Education

Amends the Article of the School Code concerning the Chicago school district. Removes the prohibition on student members of a local school council being counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present to act and having a vote on the following measures: (i) the evaluation of a principal; (ii) the renewal of a principal's performance contract or the inclusion of any provision or modification of the contract; (iii) the direct selection by the local school council of a new principal to serve under a 4-year performance contract; or (iv) the determination of the names of candidates to be submitted to the general superintendent for the position of principal. Requires 8 affirmative votes of the local school council at attendance centers enrolling students through grade 8 and 9 affirmative votes of the local school council at secondary attendance centers (rather than 7) for the direct selection by the local school council of a new principal. Provides that student members of a local school council shall count toward a quorum on all measures brought before the local school council. Removes the prohibition on student members of a local school council being eligible to vote on personnel matters and the allocation of teaching and staff resources.

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.

Condemns President Donald Trump's effort to freeze funds for affordable childcare. Calls for the immediate release of all congressionally appropriated childcare funds.

HB 4632 appropriates $500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to fund the Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program. This program directly helps Illinois nurse educators who teach in nursing programs by repaying their qualifying student loans. The funding becomes available starting July 1, 2026, to support these educators in the state's healthcare workforce. The bill is a straightforward funding measure with no new policy requirements beyond the allocated resources.

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.

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.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to create a school counselor stipend program. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students and eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program. Sets forth requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating school counselor who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the suspension or expulsion of a student, requires all evidence, including, but not limited to, video evidence and written materials, held by a school district that has led to the decision to suspend or expel the student to be given to the student's parents or guardians before a suspension or expulsion hearing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the total payments under a provision concerning the Board providing partial reimbursement of health insurance costs may not exceed $100,000,000 (instead of $65,000,000) in any year. Provides that the amount shall annually thereafter be increased by the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, including all previous adjustments. Defines "consumer price index".

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Prison Education Fund. Provides that moneys in the Prison Education Fund shall be used by the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to make grants to prison education programs that award associate degrees or bachelor's degrees to currently incarcerated students. Makes changes concerning the allocation of money from the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Provides that 0.5% of the moneys in the Cannabis Regulation Fund, after certain allocations have been made, shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Prison Education Fund.