HB 5551 — SCH CD-VARIOUS FUNDING

HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b AN ACT concerning education.

However, the recomputation of a claim for evidence-based funding for a school district shall not require the recomputation of claims for all districts, and the State HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 2 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b Board of Education shall only make recomputations of evidence-based funding for those districts where an adjustment is required, through and ending with Fiscal Year 2026.

In recomputing a general State aid or evidence-based funding claim that was originally calculated using an extension limitation equalized assessed valuation under paragraph (3) of subsection (G) of Section 18-8.05 of this Code or Section HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 3 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b 18-8.15 of this Code, a qualifying reduction in equalized assessed valuation shall be deducted from the extension limitation equalized assessed valuation that was used in calculating the original claim.

In calculating the amount of State aid to be apportioned to the various school districts in this State, the State Board of Education shall incorporate and deduct the total aggregate adjustments to assessments made by the State Property Tax Appeal Board or Cook County Board of Appeals, as reported pursuant to Section 16-15 of the Property Tax Code or Section 129.1 of the Revenue Act of 1939 by the Department of HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 4 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b Revenue, from the equalized assessed valuation that is otherwise to be utilized in the initial calculation for adjustments reported through Fiscal Year 2026.

If a school district maintains special education classes on the site of orphanages and children's homes, or if children from the orphanages, children's homes, foster family homes, other State agencies, or State residential units for children attend classes for children HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 5 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b with disabilities in which the school district is a participating member of a joint agreement, or if the children from the orphanages, children's homes, foster family homes, other State agencies, or State residential units attend classes for the children with disabilities maintained by the school district, then reimbursement shall be paid to eligible districts in accordance with the provisions of this Section by the Comptroller as directed by the State Superintendent of Education.

Private facilities shall provide adequate space at the facility for special education classes provided by a school district or joint agreement for children with disabilities who are residents of the facility at no cost to HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 6 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b the school district or joint agreement upon request of the school district or joint agreement.

On September 30, December 31, HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 7 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b and March 31, the State Board of Education shall voucher payments for individual students based upon an estimated cost calculated from the prior year's claim.

In electing to assume the powers and duties of a school district in providing and maintaining such a special education program, the regional superintendent may enter into joint agreements with other districts and may contract with public or private schools or the orphanage, HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 8 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b foster family home, children's home, or State residential unit for provision of the special education program.

When a dispute arises over the determination of the district of residence under this Section, the district or districts may appeal the decision in writing to the State Superintendent of Education, who, upon review of materials submitted and any other items or information he or she may request for submission, shall issue a written decision on the HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 9 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b matter.

6-14-19.) (105 ILCS 5/21B-70) HB5551 EngrossedEnrolled - 10 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b Sec.

"Cohort" means a group of candidates for National Board certification who are organized for the purpose of participating in a structured support program, including facilitated professional development, mentoring, and collaborative learning.

"Hard-to-staff school" means a public school that (i) is identified as hard to staff based on data reported on its school report card under Section 10-17a or (ii) does not have a school report card under Section 10-17a but serves a student population in which no less than 30% or more of the student enrollment is considered low income low-income as determined by the State Board of Education using available enrollment or funding data reported by the report card under Section 10-17a of this Code.

"National Board certification" means a voluntary, advanced teaching credential that exceeds State licensure requirements and is awarded to teachers who meet rigorous national standards for accomplished teaching practice established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards through a comprehensive, performance-based assessment process.

A teacher who holds such certification may be referred to as a HB5551 Enrolled - 11 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b "National Board certified teacher" under this Section.

"National Board certified teacher liaison" means an individual or entity that supports the National Board HB5551 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b certified teacher leading candidate cohorts other than diverse candidate cohorts.

HB5551 Enrolled - 12 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b "National Board certified teacher rural or remote or distant liaison" means an individual or entity that supports the National Board certified teacher leading a rural or remote candidate cohort.

"Tier"School 1"term" hasmeans thethat meaningportion givenof tothe thatschool termyear, underfrom SectionJuly HB55511 Engrossedto -the 12following -June LRB10430, 20609when LNSschool 34101is bin 18-8.15.actual session.

"Tier 1" has the meaning given to that term under Section 18-8.15.

(b)(a-5) AnyA fundsregional appropriatedoffice forof theeducation Illinoisor Teachingintermediate Excellenceservice Programcenter mustmay beestablish usedone tocohort provideper monetarycounty, assistanceexcept andHB5551 incentivesEnrolled for- qualified13 educators- whoLRB104 are20609 employedLNS by34101 orb retiredthat froman schooladditional districtscohort andmay whobe haveestablished orif are in the processnumber of obtainingcandidates licensureexceeds through20 theparticipants Nationalin Boarda forsingle Professionalcohort. Teaching Standards and for indirect costs necessary for program operation.

