All Roll Calls
Yes: 228 • No: 44
IllinoisSB1947104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET
SCH CD-EDUCATOR LICENSURE-MISC
Sponsored By: Meg Loughran Cappel (Democratic)
Became Law
assignmentseducationelementary & secondary education: administration, licensing & charter schools
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.
Stricter rules for school business officials
Anyone serving as a chief school business official must hold that endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations. It requires a master’s degree or higher, two years of school business management experience (or approved practical experience), at least 24 graduate semester hours in an approved program, and passing required tests. The endorsement is valid for five years to the next June 30 and can be renewed under rules similar to Professional Educator License renewal.
Faster path from paraprofessional to teacher
You can get a paraprofessional endorsement with a high school diploma plus an associate degree or 60 hours, by passing the paraprofessional test, or at age 18 for PreK–8 until age 19. The endorsement lasts five years and is renewable, with no extra renewal rules if this is your only endorsement. The State Board runs a paraprofessional competency test; passing it can satisfy the test route. The Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway lets eligible paraprofessionals with at least two years of service and 60 hours move toward a Professional Educator License through set coursework and student teaching.
Paths to teach career and technical classes
If you have 60 college hours and 2,000 hours of work experience in each area you will teach, you can earn a career and technical educator endorsement. If you have 8,000 hours of work experience in a skill and your district and regional office confirm no licensed teacher is available, you can get a provisional CTE endorsement. Both endorsements last five years and can be renewed. Holders may substitute teach in CTE classrooms and have the same rights as Professional Educator License holders.
Core licenses and endorsement rules
Illinois uses four license types for school staff. Short‑term sub licenses are only allowed until June 30, 2028. To earn a Professional Educator License, you must finish an approved program, get the institution’s recommendation, pass required tests, and take coursework on exceptional children and reading (some roles are exempt). To add most endorsements, you usually need at least 24 semester hours in that subject and must pass the content test.
New rules for substitute teachers
Illinois offers two sub licenses. A statewide Substitute Teaching License lasts five years and requires a bachelor’s degree or at least 90 credits. A Short-Term Substitute Teaching License is allowed from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2028 for people with an associate degree or 60 credits. Short‑term subs may teach no more than 15 straight days for one teacher and cannot be used for absences of six or more days unless the Governor declares a public health emergency. People with suspended or revoked educator licenses are not eligible, and schools cannot force already-licensed teachers to get a sub license.
New testing rules and TPA timeline
The teacher performance assessment is suspended for Illinois program completers from August 4, 2023 through August 31, 2026. From September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2029, colleges must join a pilot of a state‑developed assessment overseen by an advisory committee of up to 15 members; that advisory section ends January 1, 2028. All applicants must pass a content test for each endorsement with an available test, except certain DFPR‑licensed school support personnel. By July 1, 2026, the elementary (grades 1–6) test adds language and literacy elements and a subscore, with pass data published. By July 1, 2027, revised teacher and administrator exams add content on exceptional children, reading, and strategies for English learners. Refunds tied to the TPA change are allowed only if the legislature funds them.
Rules for out-of-state and foreign-trained teachers
If you trained in another U.S. state, you must either hold a comparable out‑of‑state license with a bachelor’s and pass Illinois exams, or complete a state‑approved program. Until July 1, 2027 (or until revised tests start), programs must include coursework on exceptional children, reading, and strategies for English learners, and you must complete student teaching or an equivalent. If you trained in another country, you need an approved transcript evaluation, a degree comparable to a U.S. regional degree, the same coursework through July 1, 2027 (or until revised tests start), state exams, and student teaching or an equivalent.
More partnerships for teacher prep programs
Approved universities may partner with public community colleges, on request, to offer approved licensure programs for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree. The State Board must approve each partnership and set the rules.
Paid student teaching in early childhood
Early childhood teacher candidates may student teach in birth‑through‑grade‑2 settings. If the preparation program approves and requirements are met, candidates can be paid and still receive academic credit.
Provisional routes into teaching and leadership
An alternative provisional educator endorsement is available for bachelor’s degree holders who complete phase one of the alternative program and pass the content test; it is valid for two years and may be renewed for a third year if you meet set rules. An alternative provisional superintendent endorsement is available for people with a non‑education management master’s, five years of outside management experience, phase‑one completion, and a passing content test; it is valid for two fiscal years. A provisional in‑state educator endorsement lets Illinois program completers who met the State Board’s minimum on the evidence‑based assessment teach for one fiscal year; it cannot be renewed.
New State Educator Licensure Board setup
The State Teacher Certification Board is renamed the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The law sets who serves on the Board, how vacancies are filled, and term limits. The Board includes the State Superintendent and a set number of higher‑ed members, administrators, and classroom teachers, with required representation from an Article 34 district.
Time-limited permits for bilingual/international teachers
A transitional bilingual endorsement lets you teach PreK–12 if you show strong non‑English and English skills and hold a recent comparable foreign teaching certificate or a foreign degree. It lasts five years to the next June 30 and cannot be renewed. If you also hold a bachelor’s or equivalent and pass the language test, you can add a language endorsement for the same time period. District‑recruited visiting international educators with an equivalent bachelor’s, teacher prep, and English proficiency can teach for five years, without renewal. Schools may not use stipulation licenses to replace a teacher who would otherwise keep the job.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Meg Loughran Cappel
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Katie Stuart
Democratic • House
Kimberly A. Lightford
Democratic • Senate
Laura Faver Dias
Democratic • House
Michelle Mussman
Democratic • House
Sharon Chung
Democratic • House
William "Will" Davis
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/31/2025
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs
Yes: 46 • No: 10
Senate vote • 5/30/2025
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Education;
Yes: 14 • No: 0
House vote • 5/22/2025
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed
Yes: 84 • No: 31
House vote • 5/7/2025
Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools;
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/9/2025
Third Reading - Passed;
Yes: 50 • No: 2
Senate vote • 4/3/2025
Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Education;
Yes: 13 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/19/2025
Do Pass as Amended Education;
Yes: 12 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0128
8/1/2025SenateEffective Date January 1, 2026
8/1/2025SenateGovernor Approved
8/1/2025SenateSent to the Governor
6/27/2025SenatePassed Both Houses
5/31/2025SenateSenate Concurs
5/31/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 046-010-000
5/31/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Education; 014-000-000
5/30/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Education
5/30/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
5/30/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
5/30/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 26, 2025
5/22/2025SenateSecretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1
5/22/2025SenateThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 084-031-000
5/22/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/14/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
5/14/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
5/8/2025HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 009-000-000
5/7/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; by Voice Vote
5/7/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
5/6/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
5/1/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
5/1/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis
4/23/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
4/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung
4/22/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Amendment 1
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1
Senate Amendment 2