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SB 1604

EDUC-SCH SOCIAL WORKER GRANTS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Cristina Castro and 5 co-sponsors

Creates state grants to fund school social work internships, paying interns at least $15,000/year ($25/hour) and expanding field placements through higher-ed grants.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 1604

SB 1604 — Grants for School Social Work Internships (Education)

Status (most recent): Rule 3‑9(a) / Re‑referred to Assignments (June 2, 2025). Introduced Feb 24, 2025. (Bill sponsor: Sen. Laura Fine.)

Purpose

To create state grant programs that (1) provide stipends to support school social work internships in K‑12 settings and (2) fund higher‑education efforts to expand social‑work field placement opportunities. The bill is intended to strengthen the pipeline of school social workers by reducing financial barriers for interns and expanding placement capacity.

Key provisions

  • School Board grants (new 105 ILCS 5/2‑3.206)

    • Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education (SBOE) will award competitive annual grants to school districts and other educational units that host “school social work interns.”
    • Definition: A “school social work intern” is enrolled in an SBOE‑approved educator preparation program for school social work and required to complete a school‑based internship.
    • Stipend amount: the stipend shall equal at least $15,000 per year per intern, at a rate of at least $25 per hour.
    • SBOE must publish an annual request for applications, set procedures for requests and payments, and accept applications annually.
    • If funding is insufficient, priority is given to school districts designated Tier 1 or Tier 2 under Section 18‑8.15(3) (i.e., higher‑need/priority districts).
    • Reporting: For each year grants are awarded, SBOE must post a report listing recipients, award amounts, and total funds awarded.

  • Higher Education grants (new 110 ILCS 205/9.45)

    • Subject to appropriation, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) will establish and administer a grant program to support social‑work field placements.
    • IBHE will award grants to public or nonpublic higher‑education institutions to expand opportunities and assist students pursuing social‑work field placements, internships, and related work experiences.
    • Requirements: ensure grants serve a representative cross‑section of students; no grants for sectarian instruction or sectarian purposes.
    • IBHE may require evaluations/audits/reports and may submit annual budgetary recommendations; may adopt implementing rules.

Who is affected

  • Primary: school social work interns, school districts and educational units that host them, educator preparation programs, higher‑education institutions that train social workers.
  • Secondary: K‑12 students (through increased access to school social workers), local school administrations, and state education budgets (impacts depend on appropriations).

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • All grant authority is “subject to appropriation”; fiscal impact depends on legislation allocating funds.
  • Effective date: upon becoming law (the bill text specifies immediate effect).
  • Implementation begins with the 2025–2026 school year for the SBOE stipend program; IBHE program timing follows appropriation and rulemaking.

Potential impacts (summary)

  • Expected to increase stipended internship placements and lower financial barriers for prospective school social workers.
  • May help high‑need districts recruit and host interns (priority for Tier 1/Tier 2).
  • Budgetary impact is indeterminate and contingent on appropriations and program uptake.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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