House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In the statement of affairs provisions, provides that instead of completing, submitting, and making available a statement of affairs pursuant to these provisions, any other summary, statement, or report required by these provisions, and the salary and benefit survey, a school district may annually post on the district's Internet website a copy of the annual district audit, a report of compensation for all district staff, and a list of payments to a person, firm, or corporation in specified ranges. Makes a conforming change.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In the statement of affairs provisions, provides that, instead of completing, submitting, and making available a statement of affairs or any other summary, statement, or report required under the amended provision, a school district shall annually post on its Internet website a copy of its annual financial report, a report of all compensation paid to non-certified district staff during the year, and a report of all payments made to vendors during the year.

House Floor Amendment No. 3 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In the statement of affairs provisions, provides that, instead of completing, submitting, and making available a statement of affairs or any other summary, statement, or report required under the amended provision, a school district shall annually post on its Internet website a copy of its annual financial report, a report of all compensation paid to non-certified district staff during the year, and a report of all payments made to vendors during the year. Makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2024 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that when a student transfers to a new school, the school or school district last attended may not refuse the new school's request to provide a copy of the student's school student record on the grounds that the student owes a debt.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no receipt of State funding may be contingent upon an educational institution forgoing the maintenance of sex-segregated spaces by the educational institution, including bathrooms and locker rooms. Provides that notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no receipt of State funding may be contingent upon an educational institution forgoing the maintenance of sex-segregated athletic or academic programs by the educational institution.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/12/2023 - Referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Requires school districts with a population of 3,000 or more students to interview a minimum percentage of minority candidates for teaching positions. Exempts teaching positions within an English as a Second Language program from the requirement. Sets forth the formula for the school district to use to calculate the minimum percentage required. Provides that if the school district is unable to interview the required minimum percentage of minority candidates for 2 consecutive years, the school district must implement a program for school district employees interested in obtaining a Professional Educator License. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/12/2023 - Referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the State Board of Education shall develop and maintain a program aimed at facilitating education in advanced manufacturing technical skills. Provides that the program shall be implemented in no less than 12 public high schools, over the span of 3 years, where the youth unemployment rate is at least twice the national average. Specifies program requirements. Provides that the State Board shall ensure that each high school participating in the program has adequate funding for at least one industry coordinator, tutoring, pre-employment and on-the-job mentoring, professional and leadership development, and life and financial management instruction. Provides that the State Board shall use a program provider to help design, build, and accredit the training program. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/12/2023 - Referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to develop and implement a plan to provide additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations to students who suffer from trauma related to experiencing the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or suffer from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse and whom the school has determined require additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations but do not qualify for an individualized education program or for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Sets forth what the plan may include. Provides that the plan shall remain in place until the student (i) is no longer enrolled in the district or (ii) has made such significant and sustained academic progress that the student no longer requires the plan. In provisions relating to children with disabilities, provides that beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the notice that a school board provides concerning who qualifies for services under Section 504 shall include that a child may qualify for those services if the child is a student who is at least 3 years old or older and under 22 years and who (i) has experienced the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or (ii) suffers from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. For redevelopment project areas designated after November 1, 1999, in municipalities with less than 1,000,000 population, modifies the formula for elementary, secondary, or unit school district's increased costs attributable to assisted housing units located within the redevelopment project area for which the developer or redeveloper receives financial assistance through an agreement with the municipality or because the municipality incurs the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements within the boundaries of the assisted housing sites necessary for the completion of that housing. Removes differences in formulation for alternate method districts, flat grant districts, and foundation districts. For school districts in a municipality with a population in excess of 1,000,000, changes the last date upon which a school district may submit a claim for reimbursement to the municipality to October 31 of each year (currently, September 30) and provides that municipalities shall reimburse school districts that have met specified criteria no later than January 31 of the school year in which the claim is made.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the name of each federal holiday and State holiday designated on a unit of local government's calendar must match the name of the federal holiday and State holiday as designated by the State. Defines "federal holiday" and "State holiday". Limits home rule powers. Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning legal holidays, requires the name of each federal and State holiday as specified in that provision to be the name of the holiday that is designated on a school district's calendar for the school term. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Specifies that menstrual hygiene products shall be made available in all bathrooms (rather than in bathrooms) of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day. Provides that the school employee or third-party contractor who is responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of toilet tissue and paper towels in school bathrooms shall be responsible for ordering, stocking, and replenishing the supply of menstrual hygiene products in the bathrooms. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/22/2023 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the school guidance counselor gift ban, changes references from "guidance counselor" to "school counselor". Provides that the gift ban does not apply to travel, lodging, food, and beverage costs incurred by the school counselor and paid by a institution of higher education for attendance by the school counselor of an educational or military program at the institution of higher education. Provides that any costs paid for by a institution of higher education may not exceed the per diem rates for travel, gift, and car expenses set by the federal Internal Revenue Service and referenced in the Internal Revenue Service's Publication 463 or a successor publication. Defines "institution of higher education". Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the evidence-based funding provisions of the School Code. Provides that funds received by the Chicago school district for low-income, English learner, and special education resources must be distributed to every school of the district in the appropriate amount specified under the Essential Elements component of the funding formula. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that scholarships awarded under the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program may be granted to individuals employed as teachers who agree to pursue a master's degree at a qualified institution of higher learning in order to teach dual credit courses at a secondary school. Provides that for any individual receiving a scholarship to teach dual credit courses, following the completion of the program of study, the individual must teach at least one dual credit course per school year in a secondary school in this State for a period of at least 5 years. Provides that individuals who fail to comply shall refund all of the awarded scholarships to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, whether payments were made directly to the institutions of higher learning or to the individuals, and this condition shall be agreed to in writing by the scholarship recipients at the time the scholarship is awarded. Provides that no individual may be required to refund tuition payments if his or her failure to teach a dual credit course in a secondary school is the result of financial conditions within school districts. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2023.

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Changes the effective date to July 1, 2024 (instead of July 1, 2023).

