‑related field or hold a Master Certificate are eligible for certificate renewal upon completion of one‑third of the continuing education units specified in subdivision (C) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section 21‑14 of this Code or of the continuing professional development units specified in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section 21‑14 of this Code.
    (d) Master Certificate. Persons who have successfully achieved National Board certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be issued a Master Certificate, valid for 10 years and renewable thereafter every 10 years through compliance with requirements set forth by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. However, each teacher who holds a Master Certificate shall be eligible for a teaching position in this State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal background checks. A holder of a Master Certificate in an area of science or social science is eligible to teach in any of the subject areas within those fields, including those taught at the advanced level, as defined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A teacher who holds a Master Certificate shall be deemed to meet State certification renewal requirements in the area or areas for which he or she holds a Master Certificate for the 10‑year term of the teacher's Master Certificate.
(Source: P.A. 92‑16, eff. 6‑28‑01; 92‑796, eff. 8‑10‑02; 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑2.1)
    Sec. 21‑2.1. Early childhood certificate.
    (a) An early childhood certificate shall be valid for 4 years for teaching children up to 6 years of age, exclusive of children enrolled in kindergarten, in facilities approved by the State Superintendent of Education. Beginning July 1, 1988, such certificate shall be valid for 4 years for Teaching children through grade 3 in facilities approved by the State Superintendent of Education. Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours including professional education or human development or, until July 1, 1992, to persons who have early childhood education instruction and practical experience involving supervised work with children under 6 years of age or with children through grade 3. Such persons shall be recommended for the early childhood certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an approved program of preparation which includes the requisite hours and academic and professional courses and practical experience approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard Early Childhood Education Certificates shall be issued to persons who meet the criteria established by the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑811, eff. 1‑26‑99; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑2a)
    Sec. 21‑2a. Required instruction for all teachers. After September 1, 1981 and until January 1, 1999, in addition to all other requirements, the successful completion of course work which includes instruction on the psychology of the exceptional child, the identification of the exceptional child, including, but not limited to the learning disabled and methods of instruction for the exceptional child, including, but not limited to the learning disabled shall be a prerequisite to a person receiving any of the following certificates: early childhood, elementary, special and high school.
    After January 1, 1999, the State Board of Education shall ensure that the curriculum for all approved teacher preparation programs includes, and that all prospective teachers pursuing Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, or Special certificates receive, instruction on the psychology of, the identification of, and the methods of instruction for the exceptional child, including without limitation the learning disabled. This instruction on exceptional children may be provided in one concentrated course or may be integrated among other courses within the teacher preparation program as shall be determined by the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑653, eff. 7‑29‑98; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑2b) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑2b)
    Sec. 21‑2b. Teacher education program entrance. In consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board the State Board of Education shall develop procedures which ensure that all students entering approved teacher education programs are proficient in the areas of reading, mathematics and language arts. Each institution of higher learning shall submit to the State Teacher Certification Board a plan which sets forth procedures for implementation of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 84‑126.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑3) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑3)
    Sec. 21‑3. Elementary certificate.
    (a) An elementary school certificate shall be valid for 4 years for teaching in the kindergarten and lower 9 grades of the common schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours and with a minimum of 16 semester hours in professional education, including 5 semester hours in student teaching under competent and close supervision. Such persons shall be recommended for the elementary certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an approved program of preparation which includes intensive preservice training in the humanities, natural sciences, mathematics and the academic and professional courses approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard Elementary Certificates shall be issued to persons who meet all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education for elementary education.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑811, eff. 1‑26‑99; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑4) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑4)
    Sec. 21‑4. Special certificate.
    (a) A special certificate shall be valid for 4 years for teaching the special subjects named therein in all grades of the common schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours including a minimum of 16 semester hours in professional education, 5 of which shall be in student teaching under competent and close supervision. When the holder of such certificate has earned a master's degree, including eight semester hours of graduate professional education from a recognized institution of higher learning and with two years' teaching experience, it may be endorsed for supervision.
    Such persons shall be recommended for the special certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an approved program of preparation which includes academic and professional courses approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b) Those persons holding special certificates on February 15, 2000 shall be eligible for one of the following:
        (1) The issuance of Standard Elementary and Standard
    
Secondary Certificates with appropriate special certification designations as determined by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and consistent with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. These certificates shall be renewed as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21‑2.
        (2) The issuance of Standard Special K‑12
    
Certificates with appropriate special certification designations, which shall be renewed as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21‑2. These certificates shall not be eligible for additional certification designations except as approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (c) Those persons eligible to receive K‑12 certification after February 15, 2000 shall be issued Initial Elementary and Initial Secondary Certificates with appropriate special certification designations pursuant to this Section or Initial Special K‑12 Certificates with appropriate special certification designations pursuant to this Section. These Initial K‑12 Special Certificates shall not be eligible for additional certification designations except as approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (d) All persons holding a special certificate with a special education endorsement are exempt from the provisions of Section 2‑3.71 of this Code, provided they meet all the other requirements for teaching as established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    Beginning February 15, 2000, all persons exchanging a special certificate pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section with a special education endorsement or receiving a special education designation on either a special certificate or an elementary certificate issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section are exempt from the provisions of Section 2‑3.71 of this Code, provided they meet all the other requirements for teaching as established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    Certificates exchanged or issued pursuant to this subsection (d) shall be valid for teaching children with disabilities, as defined in Section 14‑1.02 of this Code, and these special certificates shall be called Initial or Standard Special Preschool ‑ Age 21 Certificates. Nothing in this subsection (d) shall be construed to adversely affect the rights of any person presently certificated, any person whose certification is currently pending, or any person who is currently enrolled or enrolls prior to February 15, 2000 in an approved Special K‑12 certification program.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑653, eff. 7‑29‑98; 90‑811, eff. 1‑26‑99; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99; 91‑765, eff. 6‑9‑00.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑5) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑5)
    Sec. 21‑5. High school certificate.
    (a) A high school certificate shall be valid for 4 years for teaching in grades 6 to 12 inclusive of the common schools. Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, it shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree and with not fewer than 120 semester hours including 16 semester hours in professional education, 5 of which shall be in student teaching under competent and close supervision and with one or more teaching fields. Such persons shall be recommended for the high school certificate by a recognized institution as having completed an approved program of preparation which includes the academic and professional courses approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b) Beginning February 15, 2000, Initial and Standard Secondary Certificates shall be issued to persons who meet all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education for secondary education.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 90‑811, eff. 1‑26‑99; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑5a) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑5a)
    Sec. 21‑5a. Alternative math‑science certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an alternative certification program under which persons who qualify for admission to, and who successfully complete the program and meet the additional requirements established by this Section shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching mathematics, science or mathematics and science in grades 9 through 12 of the common schools. In establishing an alternative certification program under this Section, the State Board of Education shall designate an appropriate area within the State where the program shall be offered and made available to persons qualified for admission to the program. In addition, the State Board of Education, in cooperation with one or more recognized institutions of higher learning, shall develop a comprehensive course of study that persons admitted to the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of an initial certificate under this Section. The comprehensive course of study so developed shall include one semester of practice teaching.
    An initial teaching certificate, valid for 4 years for teaching mathematics, science or mathematics and science in grades 9 through 12 of the common schools and renewable as provided in Section 21‑14, shall be issued under this Section 21‑5a to persons who qualify for admission to the alternative certification program and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate under this Section:
        (1) have graduated with a master's degree in
    
mathematics or any science discipline from an institution of higher learning whose scholarship standards are approved by the State Board of Education for purposes of the alternative certification program;
        (2) have been employed for at least 10 years in an
    
area requiring knowledge and practical application of their academic background in mathematics or a science discipline;
        (3) have successfully completed the alternative
    
certification program and the course of comprehensive study, including one semester of practice teaching, developed as part of the program as provided in this Section and approved by the State Board of Education; and
        (4) have passed the examinations required by Section
    
21‑1a.
    The alternative certification program shall be implemented at the commencement of the 1992‑1993 academic year.
    The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for admission to the alternative certification program and shall adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and implement the program.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑5b)
    Sec. 21‑5b. Alternative certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an alternative certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued an alternative teaching certificate for teaching in the schools. The program shall be limited to not more than 260 new participants during each year that the program is in effect. The State Board of Education, in cooperation with a partnership formed with a university that offers 4‑year baccalaureate and masters degree programs and that is a recognized institution as defined in Section 21‑21 and one or more not‑for‑profit organizations in the State which support excellence in teaching, shall within 30 days after submission by the partnership approve a course of study developed by the partnership that persons in the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of an alternative certificate under this Section. The Alternative Teacher Certification program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in the university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as the requirement for State teacher certification.
    The alternative certification program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Teacher Certification program. The Alternative Teacher Certification Program shall be offered by the submitting partnership and may be offered in conjunction with one or more not‑for‑profit organizations in the State which support excellence in teaching. The program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) the first phase is the course of study offered on an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the second phase is the person's assignment to a full‑time teaching position for one school year; and (c) the third phase is a comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance by school officials and the partnership participants and a recommendation by the partner institution of higher education to the State Board of Education that the person be issued a standard alternative teaching certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Teacher Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.
    A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21‑5b to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching certificate under this Section:
        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
    
university with a bachelor's degree;
        (2) have successfully completed the first phase of
    
the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section;
        (3) have passed the tests of basic skills and
    
subject matter knowledge required by Section 21‑1a; and
        (4) have been employed for a period of at least 5
    
years in an area requiring application of the individual's education; however, this requirement does not apply with respect to a provisional alternative teaching certificate for teaching in schools situated in a school district that is located in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
    A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining representative, if any.
    Until February 15, 2000, a standard alternative teaching certificate, valid for 4 years for teaching in the schools and renewable as provided in Section 21‑14, shall be issued under this Section 21‑5b to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for a standard alternative teaching certificate under this Section have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section. Alternatively, beginning February 15, 2000, at the end of the 4‑year validity period, persons who were issued a standard alternative teaching certificate shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of Section 21‑2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 of this Code and further provided that a person who does not apply for and receive a Standard Teaching Certificate shall be able to teach only in schools situated in a school district that is located in a city having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
    Beginning February 15, 2000, persons who have completed the requirements for a standard alternative teaching certificate under this Section shall be issued an Initial Alternative Teaching Certificate valid for 4 years of teaching and not renewable. At the end of the 4‑year validity period, these persons shall be eligible, on the same basis as holders of an Initial Teaching Certificate issued under subsection (b) of Section 21‑2 of this Code, to apply for a Standard Teaching Certificate, provided they meet the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 21‑2.
    This alternative certification program shall be implemented so that the first provisional alternative teaching certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1997‑1998 academic year and the first standard alternative teaching certificates issued under this Section are effective upon the commencement of the 1998‑1999 academic year.
    The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the partnership establishing the Alternative Teacher Certification program, shall adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board of Education deems necessary to establish and implement the program.
(Source: P.A. 91‑609, eff. 1‑1‑00.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑5c)
    Sec. 21‑5c. Alternative route to teacher certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall establish and implement an alternative route to teacher certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued an initial teaching certificate for teaching in schools in this State. The State Board of Education shall approve a course of study that persons in the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in a university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as the requirement for State teacher certification.
    The program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program. The program may be offered in conjunction with one or more not‑for‑profit organizations in the State. The program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on an intensive basis in education theory, instructional methods, and practice teaching; (b) the person's assignment to a full‑time teaching position for one school year, including the designation of a mentor teacher to advise and assist the person with that teaching assignment; and (c) a comprehensive assessment of the person's teaching performance by school officials and program participants and a recommendation by the institution of higher education to the State Board of Education that the person be issued an initial teaching certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other practice or student teaching and subject matter requirements established by law.
    A provisional alternative teaching certificate, valid for one year of teaching in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21‑5c to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative teaching certificate under this Section:
        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
    
