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Illinois Compiled Statutes

Information maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Updating the database of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) is an ongoing process. Recent laws may not yet be included in the ILCS database, but they are found on this site as Public Acts soon after they become law. For information concerning the relationship between statutes and Public Acts, refer to the Guide.

Because the statute database is maintained primarily for legislative drafting purposes, statutory changes are sometimes included in the statute database before they take effect. If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law.


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105 ILCS 5/21A-25.5

    (105 ILCS 5/21A-25.5)
    Sec. 21A-25.5. Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall create a Teaching Induction and Mentoring Advisory Group. Members of the Advisory Group must represent the diversity of this State and possess the expertise needed to perform the work required to meet the goals of the programs set forth under Section 21A-20.
    (b) The members of the Advisory Group shall be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education and shall include all of the following members:
        (1) Four members representing teachers recommended by
    
a statewide professional teachers' organization.
        (2) Four members representing teachers recommended by
    
a different statewide professional teachers' organization.
        (3) Two members representing principals recommended
    
by a statewide organization that represents principals.
        (4) One member representing district superintendents
    
recommended by a statewide organization that represents district superintendents.
        (5) One member representing regional superintendents
    
of schools recommended by a statewide association that represents regional superintendents of schools.
        (6) One member representing a State-approved educator
    
preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education recommended by the institution of higher education.
    The majority of the membership of the Advisory Group shall consist of practicing teachers.
    (c) The Advisory Group is responsible for approving any changes made to the standards established under Section 21A-20.5.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/21A-30

    (105 ILCS 5/21A-30)
    Sec. 21A-30. Evaluation of programs. The State Board of Education shall contract with an independent party, using funds from the relevant appropriation for new teacher induction and mentoring programs, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the new teacher induction and mentoring programs established pursuant to this Article. Reports from the evaluation shall be made available to stakeholders after 3 years of program implementation.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/21A-35

    (105 ILCS 5/21A-35)
    Sec. 21A-35. Rules. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall adopt rules for the implementation of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 21B

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 21B heading)
ARTICLE 21B. EDUCATOR LICENSURE
(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

105 ILCS 5/21B-5

    (105 ILCS 5/21B-5)
    Sec. 21B-5. Licensure powers of the State Board of Education.
    (a) Recognizing that the education of our citizens is the single most important influence on the prosperity and success of this State and recognizing that new developments in education require a flexible approach to our educational system, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall have the power and authority to do all of the following:
        (1) Set standards for teaching, supervising, or
    
otherwise holding licensed employment in the public schools of this State and administer the licensure process as provided in this Article.
        (2) Approve, evaluate, and sanction educator
    
preparation programs.
        (3) Enter into agreements with other states relative
    
to reciprocal approval of educator preparation programs.
        (4) Establish standards for the issuance of new types
    
of educator licenses.
        (5) Establish a code of ethics for all educators.
        (6) Maintain a system of licensure examination
    
aligned with standards determined by the State Board of Education.
        (7) Take such other action relating to the
    
improvement of instruction in the public schools as is appropriate and consistent with applicable laws.
    (b) Only the State Board of Education, acting in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Article and rules, shall have the authority to issue or endorse any license required for teaching, supervising, or otherwise holding licensed employment in the public schools; and no other State agency shall have any power or authority (i) to establish or prescribe any qualifications or other requirements applicable to the issuance or endorsement of any such license or (ii) to establish or prescribe any licensure or equivalent requirement that must be satisfied in order to teach, supervise, or hold licensed employment in the public schools.
(Source: P.A. 100-596, eff. 7-1-18.)