  CURRENT STATUS

4/26/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tony M. McCombie

Amends the School Code. Provides that any school receiving public funds shall post in a space accessible to all students information detailing the mental health resources provided by the school and the State that are available to students.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/10/2023 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason

Amends the School Code. Provides that Constitution Day (September 17) shall also be a commemorative holiday. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/9/2023 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0015

Amends the Bond Authorization Act. Provides that the authority of a public corporation to levy taxes in connection with the payment of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness ceases upon the maturity date of the bond or other evidence of indebtedness or upon the discharge of the debt, whichever comes first. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Each school year, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, requires a school board and charter school to collect data on student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students and on the reason for referring students to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students and submit that data annually to the State Board of Education. Requires the State Board to prepare a report (to be posted on the State Board's website) on student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students in all school districts and charter schools in this State for each school year, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. Sets forth what the report must include. Provides that, before July 1 following the posting of a report, the State Board of Education shall identify those public schools and charter schools that are within the top 20% of schools with respect to the number of student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students and require each of the identified schools to submit a referral and arrest improvement plan identifying the strategies the school will implement to reduce the use of student referrals to law enforcement and school-related arrests of students. Provides for a progress report to be submitted. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/23/2023 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons

Amends the School Code. Provides that subject to the availability of local resources, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, each public middle school, junior high school, and high school shall establish a junior color guard program to promote the value of and honor military personnel. Provides that the junior color guard shall be used at school events, including interscholastic athletic events and other events in which the presenting of the colors is requested. Provides that each school shall allow the junior color guard to participate in community events in which the presenting of the colors may be requested. Provides that each school may work with a civic organization or association to provide adequate training to the members of the junior color guard on the execution of their duties.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/26/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for grants of $50,000 each to school districts for the purchase of electric school buses. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, each school district must provide a parent or guardian of an at-risk student information about appropriate and available community-based or in-school academic support services; defines "at-risk student" and specifies what those services may include. Provides that a school district shall not be responsible for any costs or transportation associated with a student's participation in community-based academic support services. Effective July 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2023 - FIRST READING

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that any athletic team or sport that is under the jurisdiction of an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and student must be expressly designated as (i) a male athletic team or sport, (ii) a female athletic team or sport, or (iii) a coeducational athletic team or sport. Provides that an athletic team or sport designated as being female is available only to participants who are female, based on their biological sex. Requires a school district or nonpublic school to obtain a written statement signed by a student's parent or guardian or the student verifying the student's age, biological sex, and that the student has not taken performance enhancing drugs; provides for a penalty for false or misleading statements. Prohibits a governmental entity or an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and students from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any other adverse action against a school district or nonpublic school for maintaining athletic teams or sports in accordance with these provisions.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/12/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jed Davis

Amends the School Code. Removes the requirement 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, which may include American Sign Language.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2023 - FIRST READING

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, subject to appropriation, shall establish a program that awards grants to eligible school districts to support computer science education professional development. Provides for how grant funds may be used. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications to receive a grant under this program and funds shall be distributed annually. Sets forth criteria for applying for and awarding grants. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the Efficient School District Commission. Provides for the membership and support of the Commission. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the electorate on the number of school districts in this State and where reorganization and realignment of school districts into unit districts would be beneficial. Sets forth what areas the recommendations must focus on, including drafting recommendations to reduce the statewide total number of school districts through the reorganization of school districts into unit districts. Provides that, on or before May 1, 2025, the Commission must vote on its recommendations and file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly. Provides that if the Commission adopts the recommendations by an affirmative vote of at least 13 of its members, then the Commission's specific recommendations for reorganization of school districts into unit districts shall be filed with the appropriate regional superintendent of schools. Sets forth the regional superintendent's and State Superintendent of Education's duties with respect to the recommendations. Repeals these provisions on January 31, 2026. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/16/2023 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Miller

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that moneys in the special tax allocation fund may be used to make distributions to certain taxing districts. Provides that moneys received from the additional distributions may be used by the affected taxing district to pay debt service on obligations incurred by the taxing district and to provide property tax relief. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district must create, implement, and maintain an age-appropriate policy on race-related harassment and discrimination. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that the required policy on bullying shall also include age-appropriate information about the definitions of harassment and sexual harassment, the procedures for reporting harassment, and the protections and relief available under Illinois Human Rights Act. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that harassment by an elementary, secondary, or higher education representative or the failure of an institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education to take remedial action or appropriate disciplinary action against a student or an elementary, secondary, or higher education representative employed by the institution (if the institution knows that the student or representative committed or engaged in harassment) is a civil rights violation. Provides that each institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education shall establish, implement, and maintain a continuing race-related discrimination and harassment program. Sets forth requirements concerning policies and procedures, a model training program, and reporting. Makes other changes. Effective August 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/10/2023 - House Immigration & Human Rights

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the awarding of contracts by school boards, provides that on January 1 of each year, the State Board of Education shall adjust the amount for which a contract must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder for inflation, as determined by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items and rounded to the nearest $100. Provides that the State Board of Education shall publish this information on its official website.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/7/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Allows a board of education to enter into a contract, of no longer than 3 months in duration, with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by an employee or bargaining unit member in an emergency situation that threatens the safety or health of the school district's students or staff or in the event of a disaster as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act (instead of for the purpose of augmenting the current workforce in an emergency situation that threatens the safety or health of the school district's students). Provides that if, at the end of the contract, the Governor or the Director of Public Health has declared a disaster and all or part of the territory of the school district is covered by such a declaration, then the school board may renew the contract for a term of no longer than 3 months. Provides that changes made by Public Act 95-241 do not apply to a school board if the school district's most recent final percent of adequacy under the evidence-based funding formula provisions is less than 85%. Allows a school board whose most recent final percent of adequacy is less than 85% to enter into a third-party contract for non-instructional services currently performed by an employee or bargaining unit member or lay off an educational support personnel employee, provided that the affected employee receives written notice of the removal or dismissal at least 30 days before the employee is removed or dismissed.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/7/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that a duty of the regional superintendent of schools is to inspect and approve school building plans and specifications for energy conservation measures. In the Article concerning school energy conservation and saving measures, makes changes concerning definitions, the evaluation and submission of guaranteed energy savings contract proposals, performance reviews, the award of a contract, the written guarantee, installment payment contracts and lease purchase agreements, cost savings, available funds, an energy savings template, qualified providers, and the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, provides that, in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, Central Community Unit School District 301 may issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $195,000,000 if specified conditions are met. Provides that the debt incurred on the bonds shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation and must mature within not to exceed 25 years from their date. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board of a school district with 275,000 students or more shall prohibit any school of the district that has selective admission requirements from requiring a student in a pre-kindergarten program of the district to take a standardized test in order to be admitted to that school. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the Freedom of Education Act. Makes findings. Provides that no public school district or public institution of higher education shall direct, require, or otherwise compel a student to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to specified tenets. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule to the contrary, a school board, parent, legal guardian, or student has the right to object to and refuse any unit of instruction or required course of study that directs, requires, or otherwise compels a student to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to any of the specified tenets. Provides that school boards have to review and resolve objections to the school curriculum. Provides a list of ways to remedy objections. Provides that a school board may submit a certified question to the applicable board of elections to approve or disapprove of funding the curriculum. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no distinction or classification of students may be made on account of race or color; however, nothing in this provision may be construed to prohibit the required collection or reporting of demographic data by public school districts or public institutions of higher education. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/16/2023 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Miller

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that school boards may enter into contracts for any period of time deemed appropriate by those school boards (rather than for up to 3 years) for transportation of pupils to and from school, except that no contract, inclusive of any proposed renewals, may exceed 10 years (rather than allowing such contracts to be extended for up to 2 additional years by mutual agreement of the parties and thereafter extended on a year-to-year basis by mutual agreement of the parties, unless a school board receives a timely request from another interested contractor that a contract be let by bid). Requires all contracts for a period of time greater than 5 years that do not include the use of electric vehicles for pupil transportation to include a termination option after 5 years. Allows contract opener clauses for any purpose to be included in the contract. Provides that a contract for pupil transportation that utilizes a significant percentage of electric vehicles may be entered into by a school board for up to 15 years if the contract relies on capital or infrastructure purchases or improvements that cannot reasonably be justified in a shorter-term contract.