university with a bachelor's degree;
        (2) have been employed for a period of at least 5
    
years in an area requiring application of the individual's education;
        (3) have successfully completed the first phase of
    
the Alternative Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section; and
        (4) have passed the tests of basic skills and
    
subject matter knowledge required by Section 21‑1a.
    An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21‑3 or 21‑5 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route to Teacher Certification program as provided in this Section.
    A person possessing a provisional alternative certificate or an initial teaching certificate earned under this Section shall be treated as a regularly certified teacher for purposes of compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment afforded teachers in the school who are members of a bargaining unit represented by an exclusive bargaining representative, if any.
    The State Board of Education may adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the program.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑5d)
    Sec. 21‑5d. Alternative route to administrative certification. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and an advisory panel consisting of no less than 7 administrators appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, shall establish and implement an alternative route to administrative certification program under which persons who meet the requirements of and successfully complete the program established by this Section shall be issued a standard administrative certificate for serving as an administrator in schools in this State. For the purposes of this Section only, "administrator" means a person holding any administrative position for which a standard administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement, chief school business official endorsement, or superintendent endorsement is required, except a principal or an assistant principal. The State Board of Education shall approve a course of study that persons in the program must successfully complete in order to satisfy one criterion for issuance of a certificate under this Section. The Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program course of study must include the current content and skills contained in a university's current courses for State certification which have been approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, as the requirement for administrative certification.
    The program established under this Section shall be known as the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program. The program shall be comprised of the following 3 phases: (a) a course of study offered on an intensive basis in education management, governance, organization, and planning; (b) the person's assignment to a full‑time position for one school year as an administrator; and (c) a comprehensive assessment of the person's performance by school officials and a recommendation to the State Board of Education that the person be issued a standard administrative certificate. Successful completion of the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program shall be deemed to satisfy any other supervisory, administrative, or management experience requirements established by law.
    A provisional alternative administrative certificate, valid for one year of serving as an administrator in the common schools and not renewable, shall be issued under this Section 21‑5d to persons who at the time of applying for the provisional alternative administrative certificate under this Section:
        (1) have graduated from an accredited college or
    
university with a master's degree in a management field or with a bachelor's degree and the life experience equivalent of a master's degree in a management field as determined by the State Board of Education;
        (2) have been employed for a period of at least 5
    
years in a management level position;
        (3) have successfully completed the first phase of
    
the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program as provided in this Section; and
        (4) have passed any examination required by the
    
State Board of Education.
    A standard administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement, chief school business official endorsement, or superintendent endorsement, renewable as provided in Section 21‑14, shall be issued under Section 21‑7.1 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative administrative certificate and who at the time of applying for a standard administrative certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification program as provided in this Section.
    The State Board of Education may adopt rules and regulations that are consistent with this Section and that the State Board deems necessary to establish and implement the program.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑7.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑7.1)
    Sec. 21‑7.1. Administrative certificate.
    (a) After July 1, 1999, an administrative certificate valid for 5 years of supervising and administering in the public common schools (unless changed under subsection (a‑5) of this Section) may be issued to persons who have graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning with a master's degree and who have been recommended by a recognized institution of higher learning as having completed a program of preparation for one or more of these endorsements. Such programs of academic and professional preparation required for endorsement shall be administered by the institution in accordance with standards set forth by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (a‑5) Beginning July 1, 2003, if an administrative certificate holder holds a Standard Teaching Certificate, the validity period of the administrative certificate shall be changed, if necessary, so that the validity period of the administrative certificate coincides with the validity period of the Standard Teaching Certificate. Beginning July 1, 2003, if an administrative certificate holder holds a Master Teaching Certificate, the validity period of the administrative certificate shall be changed so that the validity period of the administrative certificate coincides with the validity period of the Master Teaching Certificate.
    (b) No administrative certificate shall be issued for the first time after June 30, 1987 and no endorsement provided for by this Section shall be made or affixed to an administrative certificate for the first time after June 30, 1987 unless the person to whom such administrative certificate is to be issued or to whose administrative certificate such endorsement is to be affixed has been required to demonstrate as a part of a program of academic or professional preparation for such certification or endorsement: (i) an understanding of the knowledge called for in establishing productive parent‑school relationships and of the procedures fostering the involvement which such relationships demand; and (ii) an understanding of the knowledge required for establishing a high quality school climate and promoting good classroom organization and management, including rules of conduct and instructional procedures appropriate to accomplishing the tasks of schooling; and (iii) a demonstration of the knowledge and skills called for in providing instructional leadership. The standards for demonstrating an understanding of such knowledge shall be set forth by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and shall be administered by the recognized institutions of higher learning as part of the programs of academic and professional preparation required for certification and endorsement under this Section. As used in this subsection: "establishing productive parent‑school relationships" means the ability to maintain effective communication between parents and school personnel, to encourage parental involvement in schooling, and to motivate school personnel to engage parents in encouraging student achievement, including the development of programs and policies which serve to accomplish this purpose; and "establishing a high quality school climate" means the ability to promote academic achievement, to maintain discipline, to recognize substance abuse problems among students and utilize appropriate law enforcement and other community resources to address these problems, to support teachers and students in their education endeavors, to establish learning objectives and to provide instructional leadership, including the development of policies and programs which serve to accomplish this purpose; and "providing instructional leadership" means the ability to effectively evaluate school personnel, to possess general communication and interpersonal skills, and to establish and maintain appropriate classroom learning environments. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to or affect the initial issuance or making on or before June 30, 1987 of any administrative certificate or endorsement provided for under this Section, nor shall such provisions apply to or affect the renewal after June 30, 1987 of any such certificate or endorsement initially issued or made on or before June 30, 1987.
    (c) Administrative certificates shall be renewed every 5 years with the first renewal being 5 years following the initial receipt of an administrative certificate, unless the validity period for the administrative certificate has been changed under subsection (a‑5) of this Section, in which case the certificate shall be renewed at the same time that the Standard or Master Teaching Certificate is renewed.
    (c‑5) Before July 1, 2003, renewal requirements for administrators whose positions require certification shall be based upon evidence of continuing professional education which promotes the following goals: (1) improving administrators' knowledge of instructional practices and administrative procedures; (2) maintaining the basic level of competence required for initial certification; and (3) improving the mastery of skills and knowledge regarding the improvement of teaching performance in clinical settings and assessment of the levels of student performance in their schools. Evidence of continuing professional education must include verification of biennial attendance in a program developed by the Illinois Administrators' Academy and verification of annual participation in a school district approved activity which contributes to continuing professional education.
    (c‑10) Beginning July 1, 2003, except as otherwise provided in subsection (c‑15) of this Section, persons holding administrative certificates must follow the certificate renewal procedure set forth in this subsection (c‑10), provided that those persons holding administrative certificates on June 30, 2003 who are renewing those certificates on or after July 1, 2003 shall be issued new administrative certificates valid for 5 years (unless changed under subsection (a‑5) of this Section), which may be renewed thereafter as set forth in this subsection (c‑10).
    A person holding an administrative certificate and
    
employed in a position requiring administrative certification, including a regional superintendent of schools, must satisfy the continuing professional development requirements of this Section to renew his or her administrative certificate. The continuing professional development must include without limitation the following continuing professional development purposes:
        (1) To improve the administrator's knowledge of
    
instructional practices and administrative procedures in accordance with the Illinois Professional School Leader Standards.
        (2) To maintain the basic level of competence
    
required for initial certification.
        (3) To improve the administrator's mastery of skills
    
and knowledge regarding the improvement of teaching performance in clinical settings and assessment of the levels of student performance in the schools.
    The continuing professional development must include the
    
following in order for the certificate to be renewed:
        (A) Participation in continuing professional
    
development activities, which must total a minimum of 100 hours of continuing professional development. The participation must consist of a minimum of 5 activities per validity period of the certificate, and the certificate holder must maintain documentation of completion of each activity.
        (B) Participation every year in an Illinois
    
Administrators' Academy course, which participation must total a minimum of 30 continuing professional development hours during the period of the certificate's validity and which must include completion of applicable required coursework, including completion of a communication, dissemination, or application component, as defined by the State Board of Education.
    The certificate holder must complete a verification form
    
developed by the State Board of Education and certify that 100 hours of continuing professional development activities and 5 Administrators' Academy courses have been completed. The regional superintendent of schools shall review and validate the verification form for a certificate holder. Based on compliance with all of the requirements for renewal, the regional superintendent of schools shall forward a recommendation for renewal or non‑renewal to the State Superintendent of Education and shall notify the certificate holder of the recommendation. The State Superintendent of Education shall review the recommendation to renew or non‑renew and shall notify, in writing, the certificate holder of a decision denying renewal of his or her certificate. Any decision regarding non‑renewal of an administrative certificate may be appealed to the State Teacher Certification Board.
    The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall adopt rules to implement this subsection (c‑10).
    The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor the process for renewal of administrative certificates established in this subsection (c‑10).
    (c‑15) This subsection (c‑15) applies to the first period of an administrative certificate's validity during which the holder becomes subject to the requirements of subsection (c‑10) of this Section if the certificate has less than 5 years' validity or has less than 5 years' validity remaining when the certificate holder becomes subject to the requirements of subsection (c‑10) of this Section. With respect to this period, the 100 hours of continuing professional development and 5 activities per validity period specified in clause (A) of subsection (c‑10) of this Section shall instead be deemed to mean 20 hours of continuing professional development and one activity per year of the certificate's validity or remaining validity and the 30 continuing professional development hours specified in clause (B) of subsection (c‑10) of this Section shall instead be deemed to mean completion of at least one course per year of the certificate's validity or remaining validity. Certificate holders who evaluate certified staff must complete a 2‑day teacher evaluation course, in addition to the 30 continuing professional development hours.
    (c‑20) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall develop procedures for implementing this Section and shall administer the renewal of administrative certificates. Failure to submit satisfactory evidence of continuing professional education which contributes to promoting the goals of this Section shall result in a loss of administrative certification.
    (d) Any limited or life supervisory certificate issued prior to July 1, 1968 shall continue to be valid for all administrative and supervisory positions in the public schools for which it is valid as of that date as long as its holder meets the requirements for registration or renewal as set forth in the statutes or until revoked according to law.
    (e) The administrative or supervisory positions for which the certificate shall be valid shall be determined by one or more of 3 endorsements: general supervisory, general administrative and superintendent.
    Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, endorsements shall be made under conditions set forth in this Section. The State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, adopt rules pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, establishing requirements for obtaining administrative certificates where the minimum administrative or supervisory requirements surpass those set forth in this Section.
    The State Teacher Certification Board shall file with the State Board of Education a written recommendation when considering additional administrative or supervisory requirements. All additional requirements shall be based upon the requisite knowledge necessary to perform those tasks required by the certificate. The State Board of Education shall in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, establish standards within its rules which shall include the academic and professional requirements necessary for certification. These standards shall at a minimum contain, but not be limited to, those used by the State Board of Education in determining whether additional knowledge will be required. Additionally, the State Board of Education shall in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, establish provisions within its rules whereby any member of the educational community or the public may file a formal written recommendation or inquiry regarding requirements.
        (1) Until July 1, 2003, the general supervisory
    
