IllinoisIllinois employers may count graduate courses toward teacher salary advancement
Illinois public education employers may count certain graduate courses toward salary advancement for eligible teachers, while deciding how to verify the coursework.
What it does
Public education employers may count qualifying graduate coursework toward salary advancement for eligible classroom teachers, but they do not have to offer such a path.
Argument forTeachers with an existing salary path might earn advancement for eligible graduate coursework, including certain approved professional development courses.
Argument againstTeachers might not receive salary advancement for eligible courses because each employer decides whether and how to recognize them.
More detail
Public education employers may count qualifying coursework toward a teacher’s salary advancement. This applies only to licensed classroom teachers who already have a salary path based on continuing education. Administrators and teachers outside a teachers’ collective bargaining agreement are excluded. The coursework must be graduate credit that can count toward an advanced degree, appear on an official transcript, and include an instructor who teaches, evaluates work, and gives written feedback. Each employer decides how to verify records, accreditation, salary advancement, and compliance. The law does not require an employer to create a salary path. The rule covers coursework completed on or after July 1, 2026. The law took effect August 7, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 7Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0795Latest
- Aug 7Effective Date August 7, 2026
- Aug 7Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 26Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 1Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
- May 31Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
- May 28Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons
- Vote recorded Concurrence, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 28Passed Both Houses
- May 28House Concurs
- May 28Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 112-000-000
- May 27Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 008-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 25Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
- May 21Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 21Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Katie Stuart
- May 21Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1
- May 21Arrived in HouseMinor
- May 21Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins
- May 21Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000Passed Senate
- May 21Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
- May 21Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Loughran-CappelMajor
- May 21Recalled to Second ReadingMinor
- May 19Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Education; 013-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Upper
- May 19Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education
- May 18Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 19, 2026
- May 18Second ReadingMinor
- May 15Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
- May 15Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran CappelMinor
- May 6Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026Minor
- May 6Do Pass Education; 014-000-000
- May 5
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 28Assigned to EducationMinor
- Apr 23Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Donald P. DeWitte
- Apr 23Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
- Apr 21Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
- Apr 21Referred to Assignments
- Apr 21First ReadingMinor
- Apr 21Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Donald P. DeWitte
- Apr 21Placed on Calendar Order of First ReadingMinor
- Apr 21Arrive in SenateMinor
- Apr 16Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 105-000-000Passed House
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 16Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- Apr 16House Floor Amendment No. 1 AdoptedMajor
- Apr 15House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 008-000-000Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
- Apr 13House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- Apr 13House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Katie StuartMinor
- Apr 10Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Apr 10Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Mar 20Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Mar 19Do Pass / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 008-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter SchoolsMinor
- Feb 10Referred to Rules Committee
- Feb 10First ReadingMinor
- Feb 5Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Katie StuartIntroduced
EducationEconomy & Jobs