SB2977 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 20385 LNS 33843 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2977

Introduced 1/27/2026, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 100/5-45.71 new
110 ILCS 205/9.47 new

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to create a school counselor stipend program. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students and eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program. Sets forth requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating school counselor who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is amended by adding Section 5-45.71 as follows:

(5 ILCS 100/5-45.71 new)

Sec. 5-45.71. Emergency rulemaking; school counselor stipend program. To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of Section 9.47 of the Board of Higher Education Act, emergency rules implementing Section 9.47 of the Board of Higher Education Act may be adopted in accordance with Section 5-45 by the Board of Higher Education. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by Section 5-45 and this Section is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

This Section is repealed one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

Section 10. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.47 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.47 new)

Sec. 9.47. School counselor stipend program.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Educator preparation program" means an approved educator preparation program offered by a recognized school or institution under Article 21B of the School Code.

"Eligible cooperating school counselor" means an individual who (i) is a school counselor as defined in Section 10-22.24a of the School Code or holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school counselor under Section 21B-25 of the School Code and (ii) is matched with an eligible student.

"Eligible student" means a student who is enrolled in an educator preparation program, who is maintaining satisfactory academic progress, who intends to work as a school counselor in this State, who is placed in a school counselor internship, and who is not contracted as the school counselor of record for the school counseling placement.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the Board shall create a school counselor stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of becoming a school counselor, to encourage students to pursue careers as school counselors to alleviate this State's school counselor shortage, and to encourage school counselors to be matched with school counselor interns.

(c) An educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students and eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program.

(d) Under the stipend program and subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of $5,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program.

(e) If there is a surplus appropriated in a fiscal year for the stipend program, then the Board shall increase the amount disbursed to each educator preparation program by the same percentage that the surplus bears to the amount required to fully fund the total number of eligible students who qualify for the stipend program that fiscal year. An educator preparation program shall increase the stipend amount distributed to each eligible student in proportion to the surplus.

(f) If the amount appropriated in a fiscal year for the stipend program is insufficient to fully fund stipends for the total number of eligible students for that fiscal year, then the Board shall prioritize eligible students based on demonstrated financial need reported by each educator preparation program.

(g) Funds not distributed in a particular fiscal year by an educator preparation program under this Section shall be returned to the Board to be used for the subsequent fiscal year's stipend program.

(h) An educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program.

(i) Under the stipend program and subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse funds to the State Board of Education, who shall disburse funds to each school district employing an eligible cooperating school counselor to distribute to each eligible cooperating school counselor a stipend of up to $1,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year. The school district shall distribute stipend funds to an eligible cooperating school counselor in one payment.

(j) An eligible cooperating school counselor who receives a stipend must complete State-approved, evidence-based training that covers basic responsibilities of a cooperating school counselor. The State Board of Education shall develop training that meets the criteria of this subsection and that is available to cooperating school counselors.

(k) If there is a surplus appropriated in a fiscal year for the stipend program, then the Board shall increase the amount disbursed to the State Board of Education to disburse to each school district by the same percentage that the surplus bears to the amount required to fully fund the total number of eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program that fiscal year. A school district shall increase the stipend amount distributed to each eligible cooperating school counselor in proportion to the surplus.

(l) If the amount appropriated in a fiscal year for the stipend program is insufficient to fully fund stipends for the total number of eligible cooperating school counselors for that fiscal year, then the Board shall reduce the amount disbursed to the State Board of Education to disburse to each school district by the same percentage that the deficit bears to the amount required to fully fund the total number of eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program. A school district shall reduce the stipend amount distributed to each eligible cooperating school counselor in proportion to the deficit.

(m) Nothing in this Section is intended to preclude an educator preparation program from providing an eligible cooperating school counselor with additional incentives.

(n) An eligible cooperating school counselor participating in the stipend program may receive professional development hours for completing cooperating school counselor training.

(o) Subject to available appropriations, the Board shall issue a report evaluating the impact of the stipend program on educator preparation programs, including enrollment and completion rates, hiring rates, and retention rates. The Board shall issue this report in collaboration with the State Board of Education. The Board shall submit this report to the General Assembly and Governor on or before June 30 of the fiscal year following the third consecutive fiscal year during which the stipend program has received funding of at least $2,000,000.

(p) The Board shall provide guidance and technical assistance to educator preparation programs on the administration of the stipend program.

(q) The Board shall adopt rules regarding the administration of the stipend program, including, but not limited to, the allocation of funds for the stipend program.

(r) If the stipend program is funded prior to the adoption of rules under subsection (q), emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program may be adopted by the Board, subject to the provisions of Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

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