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HB3446 Enrolled LRB104 10874 AAS 20956 b
1 AN ACT concerning regulation.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by adding
5 Sections 9.1d, 9.1e, and 9.1f as follows:
6 (225 ILCS 10/9.1d new)
7 Sec. 9.1d. Public list of qualified courses.
8 (a) As used in this Section, "institution of higher
9 education" means any publicly or privately operated
10 university, college, or community college in this State that
11 offers degrees or certificates in early childhood or related
12 coursework or similar degrees or certificates beyond the
13 secondary school level. "Institution of higher education"
14 includes a public, private, non-profit, or for-profit
15 university, college, or community college authorized by the
16 Board of Higher Education or the Community College Board to
17 offer degrees or certificates in early childhood or related
18 coursework or similar degrees or certificates beyond the
19 secondary school level online, via correspondence, or
20 physically in this State to an individual in this State.
21 (b) No later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Early
22 Childhood, in collaboration with the Community College Board,
23 the Board of Higher Education, and the Department of Children
HB3446 Enrolled -2- LRB104 10874 AAS 20956 b
1 and Family Services, shall publish on its website and
2 regularly update, at least once per year, a comprehensive list
3 of college early childhood courses that qualify toward the
4 attainment of the required qualifications under 89 Ill. Adm.
5 Code 407.130 and 407.140 for early childhood teachers and
6 directors.
7 (c) To help the Department of Early Childhood determine
8 whether an institution of higher education's early childhood
9 college courses meet the requirements of 89 Ill. Adm. Code
10 407.130 and 407.140, each institution of higher education
11 shall submit, in the form and manner prescribed by the
12 Department of Early Childhood, information about the courses.
13 (d) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to
14 implement this Section.
15 (225 ILCS 10/9.1e new)
16 Sec. 9.1e. Public list of qualified courses; qualification
17 and impartial oversight review process.
18 (a) As used in this Section, "institution" has the meaning
19 given to that term in Section 9.1d.
20 (b) No later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Early
21 Childhood, in consultation with stakeholders, including, but
22 not limited to, the Illinois Community College Board, the
23 Board of Higher Education, and, until January 1, 2027, the
24 Department of Children and Family Services, shall create a
25 process to verify early childhood courses that qualify toward
HB3446 Enrolled -3- LRB104 10874 AAS 20956 b
1 the attainment of the required qualifications under 89 Ill.
2 Adm. Code 407.130 and 407.140 for early childhood teachers and
3 directors.
4 (c) As part of the development of the process established
5 under this Section, the Department of Early Childhood shall
6 seek input and feedback from established child care providers,
7 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity member
8 institutions, early child care and education advocates, early
9 childhood program students, and other stakeholders.
10 (d) The process established under this Section shall
11 include the following elements, which also shall be posted on
12 the Department of Early Childhood's website:
13 (1) criteria for the inclusion of college courses
14 offered by State-based and out-of-state institutions on
15 the course list;
16 (2) criteria for the removal of courses from the
17 course list;
18 (3) a requirement that the removal of a course from
19 the course list shall not negatively impact any early
20 childhood teacher or director or early childhood teacher
21 or director applicant who has taken or is currently
22 enrolled in the course;
23 (4) a notification plan for (i) the distribution of
24 the course list and (ii) any updates to all licensed child
25 care centers in this State;
26 (5) an impartial oversight review process for courses
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1 deemed ineligible for the attainment of the required
2 qualifications for an early childhood teacher or director;
3 and
4 (6) a process for establishing eligibility
5 requirements for college courses not on the course list.
6 (e) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to
7 implement this Section.
8 (225 ILCS 10/9.1f new)
9 Sec. 9.1f. Public list of qualified courses; training for
10 applicable State staff.
11 (a) Applicable State staff must be trained on the use of
12 the course list established under Section 9.1e, the
13 prohibitions for the course list, and the impartial oversight
14 review process under Section 9.1e.
15 (b) The Department of Early Childhood may adopt rules to
16 implement this Section.Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.