2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 105 - SCHOOLS › 105 ILCS 5/ - School Code. › Article 21A - New Teacher Induction and Mentoring

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 21A heading)
ARTICLE 21A. 
		NEW TEACHER INDUCTION AND MENTORING
(105 ILCS 5/21A-5)
Sec. 21A-5. Definitions. In this Article:
"New teacher" means the holder of a professional educator license, as set
forth in Section 21B-20 of this Code, who is employed by a public school and who
has not previously participated in a new teacher induction and mentoring
program required by this Article, except as provided in Section 21A-25 of this
Code.
"Eligible applicant" or "eligible entity" means a regional office of education, an intermediate service center, an Illinois institution of higher education, a statewide organization representing teachers, a local education agency, or a public or private not-for-profit entity with experience providing professional learning, including mentoring, to early childhood educators.
"Public school" means any school operating pursuant to the authority of
this Code, including without limitation a school district, a charter school, a
cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control, and a
school operated by a regional office of education or State agency.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21A-10)
Sec. 21A-10. Development of program required.
(a) Each eligible applicant shall develop a new teacher induction and mentoring program for first and second-year teachers that meets the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 to assist new teachers in developing the skills and strategies necessary for instructional excellence, provided that funding is made available by the State Board of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose.
(b) A public school that has a new teacher induction and mentoring program in existence before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly that does not meet the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 may modify the program to meet the requirements of Section 21A-20 and may receive funding as described in Section 21A-25, provided that funding is made available by the State Board of Education from an appropriation made for this purpose.
(c) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, whether to forgo modifications to a new teacher induction and mentoring program in existence before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
If a district does not have a new teacher induction and mentoring program in existence before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly or if a district and the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, agree that an eligible entity would better serve the district's needs, the district and the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, shall jointly decide which eligible entity offers the most suitable program. The eligible entity shall include representatives from both the district and the exclusive bargaining representative in the program development discussions to ensure the program captures local need.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21A-15)
Sec. 21A-15. Program establishment and implementation.
(a) The State Board of Education shall establish a competitive State grant program to support  new teacher induction and mentoring programs. The program shall be available to eligible entities not less than every 3 years, subject to appropriation. The State Board shall prioritize funding based on the needs of students and school districts as it relates to teacher retention.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, by no later than the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year or by no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year for eligible applicants that have been given an extension of time to develop a program under Section 21A-10, each eligible entity or 2 or more eligible entities acting jointly shall establish and implement a new teacher induction and mentoring program required to be developed under Section 21A-10.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21A-20)
Sec. 21A-20. Program requirements. Each new teacher induction and
mentoring program must align with the standards established under Section 21A-20.5 and shall be based on a plan that at least does all of the
following:
(1) Assigns a mentor teacher to each new teacher for     a period of at least 2 school years.
(2) Aligns with the Illinois Culturally Responsive     Teaching and Leading Standards in Part 24 of Title 23 of the Illinois Administrative Code, content area standards, and applicable local school improvement and professional development plans, if any.
(3) (Blank).
(4) Describes the role of mentor teachers, the     criteria and process for their selection, and how they will be trained, provided that each mentor teacher shall demonstrate the best practices in teaching his or her respective field of practice. 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 public school.
(5) Is designed to be available for both in-person     and virtual participation.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21A-20.5)
Sec. 21A-20.5. Program standards.
(a) The State Board of Education shall establish standards for new teacher induction and mentoring programs. In establishing these standards, the State Board shall seek input and feedback from stakeholders, including parents, students, and educators, who reflect the diversity of this State.
(b) Any changes made to the standards established under subsection (a) must be approved by the Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group pursuant to Section 21A-25.5.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21A-25)
Sec. 21A-25. Funding.
(a) From a separate appropriation made for
the purposes of this Article, for each new teacher participating in a new
teacher
induction and mentoring program
that meets the requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code or
in an existing program that is in the process of transition to a program
that meets those requirements, the State Board of Education shall pay the eligible entity for the duration of the grant
 for the purpose of
providing the following:
(1) Mentor teacher compensation and new teacher     compensation.
(2) Mentor teacher professional learning or new     teacher learning or both.
(3) (Blank).
(b) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, which eligible applicant offers the most suitable program. If a mentor teacher receives release time to support a new teacher, the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the public school shall not increase in any substantial manner. If the appropriation is not included in the State budget, the State Board of Education is not required to implement programs established by this Article.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21A-25.5)
Sec. 21A-25.5. Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group.
(a) The State Board of Education shall create a Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group.  Members of the Advisory Group must represent the diversity of this State and possess the expertise needed to perform the work required to meet the goals of the programs set forth under Section 21A-20.
(b) The members of the Advisory Group shall be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education and shall include all of the following members:
(1) Four members representing teachers recommended by     a statewide professional teachers' organization.
(2) Four members representing teachers recommended by     a different statewide professional teachers' organization.
(3) Two members representing principals recommended     by a statewide organization that represents principals.
(4) One member representing district superintendents     recommended by a statewide organization that represents district superintendents.
(5) One member representing regional superintendents     of schools recommended by a statewide association that represents regional superintendents of schools.
(6) One member representing a State-approved educator     preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education recommended by the institution of higher education.
The majority of the membership of the Advisory Group shall consist of practicing teachers.
(c) The Advisory Group is responsible for approving any changes made to the standards established under Section 21A-20.5.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
(105 ILCS 5/21A-30)
Sec. 21A-30. Evaluation of programs. The State Board of Education shall contract with an independent party, using funds from the relevant appropriation for new teacher induction and mentoring programs, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the new teacher induction and mentoring programs established pursuant to this Article.  Reports from the evaluation shall be made available to stakeholders after 3 years of program implementation.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21A-35)
Sec. 21A-35. Rules. The State Board of Education, in consultation with
the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall adopt rules for the implementation
of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)