Education

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a social work associate endorsement on an Educator License with stipulations may be issued to an applicant who (i) holds a degree from a graduate program of social work that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education and (ii) has an active license through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act as either a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement is authorized to perform responsibilities associated with traditional social work practice, subject to the restrictions in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act regarding independent clinical practice, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions in a multi-tiered system of support. Provides that all responsibilities of the holder of a social work associate endorsement shall be performed in consultation with an individual who holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school social work. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement is not authorized to perform Tier 3 multi-tiered system of support interventions or participate in the individualized education program process or the federal Section 504 plan process for any student with a disability. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement may not be employed by a school district or any other entity to replace any presently employed Professional Educator License holder with a school support personnel endorsement who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason. Provides that an applicant for a social work associate endorsement is not required to pass a content area test under the Code. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for grants to specified organizations as deemed appropriate by the Department for purposes of administering preapprenticeship workforce development programs that support education and training programming targeted to individuals under the age of 18 who reside in underserved areas in specified fields. Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for grants to community college districts and public high schools for the purposes of administering the 21st Century Employment grant program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows a lapsed Professional Educator License to be immediately reinstated upon payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of the lesser of a $50 penalty or a $10 penalty for each year the license has lapsed. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Community College Act. Allows the board of trustees of a community college district to establish and offer a baccalaureate degree program and confer a bachelor's degree if the board of trustees and the program meet specified conditions. Provides for an application for approval from the Illinois Community College Board. Sets forth community college requirements and prohibitions for establishing a baccalaureate degree program. Provides that a community college district that offers a baccalaureate degree program shall submit an annual report to the Illinois Community College Board. Sets forth what that report shall include. Provides for a statewide evaluation of a baccalaureate degree program.

Appropriates $26,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to reimburse public universities and community colleges for costs associated with the Illinois Veteran grant program and the Illinois National Guard and Naval Militia grant program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts and other educational units that have school social work interns to assist those school districts and other educational units in the funding of school social work internships approved by the interns' educator preparation programs by providing stipends. Sets forth the stipend amount. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate to school districts and other educational units that have school social work interns a request for applications for grants. Provides that grant applications shall be accepted on an annual basis. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish procedures for submitting requests for stipends and issuing funds to approved applicants. Provides for prioritizing grants if an appropriation is insufficient to fund all applications for grants. Provides that for any school year in which grants are awarded, the State Board of Education shall produce a report on the awarding of grants, in cooperation with the school districts and educational units that are awarded grants. Sets forth requirements for the report. Provides that the report shall be posted on the State Board of Education's Internet website each school year in which grants are awarded. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall establish and administer a grant program to support the field placement of social workers. Provides that the Board shall distribute the funds appropriated for this purpose in the form of grants to public or nonpublic institutions of higher education to expand opportunities for students who are intending to become social workers and to assist students in pursuing social-work related field placements, internships, and other work opportunities. Sets forth other requirements concerning the operation of the grant program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that an association or other entity that promotes, sponsors, regulates, or in any manner provides for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within the State may not adopt or maintain in effect any bylaw, rule, regulation, or policy which does not allow equal access for participation in interscholastic athletics or athletic competitions by a student based upon whether the student attends a public school, nonpublic school, or home school if the association or other entity receives any membership or other dues or fees from the governing body of any public elementary or public secondary school in the State. Effective immediately.

Urges the implementation of interventions to support vaccine uptake and reduce disparities in vaccine coverage among children. Urges the Illinois Department of Health, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to work with pediatricians, clinicians, families, and other stakeholders to ensure infants and children are vaccinated on time and students begin school fully vaccinated. Urges the Illinois Department of Health, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to continue to invest in immunization initiatives and infrastructure to ensure timely reporting of vaccine coverage to ensure children are protected from vaccine-preventable illness in public and private schools, child care facilities, and pre-kindergarten programs and beyond.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act and the Public Community College Act. Provides that a student member who serves on the Board of Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board shall receive a scholarship award of $500 for each semester in which the student member is enrolled and serving.

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a district from charging tuition to non-resident pupils. Removes all other language regarding the tuition of non-resident pupils. Removes language regarding the application of provisions based on district population, hearings, and penalties related to non-resident pupil tuition. Removes language prohibiting certain transfers of students. Requires each school board to establish and implement a policy governing the transfer of non-resident students from outside of the school district to schools within the district. Makes other changes.