Bill Text: IL HB1211 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall establish and maintain a Temporary Teacher Apprenticeship Program to assist qualified participants in acquiring a Professional Educator License. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may establish and adopt any rules necessary to implement this program, including the standards that a qualified participant must meet to receive a Professional Educator License. Sets forth the requirements to complete the program. Provides that upon completing the requirements of the program, a qualified participant is eligible for a Professional Educator License. Makes related changes. Provides that a foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets specified requirements. Provides that the foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may teach a course on the foreign language for which the foreign language endorsement is issued. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in foreign language classrooms. Effective July 1, 2025.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-09 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB1211 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB1211-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1211 Introduced , by Rep. David Friess SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new
105 ILCS 5/21A-25
105 ILCS 5/21B-20
105 ILCS 5/21B-40
Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall establish and maintain a Temporary Teacher Apprenticeship Program to assist qualified participants in acquiring a Professional Educator License. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may establish and adopt any rules necessary to implement this program, including the standards that a qualified participant must meet to receive a Professional Educator License. Sets forth the requirements to complete the program. Provides that upon completing the requirements of the program, a qualified participant is eligible for a Professional Educator License. Makes related changes. Provides that a foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets specified requirements. Provides that the foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may teach a course on the foreign language for which the foreign language endorsement is issued. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in foreign language classrooms. Effective July 1, 2025.
LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
A BILL FOR
HB1211 LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 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
2-3.206 and by changing Sections 21A-25, 21B-20, and 21B-40 as
follows:
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)
Sec. 2-3.206. Temporary Teacher Apprentice Program.
(a) In this Section:
"Mentor teacher" means an individual who (i) holds a
Professional Educator License, (ii) has at least 7 years of
classroom experience, (iii) has an "excellent" rating on his
or her 2 most recent teacher evaluations, and (iv) has
volunteered to serve as a mentor teacher under this Section. A
school district may not require a teacher to assume the role of
mentor teacher under this Section.
"Qualified participant" means an individual who (i) holds
a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, (ii) holds
an associate degree or has completed a minimum of 60 semester
hours of coursework from a regionally accredited institution
of higher education, (iii) has at least a 3.0 cumulative grade
point average upon receiving the associate degree or
completing the coursework at the regionally accredited

HB1211 - 2 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
institution of higher education, (iv) is enrolled in the
Temporary Teacher Apprentice Program under this Section, and
(v) is seeking a bachelor's degree from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education in this State.
(b) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State
Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board, shall establish and maintain
a Temporary Teacher Apprenticeship Program to assist qualified
participants in acquiring a Professional Educator License. The
State Board of Education, in consultation with the State
Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may establish and
adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section, including
the standards that a qualified participant must meet to
receive a Professional Educator License under Section 21B-20
of this Code.
(c) In order to successfully complete the Temporary
Teacher Apprentice Program, a qualified participant must:
(1) receive his or her bachelor's degree within 3
years after receiving a temporary teacher apprentice
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations under
subparagraph (O) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of
this Code; however, the qualified participant is not
required to receive a bachelor's degree from an educator
preparation program; and
(2) spend 2 full school years as a temporary teacher
apprentice working one-on-one under a mentor teacher to

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develop the qualified participant's pedagogy skills by
assisting the mentor teacher in creating classroom
curriculum and lesson plans, grading and evaluating
students, and all other aspects of classroom activity
performed by the mentor teacher.
(d) Upon completing the requirements set forth in
subsection (c) of this Section, a qualified participant is
eligible for a Professional Educator License under Section
21B-20 of this Code. However, before the qualified participant
receives a Professional Educator License, the mentor teacher
and the school principal shall certify to the State Board of
Education, in a form developed and prescribed by the State
Board, that the qualified participant is eligible to receive a
Professional Educator License. In order to receive a grade
level or subject endorsement, the qualified participant must
pass the applicable content area test, but the qualified
participant is not required to pass a teacher performance
assessment prior to receiving a Professional Educator License
under Section 21B-20 of this Code.
(e) Each qualified participant shall receive pay while
serving in that capacity for no more than 2 school years.
Mentor teachers shall receive a paid bonus at the end of each
school year in which they serve as a mentor teacher for the
full school year. The rate of pay for the qualified
participant and the rate of the bonus pay for the mentor
teacher shall be determined by the school board, in accordance

