104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1945 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/21B-20105 ILCS 5/21B-30 Amends the Educator License Article of the School Code. Provides that if an assessment is determined to be non-uniform, a provisional in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education and who has not successfully completed an applicable content area test but who meets certain requirements, which is valid for one full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not be renewed. Provides that the process by which the State Board of Education evaluates content area tests to determine content validity, absence of bias, or scores required to pass shall be public information and is available on the website of the State Board. Requires the State Board to evaluate each content area test after it has been administered for at least 10 months, but not more than 12 months, and shall determine whether a content test is non-uniform. Provides that an assessment first introduced prior to January 1, 2017 shall be considered uniform, and an assessment introduced on or after January 1, 2017 that does not meet specified criteria shall be considered uniform. Provides that if the State Board finds that the content area test forms available as of January 1, 2025 are not uniform in the level of difficulty as compared to previous forms of those exams, any candidate for licensure who attempted any content area test in the form that was available as of January 1, 2025, and whose best scores in each subsection of the same content area exam, taken across multiple attempts on the same form of the exam, equal or exceed the passing score for that content area exam as of January 1, 2025, shall be determined to have passed that content area exam. LRB104 10967 LNS 21049 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1945 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/21B-20105 ILCS 5/21B-30 105 ILCS 5/21B-20 105 ILCS 5/21B-30 Amends the Educator License Article of the School Code. Provides that if an assessment is determined to be non-uniform, a provisional in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education and who has not successfully completed an applicable content area test but who meets certain requirements, which is valid for one full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not be renewed. Provides that the process by which the State Board of Education evaluates content area tests to determine content validity, absence of bias, or scores required to pass shall be public information and is available on the website of the State Board. Requires the State Board to evaluate each content area test after it has been administered for at least 10 months, but not more than 12 months, and shall determine whether a content test is non-uniform. Provides that an assessment first introduced prior to January 1, 2017 shall be considered uniform, and an assessment introduced on or after January 1, 2017 that does not meet specified criteria shall be considered uniform. Provides that if the State Board finds that the content area test forms available as of January 1, 2025 are not uniform in the level of difficulty as compared to previous forms of those exams, any candidate for licensure who attempted any content area test in the form that was available as of January 1, 2025, and whose best scores in each subsection of the same content area exam, taken across multiple attempts on the same form of the exam, equal or exceed the passing score for that content area exam as of January 1, 2025, shall be determined to have passed that content area exam. LRB104 10967 LNS 21049 b LRB104 10967 LNS 21049 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1945 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/21B-20105 ILCS 5/21B-30 105 ILCS 5/21B-20 105 ILCS 5/21B-30
105 ILCS 5/21B-20
105 ILCS 5/21B-30
Amends the Educator License Article of the School Code. Provides that if an assessment is determined to be non-uniform, a provisional in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education and who has not successfully completed an applicable content area test but who meets certain requirements, which is valid for one full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not be renewed. Provides that the process by which the State Board of Education evaluates content area tests to determine content validity, absence of bias, or scores required to pass shall be public information and is available on the website of the State Board. Requires the State Board to evaluate each content area test after it has been administered for at least 10 months, but not more than 12 months, and shall determine whether a content test is non-uniform. Provides that an assessment first introduced prior to January 1, 2017 shall be considered uniform, and an assessment introduced on or after January 1, 2017 that does not meet specified criteria shall be considered uniform. Provides that if the State Board finds that the content area test forms available as of January 1, 2025 are not uniform in the level of difficulty as compared to previous forms of those exams, any candidate for licensure who attempted any content area test in the form that was available as of January 1, 2025, and whose best scores in each subsection of the same content area exam, taken across multiple attempts on the same form of the exam, equal or exceed the passing score for that content area exam as of January 1, 2025, shall be determined to have passed that content area exam.
LRB104 10967 LNS 21049 b LRB104 10967 LNS 21049 b
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A BILL FOR
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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 changing Sections
5 21B-20 and 21B-30 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
7 Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of
8 Education shall implement a system of educator licensure,
9 whereby individuals employed in school districts who are
10 required to be licensed must have one of the following
11 licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an
12 educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute
13 teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2028, a short-term
14 substitute teaching license. References in law regarding
15 individuals certified or certificated or required to be
16 certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall
17 also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed
18 under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June
19 30 following one full year of the license being issued.
