SB2912 Summary

• Establishes a new educator licensure system in Illinois with three license types: Professional Educator License (valid 5 years), Educator License with Stipulations (valid 2 years), and Substitute Teaching License (valid 5 years).

• Professional Educator License requires completion of an approved educator preparation program, passing required tests, and coursework in exceptional child psychology, reading methods, and instructional strategies.

• Educator License with Stipulations includes multiple endorsement options for provisional educators, alternative provisional educators, resident teachers, career and technical educators, bilingual educators, and paraprofessional educators, with varying validity periods and requirements.

• Requires all educator license applicants to pass tests of basic skills and content area knowledge; individuals trained outside Illinois may be exempted from certain tests if they passed equivalent assessments in another state or country.

• Establishes professional development requirements for license renewal: 120 hours per 5-year cycle for most teachers, with reduced requirements for National Board certified teachers (60 hours) and exemptions for retired, exempt, or administrative personnel.