Bill Text: IL HB2967 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Changes the term "institution" to "postsecondary institution". Expands on the purpose of the Act. Requires the school district and community college district to designate a liaison and begin negotiations to reach a partnership agreement no later than 60 calendar days after the initial request. Provides that the course content, course delivery, and course rigor evaluation shall be completed within the same school year that the course is taught. Provides that prior to offering dual credit coursework with any postsecondary institution other than a community college, a school district shall first negotiate with the designated liaison of the school district's local community district to seek a partnership agreement with the community college district. Prohibits the school district from entering into a contract with an out-of-state postsecondary institution on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act until the school district has demonstrated to the Illinois Community College Board that the school district has taken appropriate steps to consider the listing of in-state postsecondary institutions and provides a rationale as to why the course can be provided only by an out-of-state postsecondary institution. Creates the Dual Credit Committee. Provides that the academic credentials required to be a fully qualified instructor shall include either a master's degree in the discipline to be taught or a master's degree in any other discipline and a minimum of, but not more than, 18 graduate hours in the discipline to be taught. Sets forth notice requirements for disapproval of course requests, instructors, or course documentation or withdrawal of course or instructor approval and an appeal process. Requires, 5 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois Community College Board to conduct a study concerning the impact of the changes made by the amendatory Act. Provides that the study shall be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor by October 1, 2030 and published on the Illinois Community College Board's website. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 37-6)

Status: (Passed) 2025-06-30 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0012 [HB2967 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB2967-Enrolled.html

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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Dual Credit Quality Act is amended by
changing Sections 5, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, and 25 and by adding
Sections 16.10, 19.5, 22, 45, and 50 as follows:
(110 ILCS 27/5)
Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:
"Dual credit course" means a college course taken by a
high school student for credit at both the college and high
school level.
"Postsecondary institution" "Institution" means an
"institution of higher learning" as defined in the Higher
Education Student Assistance Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-194, eff. 1-1-10.)
(110 ILCS 27/10)
Sec. 10. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to accomplish
all of the following:
(1) To reduce college costs.
(2) To speed time to degree completion.
(3) To improve the curriculum for high school students
and the alignment of the curriculum with college and

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workplace expectations.
(4) To facilitate the transition between high school
and college.
(5) To enhance communication and collaboration between
high schools and colleges, which leads to the
establishment of strong local partnerships that seek to
expand opportunities for students.
(6) To offer opportunities for improving degree
attainment for underserved student populations and provide
meaningful educational opportunities that support student
success and ensure dual credit is used as a strategic tool
for closing opportunity gaps by increasing postsecondary
completion.
(Source: P.A. 96-194, eff. 1-1-10.)
(110 ILCS 27/15)
Sec. 15. Student academic standing. Postsecondary
institutions Institutions may adopt policies to protect the
academic standing of students who are not successful in dual
credit courses, including, but not limited to, options for (i)
late withdrawal from a course, or (ii) taking the course on a
pass-fail basis, or both. All institutional policies relating
to the academic standing of students enrolled in dual credit
courses or the transfer of credit for dual credit courses must
be made publicly available by the postsecondary institution
and provided to each student enrolled in dual credit courses

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offered by that postsecondary institution.
(Source: P.A. 100-1049, eff. 1-1-19.)
(110 ILCS 27/16)
Sec. 16. High school and community college partnership
agreements; dual credit.
(a) A community college district shall, upon the written
request of a school district within the jurisdiction of the
community college district, enter into a partnership agreement
with the school district to offer dual credit coursework.
The school district and community college district must
designate a liaison and begin negotiations to reach a
partnership agreement no later than 60 calendar days after the
initial request.
A school district may offer any course identified in the
Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core
Curriculum package under the Illinois Articulation Initiative
Act as a dual credit course on the campus of a high school of
the school district and may use a high school instructor who
has met the academic credential requirements under this Act to
teach the dual credit course.
(b) The partnership agreement shall include all of the
following:
(1) The establishment of the school district's and the
community college district's respective roles and
responsibilities in providing the program and ensuring the

