Education

Appropriates $4,500,000 to the State Board of Education for grants to school districts to contract with organizations that directly provide students and school-based staff with mental telehealth services that are billed to Medicaid and commercial insurance plans. Effective July 1, 2025.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Western Illinois University for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $58,531,300; Other State Funds $10,000; Total $58,541,300.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Employment Security, to develop a career and education guide for postsecondary students with disabilities. Sets forth the included information in the career and education guide. Requires the guide to be publicly available on the websites of the Board, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Department of Employment Security. Allows the Board to publish physical copies and charge a reasonable fee for such copies. Requires the first guide to be published by August 1, 2026, and every August 1 thereafter. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. In provisions concerning State grants, provides that the grants shall include, among other things, planning and construction grants to library systems and public libraries that are members of a library system (rather than planning and construction grants to public libraries and library systems) and grants to improve or enhance security of libraries.

Amends the Reducing the Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children Act. Provides that beginning with the 2026 through 2027 school year, a school district may incorporate in its curriculum a unit in grades kindergarten through 2, 3 through 5, 6 through 8, and 9 through 12 instruction on skin cancer prevention that is provided in an age appropriate manner. Provides that for grades 6 through 12, the curriculum shall include: (1) the basic facts about skin cancer, including, but not limited to, the negative impact of human exposure to ultraviolet radiation obtained through sunburns and indoor tanning; and (2) a comprehensive set of strategies and behaviors to reduce the risk of contracting skin cancer, including, but not limited to, the use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing. Provides that for grades kindergarten through 5, the topics shall include the use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Adds 5 administrative or faculty members of community colleges to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. For a Professional Educator License: provides that the requirements to successfully complete specified coursework are only required until July 1, 2027 or the date that the revised test for a particular content area is implemented, whichever is later; and exempts persons seeking a school support personnel or chief school business official endorsement from the requirement that a person must successfully complete specified coursework. Requires, by July 1, 2027, the State Superintendent of Education to begin incorporating specified topics into revised examinations for individuals seeking a Professional Educator License endorsed in teaching or administration, excluding a chief school business official endorsement. Exempts, for educator licenses, applicants seeking a school support personnel endorsement who hold an active and valid professional license in the same subject matter as the endorsement sought from being required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. Creates the Teacher Performance Assessment Advisory Committee to aid in operationalizing and creating a pilot, State-developed, teacher performance assessment. Establishes the Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Program to provide an expedited pathway for paraprofessionals to earn a Professional Educator License in a specific content area. Sets forth the Program criteria, the requirements for individuals for entry into the Program, and the adoption of rules by the State Board of Education. Provides that an institution of higher education approved to offer educator preparation programs may enter into a partnership agreement with a community college to offer an approved educator preparation program leading to educator licensure for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree. Makes other changes.

HB 3920 is a funding bill that allocates specific sums from various state funds to the Office of the State Treasurer for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It provides $17.2 million for operational costs, $1 million for tax interest refunds, $26.2 million from pension funds, and $3.7 billion for bond payments covering programs like transportation, schools, and pollution bonds. Additional funds support the Treasurer’s building maintenance ($500,000), higher education savings program ($2.5 million), and charitable trust administration ($1 million). The bill directly affects the State Treasurer’s office and its ability to manage state finances, with all funds designated for existing programs and operations.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish a program of paid internships for students enrolled in educator preparation programs in the school support personnel endorsement areas of school social worker, school psychologist, school counselor, school nurse, and speech-language pathologist. Sets forth provisions concerning the program. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish and maintain a mentorship and recruitment program to develop and maintain interest in the school support personnel endorsement areas of school social worker, school psychologist, school counselor, school nurse, and speech-language pathologist. Sets forth provisions concerning the program. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish a school support personnel educator preparation scholarship program to annually award up to 250 scholarships for school psychology, school counseling, school nursing, and school speech-language pathology. Sets forth provisions concerning the scholarship program. Provides that, to encourage Illinois students to enter the fields of school psychology, school counseling, school nursing, and school speech-language pathology and to continue to work in those fields in public schools in this State, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under a School Support Personnel Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Sets forth provisions concerning the Program. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Early Childhood for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Board of Higher Education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $33,791,800; Other State Funds $16,630,000; Federal Funds $5,622,111; Total $56,043,911.