The Department of Education, in cooperation with the Office of Higher Education, shall, within available appropriations,

1. (1) establish an accelerated cross endorsement process for each subject shortage area pursuant to section 10-8b to allow certified teachers to add a new endorsement to their certificates,
2. (2) establish a program for formerly certified teachers to regain certification, and
3. (3) on and after July 1, 2023, authorize the Integrated Early Childhood/Special Ed., Birth–Kindergarten endorsement and the Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Education N-3 and Special Education N-K endorsement to be added as a cross endorsement in lieu of requiring full planned program and institutional recommendation.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1, S. 7, 54; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; P.A. 13-240, S. 5; P.A. 23-159, S. 17.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1 effective July 1, 2001; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Department of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-240 replaced “Board of Regents for Higher Education” with “Office of Higher Education”, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 23-159 added Subdiv. (3) re Integrated Early Childhood/Special Ed., Birth–Kindergarten endorsement and the Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Education N-3 and Special Education N-K endorsement to be added as a cross endorsement in lieu of requiring full planned program and institutional recommendation, effective July 1, 2023.