20 The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
21 State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
22 rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for
23 licenses and endorsements under this Section.
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1945 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/21B-20105 ILCS 5/21B-30 105 ILCS 5/21B-20 105 ILCS 5/21B-30
105 ILCS 5/21B-20
105 ILCS 5/21B-30
Amends the Educator License Article of the School Code. Provides that if an assessment is determined to be non-uniform, a provisional in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education and who has not successfully completed an applicable content area test but who meets certain requirements, which is valid for one full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not be renewed. Provides that the process by which the State Board of Education evaluates content area tests to determine content validity, absence of bias, or scores required to pass shall be public information and is available on the website of the State Board. Requires the State Board to evaluate each content area test after it has been administered for at least 10 months, but not more than 12 months, and shall determine whether a content test is non-uniform. Provides that an assessment first introduced prior to January 1, 2017 shall be considered uniform, and an assessment introduced on or after January 1, 2017 that does not meet specified criteria shall be considered uniform. Provides that if the State Board finds that the content area test forms available as of January 1, 2025 are not uniform in the level of difficulty as compared to previous forms of those exams, any candidate for licensure who attempted any content area test in the form that was available as of January 1, 2025, and whose best scores in each subsection of the same content area exam, taken across multiple attempts on the same form of the exam, equal or exceed the passing score for that content area exam as of January 1, 2025, shall be determined to have passed that content area exam.
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A BILL FOR
105 ILCS 5/21B-20
105 ILCS 5/21B-30
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1 (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
2 have successfully completed an approved educator
3 preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
4 the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
5 program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
6 testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
7 successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
8 the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
9 the exceptional child, including, without limitation,
10 children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
11 successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
12 and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other
13 criteria established by rule of the State Board of
14 Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License.
15 All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30
16 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued.
17 The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with
18 specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is
19 eligible to practice. For an early childhood education
20 endorsement, an individual may satisfy the student
21 teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher
22 preparation program through placement in a setting with
23 children from birth through grade 2, and the individual
24 may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. The
25 student teaching experience must meet the requirements of
26 and be approved by the individual's early childhood
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1 teacher preparation program.
2 Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
3 Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
4 shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
5 in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable
6 content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
7 (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
8 License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
9 that limits the license holder to one particular position
10 or does not require completion of an approved educator
11 program or both.
12 An individual with an Educator License with
13 Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
14 any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
15 who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
16 An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
17 with the following endorsements:
18 (A) (Blank).
19 (B) Alternative provisional educator. An
20 alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
21 Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
22 applicant who, at the time of applying for the
23 endorsement, has done all of the following:
24 (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
25 college or university with a minimum of a
26 bachelor's degree.
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1 (ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
2 the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
3 Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
4 Code.
5 (iii) Passed a content area test, as required
6 under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
7 The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
8 valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a
9 third year by an individual meeting the requirements set
10 forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
11 (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
12 alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
13 an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
14 holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
15 superintendent in a school district's central office.
16 This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
17 who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
18 done all of the following:
19 (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
20 college or university with a minimum of a master's
21 degree in a management field other than education.
22 (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
23 years in a management level position in a field
24 other than education.
25 (iii) Successfully completed the first phase
26 of an alternative route to superintendent
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1 endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
2 of this Code.
3 (iv) Passed a content area test required under
4 Section 21B-30 of this Code.
5 The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
6 order to complete one full year of serving as a
7 superintendent or assistant superintendent.
8 (D) (Blank).
9 (E) Career and technical educator. A career and
10 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
11 with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
12 has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
13 regionally accredited institution of higher education
14 or an accredited trade and technical institution and
15 has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of
16 education in each area to be taught.
17 The career and technical educator endorsement on
18 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
19 June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
20 endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
21 An individual who holds a valid career and
22 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
23 with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's
24 degree may substitute teach in career and technical
25 education classrooms.
