Bill Text: IL HB1118 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows a lapsed Professional Educator License to be immediately reinstated upon payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of the lesser of a $50 penalty or a $10 penalty for each year the license has lapsed. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-04 - Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools [HB1118 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB1118-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1118 Introduced , by Rep. Regan Deering SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/21B-45
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows a lapsed Professional Educator License to be immediately reinstated upon payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of the lesser of a $50 penalty or a $10 penalty for each year the license has lapsed. Effective immediately.
LRB104 04491 LNS 14518 b
A BILL FOR
HB1118 LRB104 04491 LNS 14518 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 changing Section
21B-45 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/21B-45)
Sec. 21B-45. Professional Educator License renewal.
(a) Individuals holding a Professional Educator License
are required to complete the licensure renewal requirements as
specified in this Section, unless otherwise provided in this
Code.
Individuals holding a Professional Educator License shall
meet the renewal requirements set forth in this Section,
unless otherwise provided in this Code. If an individual holds
a license endorsed in more than one area that has different
renewal requirements, that individual shall follow the renewal
requirements for the position for which he or she spends the
majority of his or her time working.
(b) All Professional Educator Licenses not renewed as
provided in this Section shall lapse on September 1 of that
year. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, if
a license holder's electronic mail address is available, the
State Board of Education shall send him or her notification

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electronically that his or her license will lapse if not
renewed, to be sent no more than 6 months prior to the license
lapsing. Lapsed licenses may be immediately reinstated upon
(i) payment to the State Board of Education by the applicant of
the lesser of a $50 penalty or a $10 penalty for each year the
license has lapsed or (ii) the demonstration of proficiency by
completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education in the content area
that most aligns with one or more of the educator's
endorsement areas. Any and all back fees, including without
limitation registration fees owed from the time of expiration
of the license until the date of reinstatement, shall be paid
and kept in accordance with the provisions in Article 3 of this
Code concerning an institute fund and the provisions in
Article 21B of this Code concerning fees and requirements for
registration. Licenses not registered in accordance with
Section 21B-40 of this Code shall lapse after a period of 6
months from the expiration of the last year of registration or
on January 1 of the fiscal year following initial issuance of
the license. An unregistered license is invalid after
September 1 for employment and performance of services in an
Illinois public or State-operated school or cooperative and in
a charter school. Any license or endorsement may be
voluntarily surrendered by the license holder. A voluntarily
surrendered license shall be treated as a revoked license. An
Educator License with Stipulations with only a

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paraprofessional endorsement does not lapse.
(c) From July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, in order to
satisfy the requirements for licensure renewal provided for in
this Section, each professional educator licensee with an
administrative endorsement who is working in a position
requiring such endorsement shall complete one Illinois
Administrators' Academy course, as described in Article 2 of
this Code, per fiscal year.
(c-5) All licenses issued by the State Board of Education
under this Article that expire on June 30, 2020 and have not
been renewed by the end of the 2020 renewal period shall be
extended for one year and shall expire on June 30, 2021.
(d) Beginning July 1, 2014, in order to satisfy the
requirements for licensure renewal provided for in this
Section, each professional educator licensee may create a
professional development plan each year. The plan shall
address one or more of the endorsements that are required of
his or her educator position if the licensee is employed and
performing services in an Illinois public or State-operated
school or cooperative. If the licensee is employed in a
charter school, the plan shall address that endorsement or
those endorsements most closely related to his or her educator
position. Licensees employed and performing services in any
other Illinois schools may participate in the renewal
requirements by adhering to the same process.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the

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licensee's professional development activities shall align
with one or more of the following criteria:
(1) activities are of a type that engages participants
over a sustained period of time allowing for analysis,
discovery, and application as they relate to student
learning, social or emotional achievement, or well-being;
(2) professional development aligns to the licensee's
performance;
(3) outcomes for the activities must relate to student
growth or district improvement;
(4) activities align to State-approved standards; and
(5) higher education coursework.
(e) For each renewal cycle, each professional educator
licensee shall engage in professional development activities.
Prior to renewal, the licensee shall enter electronically into
the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) the name,
date, and location of the activity, the number of professional
development hours, and the provider's name. The following
provisions shall apply concerning professional development
activities:
(1) Each licensee shall complete a total of 120 hours
of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in
order to renew the license, except as otherwise provided
in this Section.
(2) Beginning with his or her first full 5-year cycle,
any licensee with an administrative endorsement who is not

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working in a position requiring such endorsement is not
required to complete Illinois Administrators' Academy
courses, as described in Article 2 of this Code. Such
licensees must complete one Illinois Administrators'
Academy course within one year after returning to a
position that requires the administrative endorsement.
(3) Any licensee with an administrative endorsement
who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or
an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in
an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day shall
complete one Illinois Administrators' Academy course, as
described in Article 2 of this Code, each fiscal year in
addition to 100 hours of professional development per
5-year renewal cycle in accordance with this Code.
However, for the 2021-2022 school year only, a licensee
under this paragraph (3) is not required to complete an
Illinois Administrators' Academy course.
(4) Any licensee holding a current National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) master teacher
designation shall complete a total of 60 hours of
professional development per 5-year renewal cycle in order
to renew the license.
(5) Licensees working in a position that does not
require educator licensure or working in a position for
less than 50% for any particular year are considered to be
exempt and shall be required to pay only the registration