105 ILCS 5/21B-10

    (105 ILCS 5/21B-10)
    Sec. 21B-10. State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
    (a) The State Teacher Certification Board, which had been established under Section 21-13 of the School Code prior to this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, shall be renamed the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. References in law to the State Teacher Certification Board shall mean the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall consist of the State Superintendent of Education or a representative appointed by him or her, who shall be ex-officio chairperson, 5 administrative or faculty members of public or private colleges or universities located in this State, 3 administrators and 10 classroom teachers employed in the public schools (5 of whom must be members of and nominated by a statewide professional teachers' organization and 5 of whom must be members of and nominated by a different statewide professional teachers' organization), and one regional superintendent of schools, all of whom shall be appointed by the State Board of Education; provided that at least one of the administrators and at least 3 of the classroom teachers so appointed must be employees of a school district that is subject to the provisions of Article 34 of this Code. A statewide professional teachers' organization and a different statewide professional teachers' organization shall submit to the State Board of Education for consideration at least 3 names of accomplished teachers for every one vacancy or expiring term in a classroom teacher position. The nominations submitted to the State Board of Education under this Section to fill a vacancy or an expiring term shall be advisory. Nomination for State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board members must be submitted to the State Board of Education within 30 days after the vacancy or vacancies occur. Nominations to fill an expiring term must be submitted to the State Board of Education at least 30 days before the expiration of that term. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if a sufficient number of nominations are not received by the State Board of Education for a vacancy or expiring term within the 30-day period, then the State Board of Education may appoint any qualified person, in the same manner as the original appointment, to fill the vacancy or expiring term. The regular term of each member is 3 years, and an individual may be appointed for no more than 2 consecutive terms. The term of an appointed member of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall expire on June 30 of his or her final year.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall appoint a secretary of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
    (c) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall hold regular meetings at least quarterly and such other special meetings as may be necessary.
    (d) The necessary expenses of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall be provided through the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary for the administration of this Article.
    (e) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 100-596, eff. 7-1-18.)

105 ILCS 5/21B-12

    (105 ILCS 5/21B-12)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on October 1, 2025)
    Sec. 21B-12. Professional educator licensure review committee.
    (a) The State Superintendent of Education shall establish a committee of no more than 21 members to make recommendations to the State Board of Education to change the professional educator licensure requirements and Professional Educator License renewal requirements for kindergarten through grade 12 teachers to include demonstrated proficiency in adverse childhood experiences, trauma, secondary traumatic stress, creating trauma-responsive learning environments or communities, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 3-11 of this Code, restorative justice, and restorative practices on or before October 1, 2024. The members of the committee shall be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, unless stated otherwise, and shall include the following members:
        (1) the State Superintendent of Education or a
    
designee;
        (2) one member of a statewide professional teachers'
    
organization;
        (3) one member of another statewide professional
    
teachers' organization;
        (4) one member who represents a school district
    
serving a community with a population of 500,000 or more;
        (5) one member of a statewide organization
    
representing school social workers;
        (6) one member of a statewide organization
    
representing school counselors;
        (7) one member of an organization that has specific
    
expertise in trauma-responsive school practices and experience in supporting schools in developing trauma-responsive and restorative practices;
        (8) one member of another organization that has
    
specific expertise in trauma-responsive school practices and experience in supporting schools in developing trauma-responsive and restorative practices;
        (9) one member of a statewide organization that
    
represents school principals and assistant principals;
        (10) 3 members representing a State-approved educator
    
preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education recommended by the institution of higher education;
        (11) one member representing regional superintendents
    
of schools recommended by a statewide association that represents regional superintendents of schools;
        (12) one educator from a school district that has
    
actively worked to develop a system of student support that uses a trauma-informed lens;
        (13) one member representing district superintendents
    
recommended by a statewide organization that represents district superintendents;
        (14) the Secretary of Human Services, the Director of
    
Children and Family Services, the Director of Public Health, and the Director of Juvenile Justice, or their designees; and
        (15) a child advocate.
    (b) This Section is repealed on October 1, 2025.
(Source: P.A. 103-413, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/21B-15

