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HB 3516

Relating to limit of liability through Board of Risk Management

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Roger Hanshaw and 1 co-sponsor

HB 3516 requires high schools to partner with community colleges for dual-credit, sets instructor qualification rules, and creates approval, appeal, and outcomes study processes.

On 3rd reading, House Calendar
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Bill Summary · HB 3516

Summary — HB 3516 (Higher Ed — Dual Credit)

Bill: HB 3516 — "HIGHER ED‑DUAL CREDIT"
Introduced: Feb 18, 2025 (Rep. Diane Blair‑Sherlock)
Enacted: Signed by Governor June 20, 2025 — Effective Sept 1, 2025
Companion: SB 2377

Purpose / Intent

To strengthen quality controls, clarify partnership requirements, and standardize instructor qualifications for dual credit courses (high school courses that earn college credit). The bill requires school districts to prioritize partnerships with their local community college, establishes a statewide instructor‑qualification framework, and creates processes for approval, appeal, and study of dual credit outcomes.

Key provisions and changes

  • Partnership requirement

    • Before offering dual credit, a school district must attempt to enter into a partnership agreement with the community college district in which it is located.
    • If pursuing an alternative postsecondary provider (not the local community college), the school district must enter into a partnership agreement with that institution that complies with the Act.

  • Required contents of partnership agreements (highlights)

    • Roles/responsibilities of the school district and community college and assurance of community college academic control consistent with accreditor/Higher Learning Commission requirements.
    • Which dual credit courses will be offered, delivery location (high school, college campus, or online), and any local limitations (instructor or student availability).
    • Evidence‑based academic eligibility criteria for student enrollment.
    • Collaborative process for identifying, hiring (school), reviewing, and compensating high school instructors teaching dual credit.
    • Requirement that dual credit courses be equivalent in content, learning outcomes, rigor, and evaluation to on‑campus courses.
    • Identification of fees and costs — required to be reasonable and promote access.

  • Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework

    • Establishes a Dual Credit Qualifications Committee to develop a Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework defining appropriate graduate coursework for “fully qualified” and “minimally qualified” instructors and the equivalent experience required for fully qualified CTE instructors.
    • Model Framework to be developed collaboratively by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the State Board of Education (ISBE) by June 30, 2026.
    • Academic credentials for a “fully qualified” instructor: either (i) a master’s degree in the discipline to be taught, or (ii) any master’s degree plus no more than 18 graduate semester hours appropriate to the academic field/discipline.

  • Approval, notice, and appeal timelines

    • A community college district with an established partnership has 30 calendar days from the initial course request to notify the school district of disapproval of a course, instructor, or course documentation, or to withdraw prior approval.
    • After a disapproval notice, the school district must appeal to the ICCB within 14 calendar days.

  • Data study authority

    • The ICCB is authorized to conduct a study examining short‑term and long‑term outcomes for dual credit students.

Who is affected

  • School districts and superintendents (must seek local community college partnerships and include partnership terms)
  • Community college districts and colleges (must participate in agreements, ensure curricular equivalence, and follow timelines)
  • Alternative postsecondary providers entering dual credit partnerships
  • High school instructors (new, clarified qualification standards)
  • Dual credit students (eligibility criteria, protections for course quality)
  • ICCB and ISBE (responsible for model framework development and appeals/study functions)

Implementation timeline

  • Model Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework: required by June 30, 2026.
  • Bill effective date: September 1, 2025.
  • Appeals and notice deadlines: 30‑day community college notice window; 14‑day school district appeal to ICCB.

This bill standardizes partnership and instructor standards intended to promote course rigor and student access while creating an administrative route for resolving disputes and studying student outcomes.

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

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