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fee in order to renew and maintain the validity of the
license.
(6) Licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits
from a State of Illinois retirement system shall be listed
as retired, and the license shall be maintained in retired
status. For any renewal cycle in which a licensee retires
during the renewal cycle, the licensee must complete
professional development activities on a prorated basis
depending on the number of years during the renewal cycle
the educator held an active license. If a licensee retires
during a renewal cycle, the license status must be updated
using ELIS indicating that the licensee wishes to maintain
the license in retired status and the licensee must show
proof of completion of professional development activities
on a prorated basis for all years of that renewal cycle for
which the license was active. An individual with a license
in retired status shall not be required to complete
professional development activities until returning to a
position that requires educator licensure. Upon returning
to work in a position that requires the Professional
Educator License, the license status shall immediately be
updated using ELIS and the licensee shall complete renewal
requirements for that year. A retired teacher, even if
returning to a position that requires educator licensure,
shall not be required to pay registration fees. A license
in retired status cannot lapse. Beginning on January 6,

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2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-920) through
December 31, 2017, any licensee who has retired and whose
license has lapsed for failure to renew as provided in
this Section may reinstate that license and maintain it in
retired status upon providing proof to the State Board of
Education using ELIS that the licensee is retired and is
not working in a position that requires a Professional
Educator License.
(7) For any renewal cycle in which professional
development hours were required, but not fulfilled, the
licensee shall complete any missed hours to total the
minimum professional development hours required in this
Section prior to September 1 of that year. Professional
development hours used to fulfill the minimum required
hours for a renewal cycle may be used for only one renewal
cycle. For any fiscal year or renewal cycle in which an
Illinois Administrators' Academy course was required but
not completed, the licensee shall complete any missed
Illinois Administrators' Academy courses prior to
September 1 of that year. The licensee may complete all
deficient hours and Illinois Administrators' Academy
courses while continuing to work in a position that
requires that license until September 1 of that year.
(8) Any licensee who has not fulfilled the
professional development renewal requirements set forth in
this Section at the end of any 5-year renewal cycle is

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ineligible to register his or her license and may submit
an appeal to the State Superintendent of Education for
reinstatement of the license.
(9) If professional development opportunities were
unavailable to a licensee, proof that opportunities were
unavailable and request for an extension of time beyond
August 31 to complete the renewal requirements may be
submitted from April 1 through June 30 of that year to the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. If an
extension is approved, the license shall remain valid
during the extension period.
(10) Individuals who hold exempt licenses prior to
December 27, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act
98-610) shall commence the annual renewal process with the
first scheduled registration due after December 27, 2013
(the effective date of Public Act 98-610).
(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subsection (e), if a licensee earns more than the required
number of professional development hours during a renewal
cycle, then the licensee may carry over any hours earned
from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the
renewal cycle. Any hours carried over in this manner must
be applied to the next renewal cycle. Illinois
Administrators' Academy courses or hours earned in those
courses may not be carried over.
(e-5) The number of professional development hours

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required under subsection (e) is reduced by 20% for any
renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school year.
(f) At the time of renewal, each licensee shall respond to
the required questions under penalty of perjury.
(f-5) The State Board of Education shall conduct random
audits of licensees to verify a licensee's fulfillment of the
professional development hours required under this Section.
Upon completion of a random audit, if it is determined by the
State Board of Education that the licensee did not complete
the required number of professional development hours or did
not provide sufficient proof of completion, the licensee shall
be notified that his or her license has lapsed. A license that
has lapsed under this subsection may be reinstated as provided
in subsection (b).
(g) The following entities shall be designated as approved
to provide professional development activities for the renewal
of Professional Educator Licenses:
(1) The State Board of Education.
(2) Regional offices of education and intermediate
service centers.
(3) Illinois professional associations representing
the following groups that are approved by the State
Superintendent of Education:
(A) school administrators;
(B) principals;
(C) school business officials;

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(D) teachers, including special education
teachers;
(E) school boards;
(F) school districts;
(G) parents; and
(H) school service personnel.
(4) Regionally accredited institutions of higher
education that offer Illinois-approved educator
preparation programs and public community colleges subject
to the Public Community College Act.
(5) Illinois public school districts, charter schools
authorized under Article 27A of this Code, and joint
educational programs authorized under Article 10 of this
Code for the purposes of providing career and technical
education or special education services.
(6) A not-for-profit organization that, as of December
31, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-1147), has
had or has a grant from or a contract with the State Board
of Education to provide professional development services
in the area of English Learning to Illinois school
districts, teachers, or administrators.
(7) State agencies, State boards, and State
commissions.
(8) Museums as defined in Section 10 of the Museum
Disposition of Property Act.
(h) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this

