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HB4587 Enrolled LRB104 16993 AAS 30407 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 6.3 and 6.5 as follows:
6 (225 ILCS 10/6.3 new)
7 Sec. 6.3. Child care director educational qualifications.
8 Child care directors hired on or after the effective date of
9 this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly shall meet
10 the following educational requirements:
11 (1) a minimum of an associate degree from an
12 accredited college or university in child development or
13 early childhood education; or
14 (2) the equivalent to paragraph (1) (defined as 64
15 semester hours or 96 quarter hours in any discipline, with
16 a minimum of 21 semester hours or 31.5 quarter hours from
17 an accredited college or university in courses related to
18 child development, early childhood education, or early
19 childhood special education) and one of the following:
20 (A) Gateways to Opportunity Level I Illinois
21 Director Credential;
22 (B) 3 semester hours or 4.5 quarter hours of
23 college credit in administration, leadership, or
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1 management; or
2 (C) 3 points of credential-approved training in
3 administration, leadership, or management.
4 (225 ILCS 10/6.5 new)
5 Sec. 6.5. Qualifications for interim conditional child
6 care directors.
7 (a) A licensed day care center may employ an individual
8 who is in the process of completing the educational
9 requirements set forth in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2) as
10 an interim conditional child care director for a period of 12
11 months if they meet the conditions outlined in paragraph (1)
12 or (2) of subsection (b). An individual employed under this
13 Section shall comply with the process established by the
14 Department of Early Childhood. This process requires the
15 licensed day care center, at the time of employment, to
16 provide documentation showing that the individual is enrolled
17 in courses at an accredited college or university that satisfy
18 the requirements of 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2).
19 (b) During the 12-month employment period, an interim
20 conditional child care director with any of the following
21 qualifications is exempt from the educational requirements set
22 forth in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2):
23 (1) At least 2 years or 3,120 clock hours as an early
24 childhood teacher at the licensed day care center where
25 the individual shall serve as an interim conditional child
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1 care director and has at least 64 semester hours or 96
2 quarter hours of credit from an accredited college or
3 university in any discipline, with a minimum of 15
4 semester hours or 22.5 quarter hours in courses related to
5 early childhood education, child development, or early
6 childhood special education, and (i) a Gateways to
7 Opportunity Level I Illinois Director Credential, (ii) 3
8 semester hours or 4.5 quarter hours of credit from an
9 accredited college or university in administration,
10 leadership, or management, or (iii) 3 points of
11 credential-approved training in administration,
12 leadership, or management. A person who is exempt under
13 this paragraph shall obtain a total of at least 21
14 semester hours or 31.5 quarter hours in courses related to
15 early childhood education, child development, or early
16 childhood special education by the end of the prescribed
17 12-month period; or
18 (2) At least 2 years or 3,120 clock hours as an early
19 childhood teacher at the licensed day care center where
20 the individual shall serve as an interim conditional child
21 care director and has at least 64 semester hours or 96
22 quarter hours of credit from an accredited college or
23 university in any discipline, with a minimum of 21
24 semester hours or 31.5 quarter hours in courses related to
25 early childhood education, child development, or early
26 childhood special education and without (i) a Gateways to
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1 Opportunity Level I Illinois Director Credential, (ii) 3
2 semester hours or 4.5 quarter hours of credit from an
3 accredited college or university in administration,
4 leadership, or management, or (iii) 3 points of
5 credential-approved training in administration,
6 leadership, or management. A person who is exempt under
7 this paragraph shall obtain the Gateways to Opportunity
8 Level I Illinois Director Credential, semester or quarter
9 hours, or points of training during the prescribed
10 12-month period.
11 (c) Only a licensed day care center that has already
12 employed at least one fully qualified and credentialed child
13 care director may hire an interim conditional child care
14 director.
15 (d) Any licensed day care center that employs an interim
16 conditional child care director is restricted to hiring no
17 more than one interim conditional child care director at a
18 time for every credentialed and qualified child care director
19 employed. If an interim conditional child care director leaves
20 the position during the 12-month period, the licensed day care
21 center may employ a new interim conditional child care
22 director to replace the previous interim conditional child
23 care director.
24 (e) A day care center must ensure direct supervision on an
25 ongoing basis by a fully qualified child care director
26 practicing in the State of Illinois, with a minimum of monthly
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1 on-site check-ins, unless the supervising director determines
2 that more frequent check-ins are required. This shall continue
3 for the entire duration of any interim conditional child care
4 director's appointment. An interim conditional child care
5 director shall not be scheduled during any hours when an
6 interim conditional teacher is on duty. Parents and caregivers
7 must be notified if an interim conditional child care director
8 is employed by a day care center. This information must be
9 posted in a common area that is visible to parents and
10 caregivers for the duration of the interim period.
11 (f) Failure to comply with the requirements in this
12 Section shall result in a violation and the issuance of a
13 corrective action plan. The Department of Early Childhood
14 shall adopt rules to implement this Section in accordance with
15 the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
16 (g) This Section is repealed on June 30, 2032.
17 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
18 2027.Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.