# Illinois SB0028: SCH CD-EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS Illinois SB0028, SCH CD-EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Kimberly A. Lightford (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-30 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0020) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB0028-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Illinois SB0028 - State: Illinois - Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) - Title: SCH CD-EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-01-13 - Last action: 2025-06-30, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0020 - Sponsor: Kimberly A. Lightford (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 8 - Subjects: assignments, education, elementary & secondary education: administration, licensing & charter schools - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (177 yes, 21 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary Amends the School Code. In a provision regarding an optional alternative evaluative dismissal process for teacher evaluations, removes the definition of and references to "student growth components". Makes the following changes in the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article: Removes the definitions of and references to "implementation date", "Race to the Top Grant", and "School Improvement Grant". Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, each school district may incorporate the use of data and indicators on student growth as a factor in rating teaching performance into its evaluation plan for all teachers in contractual continued service and teachers not in contractual continued service (now, a school district is required to incorporate student growth data and indicators as a significant factor). Makes other changes concerning student growth. Changes the components of an evaluation plan for a teacher's performance. Makes changes concerning a principal's or assistant principal's evaluation. With respect to the types of rules the State Board of Education may adopt, removes the inclusion of rules that (i) define the term "significant" factor" for purposes of including consideration of student growth in performance ratings and (ii) establish a model evaluation plan for use by school districts in which student growth shall comprise 50% of the performance rating. Allows a school district (rather than only a school district with 500,000 or more inhabitants) to use an annual State assessment as a measure of student growth for purposes of teacher or principal evaluations. Removes and changes outdated provisions. Makes other and conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Repeat low ratings can speed teacher dismissal: cost, medium. Districts may seek dismissal without another remediation plan for some teachers in contractual continued service, often called tenure. The teacher must have successfully completed remediation after an overall Unsatisfactory rating. Another overall Unsatisfactory rating within 36 months after comple… - New dismissal process for tenured teachers: mixed, medium. Illinois districts may choose an alternative dismissal process for teachers in contractual continued service, often called tenure. It applies after an Unsatisfactory rating under the state performance evaluation system and failure to finish remediation rated Proficient or better. Districts must fol… - Chicago gains more teacher evaluation authority: mixed, low. Chicago schools may require qualified department chairs to evaluate teachers in their departments. The district must bargain with the teachers’ representative over the impact and effects on department chairs. In districts with 500,000 or more residents, a separate rule applies when the joint evalua… - More local choice in teacher evaluations: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, Illinois districts may use student growth in teacher ratings, working in good faith with teachers or their bargaining representatives. The law removes the significant-factor requirement and provisions for a state model assigning student growth 50% of a rating. Any district m… - New standards and flexibility for principals: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, principal and assistant principal evaluations must follow Illinois school-leader standards or research-based standards set by rule. They must cover duties, strengths, weaknesses, and performance standards. Student-growth data becomes optional rather than a required significa… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Kimberly A. Lightford (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jawaharial Williams (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lakesia Collins (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Laura Faver Dias (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Martha Deuter (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Meg Loughran Cappel (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Michael Crawford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Nicolle Grasse (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Paul Faraci (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-20 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 92 | 21 | | | 2025-04-23 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; | pass | 7 | 0 | | | 2025-04-03 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 54 | 0 | | | 2025-02-26 | Senate | Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Education; | pass | 14 | 0 | | | 2025-02-05 | Senate | Do Pass Education; | pass | 10 | 0 | | ## Actions (37) - 2025-06-30: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0020 (Senate) - 2025-06-30: Effective Date July 1, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-06-30: Governor Approved (Senate) - 2025-06-16: Sent to the Governor (Senate) - 2025-05-20: Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jawaharial Williams (House) - 2025-05-20: Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford (House) - 2025-05-20: Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha Deuter (House) - 2025-05-20: Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse (House) - 2025-05-20: Passed Both Houses (Senate) - 2025-05-20: Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 092-021-000 (House) - 2025-05-13: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2025-05-13: Second Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2025-04-24: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (House) - 2025-04-23: Do Pass / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 007-000-000 (House) - 2025-04-17: Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools (House) - 2025-04-07: Referred to Rules Committee (House) - 2025-04-07: First Reading (House) - 2025-04-04: Chief House Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias (House) - 2025-04-04: Arrived in House (House) - 2025-04-03: Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Third Reading - Passed; 054-000-000 (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 6, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Lightford (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Second Reading (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Paul Faraci (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Education; 014-000-000 (Senate) - 2025-02-18: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 18, 2025 (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Do Pass Education; 010-000-000 (Senate) - 2025-01-23: Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (Senate) - 2025-01-23: Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (Senate) - 2025-01-22: Assigned to Education (Senate) - 2025-01-13: Referred to Assignments (Senate) - 2025-01-13: First Reading (Senate) - 2025-01-13: Filed with Secretary by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB0028eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB0028enr.pdf) - Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB0028.pdf) - Senate Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB0028sam001.pdf) ## Related bills - HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house) - SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate) - HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee) - HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee) - SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate) - SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB0028eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB0028enr.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB0028.pdf) - [Senate Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB0028sam001.pdf) ## Related - [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026) - [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026) - [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026) - [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026) - [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026) - [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026) - [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills) - [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB0028-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).