Delivered via email: February 24, 2023
Changes to Teacher Contractual Service Pass out of Committee
The Illinois Senate Education Committee passed three changes to teacher contractual service during the February 21 committee meeting. All three changes were sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Hillside). Senate Bill 1351 would allow a teacher who has provided notice of intent to retire to waive their final evaluation if their previous evaluation was proficient or excellent. Under SB 1351, a school district would still reserve the right to evaluate the retiring teacher if 14 days' notice was given. Also passed was Senate Bill 1352 which would require school districts to provide notice to any tenured teacher who resigns less than 30 days before the start of the school year that the teacher had been referred to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for license revocation. The bill also establishes various timelines for ISBE to communicate the decision on revocation. The committee also passed SB 1569 which would require school districts to provide a written notice for dismissal to any teacher with a proficient or excellent rating during the probationary period.
The Illinois House Personnel & Pensions Committee passed a bill that should help with the teacher shortage. HB 2147 (Yang Rohr, D-Naperville) would allow retired teachers to accept up to 120 days of teaching without impairing their retirement status. The timeframe was extended, from June 30, 2023 until June 30, 2026.
The Illinois House and Senate have set a deadline of March 10 to have bills passed out of committee. The Illinois Senate is not scheduled to be back in session until March 7, leaving a few days for bills to be moved out of committee by the deadline. Many bills are expected to be passed by committee with the expectation of an amendment or that the deadline will be extended on most bills. The Illinois House is in session the weeks of February 27 and March 6, but with 1,500 more pieces of legislation to work through, it is expected that committee action will require most of the attention of the Illinois General Assembly.
Bills out of House Committees Week of February 20
Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee
House Bill 1371 (McLaughlin, R-Lake Barrington). Provides that subject to the availability of local resources each public middle school, junior high school, and high school shall establish a junior color guard program.
Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools Committee
House Bill 1204 (Tarver, D-Chicago) Allows a child to be absent from a public school on a particular day to attend the ceremonial induction into office of the child's parent as a newly elected government official.
House Bill 1291 (Stuart, D-Collinsville) Provides that the annual incentive shall be $2,250 (instead of $1,500) and that 45 hours of mentoring shall be required (instead of 30) for the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program.
Bills in House Committees Week of February 2
Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
February 28, 2023, at 2 p.m., Room 122B Capitol Building
Subject Matter: Early Childhood Education & Special Education, Advance Illinois
House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee
Wednesday, March 1, at 8 a.m., Room 114 Capitol Building
HB 1004
HB 1107
HB 1375
HB 1383
HB 1631
HB 1633
HB 2104
HB 2773
HB 3425
House Labor & Commerce Committee
Wednesday, March 1, at 2 p.m., Room 114 Capitol Building
HB 1120
HB 1215
HB 2784