26 An individual who holds a valid career and
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1 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
2 with Stipulations is entitled to all of the rights and
3 privileges granted to a holder of a Professional
4 Educator License.
5 (F) (Blank).
6 (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
7 transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
8 Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
9 the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
10 with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
11 provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets
12 all of the following requirements:
13 (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
14 writing ability in the language other than English
15 in which transitional bilingual education is
16 offered.
17 (ii) Has the ability to successfully
18 communicate in English.
19 (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
20 previous to his or her applying for a transitional
21 bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
22 comparable teaching certificate or comparable
23 authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
24 a degree from an institution of higher learning in
25 a foreign country that the State Educator
26 Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
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1 the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
2 regionally accredited institution of higher
3 learning in the United States.
4 A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
5 shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12,
6 is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
7 of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be
8 renewed.
9 Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
10 endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
11 presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
12 replaced for any reason.
13 (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
14 alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
15 other than English in the public schools, an
16 individual who holds an Educator License with
17 Stipulations may also apply for a language
18 endorsement, provided that the applicant provides
19 satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the
20 following requirements:
21 (i) Holds a transitional bilingual
22 endorsement.
23 (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
24 language for which the endorsement is to be issued
25 by passing the applicable language content test
26 required by the State Board of Education.
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1 (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
2 a regionally accredited institution of higher
3 education or, for individuals educated in a
4 country other than the United States, holds a
5 degree from an institution of higher learning in a
6 foreign country that the State Educator
7 Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
8 the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
9 regionally accredited institution of higher
10 learning in the United States.
11 (iv) (Blank).
12 A language endorsement on an Educator License with
13 Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
14 grade 12 for the same validity period as the
15 individual's transitional bilingual educator
16 endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
17 and shall not be renewed.
18 (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
19 international educator endorsement on an Educator
20 License with Stipulations may be issued to an
21 individual who is being recruited by a particular
22 school district that conducts formal recruitment
23 programs outside of the United States to secure the
24 services of qualified teachers and who meets all of
25 the following requirements:
26 (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
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1 bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
2 (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
3 grade level for which he or she will be employed.
4 (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
5 subject to be taught.
6 (iv) Has an adequate command of the English
7 language.
8 A holder of a visiting international educator
9 endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
10 shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
11 programs in the language that was the medium of
12 instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
13 provided that he or she passes the English Language
14 Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
15 skills in English identified by the State Board of
16 Education, in consultation with the State Educator
17 Preparation and Licensure Board.
18 A visiting international educator endorsement on
19 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5
20 years and shall not be renewed.
21 (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
22 educator endorsement on an Educator License with
23 Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
24 high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
25 (i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
26 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
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1 institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a
2 paraprofessional competency test under subsection
3 (c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years
4 of age and will be using the Educator License with
5 Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten
6 through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age
7 of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a
8 paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this
9 subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator
10 endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately
11 following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and
12 may be renewed through application and payment of the
13 appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of
14 this Code. An individual who holds only a
15 paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject
16 to additional requirements in order to renew the
17 endorsement.
18 (K) Chief school business official. A chief school
19 business official endorsement on an Educator License
20 with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
21 qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
22 years of full-time administrative experience in school
23 business management or 2 years of university-approved
24 practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
25 hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
26 State Board of Education for the preparation of school
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1 business administrators and by passage of the
2 applicable State tests, including an applicable
3 content area test.
4 The chief school business official endorsement may
5 also be affixed to the Educator License with
6 Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
7 master's degree in business administration, finance,
8 accounting, or public administration and who completes
9 an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school
10 business management from a regionally accredited
11 institution of higher education and passes the
12 applicable State tests, including an applicable
13 content area test. This endorsement shall be required
14 for any individual employed as a chief school business
15 official.
16 The chief school business official endorsement on
17 an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
18 June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
19 endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the
20 license holder completes renewal requirements as
21 required for individuals who hold a Professional
22 Educator License endorsed for chief school business
23 official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
24 rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
25 Education.
26 The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
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1 necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
2 (L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
3 in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
4 with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
5 completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
6 program at an Illinois institution of higher education
7 and who has not successfully completed an
8 evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
9 who meets all of the following requirements:
10 (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
11 (ii) Has completed an approved educator
12 preparation program at an Illinois institution.