HB1211 - 4 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
with the school district's applicable collective bargaining
agreement, if any. A school district may use appropriate
State, federal, or local revenue to issue pay or bonus pay
under this subsection (e).
Subject to appropriation by the General Assembly for
grants associated with Article 21A of this Code, the State
Board of Education may issue grants to school districts to
cover the costs associated with mentor teachers in accordance
with subsection (c) of Section 21A-25 of this Code.
(105 ILCS 5/21A-25)
Sec. 21A-25. Funding.
(a) From a separate appropriation made for the purposes of
this Article, for each new teacher participating in a new
teacher induction and mentoring program that meets the
requirements set forth in Section 21A-20 of this Code or in an
existing program that is in the process of transition to a
program that meets those requirements, the State Board of
Education shall pay the eligible entity for the duration of
the grant for the purpose of providing the following:
(1) Mentor teacher compensation and new teacher
compensation.
(2) Mentor teacher professional learning or new
teacher learning or both.
(3) (Blank).
(b) Each school district shall decide, in conjunction with

HB1211 - 5 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
its exclusive bargaining representative, if any, which
eligible applicant offers the most suitable program. If a
mentor teacher receives release time to support a new teacher,
the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the
public school shall not increase in any substantial manner. If
the appropriation is not included in the State budget, the
State Board of Education is not required to implement programs
established by this Article.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article,
subject to appropriation of funding under this Section, the
State Board of Education shall allocate no more than 25% of the
appropriation level for this Section to provide mentor teacher
grants under Section 2-3.206 of this Code. School districts
participating in the Temporary Teacher Apprentice Program
shall apply to the State Board for funding. No school district
may receive a grant of more than $2,000 per mentor teacher. If
allocated funds are less than the amount needed to fully fund
grants of $2,000 per mentor teacher, the grants shall be
issued on a prorated basis.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. The State Board of
Education shall implement a system of educator licensure,
whereby individuals employed in school districts who are
required to be licensed must have one of the following

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licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) an
educator license with stipulations; (iii) a substitute
teaching license; or (iv) until June 30, 2028, a short-term
substitute teaching license. References in law regarding
individuals certified or certificated or required to be
certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall
also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed
under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June
30 following one full year of the license being issued.
The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for
licenses and endorsements under this Section.
(1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
have successfully completed an approved educator
preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
the exceptional child, including, without limitation,
children with learning disabilities, (iv) have
successfully completed coursework in methods of reading
and reading in the content area, and (v) have met all other
criteria established by rule of the State Board of

HB1211 - 7 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
Education or persons who have successfully completed the
Temporary Teacher Apprentice Program under Section 2-3.206
of this Code shall be issued a Professional Educator
License. All Professional Educator Licenses are valid
until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license
being issued. The Professional Educator License shall be
endorsed with specific areas and grade levels in which the
individual is eligible to practice. For an early childhood
education endorsement, an individual may satisfy the
student teaching requirement of his or her early childhood
teacher preparation program through placement in a setting
with children from birth through grade 2, and the
individual may be paid and receive credit while student
teaching. The student teaching experience must meet the
requirements of and be approved by the individual's early
childhood teacher preparation program.
Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
in the endorsement area and passage of the applicable
content area test, unless otherwise specified by rule.
(2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
that limits the license holder to one particular position
or does not require completion of an approved educator
program or both.

HB1211 - 8 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
An individual with an Educator License with
Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
with the following endorsements:
(A) (Blank).
(B) Alternative provisional educator. An
alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
applicant who, at the time of applying for the
endorsement, has done all of the following:
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
college or university with a minimum of a
bachelor's degree.
(ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
Code.
(iii) Passed a content area test, as required
under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
The alternative provisional educator endorsement is
valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for a
third year by an individual meeting the requirements set
forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
(C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An

HB1211 - 9 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
superintendent in a school district's central office.
This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
done all of the following:
(i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
college or university with a minimum of a master's
degree in a management field other than education.
(ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
years in a management level position in a field
other than education.
(iii) Successfully completed the first phase
of an alternative route to superintendent
endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
of this Code.
(iv) Passed a content area test required under
Section 21B-30 of this Code.
The endorsement is valid for 2 fiscal years in
order to complete one full year of serving as a
superintendent or assistant superintendent.
(D) (Blank).
(E) Career and technical educator. A career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who

HB1211 - 10 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
has a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
regionally accredited institution of higher education
or an accredited trade and technical institution and
has a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience outside of
education in each area to be taught.
The career and technical educator endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
An individual who holds a valid career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's
degree may substitute teach in career and technical
education classrooms.
An individual who holds a valid career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations is entitled to all of the rights and
privileges granted to a holder of a Professional
Educator License.
(F) (Blank).
(G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets

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all of the following requirements:
(i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
writing ability in the language other than English
in which transitional bilingual education is
offered.
(ii) Has the ability to successfully
communicate in English.
(iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
previous to his or her applying for a transitional
bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
comparable teaching certificate or comparable
authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
a degree from an institution of higher learning in
a foreign country that the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
regionally accredited institution of higher
learning in the United States.
A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12,
is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
of the endorsement being issued, and shall not be
renewed.
Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be

HB1211 - 12 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
replaced for any reason.
(H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
other than English in the public schools, an
individual who holds an Educator License with
Stipulations may also apply for a language
endorsement, provided that the applicant provides
satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the
following requirements:
(i) Holds a transitional bilingual
endorsement.
(ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
language for which the endorsement is to be issued
by passing the applicable language content test
required by the State Board of Education.
(iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
a regionally accredited institution of higher
education or, for individuals educated in a
country other than the United States, holds a
degree from an institution of higher learning in a
foreign country that the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
regionally accredited institution of higher
learning in the United States.
(iv) (Blank).

HB1211 - 13 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
A language endorsement on an Educator License with
Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
grade 12 for the same validity period as the
individual's transitional bilingual educator
endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
and shall not be renewed.
(I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
international educator endorsement on an Educator
License with Stipulations may be issued to an
individual who is being recruited by a particular
school district that conducts formal recruitment
programs outside of the United States to secure the
services of qualified teachers and who meets all of
the following requirements:
(i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
(ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
grade level for which he or she will be employed.
(iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the
subject to be taught.
(iv) Has an adequate command of the English
language.
A holder of a visiting international educator
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
programs in the language that was the medium of

HB1211 - 14 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
provided that he or she passes the English Language
Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
skills in English identified by the State Board of
Education, in consultation with the State Educator
Preparation and Licensure Board.
A visiting international educator endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 5
years and shall not be renewed.
(J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
educator endorsement on an Educator License with
Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
(i) holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education; (ii) has passed a
paraprofessional competency test under subsection
(c-5) of Section 21B-30; or (iii) is at least 18 years
of age and will be using the Educator License with
Stipulations exclusively for grades prekindergarten
through grade 8, until the individual reaches the age
of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a
paraprofessional educator endorsement pursuant to this
subparagraph (J). The paraprofessional educator
endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately
following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and

HB1211 - 15 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
may be renewed through application and payment of the
appropriate fee, as required under Section 21B-40 of
this Code. An individual who holds only a
paraprofessional educator endorsement is not subject
to additional requirements in order to renew the
endorsement.
(K) Chief school business official. A chief school
business official endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
qualifies by having a master's degree or higher, 2
years of full-time administrative experience in school
business management or 2 years of university-approved
practical experience, and a minimum of 24 semester
hours of graduate credit in a program approved by the
State Board of Education for the preparation of school
business administrators and by passage of the
applicable State tests, including an applicable
content area test.
The chief school business official endorsement may
also be affixed to the Educator License with
Stipulations of any holder who qualifies by having a
master's degree in business administration, finance,
accounting, or public administration and who completes
an additional 6 semester hours of internship in school
business management from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education and passes the

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applicable State tests, including an applicable
content area test. This endorsement shall be required
for any individual employed as a chief school business
official.
The chief school business official endorsement on
an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
endorsement being issued and may be renewed if the
license holder completes renewal requirements as
required for individuals who hold a Professional
Educator License endorsed for chief school business
official under Section 21B-45 of this Code and such
rules as may be adopted by the State Board of
Education.
The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
necessary to implement Public Act 100-288.
(L) Provisional in-state educator. A provisional
in-state educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to a candidate who has
completed an Illinois-approved educator preparation
program at an Illinois institution of higher education
and who has not successfully completed an
evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness but
who meets all of the following requirements:
(i) Holds at least a bachelor's degree.
(ii) Has completed an approved educator

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preparation program at an Illinois institution.
(iii) Has passed an applicable content area
test, as required by Section 21B-30 of this Code.
(iv) Has attempted an evidence-based
assessment of teacher effectiveness and received a
minimum score on that assessment, as established
by the State Board of Education in consultation
with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure
Board.
A provisional in-state educator endorsement on an
Educator License with Stipulations is valid for one
full fiscal year after the date of issuance and may not
be renewed.
(M) (Blank).
(N) Specialized services. A specialized services
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
may be issued as defined and specified by rule.
(O) Provisional career and technical educator. A
provisional career and technical educator endorsement
on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of
work experience in the skill for which the applicant
is seeking the endorsement. Each employing school
board and regional office of education shall provide
verification, in writing, to the State Superintendent
of Education at the time the application is submitted

