EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
(COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 29)
WHEREAS, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among people through respiratory transmissions and present with symptoms similar to those of influenza; and,
WHEREAS, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on March 9, 2020 (First Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation) in response to the outbreak of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, I again declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area on April 1, 2020 (the Second Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, and, together with the First Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations) in response to the exponential spread of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, for the preservation of public health and safety throughout the entire State of Illinois, and to ensure that our healthcare delivery system continues to be capable of serving those who are sick, I find it necessary to take additional measures consistent with public health guidance to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19; and,
WHEREAS, social distancing, which consists of maintaining at least a six-foot distance between people, remains the paramount strategy for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our communities; and,
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, I issued Executive Order 2020-05 ordering the closure of public and private pre-K-12 schools for educational purposes from March 17, 2020 through March 30, 2020; and,
WHEREAS, Executive Order 2020-18 extended Executive Order 2020-05 in its entirety for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, which currently extends through April 30, 2020; and,
WHEREAS, currently there are more than 15,000 candidates in educator, school support personnel, or administrator preparation programs; and,
WHEREAS, in the spring of 2020, as the State began to take actions to address the spread of COVID-19, as many as 7,500 of these candidates were in the process of completing student teaching and internships; and,
WHEREAS, all of these educators wish to serve the children in Illinois public schools beginning in the 2020-2021 school year; and,
WHEREAS, there are over 100,000 students in Illinois preparing to graduate from high school and over 100,000 students preparing to graduate from eighth grade; and,
WHEREAS, community colleges throughout Illinois have a range of construction projects and capital improvements that must be timely bid, awarded and initiated in order to ensure completion of projects;
THEREFORE, by the powers vested in me as the Governor of the State of Illinois, and pursuant to Sections 7(1), 7(8), and 7(12) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305, I hereby order the following, effective April 24, 2020 and for the remainder of the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations:
Section 1. The provision of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/21B-30(f), requiring that all candidates completing teacher preparation programs pass a teacher performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education, is suspended.
Section 2. The provision of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/21B-35(b), requiring the completion of student teaching for individuals seeking a professional educator license who hold a comparable and valid educator license or certificate from another country, is suspended.
Section 3. The provision of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/21B-60(b)(3)(iii), requiring that principal preparation programs include specific requirements for an internship, is suspended. Candidates who successfully complete a principal preparation program shall obtain a principal endorsement on a professional educator license consistent with 105 ILCS 5/21B-60(c), regardless of whether an internship was completed.
Section 4. The following provisions of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq., requiring internships for endorsements on professional educator licenses, are suspended:
- 105 ILCS 5/21B-25(2)(C) (chief school business official endorsement), and
- 105 ILCS 5/21B-25(2)(D) (superintendent endorsement).
Section 5. The following provisions of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq., requiring internships for applicants who have not been entitled by an Illinois-approved educator preparation program or applicants trained in another country, are suspended:
- 105 ILCS 5/21B-35(b-5)(2.5) (professional educator license endorsed for principal or superintendent)
- 105 ILCS 5/21B-35(b-10)(2) (professional educator license endorsed for chief school business official)
Section 6. The provision of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/14-1.09(1)(A), requiring at least one school year of full-time supervised experience in the delivery of school psychological services, is suspended.
Section 7. The provisions of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b(b)(3), and the corresponding regulations set forth in Title 23, Section 25.252(c)(4) of the Illinois Administrative Code, requiring 150 clock hours of school-based professional experience for the school service personnel certificate with a speech-language endorsement, are suspended.
Section 8. The following provisions of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq., requiring certain assessments and courses for twelfth grade students, are suspended:
- 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-5(c) (requirement to take State assessments),
- 105 ILCS 5/27-3 (requirement to pass a satisfactory examination on patriotism and the principles of representative government),
- 105 ILCS 5/27-6(a) (requirement to engage in a course of physical education for a minimum of 3 days per 5-day week), and
- 105 ILCS 5/27-12.1(a) (requirement to be taught consumer education).
Section 9. The provision of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/10-22.43a, requiring the successful completion of a foreign language proficiency examination for students whose foreign language credit is met through an approved ethnic school program, is suspended.
Section 10. The provision of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27-6.5, requiring physical fitness assessments, is suspended.
Section 11. The provision of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27-22(e), requiring the successful completion of certain courses as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, is suspended for twelfth grade students who are unable to complete such coursework as a result of the suspension of in-person instruction due to COVID-19.
Section 12. The provision of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27-21, requiring eighth grade students to demonstrate evidence of having a comprehensive knowledge of the history of the United States as a prerequisite to eighth grade graduation, is suspended.
Section 13. Twelfth grade students shall not be denied credit for apprenticeships or vocational or technical education courses allowed to be substituted for graduation requirements under the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27-22.05, due to the student’s inability to complete those course substitutions as a result of the suspension of in-person instruction due to COVID-19.
Section 14. The Illinois State Board of Education shall file emergency rules as needed to effectuate the intent of this Executive Order, including to suspend any regulatory provision related to: (1) student graduation requirements; or (2) student teaching, supervised field experience, or internship requirements for professional educator licenses or endorsements.
Section 15. The provision of the Illinois Public Community College Act, 110 ILCS 805/3-27.1, prohibiting bids for construction purposes from being submitted electronically, is suspended.
Section 16. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
Issued by the Governor April 24, 2020
Filed by the Secretary of State April 24, 2020