13 (iii) Has passed an applicable content area
14 test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
15 (iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
16 assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
17 minimum score on that assessment, as established
18 by the State Board of Education in consultation
19 with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
20 Board.
21 A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
22 Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one
23 full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
24 be renewed.
25 (L-5) Provisional in-state educator. If an
26 assessment is determined to be non-uniform according
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1 to subsection (i-5) of Section 21B-30, a provisional
2 in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
3 with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
4 completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
5 program at an Illinois institution of higher education
6 and who has not successfully completed an applicable
7 content area test but who meets all of the following
8 requirements:
9 (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
10 (ii) Has completed an approved educator
11 preparation program at an Illinois institution.
12 (iii) Has passed an evidence-based assessment
13 of teacher effectiveness, as required by Section
14 21B-30. If an evidence-based assessment of teacher
15 effectiveness is not required by Section 21B-30 at
16 the time a candidate applies for this provisional
17 in-state educator endorsement on an Educator
18 License with Stipulations, candidates shall not be
19 eligible under this subsection.
20 (iv) Has attempted an applicable content area
21 test that has been determined to be non-uniform
22 per subsection (i-5) of Section 21B-30 and has not
23 attempted any uniform content area tests.
24 A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
25 Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one full
26 fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not be
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1 renewed.
2 (M) (Blank).
3 (N) Specialized services. A specialized services
4 endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
5 may be issued as defined and specified by rule.
6 (O) Provisional career and technical educator. A
7 provisional career and technical educator endorsement
8 on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
9 to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of
10 work experience in the skill for which the applicant
11 is seeking the endorsement. Each employing school
12 board and regional office of education shall provide
13 verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent
14 of Education at the time the application is submitted
15 that no qualified teacher holding a Professional
16 Educator License or an Educator License with
17 Stipulations with a career and technical educator
18 endorsement is available to teach and that actual
19 circumstances require such issuance.
20 A provisional career and technical educator
21 endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
22 is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
23 of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
24 An individual who holds a provisional career and
25 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
26 with Stipulations may teach as a substitute teacher in
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1 career and technical education classrooms.
2 An individual who holds a provisional career and
3 technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
4 with Stipulations is entitled to all of the rights and
5 privileges granted to a holder of a Professional
6 Educator License.
7 (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
8 License may be issued to qualified applicants for
9 substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
10 prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
11 Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
12 a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's
13 degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
14 of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved
15 educator preparation program in this State and have earned
16 at least 90 credit hours.
17 Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
18 Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
19 teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
20 has had his or her Professional Educator License or
21 Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked,
22 then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
23 Substitute Teaching License.
24 A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
25 licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
26 board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under
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1 contract because of an emergency situation, then a
2 district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer
3 than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the
4 district if the district notifies the appropriate regional
5 office of education within 5 business days after the
6 employment of the substitute teacher in that vacant
7 position. A district may continue to employ that same
8 substitute teacher in that same vacant position for 90
9 calendar days or until the end of the semester, whichever
10 is greater, if, prior to the expiration of the
11 30-calendar-day period then current, the district files a
12 written request with the appropriate regional office of
13 education for a 30-calendar-day extension on the basis
14 that the position remains vacant and the district
15 continues to actively seek qualified candidates and
16 provides documentation that it has provided training
17 specific to the position, including training on meeting
18 the needs of students with disabilities and English
19 learners if applicable. Each extension request shall be
20 granted in writing by the regional office of education. An
21 emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy
22 has occurred and (i) a teacher is unexpectedly unable to
23 fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher
24 capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications
25 or vacancies are unfilled due to a lack of qualified
26 candidates, and the district is actively engaged in
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1 advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the
2 vacant position.
3 There is no limit on the number of days that a
4 substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
5 provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
6 than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year
7 through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school
8 days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
9 same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a
10 Professional Educator License or Educator License with
11 Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days
12 for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same
13 school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the
14 number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not
15 apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of
16 this Code.