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that no qualified teacher holding a Professional
Educator License or an Educator License with
Stipulations with a career and technical educator
endorsement is available to teach and that actual
circumstances require such issuance.
A provisional career and technical educator
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years
of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed.
An individual who holds a provisional career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may teach as a substitute teacher in
career and technical education classrooms.
An individual who holds a provisional career and
technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations is entitled to all of the rights and
privileges granted to a holder of a Professional
Educator License.
(P) Temporary teacher apprentice. A temporary
teacher apprentice endorsement on an Educator License
with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who is
a qualified participant in the Temporary Teacher
Apprentice Program under Section 2-3.206 of this Code.
The temporary teacher apprenticeship endorsement is
valid until June 30 of the school year for which the
endorsement is issued and is not renewable.

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(Q) Foreign language endorsement. A foreign
language endorsement on an Educator License with
Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who
provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets
all of the following requirements:
(i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
writing ability in a language other than English.
(ii) Has the ability to successfully
communicate in English.
(iii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
language for which the endorsement is to be issued
by passing the applicable language content test
required by the State Board of Education; however,
if the language for which the endorsement is to be
issued is the applicant's first language, the
applicant shall not be required to pass the
applicable language content test in order to
receive the foreign language endorsement under
this subparagraph (Q).
The foreign language endorsement on an Educator
License with Stipulations is valid until the June 30
following the fifth anniversary of the endorsement's
issuance.
An individual who holds a valid foreign language
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
may teach a course on the foreign language for which

HB1211 - 20 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
the foreign language endorsement is issued.
An individual who holds a valid foreign language
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
but does not hold a bachelor's degree and who is 25
years of age or older may substitute teach in foreign
language classrooms.
(3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
License may be issued to qualified applicants for
substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's
degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
of higher education or must be enrolled in an approved
educator preparation program in this State and have earned
at least 90 credit hours.
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years.
Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
has had his or her Professional Educator License or
Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked,
then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
Substitute Teaching License.
A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under

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contract because of an emergency situation, then a
district may employ a substitute teacher for no longer
than 30 calendar days per each vacant position in the
district if the district notifies the appropriate regional
office of education within 5 business days after the
employment of the substitute teacher in that vacant
position. A district may continue to employ that same
substitute teacher in that same vacant position for 90
calendar days or until the end of the semester, whichever
is greater, if, prior to the expiration of the
30-calendar-day period then current, the district files a
written request with the appropriate regional office of
education for a 30-calendar-day extension on the basis
that the position remains vacant and the district
continues to act ively seek qualified candidates and
provides documentation that it has provided training
specific to the position, including training on meeting
the needs of students with disabilities and English
learners if applicable. Each extension request shall be
granted in writing by the regional office of education. An
emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy
has occurred and (i) a teacher is unexpectedly unable to
fulfill his or her contractual duties or (ii) teacher
capacity needs of the district exceed previous indications
or vacancies are unfilled due to a lack of qualified
candidates, and the district is actively engaged in

HB1211 - 22 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
advertising to hire a fully licensed teacher for the
vacant position.
There is no limit on the number of days that a
substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
than 120 days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year
through the 2022-2023 school year, otherwise 90 school
days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
same school year. A substitute teacher who holds a
Professional Educator License or Educator License with
Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school days
for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same
school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on the
number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do not
apply to any school district operating under Article 34 of
this Code.
A school district may not require an individual who
holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator
License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute
Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.
(4) Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. Beginning
on July 1, 2018 and until June 30, 2028, applicants may
apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a
Short-Term Substitute Teaching License. A Short-Term
Substitute Teaching License may be issued to a qualified
applicant for substitute teaching in all grades of the

HB1211 - 23 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are not eligible
for endorsements. Applicants for a Short-Term Substitute
Teaching License must hold an associate's degree or have
completed at least 60 credit hours from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education.
Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for
substitute teaching in every county of this State. If an
individual has had his or her Professional Educator
License or Educator License with Stipulations suspended or
revoked, then that individual is not eligible to obtain a
Short-Term Substitute Teaching License.
The provisions of Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this
Code apply to short-term substitute teachers.
An individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
License may teach no more than 15 consecutive days per
licensed teacher who is under contract. For teacher
absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who
is under contract, a school district may not hire an
individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching
License, unless the Governor has declared a disaster due
to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. An individual
holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License must
complete the training program under Section 10-20.67 or
34-18.60 of this Code to be eligible to teach at a public

