Section 25.434  Short-Term Approval Request for Extension

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may consider extending the expiration date of an educator's Short-Term Approval if the educator can demonstrate that a serious health condition, as defined under Section 21B-120(a) of the Code, inhibited the educator's ability to timely apply for and receive the license or endorsement for the specific education area or grade range for which the Short-Term Approval was issued (Section 21B-120(c) of the Code).

a)         An educator may receive only one extension for each Short-Term Approval, and the extension must not exceed one year (Section 21B-120(c) of the Code). The short-term approval shall expire on June 30 of the year following the short-term approval's original expiration date. 

b)         Only one extension may be requested per short-term approval.

c)         A request for extension must be submitted to ISBE staff between April 1 and July 31 of the year in which the approval expires using a format prescribed by the State Superintendent of Education. Educators seeking an extension must submit the form electronically to licensureforms@isbe.net. ISBE staff will review the documentation and ensure completeness and accuracy.

1)         The request must include verification by a health care provider, as defined in 29 U.S.C. 2611, that the educator has or had a serious health condition during the short term approval's validity period.

2)         The educator must include a brief explanation as to how the serious health condition inhibited the educator's ability to timely apply for and receive the license or endorsement before the short term approval's expiration.

3)         Educators shall not be required to provide other medical facts including symptoms, diagnosis, or any regimen of continuing treatment, such as the use of specialized equipment.

d)         ISBE staff will provide information received in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section to the SEPLB and the SEPLB, at its next available meeting, shall recommend the State Superintendent either grant or deny the extension based on whether documentation supporting the extension under Section 21B-120 of the Code is provided.

e)         The State Superintendent shall notify the educator, in writing, of its decision no later than 10 business days after the SEPLB's recommendation. If the extension is not approved, the notification shall state the reasons for that decision. If the extension is approved, the State Superintendent shall extend the short term approval's expiration date by one fiscal year.

f)         An educator may request judicial review of the State Superintendent's decision pursuant to Section 21B-90 of the Code.

(Source:  Added at 50 Ill. Reg. 11318, effective July 21, 2026)