105 ILCS 5/24-6.1
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 105 - SCHOOLS|105 ILCS 5/ - School Code.|Article 24 - Employment of Teachers--Tenure--Duties of Teachers

 (from Ch. 122, par. 24-6.1)Sec. 24-6.1.     Sabbatical leave.     Every school board may grant a sabbatical leave of absence to a teacher,  principal or superintendent performing contractual continued service, for a  period of at least 4 school months but not in excess of one school term,  for resident study, research, travel or other purposes designed to improve  the school system. The grant of a sabbatical leave by a school board shall  constitute a finding that the leave is deemed to benefit the school system  by improving the quality and level of experience of the teaching force.This leave may be granted after completion of at least 6 years of  satisfactory service as a full time teacher, principal or superintendent  and may again be granted after completion of a subsequent period of 6 years  of such service. However, 2 sabbatical leaves, each consisting of at least  4 months but totaling no more than the equivalent of one school year, may  be granted within a 6 year period.  A leave granted for a period of one  school year or less  shall bar a further sabbatical leave until completion of 6 years additional  satisfactory service, except that 2 leaves which total no more than the  equivalent of one school year shall bar a further sabbatical leave only  until the completion of 6 years additional satisfactory service following  the completion of the first such leave.  The leave shall be conditional  upon a plan for  resident study, research, travel or other activities proposed by the  applicant and deemed by the board to benefit the school system, which plan  shall be approved by the board and not thereafter modified without the  approval of the board.Before a leave is granted pursuant to this Section, the applicant shall  agree in writing that if at the expiration of such leave he does not return  to and perform contractual continued service in the district for at least  one school year after his return, all sums of money received from the board  during his sabbatical leave will be refunded to the board unless such  return and performance is prevented by illness or incapacity.During absence pursuant to such leave, such teacher, principal or  superintendent shall receive the same basic salary as if in actual service,  except that there may be deducted therefrom an amount equivalent to the  amount payable for substitute service. However, such salary after deduction  for substitute service shall in no case be less than the minimum provided  by Section 24-8 of this Act or 1/2 of the basic salary, whichever is  greater. The person on leave shall not engage in any activity for which  salary or compensation is paid unless the activity is directly related to  the purpose for which the leave is granted and is approved by the board. A  sabbatical leave may be granted to enable the applicant, if otherwise  eligible, to accept scholarships for study or research. Unless justified by  illness or incapacity, failure of any person granted a leave under this  Section to devote the entire period to the purposes for which the leave was  granted shall constitute a cause for removal from teaching service.Upon expiration of a leave granted pursuant to this Section, and upon  presentation of evidence satisfactory to the board showing compliance with  the conditions of the leave, the teacher, principal or superintendent shall  be returned to a position equivalent to that formerly occupied. The  contractual continued service status of the person on sabbatical leave  shall not be affected.Absence during a leave granted pursuant to this Section shall not be  construed as a discontinuance of service for any purpose, including  progression on the salary schedule if one is in effect in the district. The  board shall pay the contribution to the Teachers' Retirement System  required of the person on leave computed on the annual full-time salary  rate under which the member last received earnings immediately prior to the  leave or a proportionate part of such rate for a partial year of sabbatical  leave credit.This Section in no way limits the power of the board to grant leaves for  other purposes.    (Source: P.A. 83-186.)