IllinoisIllinois requires new child care directors to meet education standards
Starting July 1, 2027, child care centers must follow education rules for new directors and may use supervised interim directors who meet specific requirements.
What it does
Directors hired on or after July 1, 2027, must have an associate degree in early childhood education or child development, or meet an alternative credit and qualification path.
A licensed center may employ an experienced teacher as an interim director for 12 months while they finish required education, if the center meets staffing, supervision, and notice rules.
Argument forExperienced teachers may be able to take interim director roles while finishing qualifications, which could help centers cover director vacancies.
Argument againstCenters could have fewer options for filling a director vacancy because interim directors need a qualified supervisor, and centers must follow staffing and parent-notice rules.
More detail
The law requires child care directors hired on or after July 1, 2027, to meet specified education and training qualifications. A director must have an associate degree in child development or early childhood education, or meet an alternative credit-hour path with additional credential, coursework, or training in administration, leadership, or management. These requirements apply to directors hired on or after July 1, 2027.
A licensed day care center may employ an interim conditional director for 12 months while that person completes required education. The interim role is available only at a licensed day care center that already employs a fully qualified director. A replacement interim director may be hired if the previous one leaves during the 12-month period. The person must meet one of two qualification paths, both of which require at least two years or 3,120 hours teaching early childhood at that same center and at least 64 semester or 96 quarter credit hours. The center must document enrollment in qualifying courses at hiring and already employ a fully qualified director. It may have no more than one interim director for each qualified director. A qualified director must provide ongoing supervision, including at least monthly on-site check-ins. The center must notify parents and caregivers and post the notice. The interim director cannot work during hours when an interim conditional teacher is on duty. Each qualification path has different course and credential requirements to complete during the 12-month period. Violations result in a corrective action plan. The interim-director section is repealed on June 30, 2032.
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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 . . . . . . . . . 104-0773Latest
- Aug 7Effective Date July 1, 2027
- Aug 7Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 25Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 11Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Chris Balkema
- May 27Passed Both Houses
- Vote recorded Concurrence, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 27House Concurs
- May 27Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 088-021-000
- May 21Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 013-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 20Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
- May 20Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
- May 20Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Laura Faver Dias
- May 19Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 19Arrived in HouseMinor
- May 19Third Reading - Passed; 054-003-000Passed Senate
- May 14Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026
- May 14Second ReadingMinor
- May 13Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Darby A. Hills
- May 13Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 14, 2026Minor
- May 13Do Pass as Amended Child Welfare; 007-000-000
- May 12Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sally J. Turner
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 12Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 AdoptedMajor
- May 12Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Child Welfare
- May 11Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
- May 11Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran CappelMinor
- May 8Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
- May 5Postponed - Child Welfare
- Apr 28Assigned to Child WelfareMinor
- Apr 21Referred to Assignments
- Apr 21First ReadingMinor
- Apr 21Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
- Apr 21Placed on Calendar Order of First ReadingMinor
- Apr 21Arrive in SenateMinor
- Apr 16House Floor Amendment No. 1 TabledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 16Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed 077-028-000Passed House
- Apr 16Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Standard Debate
- Apr 16Chair Rules Standard Debate
- Apr 16Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- Apr 16House Floor Amendment No. 2 AdoptedMajor
- Apr 16Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
- Apr 16House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 012-000-000Minor
- Apr 14House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
- Apr 14House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education
- Apr 13House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
- Apr 13House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver DiasMinor
- Apr 10House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- Apr 10House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver DiasMinor
- Apr 10Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Apr 10Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Feb 26Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 26Do Pass / Short Debate Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education; 011-002-000
- Feb 11Assigned to Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood EducationMinor
- Feb 3Referred to Rules Committee
- Feb 3First ReadingMinor
- Jan 26Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver DiasIntroduced
Education