  CURRENT STATUS

8/4/2023 - Effective Date January 1, 2024

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that all school buses that are newly purchased, leased, or contracted after January 1, 2028, shall be an electric vehicle. Provides that all school buses that provide transportation for enrolled students operating primarily within an equity investment eligible community or primarily serving students living in an equity investment eligible community after January 1, 2030, shall be an electric vehicle. Provides that all school buses that provide transportation for enrolled students in the State after January 1, 2035, shall be an electric vehicle. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code to require a school district to report a cyber security attack to the State Board of Education as soon as school personnel determine that a breach of the school district's computer system or network has occurred. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois to require a public university or community college district to report a cyber security attack to the Department of Innovation and Technology as soon as school personnel determine that a breach of the computer system or network has occurred. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/14/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall (rather than may) employ a sufficient number of school counselors to maintain a (rather than the national and State recommended) student-counselor ratio of 250 to one. Provides that school districts shall require school counselors to meet with their assigned students at least once each month. Makes related changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the Education Prioritization Act. Beginning with fiscal year 2024, requires the General Assembly to appropriate for the evidence-based funding formula under the School Code an amount that is equal to or exceeds the sum of: (i) the total amount appropriated for the evidence-based funding formula during the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year for which the appropriation is being made; and (ii) 51% of total new general funds available for spending from estimated growth in revenues and funds available because of budgeted program growth and decline in the fiscal year for which the appropriation is being made; but in no event shall the sum be less than a certain percentage required under the Act. Requires a continuing appropriation if the General Assembly fails to make sufficient appropriations to fund the evidence-based funding formula. Amends the School Code to make changes concerning a system for accounting for revenues and expenditures and evidence-based funding. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/15/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Deletes provision that beginning in 1972, the Board of Education shall, by November 15, adopt an annual budget for the use of education moneys for the next school year which it deems necessary to defray all necessary expenses and liabilities of the district, and in such annual budget shall specify the objects and purposes of each item and the amount needed for each object or purpose. Deletes that the budget shall contain a statement of cash on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year, an estimate of the cash expected to be received during such fiscal year from all sources, an estimate of the expenditure contemplated for such fiscal year, and a statement of the estimated cash expected to be on hand at the end of such year. Deletes that prior to the adoption of the annual educational budget, this budget shall be submitted to the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Education for incorporation. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Deletes a provision that permits a guilty minor to be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice for an offense that is a Class 3 or Class 4 felony violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act if the commitment occurs upon a third or subsequent judicial finding of a violation of probation for substantial noncompliance with court-ordered treatment or programming. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, upon the discharge of a youth, the Department of Juvenile Justice may continue to provide services to the youth for up to 12 months to allow the youth to participate in vocational, rehabilitative, or supportive programs. Provides that the continuance of services may be requested by the youth, the youth's parent or guardian, or the Director of Juvenile Justice. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Pupils and Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that a child in any of grades 9 through 12 may be absent from public school on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day for the purpose of filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or other higher education scholarship, grant, or financial aid application. Provides that a school board may require the parent or guardian of the child to give notice, not exceeding 5 days, of the child's absence to the school principal or other school personnel. Provides that the child may be absent from public school for a maximum of 2 school days per school year. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/15/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school uniform or dress code policy adopted by a school board or local school council shall not prohibit the right of a student to wear or accessorize graduation attire with items associated with the student's cultural or ethnic identity or any protected characteristic or category identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that the items used to accessorize graduation attire may include, but are not limited to, flags, pins, or any other relevant item. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/28/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. In provisions concerning reimbursement of sponsors, provides that the State Board of Education shall reimburse not less than $0.15 or the actual cost, whichever is less, to non-profit welfare centers for each free breakfast and lunch. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish the Healthy School Meals for All Program to begin on July 1, 2023. Provides that each school board of a school district or governing body of a nonpublic school that chooses to participate in the Healthy School Meals for All Program shall offer eligible meals, without charge, to all students enrolled in schools that participate in the National School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. Sets forth provisions regarding eligibility for the Healthy School Meals for All Program, program requirements, reimbursement (subject to appropriation), federal and other funding, State Board support and technical assistance, and the federal Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program. Provides that if the United States Department of Agriculture creates the option for the State, as a whole, to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision, then the State Board of Education shall evaluate whether that option is anticipated to require less State funding than the Healthy School Meals for All Program and provide at least as many free meals to students. Sets forth requirements concerning that option. Effective immediately.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Provides that the requirement that the State Board of Education establish the Healthy School Meals for All Program is subject to appropriation (instead of the requirement that a participating school board receive reimbursement is subject to appropriation).

