Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health as necessary, to publish on its Internet website resources to support school districts and teachers in teaching literacy to color-vision-deficient learners. Amends the Child Vision and Hearing Test Act. Provides that beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, color discrimination tests shall be performed as part of the vision screening services provided under the Act for children in kindergarten, second grade, and eighth grade. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules with the Secretary of State to implement the amendatory Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

8/7/2026 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0761

Amends the School Code. Provides that early childhood programs receiving State funds shall restrict suspensions. Provides that the decision to suspend a student in preschool for 3 or more days may only be made by the superintendent of the school district, director of an early childhood program, or their equivalent and that the length of the suspension for any student in preschool may not be longer than the number of days required by the school district or early childhood program to develop and implement a behavior intervention plan or safety plan. Prohibits a student in kindergarten through grade 2 from being expelled unless otherwise required by federal or State law. Provides that the decision to suspend a student in kindergarten through grade 2 for 3 or more days may only be made by the superintendent of the school district and that the length of the suspension for any student in kindergarten through grade 2 may not be longer than the number of days required by the school district to develop and implement a behavior intervention plan or safety plan. Provides that a student who is suspended in excess of 20 school days may be immediately transferred to an alternative program. Provides that a student shall not be denied transfer because of the suspension, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program. Makes other changes.

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Provides that the decision to suspend a student in preschool for 4 (rather than 3) or more days shall be made by superintendent of the school district, director of an early childhood program, or their equivalent. Allows a student in kindergarten through grade 2 to be expelled under the federal Gun-Free Schools Act (rather than any federal or State law). Provides that students in kindergarten through grade 2 shall begin separated by beginning on July, 1 2026. Provides that beginning July 1,2026, the decision to suspend a student in kindergarten through grade 2 for 4 (rather than 3) or more days be made by anyone other than the superintendent of the district. Removes language that provides that: a student who is suspended in excess of 20 school days may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in, subject to the restrictions for transfer; and a student shall not be denied transfer because of the suspension, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program. Provides that expulsion period modifications shall be in writing. Provides that a provision regarding the general standards for eligibility for funding are subject to specified limitations. Makes a corresponding change in the Department of Early Childhood Act.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following changes: Removes language providing that on or before July 31, 2026 and on or before each July 31 thereafter, each school district shall report student discipline data to the State Board of Education in the form and manner prescribed by the State Board. Provides instead that student discipline data shall be reported to the State Board annually by all school districts in the State, including State-authorized charter schools, in a form and manner as specified by the State Board, no later than July 31 for the previous school year and by July 31 of each year thereafter. Provides that no action may be brought against a school board for an expulsion in kindergarten through grade 2 under certain circumstances. Provides that any student in kindergarten through grade 2 placed in an out-of-district alternative learning opportunities program shall have the student's placement limited to 90 days beginning on the student's first date of attendance in the program. Requires the superintendent of a school district, the director of an early childhood program, or the superintendent's or director's equivalent to provide verbal or written approval to suspend a student in preschool for longer than 3 days and, if such approval is not received by the third day, the student shall return to school by the fourth day. Makes other changes. Adds a varied effective date.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 2, with the following changes: Provides that for suspensions of longer than 3 days, the length of the suspension for any student in kindergarten through grade 2 shall (rather than may) not be for longer than the number of days required by the school district to review, amend, develop, or implement a behavior intervention plan or safety plan (instead of providing that the length of the suspension for any student in kindergarten through grade 2 may not be for longer than the number of days required by the district to develop and implement a behavior intervention plan or safety plan). Provides that for suspensions of longer than 3 days, the length of the suspension for any student in preschool shall (rather than may) not be for longer than the number of days required by the school district or early childhood program to review, amend, develop, or implement a behavior intervention plan or safety plan (instead of providing that the length of the suspension for any student in preschool may not be for longer than the number of days required by the district or early childhood program to develop and implement a behavior intervention plan or safety plan). Varied effective date.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/10/2026 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0546

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning student mental health screenings, requires the State Board of Education's model school district procedures to facilitate the implementation of mental health screenings to include the option to opt in (rather than opt out) and a minimum of 3 written notifications each school year about the use of mental health screenings, one of which must be delivered by first-class mail, to a student's parent or guardian. Effective January 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

10/15/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 is authorized to adopt a policy under which a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 who is enrolled in the unit school district or would be enrolled in the high school district upon completion of elementary school may enroll in a required high school course, provided that the course is offered by the high school that the student would attend and the student participates in the course where the student attends school as long as the course is taught by a teacher who holds a professional educator license and endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course (instead of just as long as the course is taught by a teacher who holds a professional educator license and endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course).