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school. Short-Term Substitute Teaching Licenses under this
Section are valid for 5 years.
(Source: P.A. 102-711, eff. 1-1-23; 102-712, eff. 4-27-22;
102-713, eff. 1-1-23; 102-717, eff. 4-29-22; 102-894, eff.
5-20-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23;
103-193, eff. 1-1-24; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23; 103-617, eff.
7-1-24.)
(105 ILCS 5/21B-40)
Sec. 21B-40. Fees.
(a) Beginning with the start of the new licensure system
established pursuant to this Article, the following fees shall
be charged to applicants:
(1) A $100 application fee for a Professional Educator
License or an Educator License with Stipulations.
(1.5) A $50 application fee for a Substitute Teaching
License. If the application for a Substitute Teaching
License is made and granted after July 1, 2017, the
licensee may apply for a refund of the application fee
within 18 months of issuance of the new license and shall
be issued that refund by the State Board of Education if
the licensee provides evidence to the State Board of
Education that the licensee has taught pursuant to the
Substitute Teaching License at least 10 full school days
within one year of issuance.
(1.7) A $25 application fee for a Short-Term

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Substitute Teaching License. The Short-Term Substitute
Teaching License must be registered in at least one region
in this State, but does not require a registration fee.
The licensee may apply for a refund of the application fee
within 18 months of issuance of the new license and shall
be issued that refund by the State Board of Education if
the licensee provides evidence to the State Board of
Education that the licensee has taught pursuant to the
Short-Term Substitute Teaching License at least 10 full
school days within one year of issuance. The application
fee for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License shall be
waived when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a
public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
(2) A $150 application fee for individuals who have
not been entitled by an Illinois-approved educator
preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher
education and are seeking any of the licenses set forth in
subdivision (1) of this subsection (a).
(3) A $50 application fee for each endorsement or
approval.
(4) A $10 per year registration fee for the course of
the validity cycle to register the license, which shall be
paid to the regional office of education having
supervision and control over the school in which the
individual holding the license is to be employed. If the

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individual holding the license is not yet employed, then
the license may be registered in any county in this State.
The registration fee must be paid in its entirety the
first time the individual registers the license for a
particular validity period in a single region. No
additional fee may be charged for that validity period
should the individual subsequently register the license in
additional regions. An individual must register the
license (i) immediately after initial issuance of the
license and (ii) at the beginning of each renewal cycle if
the individual has satisfied the renewal requirements
required under this Code.
Beginning on July 1, 2017, at the beginning of each
renewal cycle, individuals who hold a Substitute Teaching
License may apply for a reimbursement of the registration
fee within 18 months of renewal and shall be issued that
reimbursement by the State Board of Education from funds
appropriated for that purpose if the licensee provides
evidence to the State Board of Education that the licensee
has taught pursuant to the Substitute Teaching License at
least 10 full school days within one year of renewal.
(5) The license renewal fee for an Educator License
with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator
endorsement is $25.
(a-5) An applicant for a temporary teacher apprentice
endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may not

HB1211 - 27 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
be charged an application fee.
(b) All application fees paid pursuant to subdivisions (1)
through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section shall be
deposited into the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund and
shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board of
Education to provide the technology and human resources
necessary for the timely and efficient processing of
applications and for the renewal of licenses. Funds available
from the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund may also be
used by the State Board of Education to support the
recruitment and retention of educators, to support educator
preparation programs as they seek national accreditation, and
to provide professional development aligned with the
requirements set forth in Section 21B-45 of this Code. A
majority of the funds in the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving
Fund must be dedicated to the timely and efficient processing
of applications and for the renewal of licenses. The Teacher
Certificate Fee Revolving Fund is not subject to
administrative charge transfers, authorized under Section 8h
of the State Finance Act, from the Teacher Certificate Fee
Revolving Fund into any other fund of this State, and moneys in
the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund shall not revert
back to the General Revenue Fund at any time.
The regional superintendent of schools shall deposit the
registration fees paid pursuant to subdivision (4) of
subsection (a) of this Section into the institute fund

HB1211 - 28 - LRB104 03532 LNS 13555 b
established pursuant to Section 3-11 of this Code.
(c) The State Board of Education and each regional office
of education are authorized to charge a service or convenience
fee for the use of credit cards for the payment of license
fees. This service or convenience fee shall not exceed the
amount required by the credit card processing company or
vendor that has entered into a contract with the State Board or
regional office of education for this purpose, and the fee
must be paid to that company or vendor.
(d) If, at the time a certificate issued under Article 21
of this Code is exchanged for a license issued under this
Article, a person has paid registration fees for any years of
the validity period of the certificate and these years have
not expired when the certificate is exchanged, then those fees
must be applied to the registration of the new license.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-570, eff. 8-23-19;
102-867, eff. 5-13-22.)