  CURRENT STATUS

8/11/2023 - Effective Date August 11, 2023

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, provides that "aggregate extension" excludes special purpose extensions made for the repayment of bonds or certificates issued to finance guaranteed energy savings contracts under the School Code. Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may issue bonds or certificates to finance guaranteed energy savings contracts and any bonds or certificates so issued shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory limitation and may be issued in an amount or amounts, including existing indebtedness, in excess of any heretofore or hereafter imposed statutory limitation as to indebtedness. In the Article concerning school energy conservation and saving measures, removes the requirement that the Section of the School Code concerning a school board's power to build or purchase a building for school classroom or instructional purposes upon the approval of a majority of the voters upon the proposition at a referendum applies to the Article. Allows the school board of any school district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants to incur indebtedness and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding the aggregate cost of all expenditures reasonably expected to be incurred pursuant to a guaranteed energy savings contract.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes the provisions amending the Property Tax Code. Removes the tax levy provision in the School Energy Conservation and Saving Measures Article of the School Code.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - In the provisions concerning indebtedness and bonds under the School Energy Conservation and Saving Measures Article of the School Code, provides that all contracts paid by bonds shall include a requirement that the qualified provider (i) enter into a project labor agreement with the applicable building and construction trades council and (ii) provide a plan to comply with the utilization goals for business enterprises established in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/12/2024 - Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing salaries of employees, school boards shall pay to employees an hourly rate not less than the following: (i) $20 for the 2023-2024 school year; (ii) $21 for the 2024-2025 school year; and (iii) $22 for the 2025-2026 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of the school district who provides educational support services to the district, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/15/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that, when expelling a student, the board shall notify the parents of the nature of the hearing and the option of retaining legal counsel. Provides that, when the suspension period is over, the pupil may return to school. Provides that for a pupil suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, a written decision about whether the student can use a school bus shall be made within 15 days of the incident. Provides that a school shall offer written demonstration of remediation efforts excluding out of school suspensions. Provides that schools shall use data to track whether significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity is occurring both in the State and in the district with respect to the incidence, duration, and type of disciplinary removals from placement, including suspensions and expulsions. Provides that, if it is determined that significant disproportionality is occurring, the school shall provide that determination for annual review and, if appropriate, revision of the policies, practices, and procedures used in disciplinary removals to ensure that the policies, practices, and procedures comply with the district's equity requirements. Provides that notice of suspension shall also include other evidence-based alternatives to suspension. Provides that when a student is suspended for more than 4 days, "appropriate and available support services" must include an option for automatically placing the student in an e-learning program or distance learning program through written materials if (1) the removal is for more than 5 consecutive school days; or (2) the child has been subjected to a series of removals that constitute a pattern, because the series of removals total more than 10 school days in a school year, because the child's behavior is substantially similar to the child's behavior in previous incidents that resulted in the series of removals, and because of the effects of additional factors such as the length of each removal, the total amount of time the child has been removed, and the proximity of the removals to one another.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall reimburse not less than the actual cost to school boards for each free lunch or breakfast supplied by them (instead of reimbursing school boards $0.15 or the actual cost, whichever is less, for each free lunch or breakfast), taking into consideration (rather than being in addition to) any federal contributions.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2024-2025 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2025-2026 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the evidence-based funding provisions of the School Code. Provides that the Minimum Funding Level is equal to $550,000,000 (instead of $350,000,000). Provides for a continuing appropriation. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall implement and administer a program to make New Arrival Student Grants available to school districts, municipalities, townships, and not-for-profit organizations to support the needs of students who are undocumented immigrants, have entered the United States in refugee status, or have applied for asylum in the United States. Provides that to receive a grant under this program, a school district, municipality, township, or not-for-profit organization shall submit an application to the State Board of Education at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the State Board of Education may reasonably require. Provides that in awarding funds under this program, the State Board of Education may consider (i) the number of new arrival students enrolled in preschool, elementary school, and secondary school within a school district, (ii) the needs of new arrival students in a school district, and (iii) the ability of the school district, municipality, township, or not-for-profit organization to meet the needs of a arrival students. to meet the needs of new arrival students. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/16/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall implement and administer a program to make New Arrival Student Grants available to school districts to support the needs of students who are newly arriving immigrant students, regardless of immigration status. Provides that to receive a grant under this program, a school district shall submit an application to the State Board of Education at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the State Board of Education may reasonably require. Provides that in awarding funds under this program, the State Board of Education may consider (i) the number of new arrival students enrolled in preschool, elementary school, and secondary school within the school district, (ii) the needs of new arrival students in the school district, and (iii) the ability of the school district to meet the needs of new arrival students. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. With respect to the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, removes language that provides that the State Board of Education may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the moneys appropriated for the Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Provides that if the appropriation for the Program for a given fiscal year is less than $15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to certain school districts and shall impose additional eligibility criteria to limit the number of approved applicants to a cohort sufficient for each selected district to provide adequate training and ongoing coaching support to each teacher of students in grades K through 2 and special education teachers and evidence-based curriculum investments. Removes language that provides that programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom reading instruction. Provides that Program funds may be used for grades K through 6 to provide both evidence-based, high-quality core literacy curriculum materials that consider the unique needs of English learners for concurrent oral language practice and high-quality screening assessments designed to inform instruction in English language arts and literacy for students (instead of classroom reading materials for students). Sets forth other provisions concerning if the appropriation is less than $15,000,000 or is at least $15,000,000.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that, in consultation with education stakeholders, the State Board of Education shall develop and adopt a comprehensive literacy plan for the State on or before October 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the content of the bill, but changes the date for the State Board of Education to develop and adopt a comprehensive literacy plan from on or before October 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/28/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Creates the COVID-19 Vaccine Freedom of Choice in Education Act. Provides that no employee or student of a public school or institution of higher education in this State may be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or a subsequent booster dose as a term of new or continued employment or enrollment in the school or institution. Amends the School Code, College Student Immunization Act, and Communicable Disease Prevention Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

10/17/2023 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tony M. McCombie

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the date of the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in even years (rather than November 8, 2022) shall be a State holiday known as General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the State. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code, School Code, and State Universities Civil Service Act making conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

8/4/2023 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

Amends the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Provides that for all schools operating a school breakfast program, the State Board of Education shall collect information about whether the school is operating a breakfast after the bell program and, if so, what breakfast after the bell model the school operates, including breakfast in the classroom, second chance breakfast, and grab and go breakfast. Provides that the State Board of Education shall make this data publicly available annually. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award grants of up to $7,000 per school site on a competitive basis to eligible schools, school districts, or entities approved by the State Board of Education for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating a school breakfast after the bell program. Sets forth what the grants may be used for and who gets preference for a grant.

  CURRENT STATUS

12/10/2023 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Lowers the compulsory school age from 6 to 5 years of age beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. Requires all school districts to establish kindergarten for the instruction of children who are 5 years of age or older. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the Taxpayer Protection Act. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the Act, for bonds or incurred debt issued through a referendum by a unit of local government or school district, the bonds or incurred debt shall not be extended or reissued unless authorized by a referendum. Provides that a unit of local government or school district shall not submit the question concerning the extension or reissuance of a bond or incurring debt to voters in a referendum until at least one year has passed since the retirement of the bond or debt approved by a referendum. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the Act, a unit of local government or school district shall not submit a question concerning the issuance of a bond or incurring debt to the voters in a referendum until at least one year has passed since that unit or district last proposed a question or proposition concerning the issuance of bonds or incurring debt in a referendum. Limits home rule powers. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that there shall not be a service extension base annual increase unless increased by referendum. Amends the School Code. Provides that no later than 30 days before a school district submits to the voters of that district a question on whether to issue bonds or increase the school district's property tax rate, the school district must send informational material to each resident of voting age in the school district; defines "informational material". Specifies what must be included in the informational material Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the health examinations and immunizations that school children are required to receive, provides that a child may not be required to submit proof of having received an immunization against COVID-19 upon enrolling in school nor may a child already enrolled in school be required to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Amends the Communicable Disease Prevention Act. Pursuant to the School Code provisions, prohibits the Department of Public Health from adopting any rules that require children to receive an immunization against COVID-19. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

