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HB 2950

Relating to amending land use planning goals; declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tom Andersen and 8 co-sponsors

HB 2950 creates a public process to review content-area tests for uniformity and allows provisional licensure and remediation for candidates affected by non-uniform tests.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 2950

HB 2950 — School Code: Educator Licensure (Illinois)

Summary

HB 2950 (Rep. Laura Faver Dias) amends the Illinois School Code to create a statutory process for evaluating the uniformity of educator content-area tests and to provide alternative/provisional licensure pathways when a content test is determined to be “non‑uniform.” The bill requires transparency about test review procedures, mandates periodic evaluation of each content test, and establishes temporary licensure and remediation options for candidates affected by non‑uniform assessments.

Key provisions

  • Evaluation of content tests: The State Board of Education must evaluate each content-area test after it has been administered at least 10 months but not more than 12 months. The evaluation process must be public and posted on the State Board’s website.
  • Non‑uniform test determination: If a content test is found to be non‑uniform, the State Board must:
    • Convene one or more committees to review the test’s content, potential bias, and passing score requirements and recommend changes to improve uniformity;
    • Make the most recent prior uniform version of the content test available as an option until a revised test is deemed uniform;
    • Allow candidates who attempted but did not pass the most recent (non‑uniform) version to attempt the most recent uniform test form; and
    • Implement a process by which affected candidates may apply for provisional licensure.
  • Provisional in‑state endorsement: The bill allows issuance of a provisional in‑state educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations for candidates who:
    • Hold at least a bachelor’s degree;
    • Completed an Illinois‑approved educator preparation program at an Illinois institution of higher education;
    • Passed an evidence‑based assessment of teacher effectiveness; and
    • Attempted an applicable content-area test determined to be non‑uniform and have not attempted any uniform content-area tests.
  • Grandfathering for 2025 test forms: If test forms available as of January 1, 2025 are determined non‑uniform relative to previous forms, candidates who took those forms and whose best subsection scores (across multiple attempts on that same form) meet or exceed the passing subsection scores as of January 1, 2025 shall be treated as having passed that content-area exam.

Who is affected

  • Teacher candidates seeking Illinois licensure, especially those who took content-area tests during periods of uneven test form difficulty.
  • Illinois educator preparation programs and institutions of higher education.
  • State Board of Education (new evaluation, reporting, and review duties).
  • School districts and employers that hire provisional‑license holders.
  • Testing vendors and organizations that develop and administer content-area assessments.

Timeline & current status

  • Introduced: February 6, 2025 (sponsor: Rep. Laura Faver Dias).
  • Passed both chambers in 2025 legislative session.
  • Vetoed by the Governor: June 25, 2025.
  • Companion bill: SB 1260.

Potential impacts

  • May reduce barriers to licensure for candidates disadvantaged by inconsistent test forms and increase short‑term teacher supply through provisional endorsements.
  • Adds administrative duties for the State Board and creates a formal remediation and review process for tests and vendors.
  • Could prompt changes in how assessments are developed, scored, and monitored for fairness and consistency.

Sponsors / cosponsors

Primary sponsor: Laura Faver Dias. Cosponsors include Nicolle Grasse, Nabeela Syed, Maurice A. West II, Camille Y. Lilly, Carol Ammons, Diane Blair‑Sherlock, Lindsey LaPointe, and Maura Hirschauer.

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

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