endorsement shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who has at least 16 semester hours of graduate credit in professional education including 8 semester hours of graduate credit in curriculum and research and who has at least 2 years of full‑time teaching experience or school service personnel experience in public schools, schools under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, schools under the administration of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the standards established by the State Superintendent of Education or comparable out‑of‑state recognition standards approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
        Such endorsement shall be required for supervisors,
    
curriculum directors and for such similar and related positions as determined by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
        (2) The general administrative endorsement shall be
    
affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who has at least 20 semester hours of graduate credit in educational administration and supervision and who has at least 2 years of full‑time teaching experience or school service personnel experience in public schools, schools under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, schools under the administration of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, or nonpublic schools meeting the standards established by the State Superintendent of Education or comparable out‑of‑state recognition standards approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
        Such endorsement shall be required for principal,
    
assistant principal, assistant or associate superintendent, junior college dean and for related or similar positions as determined by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
        Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act,
    
after January 1, 1990 and until January 1, 1991, any teacher employed by a district subject to Article 34 shall be entitled to receive an administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement affixed thereto if he or she: (i) had at least 3 years of experience as a certified teacher for such district prior to August 1, 1985; (ii) obtained a Master's degree prior to August 1, 1985; (iii) completed at least 20 hours of graduate credit in education courses (including at least 12 hours in educational administration and supervision) prior to September 1, 1987; and (iv) has received a rating of superior for at least each of the last 5 years. Any person who obtains an administrative certificate with a general administrative endorsement affixed thereto under this paragraph shall not be qualified to serve in any administrative position except assistant principal.
        (3) The chief school business official endorsement
    
shall be affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who qualifies by having a Master's degree, two years of administrative experience in school business management, and a minimum of 20 semester hours of graduate credit in a program established by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board for the preparation of school business administrators. Such endorsement shall also be affixed to the administrative certificate of any holder who qualifies by having a Master's Degree in Business Administration, Finance or Accounting from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
        After June 30, 1977, such endorsement shall be
    
required for any individual first employed as a chief school business official.
        (4) The superintendent endorsement shall be affixed
    
to the administrative certificate of any holder who has completed 30 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the master's degree in a program for the preparation of superintendents of schools including 16 semester hours of graduate credit in professional education and who has at least 2 years experience as an administrator or supervisor in the public schools or the State Board of Education or education service regions or in nonpublic schools meeting the standards established by the State Superintendent of Education or comparable out‑of‑state recognition standards approved by the State Superintendent of Education and holds general supervisory or general administrative endorsement, or who has had 2 years of experience as a supervisor or administrator while holding an all‑grade supervisory certificate or a certificate comparable in validity and educational and experience requirements.
        After June 30, 1968, such endorsement shall be
    
required for a superintendent of schools, except as provided in the second paragraph of this Section and in Section 34‑6.
        Any person appointed to the position of
    
superintendent between the effective date of this Act and June 30, 1993 in a school district organized pursuant to Article 32 with an enrollment of at least 20,000 pupils shall be exempt from the provisions of this paragraph (4) until June 30, 1996.
    (f) All official interpretations or acts of issuing or denying administrative certificates or endorsements by the State Teacher's Certification Board, State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Education, from the passage of P.A. 81‑1208 on November 8, 1979 through September 24, 1981 are hereby declared valid and legal acts in all respects and further that the purported repeal of the provisions of this Section by P.A. 81‑1208 and P.A. 81‑1509 is declared null and void.
(Source: P.A. 92‑796, eff. 8‑10‑02; 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑9) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑9)
    Sec. 21‑9. Substitute certificates and substitute teaching.
    (a) A substitute teacher's certificate may be issued for teaching in all grades of the common schools. Such certificate may be issued upon request of the regional superintendent of schools of any region in which the teacher is to teach. A substitute teacher's certificate is valid for teaching in the public schools of any county. Such certificate may be issued to persons who either (a) hold a certificate valid for teaching in the common schools as shown on the face of the certificate, (b) hold a bachelor of arts degree from an institution of higher learning accredited by the North Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting association or have been graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with a bachelor's degree, or (c) have had 2 years of teaching experience and meet such other rules and regulations as may be adopted by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Such certificate shall expire on June 30 in the fourth year from date of issue. Substitute teacher's certificates are not subject to endorsement as described in Section 21‑1b of this Code.
    (b) A teacher holding a substitute teacher's certificate may teach only in the place of a certified teacher who is under contract with the employing board and may teach only when no appropriate fully certified teacher is available to teach in a substitute capacity. A teacher holding an early childhood certificate, an elementary certificate, a high school certificate, or a special certificate may also substitute teach in grades K‑12 but only in the place of a certified teacher who is under contract with the employing board. A substitute teacher may teach only for a period not to exceed 90 paid school days or 450 paid school hours in any one school district in any one school term. However, a teacher holding an early childhood, elementary, high school, or special certificate may substitute teach for a period not to exceed 120 paid school days or 600 paid school hours in any one school district in any one school term. Where such teaching is partly on a daily and partly on an hourly basis, a school day shall be considered as 5 hours. The teaching limitations imposed by this subsection upon teachers holding substitute certificates shall not apply in any school district operating under Article 34.
(Source: P.A. 92‑184, eff. 7‑27‑01; 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑10) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑10)
    Sec. 21‑10. Provisional certificate.
    (A) Until July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification Board may issue a provisional certificate valid for teaching in elementary, high school or special subject fields subject to the following conditions:
    A provisional certificate may be issued to a person who presents certified evidence of having earned a bachelor's degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. The academic and professional courses offered as a basis of the provisional certificate shall be courses approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    A certificate earned under this plan may be renewed at the end of each two‑year period upon evidence filed with the State Teacher Certification Board that the holder has earned 8 semester hours of credit within the period; provided the requirements for the certificate of the same type issued for the teaching position for which the teacher is employed shall be met by the end of the second renewal period. A second provisional certificate shall not be issued. The credits so earned must be approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board and must meet the general pattern for a similar type of certificate issued on the basis of credit. No more than 4 semester hours shall be chosen from elective subjects.
    (B) After July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification Board may issue a provisional certificate valid for teaching in early childhood, elementary, high school or special subject fields, or for providing service as school service personnel or for administering schools subject to the following conditions: A provisional certificate may be issued to a person who meets the requirements for a regular teaching, school service personnel or administrative certificate in another State and who presents certified evidence of having earned a bachelor's degree from a recognized institution of higher learning. The academic and professional courses offered as a basis of the provisional certificate shall be courses approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A certificate earned under this plan is valid for a period of 2 years and shall not be renewed; however, the individual to whom this certificate is issued shall have passed or shall pass the examinations set forth by the State Board of Education within 9 months of the date of issuance of the provisional certificate. Failure to pass the tests, required in Section 21‑1a, shall result in the cancellation of the provisional certificate.
    (C) The State Teacher Certification Board may also issue a provisional vocational certificate and a temporary provisional vocational certificate.
        (1) The requirements for a provisional vocational
    
certificate shall be determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board; provided, the following minimum requirements are met: (a) after July 1, 1972, at least 30 semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of higher learning; and (b) after July 1, 1974, at least 60 semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of higher learning.
        (2) The requirements for a temporary provisional
    
vocational certificate shall be determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board; provided, the following minimum requirements are met: (a) after July 1, 1973, at least 4,000 hours of work experience in the skill to be certified for teaching; and (b) after July 1, 1975, at least 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill to be certified for teaching. Any certificate issued under the provisions of this paragraph shall expire on June 30 following the date of issue. Renewals may be granted on a yearly basis, but shall not be granted to any person who does not file with the State Teacher Certification Board a transcript showing at least 3 semester hours of credit earned during the previous year in a recognized institution of learning. No such certificate shall be issued except upon certification by the employing board, subject to the approval of the regional superintendent of schools, that no qualified teacher holding a regular certificate or a provisional vocational certificate is available and that actual circumstances and need require such issuance.
    The courses or work experience offered as a basis for the issuance of the provisional vocational certificate or the temporary provisional vocational certificate shall be approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (D) Until July 1, 1972, the State Teacher Certification Board may also issue a provisional foreign language certificate valid for 4 years for teaching the foreign language named therein in all grades of the common schools and shall be issued to persons who have graduated from a recognized institution of higher learning with not fewer than 120 semester hours of credit and who have met other requirements as determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. If the holder of a provisional foreign language certificate is not a citizen of the United States within 6 years of the date of issuance of the original certificate, such certificate shall be suspended by the regional superintendent of schools of the region in which the holder is engaged to teach and shall not be reinstated until the holder is a citizen of the United States.
    (E) Notwithstanding anything in this Act to the contrary, the State Teacher Certification Board shall issue part‑time provisional certificates to eligible individuals who are professionals and craftsmen.
    The requirements for a part‑time provisional teachers certificate shall be determined by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, provided the following minimum requirements are met: 60 semester hours of credit from a recognized institution of higher learning or 4000 hours of work experience in the skill to be certified for teaching.
    A part‑time provisional certificate may be issued for teaching no more than 2 courses of study for grades 6 through 12.
    A part‑time provisional teachers certificate shall be valid for 2 years and may be renewed at the end of each 2 year period.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 91‑357, eff. 7‑29‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑11) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑11)
    Sec. 21‑11. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81‑1508. Repealed by P.A. 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑11.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑11.1)
    Sec. 21‑11.1. Certificates for equivalent qualifications. An applicant who holds or is eligible to hold a teacher's certificate or license under the laws of another state or territory of the United States may be granted a corresponding teacher's certificate in Illinois on the written authorization of the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board upon the following conditions:
        (1) That the applicant is at least 19 years of age,
    
is of good character, of good health, and a citizen of the United States or legally present and authorized for employment; and
        (2) That the requirements for a similar teacher's
    