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quality and instructional rigor of the program. This must
include an assurance that the community college district
has appropriate academic control of the curriculum,
consistent with any State or federal law and as required
or negotiated with the Higher Learning Commission or other
applicable accrediting agency.
(2) The dual credit courses that the school district
will offer its students and whether those courses will be
offered on the high school or community college campus or
through an online (hybrid or virtual) platform established
by the Illinois Community College Board.
(3) The establishment of academic criteria for
granting eligibility for high school students to enroll in
dual credit coursework. The academic criteria shall be
evidence-based and shall include multiple appropriate
measures to determine whether a student is prepared for
any dual credit coursework in which the student enrolls.
(4) The establishment of any limitations that the
school district or community college district may put on
course offerings due to availability of instructors, the
availability of students for specific course offerings, or
local board policy.
(5) The requirement that the dual credit instructor
meet the academic credential requirements to teach a dual
credit course, consistent with paragraphs (1), (2), (2.5),
and (3) of Section 20 of this Act, but shall not be

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required to exceed those minimum credentials.
(6) The collaborative process and criteria by which
the school district shall identify and recommend and the
community college district shall review and approve high
school instructors of dual credit courses taught on the
campus of a high school. This provision shall require that
the school district be responsible for hiring and
compensating the instructor.
(7) The requirement that a community college district
take the appropriate steps to ensure that dual credit
courses are equivalent to those courses offered at the
community college in quality and rigor to qualify for
college credit. The dual credit programs shall encompass
the following characteristics:
(A) Student learning outcomes expected for dual
credit courses in General Education Core Curriculum
courses and the professional and career and technical
disciplines shall be the same as the student learning
outcomes expected for the same courses taught on the
postsecondary campus.
(B) Course content, course delivery, and course
rigor shall be evaluated by the community college
chief academic officer or his or her designee, in
consultation with the school district's superintendent
or his or her designee. The evaluation shall be
conducted in a manner that is consistent with the

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community college district's review and evaluation
policy and procedures for on-campus adjunct faculty,
including visits to the secondary class. This
evaluation shall be limited to the course and the
ability of the instructor to deliver quality, rigorous
college credit coursework. This evaluation shall not
impact the instructor's performance evaluation under
Article 24A of the School Code. This evaluation shall
be completed within the same school year that the
course is taught.
(C) The academic supports and, if applicable,
guidance that will be provided to students
participating in the program by the high school and
the community college district.
(8) Identify all fees and costs to be assessed by the
community college district for dual credit courses. This
provision shall require that any fees and costs assessed
for dual credit courses shall be reasonable and promote
student access to those courses, and may take into account
regional considerations and differences.
(8.5) The collaborative process and criteria by which
a school district and a community college district shall
work to ensure that individual students with disabilities
have access to dual credit courses, provided that those
students are able to meet the criteria for entry into a
dual credit course. Through this process and criteria, the

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student shall have access to the supplementary aids and
accommodations included in the student's individualized
education program under Article 14 of the School Code or
Section 504 plan under the federal Rehabilitation Act of
1973 while the student is accessing a dual credit course
on a high school campus, in accordance with established
practices at the high school for providing these services.
A student who accesses a dual credit course on a community
college campus shall have access to supplementary aids and
accommodations provided in the partnership agreement,
including access to the community college's disability
services. A school district and community college district
shall work together to provide seamless communication
about the student's eligibility for disability services
and dual credit course progress.
(9) The community college district shall establish a
mechanism for evaluating and documenting on a regular
basis the performance of students who complete dual credit
courses, consistent with paragraph (9) of Section 20 and
Section 30 of this Act, and for sharing that data in a
meaningful and timely manner with the school district.
This evaluation shall be limited to the course and the
coursework. This evaluation shall not impact the
instructor's performance evaluation under Article 24A of
the School Code.
(10) The expectations for maintaining the rigor of

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dual credit courses that are taught at the high school and
including students not deemed ready for college-level
coursework according to the standards of the community
college.
(11) A requirement that the school district and
community college annually assess disaggregated data
pertaining to dual credit course enrollments, completions,
and subsequent postsecondary enrollment and performance to
the extent feasible. If applicable, this assessment shall
include an analysis of dual credit courses with credit
sections for dual credit and for high school credit only
pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 16.5 that reviews
student characteristics by credit section in relation to
gender, race and ethnicity, and low-income status.
If, within 180 calendar days of the school district's
initial request to enter into a partnership agreement with the
community college district, the school district and the
community college district do not reach agreement on the
partnership agreement, then the school district and community
college district shall jointly implement the provisions of the
Model Partnership Agreement established under Section 19 of
this Act for which local agreement could not be reached. A
community college district may combine its negotiations with
multiple school districts to establish one multi-district
partnership agreement or may negotiate individual partnership
agreements at its discretion.

