August 9, 2019

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois House of Representatives,

101st General Assembly:

Today I veto House Bill 423 from the 101st General Assembly, which would have amended the School Code to eliminate the test of basic skills for educator licensure until July 1, 2025. While this legislation was well intended, it conflicts with legislation that I recently signed, Senate Bill 1952, which permanently eliminates the basic skills requirement.

My administration is fully committed to providing every child a quality education, regardless of their race or ethnicity, the zip code they come from, or the income of their parents. The Fiscal Year 2020 budget is investing record-high levels of funding for the Preschool for All program, the evidence-based school funding formula, and MAP grants. These investments must be coupled with additional efforts to address the pipeline of teachers educating our youth.

One of my administration’s priorities is to address the teacher shortage affecting school districts across the state. I look forward to partnering with the Illinois State Board of Education, members of the General Assembly, and stakeholders from across the state to ensure that every classroom is led by an educator who is prepared to meet the needs of every child in front of them.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 423, entitled “An ACT concerning education,” with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

JB Pritzker