17 A school district may not require an individual who
18 holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator
19 License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute
20 Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
21 (4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
22 on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2028, applicants may
23 apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a
24 Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. A Short-Term
25 Substitute Teaching License may be issued to a qualified
26 applicant for substitute teaching in all grades of the
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1 public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
2 Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible
3 for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term Substitute
4 Teaching License must hold an associate's degree or have
5 completed at least 60 credit hours from a regionally
6 accredited institution of higher education.
7 Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
8 substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an
9 individual has had his or her Professional Educator
10 License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or
11 revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
12 Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.
13 The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this
14 Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.
15 An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
16 License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per
17 licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher
18 absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who
19 is under contract, a school district may not hire an
20 individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
21 License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due
22 to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
23 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual
24 holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must
25 complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or
26 34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public
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1 school. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses under this
2 Section are valid for 5 years.
3 (Source: P.A. 102-711, eff. 1-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22;
4 102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717, eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff.
5 5-20-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23;
6 103-193, eff. 1-1-24; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23; 103-617, eff.
7 7-1-24.)
8 (105 ILCS 5/21B-30)
9 Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing.
10 (a) (Blank).
11 (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
12 State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design
13 and implement a system of examinations, which shall be
14 required prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These
15 examinations and indicators must be based on national and
16 State professional teaching standards, as determined by the
17 State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
18 Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of
19 Education may adopt such rules as may be necessary to
20 implement and administer this Section.
21 (c) (Blank).
22 (c-5) The State Board must adopt rules to implement a
23 paraprofessional competency test. This test would allow an
24 applicant seeking an Educator License with Stipulations with a
25 paraprofessional educator endorsement to obtain the
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1 endorsement if he or she passes the test and meets the other
2 requirements of subparagraph (J) of paragraph (2) of Section
3 21B-20 other than the higher education requirements.
4 (d) All applicants seeking a State license shall be
5 required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area
6 of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. There
7 shall be no exception to this requirement.
8 (d-5) The State Board shall consult with any applicable
9 vendors within 90 days after July 28, 2023 (the effective date
10 of Public Act 103-402) to develop a plan to transition the test
11 of content area knowledge in the endorsement area of
12 elementary education, grades one through 6, by July 1, 2026 to
13 a content area test that contains testing elements that cover
14 bilingualism, biliteracy, oral language development,
15 foundational literacy skills, and developmentally appropriate
16 higher-order comprehension and on which a valid and reliable
17 language and literacy subscore can be determined. The State
18 Board shall base its rules concerning the passing subscore on
19 the language and literacy portion of the test on the
20 recommended cut-score determined in the formal
21 standard-setting process. Candidates need not achieve a
22 particular subscore in the area of language and literacy. The
23 State Board shall aggregate and publish the number of
24 candidates in each preparation program who take the test and
25 the number who pass the language and literacy portion.
26 (e) (Blank).
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1 (f) Beginning on August 4, 2023 (the effective date of
2 Public Act 103-488) through August 31, 2025, no candidate
3 completing a teacher preparation program in this State or
4 candidate subject to Section 21B-35 of this Code is required
5 to pass a teacher performance assessment. Except as otherwise
6 provided in this Article, beginning on September 1, 2015 until
7 August 4, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act 103-488) and
8 beginning again on September 1, 2025, all candidates
9 completing teacher preparation programs in this State and all
10 candidates subject to Section 21B-35 of this Code are required
11 to pass a teacher performance assessment approved by the State
12 Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator
13 Preparation and Licensure Board. A candidate may not be
14 required to submit test materials by video submission. Subject
15 to appropriation, an individual who holds a Professional
16 Educator License and is employed for a minimum of one school
17 year by a school district designated as Tier 1 under Section
18 18-8.15 may, after application to the State Board, receive
19 from the State Board a refund for any costs associated with
20 completing the teacher performance assessment under this
21 subsection.
