105 ILCS 5/34-84
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 105 - SCHOOLS|105 ILCS 5/ - School Code.|Article 34 - Cities Of Over 500,000 Inhabitants - Board Of Education

 (from Ch. 122, par. 34-84)Sec. 34-84. Appointments and promotions of teachers. Appointments and  promotions of teachers shall be made for merit  only, and after satisfactory service for a probationary period of 3 years  with respect to probationary employees employed as full-time teachers in the  public school system of the district before January 1, 1998 and 4 years with  respect to probationary employees who are first employed as full-time teachers  in the public school system of the district on or after January 1, 1998,  during which period the board may dismiss or discharge any  such probationary employee upon the recommendation, accompanied by the  written reasons therefor, of the general superintendent of schools and after which period  appointments of teachers shall become permanent, subject to removal for cause  in the manner provided by Section 34-85.For a probationary-appointed teacher in full-time service who is appointed on or after July 1, 2013 and who receives ratings of "excellent" during his or her first 3 school terms of full-time service, the probationary period shall be 3 school terms of full-time service.  For a probationary-appointed teacher in full-time service who is appointed on or after July 1, 2013 and who had previously entered into contractual continued service in another school district in this State or a program of a special education joint agreement in this State, as defined in Section 24-11 of this Code, the probationary period shall be 2 school terms of full-time service, provided that (i) the teacher voluntarily resigned or was honorably dismissed from the prior district or program within the 3-month period preceding his or her appointment date, (ii) the teacher's last 2 ratings in the prior district or program were at least "proficient" and were issued after the prior district's or program's PERA implementation date, as defined in Section 24-11 of this Code, and (iii) the teacher receives ratings of "excellent" during his or her first 2 school terms of full-time service.For a probationary-appointed teacher in full-time service who is appointed on or after July 1, 2013 and who has not entered into contractual continued service after 2 or 3 school terms of full-time service as provided in this Section, the probationary period shall be 4 school terms of full-time service, provided that the teacher receives a rating of at least "proficient" in the last school term and a rating of at least "proficient" in either the second or third school term.As used in this Section, "school term" means the school term established by the board pursuant to Section 10-19 of this Code, and "full-time service" means the teacher has actually worked at least 150 days during the school term. As used in this Article, "teachers" means and includes all members of  the teaching force excluding the general superintendent and principals.There shall be no reduction in teachers because of a decrease in  student membership or a change in subject requirements within the  attendance center organization after the 20th day following the first day  of the school year, except that:  (1) this provision shall not apply to  desegregation positions, special education positions, or any other positions  funded by State or federal categorical funds, and (2) at attendance centers  maintaining any of grades 9 through 12, there may be a second reduction in  teachers on the first day of the second semester of the regular school  term because of a decrease in student membership or a change in subject  requirements within the attendance center organization.The school principal shall make the decision  in selecting teachers to fill new and vacant positions consistent with  Section 34-8.1.  (Source: P.A. 97-8, eff. 6-13-11.)