  CURRENT STATUS

7/24/2026 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0596

Creates the School Book Rating and Transparency Act. Requires a publisher supplying books to a public or nonpublic school, including a charter school, or a school-sponsored book fair to assign a content rating to each book and provide that content rating. Provides that each school shall ensure that the content rating is displayed in at least one of the following locations: (1) the school library's online catalog entry; (2) the school library's website; (3) the classroom library's catalog or posted list; (4) printed or digital reading lists distributed to students; or (5) signage or catalogs displayed at a school-sponsored book fair. Requires the State Board of Education to develop and publish a one-page rating key, and requires a school to make the rating key available. Provides that no teacher, school librarian, school administrator, or school district employee is subject to liability, discipline, or adverse employment action for relying in good faith on publisher-provided content ratings. Requires the State Board to submit an annual report to the General Assembly containing an assessment of publisher compliance and any recommendations for system improvements. Authorizes the State Board to adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Amends the School Code to make a related change. Effective July 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/14/2026 - Referred to House Rules

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Removes provisions requiring that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2026 - Consideration of Senate Amendments

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Prohibits, except for legitimate instructional purposes, as determined by a school district, a school district from purchasing or otherwise acquiring biometric systems to use on students. Provides that this prohibition does not apply to a school district that purchases or acquires a biometric system but disables the biometric capabilities of that system so it cannot be used on students or has no reasonable knowledge that the software the school district purchased or otherwise acquired has biometric capabilities. Requires, by the 2027-2028 school year, a school district to ensure that the biometric systems it uses are used only for legitimate instructional purposes. Makes other and conforming changes.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Provides that, by the 2027-2028 school year, a school district shall ensure that the biometric systems it uses are used only for legitimate instructional purposes, as determined by the school district. Provides that, within the context of the legitimate instructional purposes, the use of biometric information shall be solely for identification or fraud prevention. Provides that biometric systems incorporated into school-issued electronic devices for identification or fraud prevention constitute a legitimate instructional purpose. Provides that certain provisions regarding the use of biometric information for purposes other than legitimate instructional purposes shall not affect any existing contractual obligation under a contract entered into before January 1, 2027 between a school district and any entity for the purpose of obtaining, collecting, processing, storing, transmitting, displaying, or otherwise handling biometric information, as long as the contract is not extended or rolled over if the contract may be extended or rolled over. Provides that a school district that has entered into a contract with an entity for the purpose of obtaining, collecting, processing, storing, transmitting, displaying, or otherwise handling biometric information before January 1, 2027 shall provide a written notice, by the 2027-2028 school year, to the individual having legal custody of the student or to the student if he or she has reached the age of 18 of the existing option to discontinue the use of the student's biometric information. Provides that any provision of a contract between an entity and a school district for the purpose of obtaining, collecting, processing, storing, transmitting, displaying, or otherwise handling biometric information entered into on or after January 1, 2027 that conflicts with the provisions concerning student biometric information is void. If a school district collects biometric information from students for legitimate instructional purposes, requires the school district to adopt a policy that requires, within the context of the legitimate instructional purposes, the use of biometric information solely for identification or fraud prevention (rather than a policy that requires the use of biometric information solely for identification or fraud prevention).

  CURRENT STATUS

5/29/2026 - House Executive

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Latina and Latino history, including the history of Latinas and Latinos in Illinois and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Latinas and Latinos toward advancing civil rights from the 19th century onward. Provides that these events shall include the contributions made by individual Latinas and Latinos in government and the arts, humanities, and sciences, as well as the contributions of Latina and Latino communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States. Provides that the studying of this material shall constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers. Establishes requirements for the State Superintendent of Education, regional superintendents, and each school board concerning instructional materials and guidelines. Permits a school to meet requirements through an online program or course.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2026 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the cursive writing instruction offered by public elementary schools must be offered to students in grades 3 through 5 (rather than requiring school districts to determine at what grade level or levels students are to be offered cursive writing, provided that such instruction must be offered before students complete grade 5).

