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HB 3170

Relating to community resilience; declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tom Andersen and 6 co-sponsors

HB 3170 broadens educator licensure by adding community college representation, creating a paraprofessional-to-Teacher license pathway, and temporarily relaxing coursework/testing

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 3170

HB 3170 — Summary (Introduced 2/18/2025; Rep. Laura Faver Dias)

Status: In committee upon adjournment (6/28/2025). Companion: SB 111.

Purpose / Intent

HB 3170 makes multiple changes to Illinois educator licensure and preparation policy intended to:
- broaden representation on the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board,
- provide temporary flexibility in coursework/testing requirements while licensure tests are revised,
- create a pathway for paraprofessionals to obtain a Professional Educator License, and
- establish structures to develop and pilot a State teacher performance assessment.
The bill’s title also states it “declares an emergency,” indicating an intent for immediate effect upon enactment.

Key provisions

  • Renames the State Teacher Certification Board to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
  • Adds five administrative or faculty members from public community colleges to the Board (expanding community college representation). Continues provisions for other members, term lengths, nomination processes, and allows nonvoting ex‑officio members from the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board.
  • Professional Educator License coursework/testing:
    • Temporarily suspends certain required coursework completions for the Professional Educator License “until July 1, 2027 or the date that the revised test for a particular content area is implemented, whichever is later.”
    • Exempts applicants seeking a school support personnel endorsement or a chief school business official endorsement from the coursework requirement.
    • Exempts applicants seeking a school support personnel endorsement who already hold an active professional license in the same subject from being required to pass a content-area knowledge test (where a test exists).
  • Testing updates: Requires the State Superintendent to begin, by July 1, 2027, incorporating specified topics into revised examinations for Professional Educator Licenses endorsed in teaching or administration (excluding chief school business official).
  • Teacher Performance Assessment Advisory Committee: Creates an advisory committee to assist in operationalizing and piloting a State-developed teacher performance assessment.
  • Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Program: Establishes an expedited pathway enabling paraprofessionals to earn a Professional Educator License in a specific content area; sets entry requirements, program criteria, and directs the State Board to adopt rules.
  • Partnerships: Permits an approved institution of higher education to partner with a community college to offer approved educator preparation programs leading to licensure for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree.
  • Miscellaneous: Grants the State Board authority to adopt implementing rules; retains provisions on Board meeting frequency and expenses.

Who is affected

  • Community colleges and their faculty/administration (gaining Board representation and partnership opportunities).
  • Paraprofessionals seeking teacher licensure (new expedited pathway).
  • Teacher preparation institutions and educator preparation programs (new partnership rules and potential changes in program requirements).
  • Prospective licensees for school support personnel and chief school business official endorsements (receiving coursework or testing exemptions).
  • State Board of Education and State Superintendent (new rulemaking, exam revision responsibilities).
  • Current and future classroom teachers and administrators (subject to revised testing and potential state performance assessment pilot).

Procedural timeline / actions (select)

  • Filed: 2/21/2025 (introduced 2/18/2025)
  • Referred to Rules and Public Education committees; hearings and work sessions held in Feb–Mar 2025
  • Do Pass recommendation from Elementary & Secondary Education committee (3/19/2025)
  • Referred to Ways & Means by prior reference (3/7/2025)
  • Readings on House calendar; re‑referred to Rules (4/11/2025)
  • Status: In committee upon adjournment (6/28/2025)

Potential impact / considerations

  • Increases community college voice in licensure policy and may expand educator preparation capacity via partnerships.
  • The temporary coursework/testing flexibility could accelerate licensure in the short term while new tests are implemented; critics may raise concerns about rigor or preparedness.
  • The paraprofessional pathway could help diversify and grow the teacher pipeline but will depend on program funding, rules, and local implementation.
  • Development of a state teacher performance assessment and pilot could shift preparation and evaluation practices if adopted statewide.

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

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