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(Source: P.A. 102-516, eff. 8-20-21; 102-1077, eff. 1-1-23.)
(110 ILCS 27/16.10 new)
Sec. 16.10. Partnership agreement negotiations with
liaison. Prior to offering dual credit coursework with any
postsecondary institution other than a community college, a
school district shall first negotiate with the designated
liaison of the school district's local community college
district to seek a partnership agreement with the community
college district as provided in Section 16. After mutually
agreeing that a partnership with the community college
district is not feasible, the school district may enter into a
partnership agreement with an alternative postsecondary
institution that addresses each item listed in subsection (b)
of Section 16.
(110 ILCS 27/17)
Sec. 17. Out-of-state dual credit contracts. On or after
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General
Assembly, a school district may not enter into a new contract
with an out-of-state postsecondary institution to provide a
dual credit course without first offering the community
college district in the district in which the school district
is located the opportunity to provide the course. Prior to
entering into a contract with an out-of-state postsecondary
institution, the school district shall notify the Illinois

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Community College Board Board of Higher Education of its
intent to enter into an agreement with an out-of-state
postsecondary institution. The Illinois Community College
Board Board of Higher Education shall have 30 days to provide
the school district with a list of in-state postsecondary
institutions that can provide the school district an
equivalent dual credit opportunity. The school district may
not enter into a contract with an out-of-state postsecondary
institution on or after the effective date of this amendatory
Act of the 104th General Assembly until the school district
has demonstrated to the Illinois Community College Board that
the school district has taken appropriate steps to consider
the listing of in-state postsecondary institutions and
provides a rationale as to why the course can be provided only
by an out-of-state postsecondary institution; however, this
limitation does not apply to a contract that was entered into
prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th
General Assembly. In deciding which dual credit courses to
offer, a school district reserves the right to evaluate any
dual credit course offered by any postsecondary institution
for quality, rigor, and alignment with the school district's
students' needs.
Agreements to provide dual credit courses between a school
district and an out-of-state postsecondary institution in
existence on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
100th General Assembly shall remain in effect and shall not be

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impacted by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-1049, eff. 1-1-19.)
(110 ILCS 27/19.5 new)
Sec. 19.5. Dual Credit Committee.
(a) Because postsecondary institutions and school
districts are equally committed to the success of all students
involved in dual credit and to ensure the equity and quality of
the student experience that leads to college completion and
increased economic mobility, a standing Dual Credit Committee
involving collaboration between the Illinois Community College
Board and the State Board of Education is created and shall
consist of: the State Superintendent of Education or the
Superintendent's designee; 10 members appointed by the State
Superintendent, including one representative from a statewide
professional teachers' organization and one representative
from a different statewide professional teachers'
organization; the Executive Director of the Illinois Community
College Board or the Executive Director's designee; and 10
members appointed by the Executive Director of the Illinois
Community College Board, including one member who is a
community college faculty member who is a representative of a
statewide professional teachers' organization and one member
who is a community college faculty member who is a
representative from a different statewide professional
teachers' organization. The Executive Director of the Board of

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Higher Education or the Executive Director's designee shall
serve as an ex-officio member.
(b) The Illinois Community College Board shall provide
administrative support to the Committee.
(c) The Committee shall meet within 60 days after the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General
Assembly and subsequently shall meet at least annually to
focus on approving accessibility, quality, and alignment of
dual credit programs to meet the needs of students. The
Committee may consider and develop updates to the Model
Partnership Agreement and associated exhibits.
(110 ILCS 27/20)
Sec. 20. Standards. All postsecondary institutions
offering dual credit courses shall meet the following
standards:
(1) High school instructors teaching credit-bearing
college-level courses for dual credit must meet any of the
academic credential requirements set forth in this
paragraph or paragraph (2), (2.5), or (3) of this Section
and need not meet higher certification requirements or
those set out in Article 21B of the School Code:
(A) Approved instructors of dual credit courses
shall meet any of the faculty credential standards
allowed by the Higher Learning Commission to determine
minimally qualified faculty. At the request of an