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Section shall make available professional development
opportunities that satisfy at least one of the following:
(1) increase the knowledge and skills of school and
district leaders who guide continuous professional
development;
(2) improve the learning of students;
(3) organize adults into learning communities whose
goals are aligned with those of the school and district;
(4) deepen educator's content knowledge;
(5) provide educators with research-based
instructional strategies to assist students in meeting
rigorous academic standards;
(6) prepare educators to appropriately use various
types of classroom assessments;
(7) use learning strategies appropriate to the
intended goals;
(8) provide educators with the knowledge and skills to
collaborate;
(9) prepare educators to apply research to decision
making;
(10) provide educators with training on inclusive
practices in the classroom that examines instructional and
behavioral strategies that improve academic and
social-emotional outcomes for all students, with or
without disabilities, in a general education setting; or
(11) beginning on July 1, 2022, provide educators with

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training on the physical and mental health needs of
students, student safety, educator ethics, professional
conduct, and other topics that address the well-being of
students and improve the academic and social-emotional
outcomes of students.
(i) Approved providers under subsection (g) of this
Section shall do the following:
(1) align professional development activities to the
State-approved national standards for professional
learning;
(2) meet the professional development criteria for
Illinois licensure renewal;
(3) produce a rationale for the activity that explains
how it aligns to State standards and identify the
assessment for determining the expected impact on student
learning or school improvement;
(4) maintain original documentation for completion of
activities;
(5) provide license holders with evidence of
completion of activities;
(6) request an Illinois Educator Identification Number
(IEIN) for each educator during each professional
development activity; and
(7) beginning on July 1, 2019, register annually with
the State Board of Education prior to offering any
professional development opportunities in the current

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fiscal year.
(j) The State Board of Education shall conduct annual
audits of a subset of approved providers, except for school
districts, which shall be audited by regional offices of
education and intermediate service centers. The State Board of
Education shall ensure that each approved provider, except for
a school district, is audited at least once every 5 years. The
State Board of Education may conduct more frequent audits of
providers if evidence suggests the requirements of this
Section or administrative rules are not being met.
(1) (Blank).
(2) Approved providers shall comply with the
requirements in subsections (h) and (i) of this Section by
annually submitting data to the State Board of Education
demonstrating how the professional development activities
impacted one or more of the following:
(A) educator and student growth in regards to
content knowledge or skills, or both;
(B) educator and student social and emotional
growth; or
(C) alignment to district or school improvement
plans.
(3) The State Superintendent of Education shall review
the data collected by the State Board of Education,
regional offices of education, and intermediate service
centers in audits conducted under this subsection (j) to

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determine if the approved provider has met the criteria
and should continue to be an approved provider or if
further action should be taken as provided in rules.
(k) Registration fees shall be paid for the next renewal
cycle between April 1 and June 30 in the last year of each
5-year renewal cycle using ELIS. If all required professional
development hours for the renewal cycle have been completed
and entered by the licensee, the licensee shall pay the
registration fees for the next cycle using a form of credit or
debit card.
(l) Any professional educator licensee endorsed for school
support personnel who is employed and performing services in
Illinois public schools and who holds an active and current
professional license issued by the Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation or a national certification board, as
approved by the State Board of Education, related to the
endorsement areas on the Professional Educator License shall
be deemed to have satisfied the continuing professional
development requirements provided for in this Section. Such
individuals shall be required to pay only registration fees to
renew the Professional Educator License. An individual who
does not hold a license issued by the Department of Financial
and Professional Regulation shall complete professional
development requirements for the renewal of a Professional
Educator License provided for in this Section.
(m) Appeals to the State Educator Preparation and

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Licensure Board must be made within 30 days after receipt of
notice from the State Superintendent of Education that a
license will not be renewed based upon failure to complete the
requirements of this Section. A licensee may appeal that
decision to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
in a manner prescribed by rule.
(1) Each appeal shall state the reasons why the State
Superintendent's decision should be reversed and shall be
sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
State Board of Education.
(2) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
shall review each appeal regarding renewal of a license
within 90 days after receiving the appeal in order to
determine whether the licensee has met the requirements of
this Section. The State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board may hold an appeal hearing or may make its
determination based upon the record of review, which shall
consist of the following:
(A) the regional superintendent of education's
rationale for recommending nonrenewal of the license,
if applicable;
(B) any evidence submitted to the State
Superintendent along with the individual's electronic
statement of assurance for renewal; and
(C) the State Superintendent's rationale for
nonrenewal of the license.

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(3) The State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board
shall notify the licensee of its decision regarding
license renewal by certified mail, return receipt
requested, no later than 30 days after reaching a
decision. Upon receipt of notification of renewal, the
licensee, using ELIS, shall pay the applicable
registration fee for the next cycle using a form of credit
or debit card.
(n) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be
necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-676, eff. 12-3-21; 102-710, eff. 4-27-22;
102-730, eff. 5-6-22; 102-852, eff. 5-13-22; 103-154, eff.
6-30-23; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.