Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Jul 24, 2026

SB 2773: PARAPROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows the State Superintendent of Education to issue a short-term approval for a paraprofessional educator to an individual who does not meet the requirements necessary for issuance of an Educator License with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement. Provides that the short-term approval authorizes an individual to serve as a paraprofessional educator in a school district, including a charter school, or a State-operated program, with the short-term approval expiring on June 30 immediately following the third full fiscal year after the approval was issued without renewal. Provides that upon expiration of the short-term approval, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue an Educator License with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement to the individual if the individual meets specified requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows short-term paraprofessional roles without full licensure, easing staffing flexibility for schools and supporting educational access through workforce availability.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Jul 24, 2026

SB 2749: DHS-GAMBLING DISORDERS

Amends the Substance Use Disorder Act. Expands the Act to include counseling, referral, and other supportive services for persons with gambling disorders. Requires the Department of Human Services to collaborate with the State Board of Education in the development of instructional resources for substance use or gambling disorder prevention and awareness that may be used by school districts. Permits the Department to cooperate with institutions of higher education in the development of programs on substance use and gambling disorders. Requires the Department to establish a toll-free hotline and website that provides crisis counseling and referral services for families experiencing difficulty related to a gambling disorder. Requires the Department to promote public awareness regarding the impact of gambling disorders on individuals, families, and communities. Makes other changes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires DHS collaboration with State Board of Education to develop school district instructional resources on gambling disorder prevention, enhancing curriculum content.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health services to include gambling disorder counseling and prevention programs, strengthening public health initiatives under healthcare.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · House Jul 24, 2026

HB 4581: SCH CD-SPEC ED TRANSITION PLAN

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State's Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program, shall establish an efficient process by which information about the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program is disseminated through the State Board to students, parents and guardians, transition planning and services coordinators at school districts, special education joint agreements, and other relevant educational agencies. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates improved dissemination of transition services info for special education students, enhancing support access and coordination per special education requirements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Jul 24, 2026

SB 2914: SCH CD-REMOVE/DISMISS TEACHERS

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In a provision requiring a school board, before setting a hearing on charges stemming from causes that are considered remediable, to give a teacher reasonable warning, in writing, stating specifically the causes that, if not removed, may result in charges, allows a teacher to grieve the issuance of such warning pursuant to the applicable collective bargaining agreement to determine whether the board had just cause in issuing the warning. Requires the written warning to narrowly specify the nature of the alleged misconduct that needs to be remedied. Provides that under no circumstances may the written warning remain effective for longer than 4 years from the date of the issuance of the written warning. Requires the school district to use reasonable efforts to remove the written warning from the teacher's personnel file after the 4 years have elapsed or sooner if agreed to through the exclusive bargaining representative, with an exception. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables teachers to grieve warnings via collective bargaining, protecting due process in employment - a form of supporting teacher rights under education policy.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill allows teachers to grieve written warnings via collective bargaining, strengthening due process and protecting employment rights in disciplinary procedures.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Jul 24, 2026

SB 3051: SCH CD-UNDESIGNATED GLUCAGON

Amends the School Code. Allows a school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school to authorize a school nurse or trained personnel to: (1) provide undesignated ready-to-use glucagon to authorized personnel to administer ready-to-use glucagon to a student that meets the student's prescription on file; (2) administer undesignated ready-to-use glucagon that meets the prescription on file to any student who has a plan that authorizes the use of ready-to-use glucagon; and (3) administer undesignated ready-to-use glucagon to any person that the school nurse or trained personnel believes in good faith is having a severe hypoglycemia emergency. Makes conforming changes regarding liability, where and when the undesignated ready-to-use glucagon may be administered, supply maintenance, notification of administration to the student's parent or guardian or emergency contact, training, and reports of administration to the State Board of Education, General Assembly, and Department of Public Health.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows school nurses to administer glucagon for student health emergencies, supporting student safety and access to education within school settings.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows school personnel to administer glucagon without individual prescriptions, improving emergency diabetes care access in schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · House Jul 24, 2026

HB 4239: SCH CD-HIGH SCH COURSE CREDIT

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 is authorized to adopt a policy under which a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 who is enrolled in the unit school district or would be enrolled in the high school district upon completion of elementary school may enroll in a required high school course, provided that the course is offered by the high school that the student would attend and the student participates in the course where the student attends school as long as the course is taught by a teacher who holds a professional educator license and endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course (instead of just as long as the course is taught by a teacher who holds a professional educator license and endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows 7th/8th graders to enroll in required high school courses, expanding educational access and flexibility for students in K-12 curriculum.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · House Jul 24, 2026

HB 3250: SCH CD-GLOBAL SCHOLAR CERTIFY

Amends the School Code. Provides that if the provider of the micro-credential or digital badge determines and can demonstrate that a student meets all of the criteria required to earn State Global Scholar Certification, then the school district or nonpublic school shall designate that the student has earned State Global Scholar Certification on the student's diploma and transcript.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires schools to recognize State Global Scholar Certification on diplomas/transcripts, expanding student achievement acknowledgment and educational access without restrictions or funding changes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 5225: AUTISM SPECTRUM-DIAGNOSIS

Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Allows a speech-language pathologist to diagnose autism spectrum disorders if: (1) the child is under 3 years of age; and (2) the speech-language pathologist is trained in autism diagnostic evaluation methods as part of the curriculum of an approved program, through worksite training, or through continuing education. Provides that if a diagnosis requires a plan of care that includes elements that are outside the scope of practice of a speech-language pathologist, the speech-language pathologist must refer the patient to the appropriate medical personnel for further evaluation or management. Makes conforming changes in the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code, and provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code concerning autism spectrum disorders. Effective July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables early autism diagnosis by SLPs, improving educational access for young children with autism spectrum disorders through expanded diagnostic capacity.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows trained SLPs to diagnose autism in children under 3, expanding access to early autism spectrum diagnosis and intervention services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Jul 10, 2026

SB 2909: SCH CD-TEACHER EVALUATION-AI

Amends the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article of the School Code. Prohibits an evaluator from using an artificial intelligence tool to assign a numerical score or qualitative rating for any component of a teacher's evaluation or any evaluation task that requires professional judgment. However, allows an artificial intelligence tool to be used to support the evaluator in administrative tasks.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits AI from assigning scores in teacher evaluations requiring professional judgment, protecting educator autonomy in assessments.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits AI from assigning scores in evaluations requiring professional judgment, protecting teacher assessment integrity as part of employment standards.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed both · Illinois · House Jul 1, 2026

HB 4795: SCH-CD-LICENSE-EARLY CHILDHOOD

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a National Board certification-early childhood generalist endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a valid Early Childhood Generalist certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Provides that the endorsement holder is deemed qualified and authorized to provide instruction in early childhood education programs and is deemed to meet or exceed all early childhood instructional competency requirements established by the State Board for pre-kindergarten instruction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRecognizes National Board certification for early childhood educators, enhancing teacher qualifications and authorization per licensure standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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