SB1947 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

SCH CD-EDUCATOR LICENSURE-MISC
Last Action
08/01/2025 - Senate: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0128
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
105 ILCS 5/21B-10  
105 ILCS 5/21B-20  
105 ILCS 5/21B-30  
105 ILCS 5/21B-32 new  
105 ILCS 5/21B-35  
105 ILCS 5/21B-47 new  
105 ILCS 5/21B-105  
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Adds 5 administrative or faculty members of community colleges to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. For a Professional Educator License: provides that the requirements to successfully complete specified coursework are only required until July 1, 2027 or the date that the revised test for a particular content area is implemented, whichever is later; and exempts persons seeking a school support personnel or chief school business official endorsement from the requirement that a person must successfully complete specified coursework. Requires, by July 1, 2027, the State Superintendent of Education to begin incorporating specified topics into revised examinations for individuals seeking a Professional Educator License endorsed in teaching or administration, excluding a chief school business official endorsement. Exempts, for educator licenses, applicants seeking a school support personnel endorsement who hold an active and valid professional license in the same subject matter as the endorsement sought from being required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. Creates the Teacher Performance Assessment Advisory Committee to aid in operationalizing and creating a pilot, State-developed, teacher performance assessment. Establishes the Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Program to provide an expedited pathway for paraprofessionals to earn a Professional Educator License in a specific content area. Sets forth the Program criteria, the requirements for individuals for entry into the Program, and the adoption of rules by the State Board of Education. Provides that an institution of higher education approved to offer educator preparation programs may enter into a partnership agreement with a community college to offer an approved educator preparation program leading to educator licensure for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree. Makes other changes.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
In provisions concerning educator testing, removes the requirement that no candidate may be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2
Provides that the Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall have 3 (rather than 5) administrative or faculty members of public community colleges located in the State. Provides that language specifying that certain candidates are not required to pass a teacher performance assessment applies through August 31, 2026 (rather than 2025). Provides that beginning on September 1, 2029 (rather than July 1, 2028), certain candidates are required to pass a teacher performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education; however, any candidate who has successfully completed student teaching or has met one of the student teaching exceptions set forth in rules prior to September 1, 2028 is exempt from this requirement. Makes other changes.

House Committee Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following changes: In the provisions regarding educator testing, provides that, beginning on September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029, all institutions of higher education offering educator preparation programs in the State shall participate in a pilot program for the teacher performance assessment developed by the State Board of Education, and provides for rulemaking.
Actions
DateChamberAction
02/06/2025SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
02/06/2025SenateFirst Reading
02/06/2025SenateReferred to Assignments
03/12/2025SenateAssigned to Education
03/14/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
03/14/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
03/18/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education
03/18/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
03/19/2025SenateDo Pass as Amended Education; 012-000-000
03/19/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 20, 2025
03/20/2025SenateSecond Reading
03/20/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 1, 2025
03/28/2025SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
03/28/2025SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments
04/01/2025SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Education
04/03/2025SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Education; 013-001-000
04/09/2025SenateRecalled to Second Reading
04/09/2025SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted; Loughran-Cappel
04/09/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
04/09/2025SenateThird Reading - Passed; 050-002-000
04/09/2025HouseArrived in House
04/09/2025HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
04/09/2025HouseFirst Reading
04/09/2025HouseReferred to Rules Committee
04/10/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
04/17/2025HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart
04/17/2025HouseAssigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
04/17/2025HouseAlternate Co-Sponsor Removed Rep. Katie Stuart
04/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart
04/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung
04/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
04/23/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis
05/01/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
05/01/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
05/06/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
05/07/2025HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; by Voice Vote
05/07/2025HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 009-000-000
05/08/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
05/14/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
05/14/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
05/22/2025HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 084-031-000
05/22/2025SenateSecretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1
05/22/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 26, 2025
05/30/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
05/30/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
05/30/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Education
05/30/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Education; 014-000-000
05/31/2025SenateHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 046-010-000
05/31/2025SenateSenate Concurs
05/31/2025SenatePassed Both Houses
06/27/2025SenateSent to the Governor
08/01/2025SenateGovernor Approved
08/01/2025SenateEffective Date January 1, 2026
08/01/2025SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0128