HB5321eng 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5321 Engrossed LRB104 20507 LNS 33980 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 24-8.2 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/24-8.2 new)

Sec. 24-8.2. Continuing education coursework used for salary increases.

(a) In this Section:

"Continuing education coursework" means any graduate-level course completed by a licensed classroom teacher or administrator for the purpose of salary advancement or other compensation-related advancement under a collective bargaining agreement, district employment contract, school board policy, or salary schedule. "Continuing education coursework" includes coursework taken for purposes of obtaining subsequent endorsements, as long as the coursework meets all of the requirements set forth in subsection (c), including that the classroom teacher or administrator earns a letter grade, the coursework includes an instructor of record meeting the requirements of this Section, and the coursework awards graduate-level, degree-eligible credit.

"Graduate-level, degree-eligible credit" means academic credit documented on an official academic transcript through a regionally accredited institution of higher education that may be applied toward a master's degree, education specialist degree, or doctoral degree.

"Instructor of record" means an individual assigned responsibility for academic oversight of a course, including instruction, evaluation and feedback of participant work, and the assignment of grades.

"Licensed classroom teacher" means an individual holding a valid and current Professional Educator License pursuant to Section 21B-20 of this Code.

(b) This Section applies only to classroom teachers and administrators who have the ability to achieve salary advancement through graduate-level continuing education under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, employment contract, school board policy, or salary schedule.

(c) Beginning with continuing education coursework completed on or after July 1, 2026, a school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer that provides for salary advancement for classroom teachers and administrators based on the completion of graduate-level, continuing education credit may recognize continuing education coursework for purposes of salary advancement only if the continuing education coursework meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The continuing education coursework is graduate-level, degree-eligible credit offered through a regionally accredited institution of higher education and documented on an official academic transcript.

(2) The continuing education coursework results in a letter grade issued by the institution of higher education. Coursework graded solely on a pass or fail, satisfactory or unsatisfactory, or completion basis is not eligible.

(3) The continuing education coursework includes an instructor of record who:

(A) is a credentialed educator holding a master's degree or higher and is academically qualified to teach the continuing education course, with demonstrated experience in the content area or areas of the continuing education course;

(B) provides substantive instructional support to the participating classroom teacher or administrator throughout the period of continuing education course enrollment; and

(C) evaluates participant work and provides individualized, written feedback aligned to continuing education course objectives.

(d) Nothing in this Section impairs the ability of the parties to a collective bargaining agreement to negotiate salary schedules or compensation structures, as long as any continuing education coursework recognized for salary advancement complies with the requirements of this Section beginning with collective bargaining agreements entered into, modified, extended, or renewed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

Nothing in this Section requires a school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer to create a salary schedule or salary advancement pathway where one does not otherwise exist.

(e) Implementation of this Section, including standards for documentation, transcript verification, institutional accreditation, salary advancement, and compliance monitoring, shall be determined by each school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.