22 (f-5) The Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force is
23 created to evaluate potential performance-based and objective
24 teacher performance assessment systems for implementation
25 across all educator preparation programs in this State, with
26 the intention of ensuring consistency across programs and
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1 supporting a thoughtful and well-rounded licensure system.
2 Members appointed to the Task Force must reflect the racial,
3 ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State. The Task Force
4 shall consist of all of the following members:
5 (1) One member of the Senate, appointed by the
6 President of the Senate.
7 (2) One member of the Senate, appointed by the
8 Minority Leader of the Senate.
9 (3) One member of the House of Representatives,
10 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
11 (4) One member of the House of Representatives,
12 appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
13 Representatives.
14 (5) One member who represents a statewide professional
15 teachers' organization, appointed by the State
16 Superintendent of Education.
17 (6) One member who represents a different statewide
18 professional teachers' organization, appointed by the
19 State Superintendent of Education.
20 (7) One member from a statewide organization
21 representing school principals, appointed by the State
22 Superintendent of Education.
23 (8) One member from a statewide organization
24 representing regional superintendents of schools,
25 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
26 (9) One member from a statewide organization
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1 representing school administrators, appointed by the State
2 Superintendent of Education.
3 (10) One member representing a school district
4 organized under Article 34 of this Code, appointed by the
5 State Superintendent of Education.
6 (11) One member of an association representing rural
7 and small schools, appointed by the State Superintendent
8 of Education.
9 (12) One member representing a suburban school
10 district, appointed by the State Superintendent of
11 Education.
12 (13) One member from a statewide organization
13 representing school districts in the southern suburbs of
14 the City of Chicago, appointed by the State Superintendent
15 of Education.
16 (14) One member from a statewide organization
17 representing large unit school districts, appointed by the
18 State Superintendent of Education.
19 (15) One member from a statewide organization
20 representing school districts in the collar counties of
21 the City of Chicago, appointed by the State Superintendent
22 of Education.
23 (16) Three members, each representing a different
24 public university in this State and each a current member
25 of the faculty of an approved educator preparation
26 program, appointed by the State Superintendent of
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1 Education.
2 (17) Three members, each representing a different
3 4-year nonpublic university or college in this State and
4 each a current member of the faculty of an approved
5 educator preparation program, appointed by the State
6 Superintendent of Education.
7 (18) One member of the Board of Higher Education,
8 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
9 (19) One member representing a statewide policy
10 organization advocating on behalf of multilingual students
11 and families, appointed by the State Superintendent of
12 Education.
13 (20) One member representing a statewide organization
14 focused on research-based education policy to support a
15 school system that prepares all students for college, a
16 career, and democratic citizenship, appointed by the State
17 Superintendent of Education.
18 (21) Two members representing an early childhood
19 advocacy organization, appointed by the State
20 Superintendent of Education.
21 (22) One member representing a statewide organization
22 that partners with educator preparation programs and
23 school districts to support the growth and development of
24 preservice teachers, appointed by the State Superintendent
25 of Education.
26 (23) One member representing a statewide organization
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1 that advocates for educational equity and racial justice
2 in schools, appointed by the State Superintendent of
3 Education.
4 (24) One member representing a statewide organization
5 that represents school boards, appointed by the State
6 Superintendent of Education.
7 (25) One member who has, within the last 5 years,
8 served as a cooperating teacher, appointed by the State
9 Superintendent of Education.
10 Members of the Task Force shall serve without
11 compensation. The Task Force shall first meet at the call of
12 the State Superintendent of Education, and each subsequent
13 meeting shall be called by the chairperson of the Task Force,
14 who shall be designated by the State Superintendent of
15 Education. The State Board of Education shall provide
16 administrative and other support to the Task Force.
17 On or before October 31, 2024, the Task Force shall report
18 on its work, including recommendations on a teacher
19 performance assessment system in this State, to the State
20 Board of Education and the General Assembly. The Task Force is
21 dissolved upon submission of this report.
