SB3331 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17539 LNS 30967 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3331

Introduced 2/3/2026, by Sen. Terri Bryant

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/21B-105

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows an institution of higher education approved to offer educator preparation programs to pursue accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Provides that an institution of higher education that receives and retains CAEP accreditation may forgo the State reauthorization process. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules for the reauthorization of a CAEP-accredited institution of higher education.

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 School Code is amended by changing Section 21B-105 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21B-105)

Sec. 21B-105. Granting of recognition; regional accreditation; definitions.

(a) "Recognized", as used in this Article in connection with the word "school" or "institution", means such college, university, or for-profit or not-for-profit entity that meets requirements set by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. Application for recognition of the school or institution as an educator preparation institution must be made to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall set the criteria by which the school or institution is to be judged and, through the secretary of the State Board, arrange for an official inspection and shall grant recognition of such school or institution as may meet the required standards. If the standards include requirements with regard to education in acquiring skills in working with culturally distinctive students, as defined by the State Board of Education, then the rules of the State Board of Education shall include the criteria used to evaluate compliance with this requirement. No school or institution may make assignments of student teachers or teachers for practice teaching so as to promote segregation on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Any for-profit or not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the Board of Higher Education.

All recommendations or entitlements for educator licensure shall be made by a recognized institution operating a program of preparation for the license that is approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall have the power to define a major or minor when used as a basis for recognition and licensure purposes.

(b) "Regionally accredited", or "accredited", as used in this Article in connection with a university or institution, means an institution of higher education accredited by the North Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting association.

(c) An institution of higher education approved to offer educator preparation programs in this State may, upon the request of a public community college in this State, enter into a partnership agreement with the community college to offer an approved educator preparation program leading to educator licensure for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree. The partnership must be approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the requirements of a partnership agreement under this subsection.

(d) An institution of higher education approved to offer educator preparation programs in this State may pursue accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). An institution of higher education that receives and retains CAEP accreditation may forgo the State reauthorization process.

The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the reauthorization of a CAEP-accredited institution of higher education.

(Source: P.A. 104-128, eff. 1-1-26.)