Education (Teachers)

in committee · Illinois · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 3651: SCH CD-SUB TEACHING LICENSE

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that an applicant for a Substitute Teaching License who holds a valid paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations and who has been working in the capacity of a paraprofessional in this State for a minimum of 5 school years does not need to hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program in this State and have earned at least 90 credit hours to be issued a Substitute Teaching License.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRelaxes substitute teaching license requirements for experienced paraprofessionals, facilitating educator workforce access and reducing barriers for current school staff.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 27, 2026

HB 5050: SCH CD-PROF EDUCATOR LICENSE

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides the additional requirement of successfully completing at least one foundational course on English learners for a person to be issued a Professional Educator License. Effective January 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates foundational course on English learners for educator licensure, strengthening teacher preparation for diverse classrooms and aligning with educator support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Tags Licensing

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in committee · Illinois · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 3331: SCH CD-EDUCATOR PREP PROG INST

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows an institution of higher education approved to offer educator preparation programs to pursue accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Provides that an institution of higher education that receives and retains CAEP accreditation may forgo the State reauthorization process. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules for the reauthorization of a CAEP-accredited institution of higher education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows CAEP accreditation to replace state reauthorization, streamlining quality assurance for educator preparation programs and supporting educator quality standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed · Illinois · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 4792: SCH CD-TEACH EXCELLENC PROGRAM

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In a provision regarding the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program, changes the definition of "hard-to-staff school" to mean a public school that either (i) is identified as hard-to-staff based on data reported on its school report card or (ii) does not have a school report card but serves a student population in which 30% or more of the student enrollment is considered low-income as determined by the State Board of Education using available enrollment or funding data, and provides that the State Board may not deny a National Board certified teacher a retention bonus solely because the public school at which the teacher is employed does not have a school report card.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for Illinois Teaching Excellence Program by broadening 'hard-to-staff school' definition, supporting teacher retention in underserved schools with high low-income enrollment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 3598: SCH CD-TEACH EXCELLENC PROGRAM

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In a provision regarding the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program, changes the definition of "hard-to-staff school" to mean a public school that either (i) is identified as hard-to-staff based on data reported on its school report card or (ii) does not have a school report card but serves a student population in which 30% or more of the student enrollment is considered low-income as determined by the State Board of Education using available enrollment or funding data, and provides that the State Board may not deny a National Board certified teacher a retention bonus solely because the public school at which the teacher is employed does not have a school report card.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for Illinois Teaching Excellence Program to more schools serving high low-income populations, strengthening support for hard-to-staff schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Mar 13, 2026

SB 3928: SCH CD-INVESTIGATE ED LICENSE

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. With regard to the suspension or revocation of a license, endorsement, or approval, provides that failure of the State Superintendent of Education to complete its investigation and issue formal discipline or otherwise dispose of the investigation within one year after the State Superintendent receives any written investigatory evidence relating to a particular license holder shall result in the investigation being deemed completed and the allegations against the license holder shall be determined to be unsubstantiated and dismissed with prejudice by the State Superintendent. Provides that formal documentation of an unsubstantiated determination shall state that no further action will be taken by the State Superintendent arising from the same facts or circumstances and shall be sent to the license holder within 45 business days after the unsubstantiated determination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill sets one-year limit for educator license investigations, preventing indefinite suspension without decision, thus protecting educators (a form of support).80% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 4631: SPECIAL ED TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to special education teacher scholarships, provides that up to 50 additional scholarships may be awarded each year to persons who qualify, subject to appropriation to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for this purpose.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill seeks additional state funding for special education teacher scholarships, requiring budget appropriation to expand program access.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases special education teacher scholarships by 50 annually, directly funding educator recruitment and access in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Special Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

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passed · Illinois · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 2953: PEN CD-TEACHERS-RE-EMPLOYMENT

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, through June 30, 2029 (instead of June 30, 2026), an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 120 paid days or 600 paid hours in each school year, but not more than 100 paid days in the same classroom. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends re-employment window for retired teachers without pension penalties, supporting educator retention and flexibility in school staffing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 4440: SCH CD-LICENSURE-PARAPROFESS

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 to address staffing gaps, supporting school operations and educational access without restricting requirements.80% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 4632: $ISAC-NURSE ED LOAN REPAY PROG

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $500k from General Revenue to fund nurse educator loan repayments, directly supporting healthcare workforce development through state funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds nurse educators' student loan repayment, directly supporting educators in higher education (nursing programs) per topic description.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds nurse educator loan repayment program ($500k) to strengthen healthcare workforce by retaining educators in nursing programs, directly supporting healthcare workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds nurse educator loan repayment, directly supporting healthcare workforce retention and reducing financial barriers for educators in nursing programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Teachers Healthcare Workforce

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