certificate in the particular state or territory were, at the date of issuance of the certificate, substantially equal to the requirements in force at the time the application is made for the certificate in this State.
    After January 1, 1988, in addition to satisfying the foregoing conditions and requirements, an applicant for a corresponding teaching certificate in Illinois also shall be required to pass the examinations required under the provisions of Section 21‑1a as directed by the State Board of Education.
    In determining good character under this Section, any felony conviction of the applicant may be taken into consideration, but the conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration.
    The State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall prescribe rules and regulations establishing the similarity of certificates in other states and the standards for determining the equivalence of requirements.
(Source: P.A. 93‑572, eff. 1‑1‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑11.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑11.2)
    Sec. 21‑11.2. Additional certificates ‑ Experienced Employed Teachers. Experienced certified teachers employed in Illinois public or private elementary and secondary schools seeking additional teaching certificates as provided in Sections 21‑2.1, 21‑3, 21‑4 and 21‑5 may submit an application for evaluation of credentials to the State Teacher Certification Board. Individuals obtaining a certificate by transcript evaluation shall meet the minimum requirements for the certificate as approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
(Source: P.A. 82‑911.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑11.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑11.3)
    Sec. 21‑11.3. Resident teacher certificate. A resident teacher certificate shall be valid for 4 years for employment as a resident teacher in a public school. It shall be issued only to persons who have graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a bachelor's degree, who are enrolled in a program of preparation approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, and who have passed the appropriate tests as required in Section 21‑1a and as determined by the State Board of Education. A resident teacher certificate may be issued for teaching children through grade 3 or for grades K‑9, 6‑12, or K‑12 in a special subject area and may not be renewed. A resident teacher may teach only under the direction of a certified teacher as the resident teacher's mentor and shall not teach in place of a certified teacher. The holder of a resident teacher certificate shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements for the issuance of a Standard Teaching Certificate if he or she has completed 4 years of successful teaching, has passed all appropriate tests, and has earned a master's degree in education.
(Source: P.A. 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99; 92‑560, eff. 6‑24‑02.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑11.4)
    Sec. 21‑11.4. Illinois Teacher Corps.
    (a) The General Assembly finds and determines that (i) it is important to encourage the entry of qualified professionals into elementary and secondary teaching as a second career; and (ii) there are a number of individuals who have bachelors' degrees, experience in the work force, and an interest in serving youth that creates a special talent pool with great potential for enriching the lives of Illinois children as teachers. To provide this talent pool with the opportunity to serve children as teachers, school districts, colleges, and universities are encouraged, as part of the public policy of this State, to enter into collaborative programs to educate and induct these non‑traditional candidates into the teaching profession. To facilitate the certification of such candidates, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall assist institutions of higher education and school districts with the implementation of the Illinois Teacher Corps.
    (b) Individuals who wish to become candidates for the Illinois Teacher Corps program must earn a resident teacher certificate as defined in Section 21‑11.3, including:
        (1) graduation from a regionally accredited
    
institution of higher education with a bachelor's degree and at least a 3.00 out of a 4.00 grade point average;
        (2) a minimum of 5 years of professional experience
    
in the area the candidate wishes to teach;
        (3) passing the examinations required by the State
    
Board of Education;
        (4) enrollment in a Masters of Education Degree
    
program approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board; and
        (5) completion of a 6 week summer intensive teacher
    
preparation course which is the first component of the Masters Degree program.
    (c) School districts may hire an Illinois Teacher Corps candidate after the candidate has received his or her resident teacher certificate. The school district has the responsibility of ensuring that the candidates receive the supports necessary to become qualified, competent and productive teachers. To be eligible to participate in the Illinois Teacher Corps program, school districts must provide a minimum of the following supports to the candidates:
        (1) a salary and benefits package as negotiated
    
through the teacher contracts;
        (2) a mentor certified teacher who will provide
    
guidance to one or more candidates under a program developed collaboratively by the school district and university;
        (3) at least quarterly evaluations performed of each
    
candidate jointly by the mentor teacher and the principal of the school or the principal's designee; and
        (4) a written and signed document from the school
    
district outlining the support the district intends to provide to the candidates, for approval by the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (d) Illinois institutions of higher education shall work collaboratively with school districts and the State Teacher Certification Board to academically prepare the candidates for the teaching profession. To be eligible to participate, the College or School of Education of a participating Illinois institution of higher education must develop a curriculum that provides, upon completion, a Masters Degree in Education for the candidates. The Masters Degree program must:
        (1) receive approval from the State Teacher
    
Certification Board; and
        (2) take no longer than 3 summers and 2 academic
    
years to complete, and balance the needs and time constraints of the candidates.
    (e) Upon successful completion of the Masters Degree program, the candidate receives an Initial Teaching Certificate in the State of Illinois.
    (f) If an individual wishes to become a candidate in the Illinois Teacher Corps program, but does not possess 5 years of professional experience, the individual may qualify for the program by participating in a one year internship teacher preparation program with a school district. The one year internship shall be developed collaboratively by the school district and the Illinois institution of higher education, and shall be approved by the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (g) The State Board of Education is authorized to award grants to school districts that seek to prepare candidates for the teaching profession who have bachelors' degrees and professional work experience in subjects relevant to teaching fields, but who do not have formal preparation for teaching. Grants may be made to school districts for up to $3,000 per candidate when the school district, in cooperation with a public or private university and the school district's teacher bargaining unit, develop a program designed to prepare teachers pursuant to the Illinois Teacher Corps program under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 90‑548, eff. 1‑1‑98; 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑12)(from Ch. 122, par. 21‑12)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 93‑679)
    Sec. 21‑12. Printing; Seal; Signature; Credentials. All certificates shall be printed by and bear the signatures of the chairman and of the secretary of the State Teacher Certification Board. Each certificate shall show the integrally printed seal of the State Teacher Certification Board. All college credentials offered as the basis of a certificate shall be presented to the secretary of the State Teacher Certification Board for inspection and approval.
    Commencing July 1, 1999, each application for a certificate or evaluation of credentials shall be accompanied by an evaluation fee of $30 payable to the State Superintendent of Education, which is not refundable, except that no application or evaluation fee shall be required for a Master Certificate issued pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 21‑2 of this Code. The proceeds of each $30 fee shall be paid into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund, created under Section 21‑1b of this Code; and the moneys in that Fund shall be appropriated and used to provide the technology and other resources necessary for the timely and efficient processing of certification requests.
    The State Board of Education and each regional office of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not exceed the amount required by the credit card processing company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the State Board or regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.
    When evaluation verifies the requirements for a valid certificate, the applicant shall be issued an entitlement card that may be presented to a regional superintendent of schools for issuance of a certificate.
    The applicant shall be notified of any deficiencies.
(Source: P.A. 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 93‑1036)
    Sec. 21‑12. Printing; Seal; Signature; Credentials. All certificates shall be printed by and bear the signatures of the chairman and of the secretary of the State Teacher Certification Board. Each certificate shall show the integrally printed seal of the State Teacher Certification Board. All college credentials offered as the basis of a certificate shall be presented to the secretary of the State Teacher Certification Board for inspection and approval. The regional superintendent of schools, however, has the duty, after appropriate training, to accept and review all transcripts for new initial certificate applications and ensure that each applicant has met all of the criteria established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    Commencing July 1, 1999, each application for a certificate or evaluation of credentials shall be accompanied by an evaluation fee of $30 payable to the State Superintendent of Education, which is not refundable, except that no application or evaluation fee shall be required for a Master Certificate issued pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 21‑2 of this Code. The proceeds of each $30 fee shall be paid into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund, created under Section 21‑1b of this Code; and the moneys in that Fund shall be appropriated and used to provide the technology and other resources necessary for the timely and efficient processing of certification requests.
    When evaluation verifies the requirements for a valid certificate, the applicant shall be issued an entitlement card that may be presented to a regional superintendent of schools for issuance of a certificate.
    The applicant shall be notified of any deficiencies.
(Source: P.A. 93‑1036, eff. 9‑14‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑13) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑13)
    Sec. 21‑13. State Teacher Certification Board ‑ Examinations ‑ Issuance of certificates.) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Article with regard to certificates there is hereby created a State Teacher Certification Board to consist of the State Superintendent of Education, or a representative appointed by him, who shall be ex‑officio chairman, 5 administrative or faculty members of public or private colleges or universities located in Illinois, 3 administrators and 8 classroom teachers (increased to 10 classroom teachers beginning July 1, 1992) in the public schools and one regional superintendent of schools, each to be appointed by the State Board of Education; provided, that at least one of the administrators and at least 2 of the classroom teachers (increased to at least 3 classroom teachers beginning July 1, 1992) so appointed shall be employees of a school district which is subject to the provisions of Article 34. A candidate may be nominated for a vacant teacher's position on the State Teacher Certification Board by filing with the State Board of Education a petition signed by 250 persons holding valid teaching certificates. Any professional teachers' organization may submit one candidate for nomination for each vacancy for each 20,000, or major portion thereof, members of that organization who hold valid teaching certificates. The nominations submitted to the State Board of Education under this Section to fill a vacancy or an expiring term shall be advisory. Nomination for Board members must be submitted to the State Board of Education within 90 days after the vacancy or vacancies occur. If no nominations are received by the State Board of Education for a vacancy within such 90 day period, the State Board of Education may appoint any qualified person to fill the vacancy. Nominations to fill an expiring term in a teacher's position must be submitted to the State Board of Education at least 30 days before the expiration of such term. The regular term of each member is 3 years. The 2 additional classroom teacher members added by this amendatory Act of 1991 shall be appointed by the State Board of Education within 90 days after the effective date of that Act, each to terms commencing on July 1, 1992; provided that the additional classroom teacher members so appointed shall determine staggered terms of 1 and 3 years by lot, and their successors shall then serve regular terms of 3 years. The term of an appointed member of the State Teacher Certification Board shall expire on June 30 of its final year.
    The State Board of Education shall appoint a secretary of the Board.
    The Board shall hold regular meetings at least quarterly, and such other special meetings as may be necessary.
    The necessary expenses of the State Teacher Certification Board shall be provided through the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education in consultation with the Board may make and prescribe rules necessary for the administration of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 87‑694.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑14) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑14)
    Sec. 21‑14. Registration and renewal of certificates.
    (a) A limited four‑year certificate or a certificate issued after July 1, 1955, shall be renewable at its expiration or within 60 days thereafter by the county superintendent of schools having supervision and control over the school where the teacher is teaching upon certified evidence of meeting the requirements for renewal as required by this Act and prescribed by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. An elementary supervisory certificate shall not be renewed at the end of the first four‑year period covered by the certificate unless the holder thereof has filed certified evidence with the State Teacher Certification Board that he has a master's degree or that he has earned 8 semester hours of credit in the field of educational administration and supervision in a recognized institution of higher learning. The holder shall continue to earn 8 semester hours of credit each four‑year period until such time as he has earned a master's degree.
    All certificates not renewed or registered as herein provided shall lapse after a period of 5 years from the expiration of the last year of registration. Such certificates may be reinstated for a one year period upon payment of all accumulated registration fees. Such reinstated certificates shall only be renewed: (1) by earning 5 semester hours of credit in a recognized institution of higher learning in the field of professional education or in courses related to the holder's contractual teaching duties; or (2) by presenting evidence of holding a valid regular certificate of some other type. Any certificate may be voluntarily surrendered by the certificate holder. A voluntarily surrendered certificate shall be treated as a revoked certificate.
    (b) When those teaching certificates issued before February 15, 2000 are renewed for the first time after February 15, 2000, all such teaching certificates shall be exchanged for Standard Teaching Certificates as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21‑2. All Initial and Standard Teaching Certificates, including those issued to persons who previously held teaching certificates issued before February 15, 2000, shall be renewable under the conditions set forth in this subsection (b).
    Initial Teaching Certificates are valid for 4 years of teaching, as provided in subsection (b) of Section 21‑2 of this Code, and are renewable every 4 years until the person completes 4 years of teaching. If the holder of an Initial Certificate has completed 4 years of teaching but has not completed the requirements set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 of this Code, then the Initial Certificate may be reinstated for one year, during which the requirements must be met. A holder of an Initial Certificate who has not completed 4 years of teaching may continuously register the certificate for additional 4‑year periods without penalty. Initial Certificates that are not registered shall lapse consistent with subsection (a) of this Section and may be reinstated only in accordance with subsection (a). Standard Teaching Certificates are renewable every 5 years as provided in subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 and subsection (c) of this Section. For purposes of this Section, "teaching" is defined as employment and performance of services in an Illinois public or State‑operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control, in a certificated teaching position, or a charter school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law.
    (c) In compliance with subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 of this Code, which provides that a Standard Teaching Certificate may be renewed by the State Teacher Certification Board based upon proof of continuing professional development, the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board shall jointly:
        (1) establish a procedure for renewing Standard
    