8/8/2023 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Travis Weaver

Amends the School Code. Provides that no later than 30 days before a school district submits to the voters of that district a question on whether to issue bonds or increase the school district's property tax rate, the school district must send informational material to each resident of voting age in the school district; defines "informational material". Specifies what must be included in the informational material. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/17/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions requiring play time in elementary school.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall create and maintain a comprehensive training program in advanced manufacturing to ensure an adequate supply of trained and skilled individuals to work in advanced manufacturing and to ensure appropriate representation of racial and ethnic groups in all phases of the industry. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop the advanced manufacturing training program to be taught as part of the curriculum of the public school system from grades K-12 and made readily available to all school districts. Provides that school districts may include programs in education in advanced manufacturing as a part of the curriculum of that district. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as are necessary to implement the program. Provides that the rules shall not create any new State mandates on school districts as a condition of receiving federal, State, and local funds by those entities. Provides that the State Board of Education shall assume responsibility for the administration of the program throughout all public school districts as well as developing the advanced manufacturing program to match the requirements and mandates of federal programming.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/17/2023 - Referred to House Rules

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish and administer a grant program to reimburse school districts for providing stipends for classroom Career and Technical Education teachers who participate in externships with a manufacturing company in the State. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/14/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriations, the State Board of Education shall pay one-half of the salary of an employee that is employed by a manufacturing company and working within a school district at a high school as a licensed career and technical education teacher.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the General Assembly shall not approve the extension of a redevelopment project and the retirement of its obligations to a date that is beyond the 35th calendar year after the year in which the ordinance approving the redevelopment project areas was adopted. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop a grant program to support the educator licensure of paraprofessionals with bachelor's degrees. Provides that the State Board shall distribute grants to qualified school districts. Provides that the school districts shall distribute funds to paraprofessionals. Sets forth requirements for school districts to qualify. Sets forth requirements for paraprofessionals to qualify. Sets forth requirements for the grant application, selection of paraprofessionals, restrictions of funds, priority to award grant assistance, program evaluation, and rulemaking.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program to award grants to schools for the purpose of providing supplemental mental health services to students, in addition to services provided by the employees of a school. Sets forth provisions concerning Program requirements, grant applications, awards, requirements, funding, and reporting. Provides for guidelines and rulemaking. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/26/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tony M. McCombie

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that school boards shall require that each student is assessed by a teacher or school staff member no less than 3 times per year on social emotional learning utilizing a comprehensive, evidence-based, social emotional learning system.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that school personnel may not refer a student to any other local public entity, school public resource officer, or peace officer for the purpose of a local public entity issuing the child a fine or a fee for an incident or behavior that has been or can be pursued through the school district's available disciplinary interventions and consequences. Amends the School Board and Compulsory Attendance Articles of the School Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Changes certain references from "school public resource officer" to "school resource officer". Provides that the provisions of the School Code prohibiting fines or fees as a disciplinary consequence and referral of a student does not modify school disciplinary responses provided under specified provisions of the School Code that exist before the effective date of the amendatory Act nor responses to alleged delinquent or criminal conduct as set forth in the School Code, the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, or the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes grammatical and typographical corrections.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, and the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act to designate the first day following the beginning of Ramadan as a State holiday. Makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions concerning distributed renewable generation devices or photovoltaic community renewable generation projects installed at public schools, adds public institutions of higher education to the definition of "public schools".

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Provides that the Adjustable Block program shall include at least 15% from distributed renewable generation devices or photovoltaic community renewable generation projects installed on public school land (rather than at public schools). Provides that qualifying projects must be located on property owned, leased, or subleased by the school or school district and the school or school district must benefit from the project.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Further amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency shall commission and publish a policy study to evaluate the potential impacts of specified proposals on the environment, grid reliability, carbon and other pollutant emissions, resource adequacy, long-term and short-term electric rates, environmental justice communities, jobs, and the economy. Provides that the Agency shall retain the services of technical and policy experts with energy market and other relevant fields of expertise, solicit technical and policy analysis from the public, and provide for a 20-day open public comment period after publication of a draft study, which shall be published no later than 20 days after the comment period ends. Provides that the final policy study shall be published by January 1, 2024 with suitable copies delivered to the Governor and members of the General Assembly. Provides that the policy study shall include policy recommendations to the General Assembly. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide support to and consult with the Agency and the Agency may consult with other State agencies, commissions, or task forces as needed. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code to exempt the procurement of technical and policy experts for the policy study. Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning regulation of commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, provides that a public hearing shall be held not more than 60 days (rather than 45 days) after the filing of the application for the facility. Provides that the amount of any decommissioning payment shall be in accordance with financial assurance required by the agricultural impact mitigation agreements (rather than limited to the cost identified in the decommissioning or deconstruction plan, as required by the agricultural impact mitigation agreements, minus the salvage value of the project). Provides that a facility shall file a farmland drainage plan with the county and impacted drainage districts outlining how surface and subsurface drainage of farmland will be restored during and following construction or deconstruction of the facility, and specifies requirements of the plan. Requires vegetation management plans to comply with the agricultural impact mitigation agreement and underlying agreements with landowners where the facility will be constructed. Adds language requiring a facility owner to compensate landowners for crop losses or other agricultural damages resulting from damage to the drainage system caused by the construction of the facility, repair or pay for damage to the subsurface drainage system, and repair or pay for the restoration of surface drainage caused by the construction or deconstruction of the facility. Provides that a facility owner with siting approval from a county to construct a commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy facility is authorized to cross or impact a drainage system, including, but not limited to, drainage tiles, open drainage ditches (rather than open drainage districts), culverts, and water gathering vaults, owned or under the control of a drainage district under the Illinois Drainage Code without obtaining prior agreement or approval from the drainage district in accordance with the farmland drainage plan (removing an exception requiring the facility owner to repair or pay for the repair of all damage to the drainage system caused by the construction of the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility within a reasonable time after construction of the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility is complete). Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in order to develop a regulatory structure for utility thermal energy networks that scale affordable and accessible building electrification, protect utility customers, and promote the successful planning and delivery of thermal energy networks, shall convene a workshop process for the purpose of establishing an open, inclusive, and cooperative forum regarding such thermal energy networks. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 - Further amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates the Transmission Efficiency and Cooperation Law as a new Article in the Act. Provides that an incumbent electric transmission owner has the right to construct, own, and maintain an electric transmission line that has been approved for construction in a transmission plan and that will connect to facilities that are owned by that incumbent electric transmission owner and are or will be under the functional control of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Provides that the provisions do not limit the right of any incumbent electric transmission owner to construct, own, and maintain any transmission equipment or facilities that have a capacity of less than 100 kilovolts or of any entity otherwise qualified to own, operate, and maintain electric transmission facilities that are not approved for construction in a transmission plan or that will not connect to facilities under the functional control of a regional transmission operator. Provides that the provisions shall not be construed to impair, abridge, or diminish in any way the powers, rights, and privileges of municipal corporations that are not incumbent electric transmission owners to partner with an incumbent electric transmission owner on the development and ownership of an electric transmission line included in a transmission plan. Provides that within 90 days after the later of the effective date of the amendatory Act or approval of the construction of an electric transmission line by a regional transmission operator, an incumbent electric transmission owner otherwise authorized to engage in the construction may provide notice to the Commission and the applicable regional transmission operator indicating it will not construct any or all of the electric transmission line so approved, or it will assign any or all of the construction to a transmission affiliate. Provides that if the notice is given and indicates the notifying incumbent electric transmission owner or its transmission affiliate will not construct any or all of the electric transmission line so approved, the incumbent electric transmission owner shall indicate the reason for that election, and the commission may grant permission and approval for such construction to another entity otherwise qualified to own and operate the electric transmission line. Defines terms.

