Accelerated Tenure 

Most significantly, the Act changes the requirements for teachers hired before July 1, 2023 to be eligible to obtain “accelerated tenure” after three (3) consecutive school terms of service rather than four (4) school terms. Prior to the Act, teachers were eligible to obtain tenure if they completed three (3) consecutive school terms of service and received three overall annual evaluation ratings of “Excellent.” 

Now, teachers completing three consecutive school terms of service may be eligible to acquire tenure if they receive two (2) Excellent ratings in that three (3) consecutive school term period.  

Professional Educator License (PEL): The legislature also made clear through the Act that only those teachers who hold a Professional Educator License (“PEL”) are eligible for tenure.    

Tenure Acquisition

The other tenure acquisition provisions are unchanged for teachers hired before July 1, 2023, except for the non-renewal date change explained below. Thus, for full-time teachers hired between a District’s PERA implementation date but before July 1, 2023, the probationary period is as follows (unless a teacher is given written notice of dismissal as set forth below):

• Four (4) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher holds a PEL AND receives overall annual evaluation ratings of at least “Proficient” in the last school term and at least “Proficient” in either the second or third school terms;

• Three (3) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher holds a PEL AND receives 2 overall annual evaluations of “Excellent;”

Portable Tenure

• Two (2) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher holds a PEL and receives two (2) overall annual evaluations of “Excellent” but only if the teacher's previous tenure is from an Illinois school with consecutive service and submitting proof of previous proficient or distinguished ratings, and earning two (2) consecutive excellent summative ratings in D100.

For teachers first employed as full-time teachers in a district or program on or after July 1, 2023, probationary periods have been shortened to allow such teachers to acquire tenure in just three (3) years so long as they have at least a “proficient” rating in their last two (2) school terms. 

Accelerated Tenure

Teachers completing two (2) consecutive terms of full-time service with two (2) “excellent” ratings are now eligible for “accelerated tenure,” whereas previously such teachers were only eligible to attain tenure in two (2) years if they also met the tenure portability requirements.

Tenure Acquisition

Tenure Acquisition. Probationary periods for teachers first employed as full-time teachers in a district or program on or after July 1, 2023 are now as follows:

• Three (3) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher holds a PEL and receives overall annual evaluation ratings of at least “Proficient” in the second and third school terms; or

• Two (2) consecutive school terms of service in which the teacher holds a PEL AND receives 2 overall annual evaluation ratings of “Excellent.”

Portable Tenure 

The existing portable tenure rules that allowed a teacher to acquire tenure with just two (2) Excellent evaluation ratings after leaving a prior Illinois school district with tenure remain, but appear to have been rendered moot by the accelerated tenure changes as mentioned above.