Teaching Certificates, which shall include but not be limited to annual timelines for the renewal process and the components set forth in subsections (d) through (k) of this Section;
        (2) establish the standards for certificate renewal;
        (3) approve or disapprove the providers of
    
continuing professional development activities;
        (4) determine the maximum credit for each category
    
of continuing professional development activities, based upon recommendations submitted by a continuing professional development activity task force, which shall consist of 6 staff members from the State Board of Education, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, and 6 teacher representatives, 3 of whom are selected by the Illinois Education Association and 3 of whom are selected by the Illinois Federation of Teachers;
        (5) designate the type and amount of documentation
    
required to show that continuing professional development activities have been completed; and
        (6) provide, on a timely basis to all Illinois
    
teachers, certificate holders, regional superintendents of schools, school districts, and others with an interest in continuing professional development, information about the standards and requirements established pursuant to this subsection (c).
    (d) Any Standard Teaching Certificate held by an individual employed and performing services in an Illinois public or State‑operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control in a certificated teaching position or a charter school in compliance with the Charter Schools Law must be maintained Valid and Active through certificate renewal activities specified in the certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, provided that a holder of a Valid and Active certificate who is only employed on either a part‑time basis or day‑to‑day basis as a substitute teacher shall pay only the required registration fee to renew his or her certificate and maintain it as Valid and Active. All other Standard Teaching Certificates held may be maintained as Valid and Exempt through the registration process provided for in the certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section. A Valid and Exempt certificate must be immediately activated, through procedures developed jointly by the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board, upon the certificate holder becoming employed and performing services in an Illinois public or State‑operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control in a certificated teaching position or a charter school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law. A holder of a Valid and Exempt certificate may activate his or her certificate through procedures provided for in the certificate renewal procedure established pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.
    (e)(1) A Standard Teaching Certificate that has been maintained as Valid and Active for the 5 years of the certificate's validity shall be renewed as Valid and Active upon the certificate holder: (i) completing an advanced degree from an approved institution in an education‑related field; (ii) completing at least 8 semester hours of coursework as described in subdivision (B) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e); (iii) earning at least 24 continuing education units as described in subdivision (C) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e); (iv) completing the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards process as described in subdivision (D) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e); or (v) earning 120 continuing professional development units ("CPDU") as described in subdivision (E) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e). The maximum continuing professional development units for each continuing professional development activity identified in subdivisions (F) through (J) of paragraph (3) of this subsection (e) shall be jointly determined by the State Board of Education and the State Teacher Certification Board. If, however, the certificate holder has maintained the certificate as Valid and Exempt for a portion of the 5‑year period of validity, the number of continuing professional development units needed to renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be proportionately reduced by the amount of time the certificate was Valid and Exempt. Furthermore, if a certificate holder is employed and performs teaching services on a part‑time basis for all or a portion of the certificate's 5‑year period of validity, the number of continuing professional development units needed to renew the certificate as Valid and Active shall be reduced by 50% for the amount of time the certificate holder has been employed and performed teaching services on a part‑time basis. Part‑time shall be defined as less than 50% of the school day or school term.
    Notwithstanding any other requirements to the contrary, if a Standard Teaching Certificate has been maintained as Valid and Active for the 5 years of the certificate's validity and the certificate holder has completed his or her certificate renewal plan before July 1, 2002, the certificate shall be renewed as Valid and Active.
    (2) Beginning July 1, 2004, in order to satisfy the requirements for continuing professional development provided for in subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 of this Code, each Valid and Active Standard Teaching Certificate holder shall complete professional development activities that address the certificate or those certificates that are required of his or her certificated teaching position, if the certificate holder is employed and performing services in an Illinois public or State‑operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control, or that certificate or those certificates most closely related to his or her teaching position, if the certificate holder is employed in a charter school. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (e), the certificate holder's activities must address purposes (A), (B), (C), or (D) and must reflect purpose (E) of the following continuing professional development purposes:
        (A) Advance both the certificate holder's knowledge
    
and skills as a teacher consistent with the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and the Illinois Content Area Standards in the certificate holder's areas of certification, endorsement, or teaching assignment in order to keep the certificate holder current in those areas.
        (B) Develop the certificate holder's knowledge and
    
skills in areas determined to be critical for all Illinois teachers, as defined by the State Board of Education, known as "State priorities".
        (C) Address the knowledge, skills, and goals of the
    
certificate holder's local school improvement plan, if the teacher is employed in an Illinois public or State‑operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control.
        (D) Expand the certificate holder's knowledge and
    
skills in an additional teaching field or toward the acquisition of another teaching certificate, endorsement, or relevant education degree.
        (E) Address the needs of serving students with
    
disabilities, including adapting and modifying the general curriculum related to the Illinois Learning Standards to meet the needs of students with disabilities and serving such students in the least restrictive environment. Teachers who hold certificates endorsed for special education must devote at least 50% of their continuing professional development activities to this purpose. Teachers holding other certificates must devote at least 20% of their activities to this purpose.
    A speech‑language pathologist or audiologist who is licensed under the Illinois Speech‑Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act and who has met the continuing education requirements of that Act and the rules promulgated under that Act shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional development requirements established by the State Board of Education and the Teacher Certification Board to renew a Standard Certificate.
    (3) Continuing professional development activities may include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
        (A) completion of an advanced degree from an
    
approved institution in an education‑related field;
        (B) at least 8 semester hours of coursework in an
    
approved education‑related program, of which at least 2 semester hours relate to the continuing professional development purpose set forth in purpose (A) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (e), completion of which means no other continuing professional development activities are required;
        (C) continuing education units that satisfy the
    
continuing professional development purposes set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection (e), with each continuing education unit equal to 5 clock hours, provided that a plan that includes at least 24 continuing education units (or 120 clock/contact hours) need not include any other continuing professional development activities;
        (D) completion of the National Board for
    
Professional Teaching Standards ("NBPTS") process for certification or recertification, completion of which means no other continuing professional development activities are required;
        (E) completion of 120 continuing professional
    
development units that satisfy the continuing professional development purposes set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection (e) and may include without limitation the activities identified in subdivisions (F) through (J) of this paragraph (3);
        (F) collaboration and partnership activities related
    
to improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including the following:
            (i) participating on collaborative planning and
        
professional improvement teams and committees;
            (ii) peer review and coaching;
            (iii) mentoring in a formal mentoring program,
        
including service as a consulting teacher participating in a remediation process formulated under Section 24A‑5 of this Code;
            (iv) participating in site‑based management or
        
decision making teams, relevant committees, boards, or task forces directly related to school improvement plans;
            (v) coordinating community resources in schools,
        
if the project is a specific goal of the school improvement plan;
            (vi) facilitating parent education programs for
        
a school, school district, or regional office of education directly related to student achievement or school improvement plans;
            (vii) participating in business, school, or
        
community partnerships directly related to student achievement or school improvement plans; or
            (viii) supervising a student teacher or teacher
        
education candidate in clinical supervision, provided that the supervision may only be counted once during the course of 5 years;
        (G) college or university coursework related to
    
improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher as follows:
            (i) completing undergraduate or graduate credit
        
earned from a regionally accredited institution in coursework relevant to the certificate area being renewed, including coursework that incorporates induction activities and development of a portfolio of both student and teacher work that provides experience in reflective practices, provided the coursework meets Illinois Professional Teaching Standards or Illinois Content Area Standards and supports the essential characteristics of quality professional development; or
            (ii) teaching college or university courses in
        
areas relevant to the certificate area being renewed, provided that the teaching may only be counted once during the course of 5 years;
        (H) conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars,
    
and symposiums related to improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher, subject to disapproval of the activity or event by the State Teacher Certification Board acting jointly with the State Board of Education, including the following:
            (i) completing non‑university credit directly
        
related to student achievement, school improvement plans, or State priorities;
            (ii) participating in or presenting at
        
workshops, seminars, conferences, institutes, and symposiums;
            (iii) training as external reviewers for Quality
        
Assurance; or
            (iv) training as reviewers of university teacher
        
preparation programs.
    A teacher, however, may not receive credit for
    
conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, or symposiums that are designed for entertainment, promotional, or commercial purposes or that are solely inspirational or motivational. The State Superintendent of Education and regional superintendents of schools are authorized to review the activities and events provided or to be provided under this subdivision (H) and to investigate complaints regarding those activities and events, and either the State Superintendent of Education or a regional superintendent of schools may recommend that the State Teacher Certification Board and the State Board of Education jointly disapprove those activities and events considered to be inconsistent with this subdivision (H);
        (I) other educational experiences related to
    
improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including the following:
            (i) participating in action research and inquiry
        
projects;
            (ii) observing programs or teaching in schools,
        
related businesses, or industry that is systematic, purposeful, and relevant to certificate renewal;
            (iii) traveling related to one's teaching
        
assignment, directly related to student achievement or school improvement plans and approved by the regional superintendent of schools or his or her designee at least 30 days prior to the travel experience, provided that the traveling shall not include time spent commuting to destinations where the learning experience will occur;
            (iv) participating in study groups related to
        
student achievement or school improvement plans;
            (v) serving on a statewide education‑related
        
committee, including but not limited to the State Teacher Certification Board, State Board of Education strategic agenda teams, or the State Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities;
            (vi) participating in work/learn programs or
        
internships; or
            (vii) developing a portfolio of student and
        
teacher work;
        (J) professional leadership experiences related to
    
improving the teacher's knowledge and skills as a teacher, including the following:
            (i) participating in curriculum development or
        
assessment activities at the school, school district, regional office of education, State, or national level;
            (ii) participating in team or department
        
leadership in a school or school district;
            (iii) participating on external or internal
        
school or school district review teams;
            (iv) publishing educational articles, columns,
        
or books relevant to the certificate area being renewed; or
            (v) participating in non‑strike related
        
professional association or labor organization service or activities related to professional development;
        (K) receipt of a subsequent Illinois certificate or
    
endorsement pursuant to this Article; or
        (L) completion of requirements for meeting the
    
