Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with continuing education coursework completed on or after July 1, 2026, a school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer may provide salary advancement to licensed classroom teachers for the completion of continuing education coursework if the continuing education coursework: (1) is graduate-level, degree-eligible credit offered through a regionally accredited institution of higher education and documented on an official academic transcript; and (2) includes an instructor of record. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act requires a school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer to create a salary schedule or salary advancement pathway if one does not otherwise exist. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act precludes the parties to a collectively bargained agreement from negotiating salary advancement or other compensation-related advancements under the collectively bargained agreement for other negotiated actions or activities by a licensed classroom teacher not set forth in the amendatory Act. Provides that implementation of the amendatory Act shall be determined by each school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Enrolled) 2026-06-01 - Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr. [HB5321 Detail]

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Bill Drafts

Revision	Date	Format	Source	View
Enrolled	2026-05-29	HTML/Text	Link	View
Engrossed	2026-04-20	HTML/Text	Link	View
Introduced	2026-02-05	HTML/Text	Link	View

Amendments

Amendment	Date	Disposition	Format	Source	View
Senate Amendment 001	2026-05-15	Proposed	HTML/Text	Link	View
House Amendment 001	2026-04-13	Proposed	HTML/Text	Link	View

Supplemental Documents

Title	Description	Date	Format	Source	View
No supplemental documents for Illinois HB5321 currently on file.