22 (g) The content area knowledge test and the teacher
23 performance assessment shall be the tests that from time to
24 time are designated by the State Board of Education, in
25 consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
26 Board, and may be tests prepared by an educational testing
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1 organization or tests designed by the State Board of
2 Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation
3 and Licensure Board. The test of content area knowledge shall
4 assess content knowledge in a specific subject field. The
5 tests must be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no
6 person taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis
7 of race, color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to
8 the person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The
9 score required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State
10 Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator
11 Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of
12 Education's rules for scoring the content area knowledge test
13 may include scoring and retaking of each test section
14 separately and independently. The tests shall be administered
15 not fewer than 3 times a year at such time and place as may be
16 designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation
17 with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
18 The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess
19 the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of
20 applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under
21 subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this
22 Code in the English language and in the language of the
23 transitional bilingual education program requested by the
24 applicant.
25 (g-5) The process by which the State Board of Education,
26 or any entity designated by the State Board of Education,
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1 evaluates content area tests to determine content validity,
2 absence of bias, or scores required to pass shall be public
3 information and shall be made available on the website of the
4 State Board of Education, including, but not limited to:
5 (1) details related to the process by which members
6 are selected to form a committee or group to make such
7 determinations;
8 (2) the names, titles, and organizational affiliations
9 of the members of any such group;
10 (3) the agendas and minutes of each meeting of any
11 such group, except that the complete text of individual
12 test questions shall not be public information if they
13 remain in the bank of questions to be used in active
14 content area tests; however, minutes of the discussion of
15 the content of those individual questions shall be public
16 to the maximum extent practicable that does not provide
17 candidates an advantage in correctly answering those
18 questions; and
19 (4) any determinations, recommendations, or decisions
20 made by any such group regarding tests or individual test
21 items.
22 (h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the
23 provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school
24 district subject to Article 34 of this Code.
25 (i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the
26 testing requirements under this Section shall include, without
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1 limitation, provisions governing test selection, test
2 validation, and determination of a passing score,
3 administration of the tests, frequency of administration,
4 applicant fees, frequency of applicants taking the tests, the
5 years for which a score is valid, and appropriate special
6 accommodations. The State Board of Education shall develop
7 such rules as may be needed to ensure uniformity from year to
8 year in the level of difficulty for each form of an assessment.
9 (i-5) The State Board shall evaluate each content area
10 test after it has been administered for at least 10 months, but
11 not more than 12 months, and shall determine that a content
12 test is non-uniform if, in the first fiscal year in which it is
13 available:
14 (1) the overall percentage of candidates passing that
15 form of the content area test is 10 or more percentage
16 points lower than the percentage of candidates who passed
17 the most recent uniform content area test required by the
18 State Board for the same license or endorsement in either
19 of the 2 preceding fiscal years, or;
20 (2) the percentage of candidates, in any demographic
21 subgroup comprising at least 10 total test attempts,
22 passing that form of the content area test is 15 or more
23 percentage points lower than the percentage of candidates
24 in that demographic subgroup who passed the previous form
25 of that content area test in either of the two preceding
26 fiscal years for which that demographic subgroup comprised
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1 at least 10 total test attempts.
2 An assessment first introduced prior to January 1, 2017
3 shall be considered uniform, and an assessment introduced on
4 or after January 1, 2017 that does not meet the criteria in
5 paragraph (1) or (2) shall be considered uniform.
6 If a content test is determined to be non-uniform as
7 described in this Section, the State Board of Education shall:
8 (i) Convene, or require any applicable vendors to
9 convene, one or more committees to review the content,
10 bias, and passing score requirements of that content test
11 and recommend changes to improve uniformity, subject to
12 the transparency guidelines in subsection (g-5).
13 (ii) Offer, or require any applicable vendors to
14 offer, the most recent uniform content area test required
15 by the State Board for the same license or endorsement as
16 an option until the new assessment is determined to be
17 uniform.
18 (iii) Provide, or require any applicable vendors to
19 provide, an opportunity to attempt the most recent uniform
20 content area test required by the State Board for the same
21 license or endorsement to candidates who attempted but did
22 not pass the most recent version of the content area test,
23 at no cost to these candidates.
24 (iv) Implement a process by which candidates who
25 attempted but did not pass the content test may apply for
26 provisional licensure as described in paragraph (M) of
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