  CURRENT STATUS

3/13/2026 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the State Board of Education shall establish a pilot program in 5 school districts requiring pupils in prekindergarten through grade 12 to receive developmental etiquette education. Provides that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, every school district in this State shall require pupils in prekindergarten through grade 12 to receive developmental etiquette education. Sets forth the grades and instruction for developmental etiquette education, and requires feedback and evaluations. Provides that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil in grade 12 must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete developmental etiquette education.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2026 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. With respect to the suspension or expulsion of a student, requires all evidence, including, but not limited to, video evidence and written materials, held by a school district that has led to the decision to suspend or expel the student to be given to the student's parents or guardians before a suspension or expulsion hearing. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/16/2026 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. In a provision related to student discipline policies and the establishment of a parent-teacher advisory committee, defines "parent-teacher advisory committee" and requires teachers to be selected for a parent-teacher advisory committee in cooperation with the school district's teachers or, if applicable, the exclusive bargaining representative of the district's teachers. In a provision regarding the suspension or expulsion of a student, provides that gross disobedience or misconduct shall be defined by school board policy, in collaboration with the school district's parent-teacher advisory committee.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Makes a change to the definition of "parent-teacher advisory committee". Provides that policy review includes the impact of student behavior on students and school personnel. Provides that the criminal and civil offenses committed by students that are reported under the reciprocal reporting system between a school district and local law enforcement agencies includes attacks on school personnel. Removes the provision regarding the suspension or expulsion of a student.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/24/2026 - Effective Date January 1, 2027

Amends the School Code. Requires each school district maintaining any elementary grades to provide its public school pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade 8 with age-appropriate, active-transportation safety training. Sets forth the requirements for the active-transportation safety training. Allows a nonpublic school maintaining any elementary grades to provide its nonpublic school pupils enrolled in kindergarten through grade 8 with active-transportation safety training. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to maintain a comprehensive collection of active-transportation safety training materials. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2026 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, with respect to any State statute or administrative rule that defines a general education classroom to be composed of a certain percentage of students with individualized education programs, such percentage shall exclude students with individualized education programs receiving only speech-language pathology services outside of the general education classroom for a mild speech disorder, provided that the instruction the students receive in the general education classroom does not require modification or accommodation (rather than providing that students with individualized education programs shall exclude students receiving only speech services outside of the general education classroom, provided that the instruction the students receive in the general education classroom does not require modification). Provides that such percentage shall include students with individualized education programs receiving only speech-language pathology services outside of the general education classroom for a moderate to severe speech disorder.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/24/2026 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Changes the name of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired to the Illinois School for the Blind. Makes conforming changes to the Personnel Code, the School Code, the School Safety Drill Act, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, and the MRSA Prevention, Control, and Reporting Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/31/2026 - Effective Date January 1, 2027

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district is exempt from requiring pupils, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, to complete 2 years of foreign language in order to graduate if the school district sends a written request to waive the requirement to the State Board of Education and includes evidence in the request that the school district does not have the employees necessary to provide 2 years of foreign language education to all pupils in secondary school within the school district. Provides that after receiving a written request from a school district, the State Superintendent of Education shall approve the request if the evidence included in the request is determined by the State Superintendent to be sufficient. Provides that a pupil is exempt from the 2-year foreign language requirement if the pupil or a school counselor, in consultation with the pupil, develops a postsecondary plan that is centered around postsecondary opportunities that do not include postsecondary education through an institution of higher education. Provides that the pupil or the school counselor shall send the postsecondary plan to the superintendent of the school district in order to be exempt from the 2-year foreign language requirement. Effective July 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/30/2026 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