    (105 ILCS 5/21B-15)
    Sec. 21B-15. Qualifications of educators.
    (a) No one may be licensed to teach or supervise or be otherwise employed in the public schools of this State who is not of good character and at least 19 years of age, except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (J) of subsection (2) of Section 21B-20.
    In determining good character under this Section, the State Superintendent of Education shall take into consideration the disciplinary actions of other states or national entities against certificates or licenses issued by those states and held by individuals from those states. In addition, any felony conviction of the applicant may be taken into consideration; however, no one may be licensed to teach or supervise in the public schools of this State who has been convicted of (i) an offense set forth in subsection (b) of Section 21B-80 of this Code until 7 years following the end of the sentence for the criminal offense or (ii) an offense set forth in subsection (c) of Section 21B-80 of this Code. Unless the conviction is for an offense set forth in Section 21B-80 of this Code, an applicant must be permitted to submit character references or other written material before such a conviction or other information regarding the applicant's character may be used by the State Superintendent of Education as a basis for denying the application.
    (b) No person otherwise qualified shall be denied the right to be licensed or to receive training for the purpose of becoming an educator because of a physical disability, including, but not limited to, visual and hearing disabilities; nor shall any school district refuse to employ a teacher on such grounds, provided that the person is able to carry out the duties of the position for which he or she applies.
    (c) No person may be granted or continue to hold an educator license who has knowingly altered or misrepresented his or her qualifications, in this State or any other state, in order to acquire or renew the license. Any other license issued under this Article held by the person may be suspended or revoked by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, depending upon the severity of the alteration or misrepresentation.
    (d) No one may teach or supervise in the public schools nor receive for teaching or supervising any part of any public school fund who does not hold an educator license granted by the State Superintendent of Education as provided in this Article. However, the provisions of this Article do not apply to a member of the armed forces who is employed as a teacher of subjects in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of any school, nor to an individual teaching a dual credit course as provided for in the Dual Credit Quality Act.
    (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the school board of a school district may grant to a teacher of the district a leave of absence with full pay for a period of not more than one year to permit the teacher to teach in a foreign state under the provisions of the Exchange Teacher Program established under Public Law 584, 79th Congress, and Public Law 402, 80th Congress, as amended. The school board granting the leave of absence may employ, with or without pay, a national of the foreign state wherein the teacher on the leave of absence is to teach if the national is qualified to teach in that foreign state and if that national is to teach in a grade level similar to the one that was taught in the foreign state. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt rules as may be necessary to implement this subsection (e).
    (f) No person shall be denied a license issued under this Article solely based on his or her citizenship status or immigration status. The General Assembly finds and declares that this subsection (f) is a State law within the meaning of subsection (d) of Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the requirements to obtain a license that are not directly related to citizenship status or immigration status. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to grant eligibility for obtaining any public benefit other than a license issued under this Article.
(Source: P.A. 102-713, eff. 1-1-23.)

105 ILCS 5/21B-20

    (105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
    Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of Education shall implement a system of educator licensure, whereby individuals employed in school districts who are required to be licensed must have one of the following licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2028, a short-term substitute teaching license. References in law regarding individuals certified or certificated or required to be certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June 30 following one full year of the license being issued.
    The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for licenses and endorsements under this Section.
        (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
    
have successfully completed an approved educator preparation program and are recommended for licensure by the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation program, (ii) have successfully completed the required testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have successfully completed coursework on the psychology of, the identification of, and the methods of instruction for the exceptional child, including, without limitation, children with learning disabilities, (iv) have successfully completed coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other criteria established by rule of the State Board of Education shall be issued a Professional Educator License. All Professional Educator Licenses are valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued. The Professional Educator License shall be endorsed with specific areas and grade levels in which the individual is eligible to practice. For an early childhood education endorsement, an individual may satisfy the student teaching requirement of his or her early childhood teacher preparation program through placement in a setting with children from birth through grade 2, and the individual may be paid and receive credit while student teaching. The student teaching experience must meet the requirements of and be approved by the individual's early childhood teacher preparation program.
        Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on
    
the Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
        (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
    
License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement that limits the license holder to one particular position or does not require completion of an approved educator program or both.
        An individual with an Educator License with
    
Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
        An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
    
with the following endorsements:
            (A) (Blank).
            (B) Alternative provisional educator. An
        
alternative provisional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of the following:
                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
            
college or university with a minimum of a bachelor's degree.
                (ii) Successfully completed the first phase
            
of the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
                (iii) Passed a content area test, as required
            
under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
        The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
    
valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a third year by an individual meeting the requirements set forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
            (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An
        
alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant superintendent in a school district's central office. This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of the following:
                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
            
college or university with a minimum of a master's degree in a management field other than education.
                (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
            
years in a management level position in a field other than education.
                (iii) Successfully completed the first phase
            
of an alternative route to superintendent endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55 of this Code.
                (iv) Passed a content area test required
            
under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
            The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
        
order to complete one full year of serving as a superintendent or assistant superintendent.
            (D) (Blank).
            (E) Career and technical educator. A career and
        
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or an accredited trade and technical institution and has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of education in each area to be taught.
            The career and technical educator endorsement on
        
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
            An individual who holds a valid career and
        
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in career and technical education classrooms.
            (F) (Blank).
            (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
        
transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for the purpose of providing instruction in accordance with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the following requirements:
                (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
            
writing ability in the language other than English in which transitional bilingual education is offered.
                (ii) Has the ability to successfully
            
communicate in English.
                (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
            
previous to his or her applying for a transitional bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and comparable teaching certificate or comparable authorization issued by a foreign country or holds a degree from an institution of higher learning in a foreign country that the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in the United States.
            A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
        
shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12, is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be renewed.
            Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
        
endorsement shall not be employed to replace any presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
            (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
        
alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language other than English in the public schools, an individual who holds an Educator License with Stipulations may also apply for a language endorsement, provided that the applicant provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the following requirements:
                (i) Holds a transitional bilingual
            