Illinois criteria for becoming "highly qualified" (for purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public Law 107‑110) in an additional teaching area.
        (M) Successful completion of 4 semester hours of
    
graduate‑level coursework on the assessment of one's own performance in relation to the Illinois Teaching Standards, as described in clause (B) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 of this Code.
        (N) Successful completion of a minimum of 4 semester
    
hours of graduate‑level coursework addressing preparation to meet the requirements for certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, as described in clause (C) of paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 of this Code.
    (4) A person must complete the requirements of this subsection (e) before the expiration of his or her Standard Teaching Certificate and must submit assurance to the regional superintendent of schools or, if applicable, a local professional development committee authorized by the regional superintendent to submit recommendations to him or her for this purpose. The statement of assurance shall contain a list of the activities completed, the provider offering each activity, the number of credits earned for each activity, and the purposes to which each activity is attributed. The certificate holder shall maintain the evidence of completion of each activity for at least one certificate renewal cycle. The certificate holder shall affirm under penalty of perjury that he or she has completed the activities listed and will maintain the required evidence of completion. The State Board of Education or the regional superintendent of schools for each region shall conduct random audits of assurance statements and supporting documentation.
    (5) (Blank).
    (6) (Blank).
    (f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, a school district is authorized to enter into an agreement with the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, to form a local professional development committee (LPDC). The membership and terms of members of the LPDC may be determined by the agreement. Provisions regarding LPDCs contained in a collective bargaining agreement in existence on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly between a school district and the exclusive bargaining representative shall remain in full force and effect for the term of the agreement, unless terminated by mutual agreement. The LPDC shall make recommendations to the regional superintendent of schools on renewal of teaching certificates. The regional superintendent of schools for each region shall perform the following functions:
        (1) review recommendations for certificate renewal,
    
if any, received from LPDCs;
        (2) (blank);
        (3) (blank);
        (4) (blank);
        (5) determine whether certificate holders have met
    
the requirements for certificate renewal and notify certificate holders if the decision is not to renew the certificate;
        (6) provide a certificate holder with the
    
opportunity to appeal a recommendation made by a LPDC, if any, not to renew the certificate to the regional professional development review committee;
        (7) issue and forward recommendations for renewal or
    
nonrenewal of certificate holders' Standard Teaching Certificates to the State Teacher Certification Board; and
        (8) (blank).
    (g)(1) Each regional superintendent of schools shall review and concur or nonconcur with each recommendation for renewal or nonrenewal of a Standard Teaching Certificate he or she receives from a local professional development committee, if any, or, if a certificate holder appeals the recommendation to the regional professional development review committee, the recommendation for renewal or nonrenewal he or she receives from a regional professional development review committee and, within 14 days of receipt of the recommendation, shall provide the State Teacher Certification Board with verification of the following, if applicable:
        (A) the certificate holder has satisfactorily
    
completed professional development and continuing education activities set forth in paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of this Section;
        (B) the certificate holder has submitted the
    
statement of assurance required under paragraph (4) of subsection (e) of this Section, and this statement has been attached to the application for renewal;
        (C) the local professional development committee, if
    
any, has recommended the renewal of the certificate holder's Standard Teaching Certificate and forwarded the recommendation to the regional superintendent of schools;
        (D) the certificate holder has appealed his or her
    
local professional development committee's recommendation of nonrenewal, if any, to the regional professional development review committee and the result of that appeal;
        (E) the regional superintendent of schools has
    
concurred or nonconcurred with the local professional development committee's or regional professional development review committee's recommendation, if any, to renew or nonrenew the certificate holder's Standard Teaching Certificate and made a recommendation to that effect; and
        (F) the established registration fee for the
    
