All Roll Calls
Yes: 165 • No: 37
IllinoisSB2914104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET
SCH CD-REMOVE/DISMISS TEACHERS
Sponsored By: Meg Loughran Cappel (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In a provision requiring a school board, before setting a hearing on charges stemming from causes that are considered remediable, to give a teacher reasonable warning, in writing, stating specifically the causes that, if not removed, may result in charges, allows a teacher to grieve the issuance of such warning pursuant to the applicable collective bargaining agreement to determine whether the board had just cause in issuing the warning. Requires the written warning to narrowly specify the nature of the alleged misconduct that needs to be remedied. Provides that under no circumstances may the written warning remain effective for longer than 4 years from the date of the issuance of the written warning. Requires the school district to use reasonable efforts to remove the written warning from the teacher's personnel file after the 4 years have elapsed or sooner if agreed to through the exclusive bargaining representative, with an exception. Effective immediately.
assignmentseducationelementary & secondary education: administration, licensing & charter schools
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Layoff notice, quick pay, and recall
If you are honorably dismissed for staff cuts or program changes, the board must send written notice by April 15 by mail and by email, certified mail, or hand delivery. For notices in the 2010–2011 term, delivery had to be at least 60 days before the term ended by certified mail or hand delivery. You must be paid all earned wages by the third business day after the last student day. Open jobs for the next term or within one year must be offered to honorably dismissed, qualified teachers; if economic layoffs topped 15% last year, the offer window is two years. Teachers in Group 3 or 4 get recall offers, and some Group 2 teachers with one Needs Improvement get offers for jobs that open from the next term through Feb 1 (or up to six months later by contract) if qualified by May 10; this applies to dismissals on or after July 1, 2014. If economic‑necessity notices exceed 5 or 150% of the three‑year average, the board must hold a public hearing and then approve the cuts by majority vote.
Layoff order uses ratings and service
Districts rank teachers for each position in four groups based on contract status and recent ratings. Group 1 (non‑contract, temporary, part‑time, or missing required ratings) is first to go; Group 4 (Excellent ratings) is last. In Group 2, ratings are scored 4–1 and the average of your last two decides the order; the lowest average goes first. Boards must remove non‑contract teachers before those with contractual continued service (tenure). Among tenured teachers, shorter service goes first unless a union contract sets another order, and this does not change any affirmative action program. Each year the union gets a position‑based service list by Feb 1, and each teacher is placed into qualified positions by May 10. The dismissal list goes out at least 75 days before the term ends, and teachers may be moved out of Group 1 until April 15. If a required evaluation is not done, your rating for sequencing is Proficient; during a Governor‑declared public health emergency, tenured teachers with a last Excellent stay Excellent.
Stronger rules for dismissal hearings
Before firing for cause, the board must pass specific charges by majority vote and send a bill of particulars and your hearing right within 5 days by mail and email, certified mail, or hand delivery. You must request a hearing in writing within 17 days. The State Board provides nationally accredited hearing officers with at least five years’ experience and required training. The officer cannot live in your district, starts within 75 days, ends within 120 days, and issues a decision within 30 days; hearings can be remote during a public‑health emergency. Fees: for notices before July 1, 2012, the State pays; for notices on/after July 1, 2012, if both sides pick the officer you each pay 50%, and if the board picks, the board pays 100%. Fees are due within 14 days after the decision. The board must issue its final order within 45 days. If you win, you are reinstated and paid for lost income and benefits; officers who miss deadlines without good cause can be removed from the state list. Depositions are not allowed, a hearing officer may limit each side to 7 subpoenaed witnesses, and minor or former‑student witnesses get accommodations and cannot be directly questioned by the teacher.
How teacher dismissal rules apply
Each district must have a joint teacher‑board committee with equal members. It meets by Dec 1 and aims to agree by Feb 1 on local layoff details like grouping adjustments and rating mapping; these meetings are not under the Open Meetings Act. The 2011 changes apply to dismissals started on or after Sept 1, 2011; earlier cases use the old rules. Final court decisions pending on July 1, 2014 about the 2011 law stay in place.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Meg Loughran Cappel
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Abdelnasser Rashid
Democratic • House
Amy Briel
Democratic • House
Anna Moeller
Democratic • House
Joyce Mason
Democratic • House
Katie Stuart
Democratic • House
Kimberly A. Lightford
Democratic • Senate
Laura Faver Dias
Democratic • House
Lisa Davis
Democratic • House
Mary Gill
Democratic • House
Michael Crawford
Democratic • House
Mike Porfirio
Democratic • Senate
Sue Scherer
Democratic • House
Thaddeus Jones
Democratic • House
Yolonda Morris
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/21/2026
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed
Yes: 83 • No: 25
House vote • 5/6/2026
Do Pass / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools;
Yes: 7 • No: 2
Senate vote • 4/16/2026
Third Reading - Passed;
Yes: 48 • No: 9
Senate vote • 4/14/2026
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Education;
Yes: 13 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/11/2026
Do Pass Education;
Yes: 14 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0647
7/24/2026SenateEffective Date July 24, 2026
7/24/2026SenateGovernor Approved
7/24/2026SenateSent to the Governor
6/18/2026SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio
5/22/2026SenatePassed Both Houses
5/21/2026SenateThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 083-025-000
5/21/2026HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris
5/21/2026HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
5/19/2026HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
5/19/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford
5/15/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
5/14/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Briel
5/14/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones
5/14/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Gill
5/8/2026HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
5/8/2026HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
5/7/2026HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 007-002-000
5/6/2026HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart
5/4/2026HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sue Scherer
5/4/2026HouseAssigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
4/27/2026HouseReferred to Rules Committee
4/17/2026House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1
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