103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3402 Introduced , by Rep. Sharon Chung SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new Amends the School Code. Provides that, when hiring physical education, music, and visual arts educators, school districts must prioritize the hiring of educators who hold a teaching license and endorsement in those content areas. Provides that, if a school district is unable to hire a qualified candidate, the district may then hire a candidate who holds a valid professional educator license on a short-term basis. Provides that the professional educator license applicant must pass the content area test for which they are assigned to teach within one calendar year of the employment start date. Provides that, in order to retain employment for subsequent school years, the employee must complete 18 hours of course work in the content area in which they are teaching within 3 calendar years of their employment start date. Provides that in case of a reduction in force, districts may follow their local contract language for filling positions. LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3402 Introduced , by Rep. Sharon Chung SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new Amends the School Code. Provides that, when hiring physical education, music, and visual arts educators, school districts must prioritize the hiring of educators who hold a teaching license and endorsement in those content areas. Provides that, if a school district is unable to hire a qualified candidate, the district may then hire a candidate who holds a valid professional educator license on a short-term basis. Provides that the professional educator license applicant must pass the content area test for which they are assigned to teach within one calendar year of the employment start date. Provides that, in order to retain employment for subsequent school years, the employee must complete 18 hours of course work in the content area in which they are teaching within 3 calendar years of their employment start date. Provides that in case of a reduction in force, districts may follow their local contract language for filling positions. LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3402 Introduced , by Rep. Sharon Chung SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new Amends the School Code. Provides that, when hiring physical education, music, and visual arts educators, school districts must prioritize the hiring of educators who hold a teaching license and endorsement in those content areas. Provides that, if a school district is unable to hire a qualified candidate, the district may then hire a candidate who holds a valid professional educator license on a short-term basis. Provides that the professional educator license applicant must pass the content area test for which they are assigned to teach within one calendar year of the employment start date. Provides that, in order to retain employment for subsequent school years, the employee must complete 18 hours of course work in the content area in which they are teaching within 3 calendar years of their employment start date. Provides that in case of a reduction in force, districts may follow their local contract language for filling positions. LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b A BILL FOR HB3402LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b HB3402 LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b HB3402 LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b 1 AN ACT concerning education. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 5 22-95 as follows: 6 (105 ILCS 5/22-95 new) 7 Sec. 22-95. Hiring priority. 8 (a) When hiring physical education, music, and visual arts 9 educators, school districts must prioritize the hiring of 10 educators who hold a teaching license and endorsement in those 11 content areas. 12 (b) If a school district is unable to hire a qualified 13 candidate under subsection (a), the district may then hire a 14 candidate who holds a valid professional educator license. 15 Hiring an applicant with a professional educator license shall 16 be on a short-term basis. The professional educator license 17 applicant must pass the content area test for which he or she 18 is assigned to teach within one calendar year of the 19 employment start date. In order to retain employment for 20 subsequent school years, the employee must complete 18 hours 21 of course work in the content area in which he or she is 22 teaching within 3 calendar years of his or her employment 23 start date. 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3402 Introduced , by Rep. Sharon Chung SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new Amends the School Code. Provides that, when hiring physical education, music, and visual arts educators, school districts must prioritize the hiring of educators who hold a teaching license and endorsement in those content areas. Provides that, if a school district is unable to hire a qualified candidate, the district may then hire a candidate who holds a valid professional educator license on a short-term basis. Provides that the professional educator license applicant must pass the content area test for which they are assigned to teach within one calendar year of the employment start date. Provides that, in order to retain employment for subsequent school years, the employee must complete 18 hours of course work in the content area in which they are teaching within 3 calendar years of their employment start date. Provides that in case of a reduction in force, districts may follow their local contract language for filling positions. LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b A BILL FOR 105 ILCS 5/22-95 new LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b HB3402 LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b HB3402- 2 -LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b HB3402 - 2 - LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b HB3402 - 2 - LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b 1 (c) In case of a reduction in force, districts may follow 2 their local contract language for filling positions. HB3402 - 2 - LRB103 27224 RJT 53594 b