Bill Text: IL HB5321 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB5321-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB5321 Introduced , by Rep. Katie Stuart SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/24-8.2 new
Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that beginning with continuing education coursework commenced on or after July 1, 2026, a school district, special education cooperative, or other public educational employer may recognize graduate-level continuing education coursework for purposes of salary advancement or lane changes only if the continuing education coursework meets specified requirements. Provides that nothing in the provisions impairs the ability of the parties to a collective bargaining agreement to negotiate salary schedules or compensation structures, as long as any graduate-level continuing education coursework recognized for salary advancement or lane changes complies with those specified requirements. Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Board of Higher Education, to adopt rules as necessary to implement the provisions. Effective July 1, 2026.
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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENTMAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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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 School Code is amended by adding Section
24-8.2 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/24-8.2 new)
Sec. 24-8.2. Continuing education coursework used for
salary increases.
(a) For purposes of this Section:
"Continuing education coursework" means any graduate-level
course completed by a licensed educator for the purpose of
salary advancement, a salary lane change, or other
compensation-related advancement under a collective bargaining
agreement, school board policy, or salary schedule.
"Graduate-level, degree-eligible credit" means academic
credit documented on an official academic transcript by a
regionally accredited institution of higher education that may
be applied toward a master's degree, education specialist
degree, or doctoral degree.
"Instructor of record" means an individual assigned
responsibility for academic oversight of a course, including
instruction, evaluation and feedback of participant work, and
the assignment of grades.

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"Salary lane change" means the receiving of a pay increase
on a salary schedule by earning additional academic credits.
(b) Beginning with continuing education coursework
commenced on or after July 1, 2026, a school district, special
education cooperative, or other public educational employer
may recognize continuing education coursework for purposes of
salary advancement or salary lane changes only if the
continuing education coursework meets all of the following
requirements:
(1) The continuing education coursework is
graduate-level, degree-eligible credit offered by a
regionally accredited institution of higher education and
documented on an official academic transcript.
(2) The continuing education coursework results in a
letter grade issued by the institution of higher
education. Coursework graded solely on a pass or fail,
satisfactory or unsatisfactory, or completion basis is not
eligible.
(3) The continuing education coursework includes an
instructor of record who:
(A) is a credentialed educator holding a master's
degree or higher and is academically qualified to
teach the continuing education course, with
demonstrated experience in the content area or areas
of the continuing education course;
(B) provides substantive instructional support to

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the participating educator throughout the period of
continuing education course enrollment; and
(C) evaluates participant work and provides
individualized, written feedback aligned to continuing
education course objectives.
(c) Nothing in this Section impairs the ability of the
parties to a collective bargaining agreement to negotiate
salary schedules or compensation structures, as long as any
continuing education coursework recognized for salary
advancement or salary lane changes complies with the
requirements of this Section.
(d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
Board of Higher Education, may adopt rules as necessary to
implement this Section, including standards for documentation,
transcript verification, institutional accreditation, and
compliance monitoring.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2026.