104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5321
 
Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Katie Stuart
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/24-8.2 new
    Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that beginning with continuing education coursework commenced on or after July 1, 2026, a school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer may recognize graduate-level continuing education coursework for purposes of salary advancement or lane changes only if the continuing education coursework meets specified requirements. Provides that nothing in the provisions impairs the ability of the parties to a collective bargaining agreement to negotiate salary schedules or compensation structures, as long as any graduate-level continuing education coursework recognized for salary advancement or lane changes complies with those specified requirements. Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Board of Higher Education, to adopt rules as necessary to implement the provisions. Effective July 1, 2026.


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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY
					
 
 
A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 
524-8.2 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/24-8.2 new)
7    Sec. 24-8.2. Continuing education coursework used for 
8salary increases.
9    (a) For purposes of this Section:
10    "Continuing education coursework" means any graduate-level 
11course completed by a licensed educator for the purpose of 
12salary advancement, a salary lane change, or other 
13compensation-related advancement under a collective bargaining 
14agreement, school board policy, or salary schedule.
15    "Graduate-level, degree-eligible credit" means academic 
16credit documented on an official academic transcript by a 
17regionally accredited institution of higher education that may 
18be applied toward a master's degree, education specialist 
19degree, or doctoral degree.
20    "Instructor of record" means an individual assigned 
21responsibility for academic oversight of a course, including 
22instruction, evaluation and feedback of participant work, and 
23the assignment of grades.
 
 
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1    "Salary lane change" means the receiving of a pay increase 
2on a salary schedule by earning additional academic credits. 
3    (b) Beginning with continuing education coursework 
4commenced on or after July 1, 2026, a school district, special 
5education cooperative, or other public educational employer 
6may recognize continuing education coursework for purposes of 
7salary advancement or salary lane changes only if the 
8continuing education coursework meets all of the following 
9requirements:
10        (1) The continuing education coursework is 
11    graduate-level, degree-eligible credit offered by a 
12    regionally accredited institution of higher education and 
13    documented on an official academic transcript.
14        (2) The continuing education coursework results in a 
15    letter grade issued by the institution of higher 
16    education. Coursework graded solely on a pass or fail, 
17    satisfactory or unsatisfactory, or completion basis is not 
18    eligible.
19        (3) The continuing education coursework includes an 
20    instructor of record who:
21            (A) is a credentialed educator holding a master's 
22        degree or higher and is academically qualified to 
23        teach the continuing education course, with 
24        demonstrated experience in the content area or areas 
25        of the continuing education course;
26            (B) provides substantive instructional support to 
 
 
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1        the participating educator throughout the period of 
2        continuing education course enrollment; and
3            (C) evaluates participant work and provides 
4        individualized, written feedback aligned to continuing 
5        education course objectives.
6    (c) Nothing in this Section impairs the ability of the 
7parties to a collective bargaining agreement to negotiate 
8salary schedules or compensation structures, as long as any 
9continuing education coursework recognized for salary 
10advancement or salary lane changes complies with the 
11requirements of this Section.
12    (d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the 
13Board of Higher Education, may adopt rules as necessary to 
14implement this Section, including standards for documentation, 
15transcript verification, institutional accreditation, and 
16compliance monitoring.
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
182026.