  CURRENT STATUS

11/8/2023 - BILL DEAD - No Positive Action Taken - Amendatory Veto

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the school report card, provides that a school district's expenditure of Base Funding Minimum and Evidence-Based Funding received from the State in the level of specificity required by the annual spending plans required by the Evidence-Based Funding provisions. In provisions concerning Evidence-Based funding, provides that Organizational Units shall also indicate in their submission of annual spending plans which stakeholder groups the Organizational Unit engaged with to inform annual spending plans. Provides that annual spending plans shall be integrated in annual school district budgets completed pursuant to specified provisions.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes the provisions concerning school report cards. In the provisions concerning the evidence-based funding formula, provides that organizational units that do not submit a budget to the State Board of Education shall be provided with a separate planning template developed by the State Board of Education. Provides that the State Board of Education shall create an evidence-based funding spending plan tool to make annual evidence-based funding spending plan data for each organizational unit available on the State Board's website no later than December 31, 2025, with annual updates thereafter. Provides that the tool shall allow for the selection and review of each organizational unit's planned use of evidence-based funding. Corrects grammatical errors.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/21/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. In a provision requiring the Illinois State Board of Education to develop and implement a plan to incorporate social and emotional development standards for the purpose of enhancing and measuring children's school readiness and ability to achieve academic success, provides that the plan shall be reviewed and revised periodically by the Board of Education at least once every 3 years. Requires the plan to include the teaching of grade-appropriate mental health topics, including, but not limited to, types of mental illness, how to find help for mental illness for peers and yourself, suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention, coping strategies, appropriate language to use surrounding mental health, and how to incorporate technology in a mental health crisis. In a provision requiring every Illinois school district to develop a policy for incorporating social and emotional development into the district's educational program, provides that the policy shall be reviewed and revised periodically by the school district to incorporate revised provisions of the Board of Education's social and emotional development standards.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and administer an annual program to award property tax relief grants to school districts in the State. Provides that, in exchange for receiving a grant, the school district's maximum aggregate property tax extension for the taxable year that begins on January 1 of the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded may not exceed a specified maximum aggregate property tax extension. Creates the Education Property Tax Relief Fund for the purpose of making appropriations for the grant program. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/30/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and administer an annual program to award property tax relief grants to school districts in the State. Provides that, in exchange for receiving a grant, the school district's maximum aggregate property tax extension for the taxable year that begins on January 1 of the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded may not exceed a specified maximum aggregate property tax extension. Creates the Education Property Tax Relief Fund for the purpose of making appropriations for the grant program. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that if a school district is classified as a Tier 1 school under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, then school board shall direct the majority of the funds provided under Section 18-8.15 of this Code to the schools in the district.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall form an Air Quality in Schools Working Group to compile resources for elementary and secondary schools relating to indoor air quality in schools, including best practices for assessing and maintaining ventilation systems and information on any potential State or federal funding sources that may assist a school in identifying ventilation needs. Provides that the working group shall include representatives from the Department of Public Health, local public health professionals, ventilation professionals affiliated with a Department of Labor apprenticeship program, licensed design professionals, representatives from regional offices of education, school district administrators, teachers, and any other relevant professionals, stakeholders, or representatives of State agencies. Provides that the State Board shall implement an outreach plan to make the compiled resources available to elementary and secondary schools, including publication of the compiled resources on the State Board's website on or before August 1, 2024. Provides that the working group shall be dissolved upon the publication of the compiled resources. Provides that the State Board may, in consultation with the Department of Public Health or any other relevant stakeholders, update the compiled resources as necessary.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall administer the School International Trips Program from the funds appropriated from the School International Trips Program Fund for the purpose of making international school trips available to low-income students in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Sets forth who will be able to receive grants and provisions concerning rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that certain property may be certified by the Department of Revenue as containing a mega project. Provides that a "mega project" is a project with respect to which a company makes a specified investment during a specified investment period. Provides that the mega project property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that mega project property may be granted an abatement. Provides that a company that operates a mega project shall enter into an agreement with the municipality in which the project is located to make certain special payments. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that qualified tangible personal property used in the construction or operation of a mega project is exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Effective June 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Requires a non-public school to perform a check of the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database (in addition to the Statewide Sex Offender Database) for each applicant for employment to determine whether the applicant has been adjudicated of a sex offense or of a murder or other violent crime against youth. Provides that the checks must be conducted once for every 5 years that an applicant remains employed. Extends the teacher qualification provisions for preschool educational program grants to the 2028-2029 school year (rather than the 2023-2024 school year). Provides that a school district may adopt a policy to waive tuition costs for a non-resident pupil if the pupil is a child of a district employee. Provides that, until June 30, 2028 (rather than June 30, 2023), applicants may apply to the State Board of Education for issuance of a 5-year, Short-Term Substitute Teaching License; makes other changes. Makes changes concerning the Alternative Educator Licensure Program. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2023 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(b) / Motion Referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to provide for a program by which both halal and kosher food options are offered in public school cafeterias by request. Provides further requirements concerning the provision of halal and kosher food in public schools. Amends the Halal Food Act. Defines "State-owned or State-operated facility". Provides that any State-owned or State-operated facility that provides food services or cafeteria services for which food products are provided or offered for sale also shall offer, upon request provided with reasonable notice, halal food options at the State-owned or State-operated facility. Provides that any halal food product offered shall be certified as halal by a State-approved organization or purchased from a State-approved halal-certified vendor. Provides that any person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a food product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as a halal-certified vendor shall be subject to penalties under the Act. Provides for the adoption of rules. Provides that the amendatory provisions shall not infringe upon or affect any obligation in a contract entered into and in effect on or before the amendatory Act's effective date. Amends the Kosher Food Act. Makes substantially similar changes as to kosher food options at State facilities, defines "kosher", and provides that a violation of the provisions concerning State facility kosher food services is a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for the second and each subsequent offense. Effective June 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board shall use the State and federal programs, grants, and subsidies that are available to assist in paying for student teachers as appropriate funds are made available.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Board Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district that elects to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements by July 1, 2025 is encouraged to provide job coaching to students enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs. Provides that duties of the job coaches may include teaching skills, such as resume preparation, career counseling and exploration, and acting as a liaison to the business community. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to supply all active classroom instructors, all school staff and administration, and district leadership with an educational document, in a PDF and a physical format, explaining at a minimum the values of good indoor air quality, including peer-reviewed research demonstrating effects of poor and good indoor air quality, an explanation of airborne transmission of pathogens and other airborne substances, a basic explanation of air changes per hour and relation to outdoor air and filtered air, best practice recommendations for the portable air cleaner and the air quality monitor, including guidance on theory, function, placement, and operation of the monitor. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms that are not mechanically ventilated have at least 2 properly functioning windows, or one window in situations where only one is present, that can open and can safely stay open. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with an air quality monitor that meets specified requirements. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to ensure that all active classrooms are equipped with a portable air cleaner that meets specified requirements. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to supply each school with 5 additional portable air cleaners and 5 additional air quality monitors to be used in school health offices, libraries, cafeterias, and other similar spaces. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to undertake a ventilation verification assessment of all mechanical ventilation systems in the school district performed by a certified assessor or a mechanical engineer. Makes other changes.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Provides that the window, air quality monitor, portable air cleaner, and ventilation verification assessment requirements are subject to appropriation.

