IL HB3798

Requires all school social worker internships to be paid internships beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

Establishes a competitive grant program administered by the State Board of Education to help school districts fund paid internships for school social workers.

Prioritizes grant funding to school districts demonstrating a shortage of social workers, measured by the average ratio of school social workers to students over the preceding 3 school years.

Creates a separate competitive grant program through the Board of Higher Education to fund field placements for social work students at Illinois colleges and universities, with priority given to racial minority applicants.

Requires annual reporting by the State Board of Education and participating colleges/universities on grant distributions and student demographics, to be posted on their websites by October 31 each year.