endorsement.
                (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
            
language for which the endorsement is to be issued by passing the applicable language content test required by the State Board of Education.
                (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher
            
from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or, for individuals educated in a country other than the United States, holds a degree from an institution of higher learning in a foreign country that the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in the United States.
                (iv) (Blank).
            A language endorsement on an Educator License
        
with Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through grade 12 for the same validity period as the individual's transitional bilingual educator endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations and shall not be renewed.
            (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
        
international educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an individual who is being recruited by a particular school district that conducts formal recruitment programs outside of the United States to secure the services of qualified teachers and who meets all of the following requirements:
                (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
            
bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
                (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
            
grade level for which he or she will be employed.
                (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
            
subject to be taught.
                (iv) Has an adequate command of the English
            
language.
            A holder of a visiting international educator
        
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education programs in the language that was the medium of instruction in his or her teacher preparation program, provided that he or she passes the English Language Proficiency Examination or another test of writing skills in English identified by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
            A visiting international educator endorsement on
        
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5 years and shall not be renewed.
            (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
        
educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and (i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a paraprofessional competency test under subsection (c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years of age and will be using the Educator License with Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed through application and payment of the appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of this Code. An individual who holds only a paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject to additional requirements in order to renew the endorsement.
            (K) Chief school business official. A chief
        
school business official endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2 years of full-time administrative experience in school business management or 2 years of university-approved practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the State Board of Education for the preparation of school business administrators and by passage of the applicable State tests, including an applicable content area test.
            The chief school business official endorsement
        
may also be affixed to the Educator License with Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a master's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or public administration and who completes an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school business management from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and passes the applicable State tests, including an applicable content area test. This endorsement shall be required for any individual employed as a chief school business official.
            The chief school business official endorsement on
        
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the license holder completes renewal requirements as required for individuals who hold a Professional Educator License endorsed for chief school business official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such rules as may be adopted by the State Board of Education.
            The State Board of Education shall adopt any
        
rules necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
            (L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
        
in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education and who has not successfully completed an evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but who meets all of the following requirements:
                (i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
                (ii) Has completed an approved educator
            
preparation program at an Illinois institution.
                (iii) Has passed an applicable content area
            
test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
                (iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
            
assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a minimum score on that assessment, as established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
            A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
        
Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not be renewed.
            (M) (Blank).
            (N) Specialized services. A specialized services
        
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued as defined and specified by rule.
            (O) Provisional career and technical educator. A
        
provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of work experience in the skill for which the applicant is seeking the endorsement. Each employing school board and regional office of education shall provide verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent of Education at the time the application is submitted that no qualified teacher holding a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations with a career and technical educator endorsement is available to teach and that actual circumstances require such issuance.
            A provisional career and technical educator
        
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
            An individual who holds a provisional career and
        
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may teach as a substitute teacher in career and technical education classrooms.
        (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute
    
Teaching License may be issued to qualified applicants for substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program in this State and have earned at least 90 credit hours.
        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
    
teaching in every county of this State. If an individual has had his or her Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a Substitute Teaching License.
        A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
    
licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under contract because of an emergency situation, then a district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the district if the district notifies the appropriate regional office of education within 5 business days after the employment of the substitute teacher in that vacant position. A district may continue to employ that same substitute teacher in that same vacant position for 90 calendar days or until the end of the semester, whichever is greater, if, prior to the expiration of the 30-calendar-day period then current, the district files a written request with the appropriate regional office of education for a 30-calendar-day extension on the basis that the position remains vacant and the district continues to actively seek qualified candidates and provides documentation that it has provided training specific to the position, including training on meeting the needs of students with disabilities and English learners if applicable. Each extension request shall be granted in writing by the regional office of education. An emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy has occurred and (i) a teacher is unexpectedly unable to fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications or vacancies are unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates, and the district is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the vacant position.
        There is no limit on the number of days that a
    
substitute teacher may teach in a single school district, provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of this Code.
        A school district may not require an individual who
    
holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
        (4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
    
on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2028, applicants may apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. A Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may be issued to a qualified applicant for substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must hold an associate's degree or have completed at least 60 credit hours from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
        Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
    
substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an individual has had his or her Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.
        The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of
    
this Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.
        An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute
    
Teaching License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who is under contract, a school district may not hire an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or 34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public school. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses under this Section are valid for 5 years.
(Source: P.A. 102-711, eff. 1-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22; 102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717, eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-193, eff. 1-1-24; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23.)