House Floor Amendment No. 3 - Provides that "certified technician means" a person who is certified as a Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing Bureau Technician by the International Certification Board and accredited to comply with ISO/IEC 17024, which is the conformity assessment regarding general requirements for bodies operating certification of persons, by the American National Standards Institute in Testing Adjusting and Balancing or another nationally recognized certifying body accredited to ISO/IEC 17024 in testing adjusting and balancing (instead of meaning a person who is certified as a testing and balancing technician by an accredited organization).

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2024 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate, by official proclamation, the third Friday in March as Robotics Day to encourage students and school districts to engage in robotics-based activities and to engage students with the study of mathematics and science.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/23/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Regional Superintendent of Schools Article of the School Code. Provides that the duty of the regional superintendent to elevate the standard of teaching shall also include the designation as an eligible learning partner in any iteration of the Statewide System of Support in order to provide services to local and other schools designated to receive such services by the State Board of Education. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2023 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, all internships for school social workers must be paid internships. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts to assist in the funding of these paid internships. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program. Provides that higher priority shall be given to schools that demonstrate a shortage of school social workers, which is determined by the average ratio of school social workers to students in the target school district over the preceding 3 school years. Provides that the State Board of Education shall produce an annual report on the program. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to colleges and universities in this State to fund field placements for social workers. Provides that, subject to appropriation, colleges and universities shall annually disseminate a request for applications from students under the grant program. Provides that colleges and universities, upon receiving funding, shall provide applications to students eligible for this funding. Provides that a college or university shall give priority to applicants who are members of a racial minority. Provides that each college or university that receives funds shall provide an annual report to the Board of Higher Education, and the Board of Higher Education shall post those reports on the Board's website. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/28/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In the provision concerning tuition for non-resident pupils, provides that, for any school district other than the Chicago school district, if the parent or guardian of a non-resident pupil requests to enroll the pupil in the district and both the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian reside within one-quarter mile of the district's boundaries, then the district may not charge the pupil tuition.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/16/2023 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Miller

Creates the Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Screening Act. Defines "sport" and "student athlete". Provides that a student athlete over the age of 12 must undergo sudden cardiac death screening before the student athlete may participate in sports. Provides that a student athlete must undergo sudden cardiac death screening once in middle school or high school and then once before postsecondary-education-level sports.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the minimum salary of teachers, provides that the minimum salary shall be fixed at $42,500 for the 2029-2030 school year, $45,000 for the 2034-2035 school year, $47,500 for the 2039-2040 school year, and $50,000 for the 2044-2045 school year. Removes provisions that adjusts the minimum salary rate by a increase in percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the school report card, provides that an indicator regarding class characteristics and student demographics of a given class shall be collected. Details what specific information regarding the class characteristics and student demographics of a given class shall be collected. Provides that student outcomes, including, where applicable, the percentage of students who earn a C or higher in the class, the percentage of students who take the advanced placement test in an advanced placement class broken down by race, the passing rate of the advanced placement test broken down by race shall be collected. Provides that any indicators collected shall be aggregated at the class level, department level, and school level, and the indicators shall be collected from each course.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the General Provisions Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning administration of an opioid antagonist, provides that a school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school shall maintain a supply of an opioid antagonist in any secure location where an individual may have an opioid overdose (instead of may maintain a supply of an opioid antagonist in any secure location where an individual may have an opioid overdose). Makes a conforming change.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning grants for preschool educational programs, provides that school districts and other eligible entities shall (instead of may) use the State Board of Education's evaluation tools for school readiness for children prior to age 5. Provides that following an evaluation, if a school district or other eligible entity determines that a child does not meet school readiness requirements but is 5 or will turn 5 on or before September 1 of a school year and would otherwise be eligible to attend kindergarten, the child may continue to attend a preschool educational program for no more than one additional school year following the child meeting the kindergarten age requirement. Provides that upon completion of that school year, the child is no longer eligible to attend a preschool educational program. Requires the State Board of Education to establish guidelines and procedures for determining whether or not a child meets school readiness requirements. Effective July 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

10/18/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district must allow a student to self-administer any over-the-counter lactose intolerant relief medication without requiring written permission from the student's parent or guardian or written authorization from the student's physician, physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.

