Bill > SB2127

This bill amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to expand the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program by adding a new pathway for teachers to receive scholarships for pursuing a master's degree to teach dual credit courses (college courses taken by high school students that earn credit at both the high school and college level). The bill specifies that recipients of these scholarships must teach at least one dual credit course per school year in an Illinois secondary school for a period of at least 5 years after completing their program of study. If scholarship recipients fail to meet this requirement, they will be required to refund the full amount of their scholarship, with an exception for situations where failure to teach is due to financial conditions within school districts. The bill updates language throughout the existing law to include references to dual credit courses and teachers preparing to teach such courses, and makes conforming changes to scholarship administration, including how the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will help scholarship recipients find employment teaching dual credit courses. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, and are intended to address teacher and course availability in secondary schools by providing an incentive for teachers to become qualified to teach dual credit courses.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2127&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104