Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for disqualification for licensure or suspension or revocation of a license, includes in the definition of "sex or other offense" abuse by an educator or authority figure as defined in the Criminal Code of 2012. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of abuse by an educator or authority figure. Provides that a person commits the offense if that person is an educator or authority figure at the school, the student is at least 18 years of age but under 23 years of age, the person is at least 4 years older than the student and holds or held within the previous year a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to the student in connection with an educational or extracurricular program or activity, and the person either: (1) commits an act of sexual conduct with the student; or (2) commits an act of sexual penetration with the student. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual conduct is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual penetration is a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that consent of the victim is not a defense to abuse by an educator or authority figure. Defines "authority figure" and "educator".
Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall include in its handbook regarding dyslexia guidelines on the administration of universal screeners for a risk of reading difficulties and secondary reviews, the interpretation of data from these screeners and reviews, and the resulting appropriate intervention within a multi-tiered system of support framework. Requires the State Board to adopt any rules necessary to ensure that a student will be screened for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener. Provides that a student shall be screened: (1) if the student is enrolled in a public school in any of grades kindergarten through 3; (2) if the student is in any of grades kindergarten through 3, transfers to a new public school, and has not been screened twice previously during the school year; (3) if the student is in grade 4 or higher and the student's teacher, parent, or guardian requests that the student be screened for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener; or (4) if the student is from another state and enrolls for the first time in any of grades kindergarten through 3 in a school district in the State. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school district must screen students, no less than twice each school year, in grades kindergarten through 3 for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener approved by the State Board. Provides for intervention. Requires a report to the State Board. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are employed as an early childhood teacher or an early childhood assistant during the taxable year and who have a federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year of $75,000 or less. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2026 and beginning before January 1, 2027, the amount of the credit is $1,000. Provides that, for subsequent taxable years, the credit amount shall be adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year.
Appropriates $1,000,000 from the Education Assistance Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for grants to eligible nurse educators to use for payment of their educational loans pursuant to Public Act 94-1020. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for nurse educator fellowships to supplement nurse faculty salaries. Appropriates $1,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for competitive grants for nursing schools to increase the number of graduating nurses. Appropriates $6,000,000 from the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for expenses related to the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Effective July 1, 2025.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create a system for the automatic suspension of a license if the holder of that license has been convicted of a crime under the Sex Offenses Article of the Criminal Code of 2012 or a crime that requires registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act.
Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. In the statute creating the offense of threatening a public official or human service provider, includes threatening a teacher, principal, or administrator of a public or private elementary or secondary school. Changes the name of the offense to threatening a public official, a human service provider, or a teacher, principal, or administrator of a public or private elementary or secondary school. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 to make conforming changes.
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish the State Instructional Technology Advisory Board, which shall collaborate with the State Board of Education to provide guidance, integration, oversight, and evaluation of education technologies, including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence technologies. Sets forth the membership of the Advisory Board and terms. Requires the State Board, with the Advisory Board, to develop standards concerning safety, transparency, data privacy, and educational quality for any artificial intelligence technology that may be used in schools and develop guidance for school districts and educators on the use of artificial intelligence in education. Requires the annual school district report to the State Board regarding educational technology capacity and policies to include student, teacher, and district use of artificial intelligence. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Authorizes the State Board of Education to administer the Illinois Classroom Supply Assistance Program. Requires the State Board to create a list of preapproved items which may be purchased using funds loaded onto a Classroom Supply Assistance Card (CSAC). Provides that at the beginning of each school quarter starting during the 2027-2028 school year, the State Board shall distribute funds from the Illinois Classroom Supply Assistance Program Fund to teachers throughout the State. Provides that funds for the Program shall be distributed according to a needs-based formula taking into account school district funding, district poverty rates and Title 1 status, per-pupil spending disparities, student performance metrics, and teacher-to-student ratios. Provides that purchases made with a CSAC shall be tracked electronically and monitored to ensure compliance with the list of approved supplies. Provides that teachers shall have access to an online portal to manage funds, review balances, and track purchases. Provides that annual audits shall be conducted to maintain transparency and prevent misuse. Requires the State Board to launch a pilot program in high-needs districts for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years to test the funding model and distribution process. Requires the State Board to annually report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the status of the Program and any problems that arose with its implementation in the preceding calendar year. Creates the Illinois Classroom Supply Assistance Fund. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.
Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the dismissal of teachers, includes releasing student record information to unauthorized parties, engaging in aggressive physical contact with a student or a member of staff if the physical contact does not serve to promote greater safety, and disparaging a student or a member of staff based on protected characteristics as sufficient causes to dismiss a teacher. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets specified requirements. Provides that the foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 following the fifth anniversary of the endorsement's issuance. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may teach a course on the foreign language for which the foreign language endorsement is issued. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree and who is 25 years of age or older may substitute teach in foreign language classrooms. Effective July 1, 2025.
