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HB 4440

SCH CD-LICENSURE-PARAPROFESS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Natalie Manley

Illinois bill HB 4440 modifies paraprofessional licensure and credentialing requirements, affecting school hiring standards and support staff qualifications statewide.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 4440

Legislative bill overview

HB 4440 addresses school personnel licensure and paraprofessional credentialing in Illinois. Based on the bill identifier referencing "SCH CD-LICENSURE-PARAPROFESS," this legislation likely establishes, modifies, or streamlines requirements for paraprofessional certification or licensing in schools. The bill is currently in early stages of the legislative process following its January 2026 introduction.

Why is this important

Paraprofessionals (teacher aides, instructional assistants, special education assistants) support approximately 650,000+ students across Illinois schools. Changes to licensure or credentialing requirements directly affect hiring standards, workforce qualification, staff compensation, and ultimately classroom support availability. This also impacts school districts' operational costs and schools' ability to fill critical support positions.

Potential points of contention

  • Licensure standards vs. workforce availability – Stricter requirements may improve quality but reduce the available pool of candidates, potentially creating staffing shortages in under-resourced districts
  • Cost implications – New certification requirements could increase training expenses for paraprofessionals and hiring costs for districts, with unclear funding mechanisms
  • Equity concerns – Barriers to paraprofessional credentialing could disproportionately affect lower-income communities and limit economic mobility pathways for workers without bachelor's degrees

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

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