Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Adds 5 administrative or faculty members of community colleges to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. For a Professional Educator License: provides that the requirements to successfully complete specified coursework are only required until July 1, 2027 or the date that the revised test for a particular content area is implemented, whichever is later; and exempts persons seeking a school support personnel or chief school business official endorsement from the requirement that a person must successfully complete specified coursework. Requires, by July 1, 2027, the State Superintendent of Education to begin incorporating specified topics into revised examinations for individuals seeking a Professional Educator License endorsed in teaching or administration, excluding a chief school business official endorsement. Exempts, for educator licenses, applicants seeking a school support personnel endorsement who hold an active and valid professional license in the same subject matter as the endorsement sought from being required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. Creates the Teacher Performance Assessment Advisory Committee to aid in operationalizing and creating a pilot, State-developed, teacher performance assessment. Establishes the Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Program to provide an expedited pathway for paraprofessionals to earn a Professional Educator License in a specific content area. Sets forth the Program criteria, the requirements for individuals for entry into the Program, and the adoption of rules by the State Board of Education. Provides that an institution of higher education approved to offer educator preparation programs may enter into a partnership agreement with a community college to offer an approved educator preparation program leading to educator licensure for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree. Makes other changes.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1: In provisions concerning educator testing, removes the requirement that no candidate may be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.
Senate Floor Amendment No. 2: Provides that the Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall have 3 (rather than 5) administrative or faculty members of public community colleges located in the State. Provides that language specifying that certain candidates are not required to pass a teacher performance assessment applies through August 31, 2026 (rather than 2025). Provides that beginning on September 1, 2029 (rather than July 1, 2028), certain candidates are required to pass a teacher performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education; however, any candidate who has successfully completed student teaching or has met one of the student teaching exceptions set forth in rules prior to September 1, 2028 is exempt from this requirement. Makes other changes.
House Committee Amendment No. 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following changes: In the provisions regarding educator testing, provides that, beginning on September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029, all institutions of higher education offering educator preparation programs in the State shall participate in a pilot program for the teacher performance assessment developed by the State Board of Education, and provides for rulemaking.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 105 ILCS 5/21
Engrossed: 105 ILCS 5/21
Enrolled: 105 ILCS 5/21