IL HB3346

State Board of Education shall develop a grant program using federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds to support educator licensure for paraprofessionals holding bachelor's degrees.

Qualifying school districts must commit to employing paraprofessionals as full-time teachers after they obtain a professional educator license, with paraprofessionals committing to work in the district for a minimum of 4 years.

Eligible paraprofessionals must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, possess a paraprofessional or substitute teaching license, and be currently employed in a public school district.

School districts must provide mentoring for awardee paraprofessionals during their first 2 years of teaching and may limit participation to areas of high teacher need within the district.

State Board may prioritize grant awards to Tier 1 schools first, followed by Tier 2, 3, and 4 schools, with priority within each tier given to districts with the highest 3-year average teacher vacancy rates.