A cohort shall include no more than 20 candidates.

A school district or individual school may establish a cohort if at least 3 candidates are enrolled.

The State Board of Education or its designee may provide or approve a cohort facilitator for a cohort.

If a cohort facilitator is not available locally, the State Board of Education or its designee may (i) provide a facilitator through a virtual format or (ii) assign candidates to an existing cohort operated by a regional office of education, an intermediate service center, or another approved provider, including a virtual cohort.

(b) Any funds appropriated for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program must be used to provide monetary assistance and incentives for qualified educators who are employed by or retired from school districts and who have or are in the process of obtaining certification licensure through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and for indirect costs necessary for program operations.

The State Board of Education shall allocate an amount as annually appropriated by the General Assembly for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program for (i) application or re-take fees for each qualified educator seeking to complete certification through the National Board for Professional HB5551 Enrolled - 14 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b Teaching Standards, to be paid directly to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and (ii) incentives under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (c) for each qualified educator, to be distributed to the respective school district, and incentives under paragraph (5) of subsection (c), to be distributed to the respective school district or directly to the qualified educator.

The State Board of Education's annual budget must set out HB5551 Engrossed - 13 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b by separate line item the appropriation for the program.

(3) A maximum of $1,000 toward the National Board for HB5551 Enrolled - 15 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b Professional Teaching Standards' renewal application fee.

(3.5) An annual retention bonus of $4,000 awarded for 5 consecutive school years to a National Board certified teacher who is employed in a hard-to-staff school in this State.

To be eligible for this retention bonus in a given school year, a National Board certified teacher must (i) be employed on a full-time basis as a teacher or school counselor in a public school in this State for the entire school term, (ii) hold a valid and active certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and (iii) be assigned for the full school term to a school designated as hard to staff at the time of initial qualification.

A National Board certified teacher who qualifies for this retention bonus remains eligible to receive the bonus for the full 5-year award period, notwithstanding a subsequent change in the school's hard-to-staff designation, as long as the teacher remains continuously employed at the same school or a different hard-to-staff school.

Eligibility for this retention bonus terminates if the National Board certified teacher ceases to be employed full time in a public school in this State or accepts employment at a school that is not designated as a hard-to-staff school.

The State Board of Education may not deny a National Board certified teacher this retention bonus solely because the public school at which the teacher is employed does not have a school report card HB5551 Enrolled - 16 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b under Section 10-17a.

Retention bonus funds shall be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

In any fiscal year in which appropriated funds are insufficient to award all eligible National Board certified teachers a retention bonus, those eligible applicants who do not receive a retention bonus shall be given priority consideration for the subsequent fiscal year, in the order of their original application.

(5) An annual incentive of no more than $2,250 prorated at $50 per hour, which shall be paid to each qualified educator currently employed in a school district who holds both a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation and a current corresponding certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who agrees, in writing, to provide up to 45 hours of mentoring or National Board for HB5551 Engrossed - 14 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b Professional Teaching Standards professional development or both during the school year to classroom teachers or school counselors, as applicable.

HB5551 Enrolled - 17 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b (B) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards re-take candidates.

(d) In(Blank). addition to the monetary assistance and incentives provided under subsection (c), if adequate funds are available, incentives shall include the following incentives for the program in rural or remote schools or school districts or for programs working with diverse candidates or for retention bonuses for hard-to-staff schools, to be distributed HB5551 Engrossed - 15 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b to the respective school district or directly to the qualified educator or entity:

(1)In Aaddition one-timeto incentivethe ofmonetary $3,000assistance payableand toincentives Nationalprovided Boardunder certifiedsubsection teachers(c), teachingif inadequate Tierfunds 1are oravailable, Tierincentives 2shall ruralinclude orthe remotefollowing schoolincentives districtsfor orthe program in rural or remote schools inor Tierschool 1districts or Tierfor 2programs schoolworking districts, with prioritydiverse givencandidates toor teachersfor teachingretention inbonuses Tierfor 1hard-to-staff ruralschools, orto remotebe schooldistributed districtsto orthe ruralrespective school district or remotedirectly schoolsto inthe Tierqualified 1educator schoolor districts.entity:

(1) A one-time incentive of $3,000 payable to National Board certified teachers teaching in Tier 1 or Tier 2 rural or remote school districts or rural or remote schools in Tier 1 or Tier 2 school districts, with priority given to teachers teaching in Tier 1 rural or remote school districts or rural or remote schools in Tier HB5551 Enrolled - 18 - LRB104 20609 LNS 34101 b 1 school districts.

(4) An annual retention bonus of up to $4,000 per year for 2 consecutive years shall be awarded to National Board certified teachers employed in hard-to-staff schools.