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instructor, an instructor who meets these credential
standards shall be provided by the State Board of
Education with a Dual Credit Endorsement, to be placed
on the professional educator license, as established
by the State Board of Education and as authorized
under Article 21B of the School Code and promulgated
through administrative rule in cooperation with the
Illinois Community College Board and the Board of
Higher Education. The academic credentials required to
be a fully qualified instructor shall include either
(i) a master's degree in the discipline to be taught or
(ii) a master's degree in any other discipline and a
minimum of, but not more than, 18 graduate hours in the
discipline to be taught.
(B) An instructor who does not meet the faculty
credential standards allowed by the Higher Learning
Commission to determine minimally qualified faculty
may teach dual credit courses if the instructor has a
professional development plan, approved by the
postsecondary institution and shared with the State
Board of Education no later than January 1, 2025, to
raise his or her credentials to be in line with the
credentials under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph
(1). The postsecondary institution shall have 30 days
to review the plan and approve an instructor
professional development plan that is in line with the

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credentials set forth in paragraph (2) or (2.5) of
this Section. The postsecondary institution shall not
unreasonably withhold approval of a professional
development plan. These approvals shall be good for as
long as satisfactory progress toward the completion of
the credential is demonstrated, but in no event shall
a professional development plan be in effect for more
than 3 years from the date of its approval or after
January 1, 2028, whichever is sooner. A high school
instructor whose professional development plan is not
approved by the postsecondary institution may appeal
to the Illinois Community College Board or the Board
of Higher Education, as appropriate.
(C) The Illinois Community College Board and Board
of Higher Education shall report yearly on their
Internet websites the following:
(i) the number of teachers presently enrolled
in an approved professional development plan under
this Section;
(ii) the number of instructors who
successfully completed an approved professional
development plan;
(iii) the number of instructors who did not
successfully complete an approved professional
development plan after 3 years;
(iv) a breakdown of the information in

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subdivisions (i), (ii), and (iii) of this
subparagraph (C) by subject area; and
(v) a summary, by community college district,
of professional development plans that are in
progress, that were successfully completed, or
that have expired.
The State Board of Education shall provide the
Illinois Community College Board and Board of Higher
Education with any information necessary to complete
the reporting required under this subparagraph (C).
(2) For a high school instructor entering into a
professional development plan prior to January 1, 2023,
the high school instructor shall qualify for a
professional development plan if the instructor:
(A) has a master's degree in any discipline and
has earned 9 graduate hours in a discipline in which he
or she is currently teaching or expects to teach; or
(B) has a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18
graduate hours in a discipline that he or she is
currently teaching or expects to teach and is enrolled
in a discipline-specific master's degree program; and
(C) agrees to demonstrate his or her progress
toward completion to the supervising postsecondary
institution, as outlined in the professional
development plan.
(2.5) For a high school instructor entering into a

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professional development plan on or after January 1, 2023,
the high school instructor shall qualify for a
professional development plan if the instructor:
(A) has a master's degree in any discipline, has
earned 9 graduate hours in a discipline in which he or
she currently teaches or expects to teach, and agrees
to demonstrate his or her progress toward completion
to the supervising postsecondary institution, as
outlined in the professional development plan; or
(B) is a fully licensed instructor in career and
technical education who is halfway toward meeting the
postsecondary institution's requirements for faculty
in the discipline to be taught and agrees to
demonstrate his or her progress toward completion to
the supervising postsecondary institution, as outlined
in the professional development plan.
(3) An instructor in career and technical education
courses must possess the credentials and demonstrated
teaching competencies appropriate to the field of
instruction.
(4) Course content must be equivalent to
credit-bearing college-level courses offered at the
community college.
(5) Learning outcomes must be the same as
credit-bearing college-level courses and be appropriately
measured.