Standard Teaching Certificate has been paid.
    If the notice required by this subsection (g) includes a recommendation of certificate nonrenewal, then, at the same time the regional superintendent of schools provides the State Teacher Certification Board with the notice, he or she shall also notify the certificate holder in writing, by certified mail, return receipt requested, that this notice has been provided to the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (2) Each certificate holder shall have the right to appeal his or her local professional development committee's recommendation of nonrenewal, if any, to the regional professional development review committee, within 14 days of receipt of notice that the recommendation has been sent to the regional superintendent of schools. Each regional superintendent of schools shall establish a regional professional development review committee or committees for the purpose of advising the regional superintendent of schools, upon request, and handling certificate holder appeals. This committee shall consist of at least 4 classroom teachers, one non‑administrative certificated educational employee, 2 administrators, and one at‑large member who shall be either (i) a parent, (ii) a member of the business community, (iii) a community member, or (iv) an administrator, with preference given to an individual chosen from among those persons listed in items (i), (ii), and (iii) in order to secure representation of an interest not already represented on the committee. The teacher and non‑administrative certificated educational employee members of the review committee shall be selected by their exclusive representative, if any, and the administrators and at‑large member shall be selected by the regional superintendent of schools. A regional superintendent of schools may add additional members to the committee, provided that the same proportion of teachers to administrators and at‑large members on the committee is maintained. Any additional teacher and non‑administrative certificated educational employee members shall be selected by their exclusive representative, if any. Vacancies in positions on a regional professional development review committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original selections. Committee members shall serve staggered 3‑year terms. All individuals selected to serve on regional professional development review committees must be known to demonstrate the best practices in teaching or their respective field of practice.
    (h)(1) The State Teacher Certification Board shall review the regional superintendent of schools' recommendations to renew or nonrenew Standard Teaching Certificates and notify certificate holders in writing whether their certificates have been renewed or nonrenewed within 90 days of receipt of the recommendations, unless a certificate holder has appealed a regional superintendent of schools' recommendation of nonrenewal, as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection (h). The State Teacher Certification Board shall verify that the certificate holder has met the renewal criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this Section.
    (2) Each certificate holder shall have the right to appeal a regional superintendent of school's recommendation to nonrenew his or her Standard Teaching Certificate to the State Teacher Certification Board, within 14 days of receipt of notice that the decision has been sent to the State Teacher Certification Board, which shall hold an appeal hearing within 60 days of receipt of the appeal. When such an appeal is taken, the certificate holder's Standard Teaching Certificate shall continue to be valid until the appeal is finally determined. The State Teacher Certification Board shall review the regional superintendent of school's recommendation, the regional professional development review committee's recommendation, if any, and the local professional development committee's recommendation, if any, and all relevant documentation to verify whether the certificate holder has met the renewal criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of this Section. The State Teacher Certification Board may request that the certificate holder appear before it. All actions taken by the State Teacher Certification Board shall require a quorum and be by a simple majority of those present and voting. A record of all votes shall be maintained. The State Teacher Certification Board shall notify the certificate holder in writing, within 7 days of completing the review, whether his or her Standard Teaching Certificate has been renewed or nonrenewed, provided that if the State Teacher Certification Board determines to nonrenew a certificate, the written notice provided to the certificate holder shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested. All certificate renewal or nonrenewal decisions of the State Teacher Certification Board are final and subject to administrative review, as set forth in Section 21‑24 of this Code.
    (i) Holders of Master Teaching Certificates shall meet the same requirements and follow the same procedures as holders of Standard Teaching Certificates, except that their renewal cycle shall be as set forth in subsection (d) of Section 21‑2 of this Code and their renewal requirements shall be subject to paragraph (8) of subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 of this Code.
    A holder of a teaching certificate endorsed as a speech‑language pathologist who has been granted the Certificate of Clinical Competence by the American Speech‑Language Hearing Association may renew his or her Standard Teaching Certificate pursuant to the 10‑year renewal cycle set forth in subsection (d) of Section 21‑2 of this Code.
    (j) Holders of Valid and Exempt Standard and Master Teaching Certificates who are not employed and performing services in an Illinois public or State‑operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control, in a certificated teaching position, may voluntarily activate their certificates through the regional superintendent of schools of the regional office of education for the geographic area where their teaching is done. These certificate holders shall follow the same renewal criteria and procedures as all other Standard and Master Teaching Certificate holders, except that their continuing professional development activities need not reflect or address the knowledge, skills, and goals of a local school improvement plan.
    (k) (Blank).
    (l) (Blank).
    (m) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly that affect renewal of Standard and Master Certificates shall apply to those persons who hold Standard or Master Certificates on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and shall be given effect upon renewal of those certificates.
(Source: P.A. 92‑510, eff. 6‑1‑02; 92‑796, eff. 8‑10‑02; 93‑81, eff. 7‑2‑03; 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑15) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑15)
    Sec. 21‑15. Statute not retroactive‑Continuation of valid certificates.
    This Article shall not be retroactive beyond the effective date of the Act of which this Article is a continuation. All certificates valid at the time the Act of which this Article is a continuation went into effect shall be continued in force and be renewable upon evidence of satisfactory professional growth as defined in this Article.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑16) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑16)
    Sec. 21‑16. Fees ‑ Requirement for registration.
    (a) Until February 15, 2000, every applicant when issued a certificate shall pay to the regional superintendent of schools a fee of $1, which shall be paid into the institute fund. Every certificate issued under the provisions of this Act shall be registered annually or, at the option of the holder of the certificate, once every 3 years. The regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control over the school where the teaching is done shall register the certificate before the holder begins to teach, otherwise it shall be registered in any county in the State of Illinois; and one fee of $4 per year for registration or renewal of one or more certificates which have been issued to the same holder shall be paid into the institute fund.
    Until February 15, 2000, requirements for registration of any certificate limited in time shall include evidence of professional growth defined as successful teaching experience since last registration of certificate, attendance at professional meetings, membership in professional organizations, additional credits earned in recognized teacher‑training institutions, travel specifically for educational experience, reading of professional books and periodicals, filing all reports as required by the regional superintendent of schools and the State Superintendent of Education or such other professional experience or combination of experiences as are presented by the teacher and are approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A duplicate certificate may be issued to the holder of a valid life certificate or valid certificate limited in time by the State Superintendent of Education; however, it shall only be issued upon request of a regional superintendent of schools and upon payment to the regional superintendent of schools who requests such duplicate a fee of $4.
    (b) Beginning February 15, 2000, all persons who are issued Standard Teaching Certificates pursuant to clause (ii) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 and all persons who renew Standard Teaching Certificates shall pay a $25 fee for registration of all certificates held. All persons who are issued Standard Teaching Certificates under clause (i) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 21‑2 and all other applicants for Standard Teaching Certificates shall pay an original application fee, pursuant to Section 21‑12, and a $25 fee for registration of all certificates held. These certificates shall be registered and the registration fee paid once every 5 years. Standard Teaching Certificate applicants and holders shall not be required to pay any other registration fees for issuance or renewal of their certificates, except as provided in Section 21‑17 of this Code. Beginning February 15, 2000, Master Teaching Certificates shall be issued and renewed upon payment by the applicant or certificate holder of a $50 fee for registration of all certificates held. These certificates shall be registered and the fee paid once every 10 years. Master Teaching Certificate applicants and holders shall not be required to pay any other application or registration fees for issuance or renewal of their certificates, except as provided in Section 21‑17 of this Code. All other certificates issued under the provisions of this Code shall be registered for the validity period of the certificate at the rate of $5 per year for the total number of years for which the certificate is valid for registration of all certificates held, or for a maximum of 5 years for life certificates. The regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control over the school where the teaching is done shall register the certificate before the holder begins to teach, otherwise it shall be registered in any county in the State of Illinois. Each holder shall pay the appropriate registration fee to the regional superintendent of schools. The regional superintendent of schools shall deposit the registration fees into the institute fund. Any certificate holder who teaches in more than one educational service region shall register the certificate or certificates in all regions where the teaching is done, but shall be required to pay one registration fee for all certificates held, provided holders of certificates issued pursuant to Section 21‑9 of this Code shall be required to pay one registration fee, in each educational service region in which his or her certificate or certificates are registered, for all certificates held.
    A duplicate certificate may be issued to the holder of a valid life certificate or valid certificate limited in time by the State Superintendent of Education; however, it shall only be issued upon request of a regional superintendent of schools and upon payment to the regional superintendent of schools who requests the duplicate a fee of $4, which shall be deposited into the institute fund.
    The State Board of Education and each regional office of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not exceed the amount required by the credit card processing company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the State Board or regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.
(Source: P.A. 92‑796, eff. 8‑10‑02; 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑17) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑17)
    Sec. 21‑17. Fee and duplicate certificate. A duplicate certificate shall be issued by the State Superintendent of Education when requested by the regional superintendent of schools as provided in Section 21‑16. The request for a duplicate certificate shall be accompanied by a fee of $4, which shall be deposited into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund.
    The State Board of Education and each regional office of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not exceed the amount required by the credit card processing company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the State Board or regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.
(Source: P.A. 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑18) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑18)
    Sec. 21‑18. Registration of life certificate‑Fee.
    The holder of any life certificate, while he continues to teach, shall annually before entering upon his duties, present his certificate or proper evidence thereof to the regional superintendent of schools and pay a fee of $2, which fee shall be paid into the institute fund.
    The State Board of Education and each regional office of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of certification fees. This service or convenience fee may not exceed the amount required by the credit card processing company or vendor that has entered into a contract with the State Board or regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee must be paid to that company or vendor.
(Source: P.A. 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑19) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑19)
    Sec. 21‑19. Annual report by certificate holder. The holder of any certificate, shall annually within 30 days after assuming the duties of any teaching position report to the regional superintendent having supervision and control over the school where the teacher is employed information relative to training, experience, salary and other data required by the State Board of Education. The reports shall be collected in the office of the regional superintendent and filed with the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 81‑1508.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑21) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑21)
    Sec. 21‑21. Definitions; granting of recognition; regional accreditation.
    (a) "Recognized", as used in this Article in connection with the word "school" or "institution", means such school, college, university, private junior college, public community college or special or technical school as maintains a course of study, a standard of scholarship and other requirements set by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Application for recognition of such school or institution as a teacher education institution shall be made to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall set the criteria by which the school or institution shall be judged and through the Secretary of the Board shall arrange for an official inspection and shall grant recognition of such school or institution as may meet the required standards. If such standards include requirements with regard to education in acquiring skills in working with culturally distinctive students, as defined by the State Board of Education, then the rules of the State Board of Education shall include the criteria used to evaluate compliance with this requirement. No school or institution shall make assignments of student teachers or teachers for practice teaching so as to promote segregation on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex or national origin.
    All recommendations for initial or standard certification shall be made by a recognized teacher training institution operating a program of preparation for the certificate approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. The State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall have the power to define a major or minor when used as a basis for recognition and certification purposes.
    (b) "Regionally accredited" or "accredited" as used in this Article in connection with a university or institution shall mean an institution of higher education accredited by the North Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting association.
(Source: P.A. 91‑102, eff. 7‑12‑99.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑21.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑21.1)
    Sec. 21‑21.1. Denial of recommendation for certification. Each college or university providing a teacher education program approved and recognized pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall establish procedures and standards to assure that no student is denied the opportunity to receive the institutional recommendation for certification for reasons which are not directly related to the candidate's anticipated performance as a certificated employee. Such standards and procedures shall include the specific criteria used by the institution for admission, retention, and recommendation for certification, periodic evaluations of the candidate's progress toward an institutional recommendation, counseling and other supportive services to correct any deficiencies which are considered remedial, and provisions to assure that no person is discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin or a disability unrelated to the person's ability to perform as a certificated employee. Each institution shall also establish a grievance procedure for those candidates who are denied the institutional recommendation for certification. Within 10 days of notification of such denial, the college or university shall notify the candidate, in writing, of the reasons for the denial of recommendation for certification. Within 30 days of notification of the denial, the candidate may request the college or university to review the denial. If, after an additional 30 days to complete such review, the candidate is denied recommendation for certification, the candidate may appeal to the State Teacher Certification Board within 10 days of notification for a review of the institution's decision. The candidate shall have the right to be present at any such review, to present evidence, and to be represented by counsel. Upon such review the State Teacher Certification Board shall recommend appropriate action to the State Superintendent of Education. Each institution's standards and procedures, including the criteria for admission, retention, and the institutional recommendation for certification, and the institution's grievance procedures, shall be subject to approval by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. Each applicant to the institution's teacher education program shall be provided with a copy of the procedures established pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 89‑397, eff. 8‑20‑95.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑22) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑22)
    Sec. 21‑22. Expiration of first year.
    The first year of all certificates shall expire on June 30 following the date of issue.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑23) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑23)
    Sec. 21‑23. Suspension or revocation of certificate.
    (a) Any certificate issued pursuant to this Article, including but not limited to any administrative certificate or endorsement, may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent of Education upon evidence of immorality, a condition of health detrimental to the welfare of pupils, incompetency, unprofessional conduct, the neglect of any professional duty, willful failure to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, failure to establish satisfactory repayment on an educational loan guaranteed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, or other just cause. Unprofessional conduct shall include refusal to attend or participate in, institutes, teachers' meetings, professional readings, or to meet other reasonable requirements of the regional superintendent or State Superintendent of Education. Unprofessional conduct also includes conduct that violates the standards, ethics, or rules applicable to the security, administration, monitoring, or scoring of, or the reporting of scores from, any assessment test or the Prairie State Achievement Examination administered under Section 2‑3.64 or that is known or intended to produce or report manipulated or artificial, rather than actual, assessment or achievement results or gains from the administration of those tests or examinations. It shall also include neglect or unnecessary delay in making of statistical and other reports required by school officers. The regional superintendent or State Superintendent of Education shall upon receipt of evidence of immorality, a condition of health detrimental to the welfare of pupils, incompetency, unprofessional conduct, the neglect of any professional duty or other just cause serve written notice to the individual and afford the individual opportunity for a hearing prior to suspension. If a hearing is requested within 10 days of notice of opportunity for hearing it shall act as a stay of proceedings not to exceed 30 days, unless the individual requests a delay. In such an instance, the stay of proceedings must be continued for another 30 days. No certificate shall be suspended until the teacher has an opportunity for a hearing at the educational service region. When a certificate is suspended, the right of appeal shall lie to the State Teacher Certification Board. When an appeal is taken within 10 days after notice of suspension it shall act as a stay of proceedings not to exceed 120 days. If a certificate is suspended for a period greater than one year, the State Superintendent of Education shall review the suspension prior to the expiration of that period to determine whether the cause for the suspension has been remedied or continues to exist. Upon determining that the cause for suspension has not abated, the State Superintendent of Education may order that the suspension be continued for an appropriate period. Nothing in this Section prohibits the continuance of such a suspension for an indefinite period if the State Superintendent determines that the cause for the suspension remains unabated. Any certificate may be revoked for the same reasons as for suspension by the State Superintendent of Education. No certificate shall be revoked until the teacher has an opportunity for a hearing before the State Teacher Certification Board, which hearing must be held within 120 days from the date the appeal is taken, unless the State Teacher Certification Board requests a delay. In such an instance, the stay of the revocation proceedings must be continued until the completion of the proceedings.
    The State Board may refuse to issue or may suspend the certificate of any person who fails to file a return, or to pay the tax, penalty or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or interest, as required by any tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, until such time as the requirements of any such tax Act are satisfied.
    (b) Any certificate issued pursuant to this Article may be suspended for an appropriate length of time as determined by either the regional superintendent or State Superintendent of Education upon evidence that the holder of the certificate has been named as a perpetrator in an indicated report filed pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, approved June 26, 1975, as amended, and upon proof by clear and convincing evidence that the licensee has caused a child to be an abused child or neglected child as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
    The regional superintendent or State Superintendent of Education shall, upon receipt of evidence that the certificate holder has been named a perpetrator in any indicated report, serve written notice to the individual and afford the individual opportunity for a hearing prior to suspension. If a hearing is requested within 10 days of notice of opportunity for hearing, it shall act as a stay of proceedings not to exceed 30 days, unless the individual requests a delay. In such an instance, the stay of proceedings must be continued for another 30 days. No certificate shall be suspended until the teacher has an opportunity for a hearing at the educational service region. When a certificate is suspended, the right of appeal shall lie to the State Teacher Certification Board. When an appeal is taken within 10 days after notice of suspension it shall act as a stay of proceedings not to exceed 120 days. The State Superintendent may revoke any certificate upon proof at hearing by clear and convincing evidence that the certificate holder has caused a child to be an abused child or neglected child as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. No certificate shall be revoked until the teacher has an opportunity for a hearing before the State Teacher Certification Board, which hearing must be held within 120 days from the date the appeal is taken, unless the teacher or the hearing officer appointed by the State Teacher Certification Board requests a delay. In such an instance, the stay of the revocation proceedings must be continued until the completion of the proceedings.
    (c) The State Superintendent of Education or a person designated by him shall have the power to administer oaths to witnesses at any hearing conducted before the State Teacher Certification Board pursuant to this Section. The State Superintendent of Education or a person designated by him is authorized to subpoena and bring before the State Teacher Certification Board any person in this State and to take testimony either orally or by deposition or by exhibit, with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as prescribed by law in judicial proceedings in the civil cases in circuit courts of this State.
    Any circuit court, upon the application of the State Superintendent of Education, may, by order duly entered, require the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers at any hearing the State Superintendent of Education is authorized to conduct pursuant to this Section, and the court may compel obedience to its orders by proceedings for contempt.
    (d) As used in this Section, "teacher" means any school district employee regularly required to be certified, as provided in this Article, in order to teach or supervise in the public schools.
(Source: P.A. 93‑679, eff. 6‑30‑04.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑23a)(from Ch. 122, par. 21‑23a)
    Sec. 21‑23a. Conviction of sex or narcotics offense, first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, or Class X felony as grounds for revocation of certificate.
    (a) Whenever the holder of any certificate issued pursuant to this Article has been convicted of any sex offense or narcotics offense as defined in this Section, the regional superintendent or the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith suspend the certificate. If the conviction is reversed and the holder is acquitted of the offense in a new trial or the charges against him are dismissed, the suspending authority shall forthwith terminate the suspension of the certificate. When the conviction becomes final, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith revoke the certificate. "Sex offense" as used in this Section means any one or more of the following offenses: (1) any offense defined in Sections 11‑6 and 11‑9 and Sections 11‑14 through 11‑21, inclusive, and Sections 12‑13, 12‑14, 12‑14.1, 12‑15 and 12‑16 of the Criminal Code of 1961; (2) any attempt to commit any of the foregoing offenses, and (3) any offense committed or attempted in any other state which, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the foregoing offenses. "Narcotics offense" as used in this Section means any one or more of the following offenses: (1) any offense defined in the Cannabis Control Act except those defined in Sections 4(a), 4(b) and 5(a) of that Act and any offense for which the holder of any certificate is placed on probation under the provisions of Section 10 of that Act and fulfills the terms and conditions of probation as may be required by the court; (2) any offense defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act except any offense for which the holder of any certificate is placed on probation under the provisions of Section 410 of that Act and fulfills the terms and conditions of probation as may be required by the court; (3) any offense defined in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act except any offense for which the holder of any certificate is placed on probation under the provision of Section 70 of that Act and fulfills the terms and conditions of probation as may be required by the court; (4) any attempt to commit any of the foregoing offenses; and (5) any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States which, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the foregoing offenses.
    (b) Whenever the holder of a certificate issued pursuant to this Article has been convicted of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, or a Class X felony, the regional superintendent or the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith suspend the certificate. If the conviction is reversed and the holder is acquitted of that offense in a new trial or the charges that he or she committed that offense are dismissed, the suspending authority shall forthwith terminate the suspension of the certificate. When the conviction becomes final, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith revoke the certificate. The stated offenses of "first degree murder", "attempted first degree murder", and "Class X felony" referred to in this Section include any offense committed in another state that, if committed in this State, would have been punishable as any one of the stated offenses.
(Source: P.A. 94‑556, eff. 9‑11‑05.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑23b) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑23b)
    Sec. 21‑23b. Conviction of felony.
    (a) Whenever the holder of any certificate issued under this Article is employed by the school board of any school district, including a special charter district or school district organized under Article 34, and is convicted, either after a bench trial, trial by jury, or plea of guilty, of any offense for which a sentence to death or a term of imprisonment in a penitentiary for one year or more is provided, the school board shall promptly notify the State Board of Education in writing of the name of the certificate holder, the fact of the conviction, and the name and location of the court in which the conviction occurred.
    (b) Whenever the State Board of Education receives notice of a conviction under subsection (a) or otherwise learns that any person who is a "teacher" as that term is defined in Section 16‑106 of the Illinois Pension Code has been convicted, either after a bench trial, trial by jury, or plea of guilty, of any offense for which a sentence to death or a term of imprisonment in a penitentiary for one year or more is provided, the State Board of Education shall promptly notify in writing the board of trustees of the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois and the board of trustees of the Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of the City of Chicago of the name of the certificate holder or teacher, the fact of the conviction, the name and location of the court in which the conviction occurred, and the number assigned in that court to the case in which the conviction occurred.
(Source: P.A. 87‑1001.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑24) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑24)
    Sec. 21‑24. Administrative Review Law. The provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, shall apply to and govern all proceedings instituted for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of the State Board of Education, the State Teacher Certification Board, and the regional superintendent of schools under this Article. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3‑101 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The commencement of any action for review shall operate as a stay of enforcement and no action based on any decision of the State Board of Education, State Teacher Certification Board or the regional superintendent of schools shall be taken pending final disposition of such review.
(Source: P.A. 84‑551.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑25)(from Ch. 122, par. 21‑25)
    Sec. 21‑25. School service personnel certificate.
    (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 21‑1a, a school service personnel certificate shall be issued to those applicants of good character, good health, a citizen of the United States and at least 19 years of age who have a Bachelor's degree with not fewer than 120 semester hours from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning and who meets the requirements established by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. A school service personnel certificate with a school nurse endorsement may be issued to a person who holds a bachelor of science degree from an institution of higher learning accredited by the North Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting association. Persons seeking any other endorsement on the school service personnel certificate shall be recommended for the endorsement by a recognized teacher education institution as having completed a program of preparation approved by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (b) Until August 30, 2002, a school service personnel certificate endorsed for school social work may be issued to a student who has completed a school social work program that has not been approved by the State Superintendent of Education, provided that each of the following conditions is met:
        (1) The program was offered by a recognized, public
    