Amends the School Code. Requires every public elementary and high school to include in its curriculum the study of the contributions made by Latin Americans to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the requirement during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit and make recommendations for improvement. Provides that the failure by a school district or school to comply with the requirement shall result in a written warning for the first offense, and if the school district or school continues to fail to comply with the requirements, the school district or school shall face disciplinary action at the discretion of the regional superintendent. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials and professional development opportunities that may be used as guidelines for the development of a Latin American unit of study. Effective August 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/3/2026 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning twice-exceptional children, changes references from "children" to "students". Sets forth what the suggested best practices for addressing the educational and related needs of a twice-exceptional student, as well as any student who (i) is gifted, talented, or accelerated or would benefit from an advanced academic program and (ii) is eligible for a federal Section 504 plan, may include. Allows a school board to adopt a policy to allow for the development of a written education plan to address the advanced abilities or achievement levels of twice-exceptional students through individualized services, goals, accommodations, and objectives for a student, while continuing to provide services and support for the student's disabilities in all educational settings. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

8/7/2026 - Effective Date August 7, 2026

Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act of the School Code. Requires the program to include instruction on gambling and gambling disorders. Provides that instruction on gambling and gambling disorders shall include classroom instruction in grades 5 through 12, and include, at a minimum: the nature and addictive potential of gambling; the risks associated with digital gaming mechanics; the identification of gaming disorders and their impact on mental and physical health; and information on how and where to find specialized treatment and resources in the State for gambling disorders. Effective July 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2026 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Creates the Student Educational Technologies Rights Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State that a student and the student's parent have the right to: opt out of school-issued personal electronic devices, electronic textbooks, electronic required reading, or electronic or online assignments; request a human teacher review any automated scored grade or scored grade generated by artificial intelligence; and opt out of predictive analytics systems without academic penalty. Amends the School Code. Removes language allowing school districts that collect biometric information from students to adopt specified policies. Prohibits a school district from purchasing or otherwise acquiring biometric systems to use on students. Establishes prohibitions for a school district with respect to biometric systems and biometric information of its students. Sets forth requirements on the destruction of biometric information in the possession of a school district. Makes other changes. Amends the Student Online Personal Protection Act. Prohibits an operator from selling or renting any other person's information collected by the operator for K through 12 school purposes or permitting artificial intelligence to train on covered information unless for K through 12 school purposes or in furtherance of improving operability and functionality of the operator's service. Provides, with exceptions, that an operator's artificial intelligence model shall not train on a student's covered information and retain the training data indefinitely. Makes other and conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/22/2026 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require a school that operates a library to place the library's catalog of library materials in a searchable database accessible over the Internet to a parent or guardian of a student at the school. Provides that a school board shall require a school that operates a library to allow a parent or guardian of a student at the school to prohibit the student from accessing any library materials that the parent or guardian designates. Provides that the school shall require the parent or guardian to designate in writing which library materials the parent or guardian is prohibiting the student from accessing, shall keep the written designation on file in the library, and shall prevent the student from accessing that material.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2026 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. With respect to the requirement that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses, requires a high school to offer 2 years of foreign-language course credit to any student who either (i) successfully passes a standardized test of language proficiency for a language other than English at the level required for the State Seal of Biliteracy or (ii) presents an official transcript demonstrating completion of 2 years of high-school equivalency in which the language of instruction was in a language other than English.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/1/2026 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Sets forth measures to be taken when an offense of bullying occurs and is reported to a public school, including a charter school, depending on the severity of the bullying offense, including hearing requirements, compulsory, school-based, restorative-justice requirements, community service requirements, and counseling requirements for minor offenders; hearing requirements, administrative fee requirements, and education session requirements for parents or guardians of minor offenders; and victim support. Requires the State Board of Education to annually report to the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey of the National Center for Education Statistics any incidents of bullying, the number of hearings relating to incidents of bullying, restorative-justice program outcomes, disciplinary actions, and follow-up metrics by demographics. Requires the State Board to conduct an annual audit of schools that participate in the restorative measures to determine anti-bullying metrics for the report. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2026 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Encourages school districts in the State to explore the introduction of Arabic as a foreign language option in their curriculum, particularly through transparent and collaborative processes that make full use of available state and federal resources.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2026 - Messages from the Senate