The bill amends section 1248 of the Revised School Code to clarify the requirements for collective bargaining agreements in public schools regarding personnel decisions for teachers. It emphasizes that while collective bargaining is permitted, agreements must adhere to specific standards, including the prohibition of using length of service as the sole criterion for filling vacancies, promotions, or staffing reductions. Length of service can be considered as a tiebreaker only when other distinguishing factors are equal. Additionally, the bill mandates that school boards establish clear and transparent procedures for personnel decisions, incorporating performance evaluations and other relevant factors such as disciplinary records and special training.

Significantly, the bill introduces new definitions and criteria for evaluating graduate-level coursework that can be considered for salary advancement or other compensation-related decisions. It specifies that such coursework must be graduate-level, offered by an accredited institution, documented on an official transcript, and graded with a letter grade. This aims to ensure that only relevant and rigorously assessed educational achievements contribute to a teacher's professional advancement within the school system.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-1): 380.1248
House Introduced Bill: 380.1248