teacher education institution that first enrolled students in its master's degree program in social work in 1998;
        (2) The student applying for the school service
    
personnel certificate was enrolled in the institution's master's degree program in social work on or after May 11, 1998;
        (3) The State Superintendent verifies that the
    
student has completed coursework that is substantially similar to that required in approved school social work programs, including (i) not fewer than 600 clock hours of a supervised internship in a school setting or (ii) if the student has completed part of a supervised internship in a school setting prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly and receives the prior approval of the State Superintendent, not fewer than 300 additional clock hours of supervised work in a public school setting under the supervision of a certified school social worker who certifies that the supervised work was completed in a satisfactory manner; and
        (4) The student has passed a test of basic skills
    
and the test of subject matter knowledge required by Section 21‑1a.
    This subsection (b) does not apply after August 29, 2002.
    (c) A school service personnel certificate shall be endorsed with the area of Service as determined by the State Superintendent of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board.
    The holder of such certificate shall be entitled to all of the rights and privileges granted holders of a valid teaching certificate, including teacher benefits, compensation and working conditions.
    When the holder of such certificate has earned a master's degree, including 8 semester hours of graduate professional education from a recognized institution of higher learning, and has at least 2 years of successful school experience while holding such certificate, the certificate may be endorsed for supervision.
    (d) Persons who have successfully achieved National Board certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall be issued a Master School Service Personnel Certificate, valid for 10 years and renewable thereafter every 10 years through compliance with requirements set forth by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board. However, each holder of a Master School Service Personnel Certificate shall be eligible for a corresponding position in this State in the areas for which he or she holds a Master Certificate without satisfying any other requirements of this Code, except for those requirements pertaining to criminal background checks.
(Source: P.A. 94‑105, eff. 7‑1‑05.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑26) (from Ch. 122, par. 21‑26)
    Sec. 21‑26. Teacher education trend and certification studies. The State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board shall: (a) conduct a study and analysis of teacher education trends in Illinois which shall include (i) the number and traits of students entering the study of education, (ii) the number and majors of persons completing education degrees, (iii) the number, distribution and fields of assignment of persons receiving placement in Illinois teaching positions, and (iv) a four year projection of areas of teacher placement shortages or excesses; (b) conduct a review and reassessment of current certification categories and analyze the necessity for upgrading or otherwise revising the provisions of this Article and the rules promulgated pursuant thereto; (c) study and consider the advisability of requiring a fifth‑year internship for certification, giving particular emphasis to the likelihood of improving the quality of education, the effect on the caliber of students entering the education field, the role of student teaching, the implications concerning reciprocity and increased financial costs as a result of a fifth‑year internship requirement; and (d) report to the General Assembly on or before March 1, 1986 with their findings, analyses and recommendations concerning each of the matters and things described in parts (a) through (c) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 84‑126.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑27)
    Sec. 21‑27. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program is hereby established to provide categorical funding for monetary incentives and bonuses for teachers and school counselors who are employed by school districts and who hold a Master Certificate. The State Board of Education shall allocate and distribute to each school district an amount as annually appropriated by the General Assembly from federal funds for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. The State Board of Education's annual budget must set out by separate line item the appropriation for the program. Unless otherwise provided by appropriation, each school district's annual allocation shall be the sum of the amounts earned for the following incentives and bonuses:
        (1) An annual payment of $3,000 to be paid to (A)
    
each teacher who successfully completes the program leading to and who receives a Master Certificate and is employed as a teacher by a school district and (B) each school counselor who successfully completes the program leading to and who receives a Master Certificate and is employed as a school counselor by a school district. The school district shall distribute this payment to each eligible teacher or school counselor as a single payment or in not more than 3 payments.
        (2) An annual incentive equal to $1,000 shall be
    
paid to each teacher who holds a Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher by a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide 60 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers. This mentoring may include, either singly or in combination, (i) providing high quality professional development for new and experienced teachers, and (ii) assisting National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) candidates through the NBPTS certification process. The school district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive payment upon completion of 30 hours of the required mentoring and the remaining 50% of the incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school district for mentoring or related services provided during a regular school day or during the total number of days of required service for the school year.
        (3) An annual incentive equal to $3,000 shall be
    
paid to each teacher who holds a Master Certificate, who is employed as a teacher by a school district, and who agrees, in writing, to provide 60 hours of mentoring during that year to classroom teachers in schools on academic early warning status or in schools in which 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, or both. The school district shall distribute 50% of each annual incentive payment upon completion of 30 hours of the required mentoring and the remaining 50% of the incentive upon completion of the required 60 hours of mentoring. Credit may not be granted by a school district for mentoring or related services provided during a regular school day or during the total number of days of required service for the school year.
    Each regional superintendent of schools shall provide information about the Master Certificate Program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly to each individual seeking to register or renew a certificate under Section 21‑14 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 93‑470, eff. 8‑8‑03; 94‑105, eff. 7‑1‑05; 94‑901, eff. 6‑22‑06.)

    (105 ILCS 5/21‑28)
    Sec. 21‑28. Special education teachers; categorical certification. The State Teacher Certification Board shall categorically certify a special education teacher in one or more of the following specialized categories of disability if the special education teacher applies and qualifies for such certification:
        (1) Serious emotional disturbance.
        (2) Learning disabilities.
        (3) Autism.
        (4) Mental retardation.
        (5) Orthopedic (physical) impairment.
        (6) Traumatic brain injury.
        (7) Other health impairment.
(Source: P.A. 92‑709, eff. 7‑19‑02.)

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