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(6) A high school instructor is expected to
participate in any orientation developed by the
postsecondary institution for dual credit instructors in
course curriculum, assessment methods, and administrative
requirements.
(7) Dual credit instructors must be given the
opportunity to participate in all activities available to
other adjunct faculty, including professional development,
seminars, site visits, and internal communication,
provided that such opportunities do not interfere with an
instructor's regular teaching duties.
(8) Every dual credit course must be reviewed annually
by faculty through the appropriate department to ensure
consistency with campus courses.
(9) Dual credit students must be assessed using
methods consistent with students in traditional
credit-bearing college courses.
(10) Within 15 days after entering into or renewing a
partnership agreement, the postsecondary institution shall
notify its faculty of the agreement, including access to
copies of the agreement if requested.
(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-1077, eff. 1-1-23;
103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
(110 ILCS 27/22 new)
Sec. 22. Notification of disapproval or withdrawal;

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appeal. A community college district with an established
partnership agreement with a school district has 30 calendar
days from the initial course request to notify the school
district of the community college district's disapproval of
the course request, instructor, or course documentation or the
community college district's withdrawal of course or
instructor approval. Thereafter, the school district may
appeal the disapproval or withdrawal to the Executive Director
of the Illinois Community College Board within 14 calendar
days after the notice is received. The Executive Director of
the Illinois Community College Board shall render a decision
within 45 calendar days after the appeal is filed and provide
notice of the Executive Director's decision to the community
college district and school district. The decision of the
Executive Director may be appealed to the Illinois Community
College Board by either the community college district or the
school district within 30 calendar days after the decision by
submitting a written request for reconsideration of the
decision to the Illinois Community College Board. If no appeal
is received within 30 calendar days, the Executive Director's
decision shall be final and binding. The community college
district and school district may make both oral and written
presentations to the Illinois Community College Board at the
time the decision is reconsidered. The Illinois Community
College Board's decision shall be final and binding.
(1) If the Illinois Community College Board finds in

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favor of the school district with respect to the course,
instructor, or course documentation but the community
college district elects not to offer the course or approve
the instructor or course documentation, the school
district may pursue an alternative postsecondary
institution to provide that course and must notify the
community college district within 14 calendar days after
the Illinois Community College Board's decision with the
school district's intent to do so, along with the reason
for seeking an alternative postsecondary institution.
(2) If the Illinois Community College Board finds in
favor of the community college district's decision to
disapprove the school district's course request,
instructor, or course documentation or the community
college district's withdrawal of course or instructor
approval, the school district may not approach an
alternative postsecondary institution, including another
community college district, with the same course or
instructor proposal. The school district may not be
prohibited from establishing a new partnership agreement
with the community college district if the course request,
instructor, or course documentation changes.
(110 ILCS 27/25)
Sec. 25. Oversight, review, and reporting.
(a) The Illinois Community College Board shall be

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responsible for oversight and review of dual credit programs
offered jointly by public community colleges and high schools.
The Illinois Community College Board shall implement a review
process and criteria for evaluating dual credit program
quality based upon the standards enumerated in Section 20 of
this Act.
(b) The Board of Higher Education shall be responsible for
oversight and review of dual credit programs offered jointly
by high schools and postsecondary institutions, except for
public community colleges as provided in subsection (a) of
this Section. The Board of Higher Education shall develop and
implement a review process based on the standards enumerated
in Section 20 of this Act.
(c) Each postsecondary institution shall report annually
to the appropriate agency, the Illinois Community College
Board or the Board of Higher Education. The reports shall
include, but not be limited to, the following data:
(1) Number and description of dual credit courses.
(2) Faculty teaching dual credit courses and their
academic credentials.
(3) Enrollments in dual credit courses.
(4) Sites of dual credit offerings.
(d) Each postsecondary institution shall file an
electronic copy of any dual credit agreement executed or
amended on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 104th General Assembly within 30 days after execution

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or amendment with the Board of Higher Education or Illinois
Community College Board, as appropriate. The Illinois
Community College Board shall publish all dual credit
agreements between school districts and out-of-state or
private postsecondary institutions on its website.
(Source: P.A. 96-194, eff. 1-1-10.)
(110 ILCS 27/45 new)
Sec. 45. State and federal law and administrative rule
requirements. All postsecondary institutions and school
districts shall ensure that dual credit courses, instructors,
and course documentation meet requirements established by
State and federal law and administrative rules adopted by
State agencies and are aligned with the Higher Learning
Commission or other applicable accreditation agencies.
(110 ILCS 27/50 new)
Sec. 50. Study. Five years after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the
Illinois Community College Board shall conduct a study
concerning the impact of the changes made by this amendatory
Act of the 104th General Assembly, including, but not limited
to, the impact on postsecondary enrollment, persistence,
completion, quality, and access to dual credit in Illinois.
The study shall include student demographics. The study shall
be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor by

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October 1, 2030 and published on the Illinois Community
College Board's website.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.