  CURRENT STATUS

10/18/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning early childhood construction grants, removes a provision that specifies that grants made in fiscal year 2024 may be made only to public school districts. Provides that a not-for-profit early childhood entity that rents or leases from another not-for-profit entity shall be considered an eligible entity. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that, by no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy may (instead of shall) allow for the automatic enrollment, in the following school term, of a student into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student exceeds (instead of meets or exceeds) State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered under the School Code. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and implement a school time-change grant program to provide grants to school districts to assist with additional costs incurred to change when the school day starts at a school containing any of grades 6 through 12 to on or after 8 a.m. Provides that to be eligible to receive a grant under this program, a school district must change when the school day starts before the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to implement these provisions.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to do all of the following no later than July 1, 2025: (1) issue guidelines on how to remove and safely store a tick; (2) publish the guidelines issued and a model form on the Department's website; (3) provide public testing lab information to schools; (4) issue a model form that schools shall send to the parents or guardians of students who have been identified as having been bitten by a tick; and (5) make available to schools, upon request and free of charge, tick removal kits consisting of tweezers, bandages, a sealable plastic bag, an alcohol wipe, repellent wipes, an information card, and a tick identification card. Specifies requirements for the form. Amends the School Code. Requires, before the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, a school board to establish procedures on tick removal consistent with the guidelines developed by the Department of Public Health. Includes provisions relating to preserving the tick for possible testing by the parent or guardian and school district immunity for tick removal.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that, in accordance with a standing order by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches or a standing order by the Department of Public Health, a pharmacist may provide a school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school with undesignated epinephrine injectors, asthma medication, glucagon, and opioid antagonists for the use by the school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school under the School Code. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall issue a standing order to provide a school district, public school, charter school, or nonpublic school with undesignated epinephrine injectors, asthma medication, glucagon, and opioid antagonists for use under the School Code. Provides that the standing order must be consistent with the current version of the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guidelines of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, or generally recognized evidence-based clinical guidelines. Sets forth provisions concerning liability and rulemaking.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Child Protective Service Unit to send a notification letter (rather than a copy of the Unit's final finding report) to a child's school following an investigation and finding of physical or sexual abuse. Provides that if an indicated finding is overturned in an appeal or hearing, the Department of Children and Family Services shall request that the notification letter (rather than final finding report) be purged from the student's record, and the school shall purge the notification letter (rather than final finding report) from the student's record in accordance with the Illinois School Student Records Act. Requires the notification letter to provide the date of expungement from the central register. Removes a provision requiring all reports made by mandated reporters to be confirmed in writing to the appropriate Child Protective Service Unit within 48 hours of any initial report.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes all amendatory changes requiring the Child Protective Service Unit to send a notification letter to a child's school following an investigation and finding of physical or sexual abuse. Instead provides that the Child Protective Service Unit shall send a copy of its final finding report to the school that the child, who is the indicated victim of child abuse (rather than the indicated victim of the report), attends. Requires the report to be sent during the summer to the last school that the child attended. Provides that the final finding report shall provide the date of expungement from the central register and the school shall purge the final finding report from the student's record in accordance with the Illinois School Student Records Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that all public high schools, including charter schools, shall designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week". Provides that students shall be provided information on their rights as workers during that week, and sets forth what information must be included. Provides that for students in grades 11 and 12, the information shall be integrated into the regular school program but may also be provided during special events after regular school hours. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Provides that all public high schools, including charter schools, may (rather than shall) designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week". Makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/1/2024 - Effective Date July 1, 2024

Amends the Counties Code, the Township Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act, the Park District Code, the Illinois Local Library Act, the Public Library District Act of 1991, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Provides that the board of trustees and corporate authorities of the various local governmental entities referenced in the named Acts and Codes may establish aspirational goals for the awarding of contracts to minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and businesses owned by persons with disabilities. Defines "minority-owned business", "women-owned business", and "business owned by a person with a disability".

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Removes changes to the Public Community College Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2024 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require each school to notify students and the students' parents or guardians twice each year on how to access any mental health services offered in school or in the community where the school is located.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/8/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the Career and Technical Education Task Force is created within the State Board of Education to examine how to involve more students in technical education. Specifies the members of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet once every 3 months at the call of the State Board of Education and shall receive administrative and other support from the State Board of Education. Provides that the Task Force shall prepare and deliver to the State Board of Education a report each year covering the Task Force's findings. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved and the provisions are repealed on January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/17/2024 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sue Scherer

Amends the School Code. Provides that subject to the availability of local resources, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each public middle school, junior high school, and high school may establish a junior color guard program to promote the value of and honor military personnel. Provides that the junior color guard may be used at school events, including interscholastic athletic events and other events in which the presenting of the colors is requested. Provides that each school may allow the junior color guard to participate in community events in which the presenting of the colors may be requested. Provides that each school may work with a civic organization or association to provide adequate training to the members of the junior color guard on the execution of their duties.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if an ordinance is adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act creating a redevelopment project area, the redevelopment project area will expire the 23rd year after the year in which the first project started using the moneys from the special tax allocation fund (rather than expire the 23rd year after the year in which the ordinance approving the redevelopment project area was adopted if the ordinance). Provides that the start of the 23 years for ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act commences no later than 10 years after the year in which the ordinance approving the redevelopment project area was adopted even if no projects have been started using the moneys from the special tax allocation fund. Makes a conforming change in provisions extending the expiration of a redevelopment project area to the 35th calendar year. Provides that no more extensions of redevelopment project areas to the 47th calendar year may occur after January 8, 2025 unless added by a Public Act of the 103rd General Assembly. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that no public high school of a school district may punish or penalize a student because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account. Removes a provision making the prohibition on withholding a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance inoperative beginning 3 years from May 5, 2022. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that any involvement by a law enforcement agency in an incident at a school or on school owned or leased property, including any conveyance owned, leased, or used by the school for the transport of students or school personnel, shall be reported monthly to the Illinois State Police by the school district superintendent or his or her designee or other appropriate administrative officer if the school is a nonpublic school. Provides that the State Board of Education shall receive an annual statistical compilation and related data associated with the reporting from the Illinois State Police. Provides that the State Board of Education shall compile this information by school and make it available to the public. Effective July 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2024 - Referred to House Rules

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school district shall: (1) notify the parents or guardians of each student enrolled in the school district about any mental health services available in the school in which the student is enrolled, in the school district, or in the community where the school is located; and (2) notify each student enrolled in the school district who is 12 years of age or older of specified information in an age and developmentally appropriate manner. Sets forth provisions concerning when and how the required notifications are provided.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/16/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin

Amends the Boundary Changes Article of the School Code. With respect to a petition to change school district boundaries, provides that the length of time for signatures to be valid, before the filing of the petition, shall not exceed one year (rather than 6 months). Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the School District Mandate Task Force Act. Provides that the School District Mandate Task Force is created for the purpose of conducting a Statewide study to determine the information and data sets needed to establish a system that provides a timely and reliable estimate of the anticipated fiscal, operational, and other impacts that a bill filed in the General Assembly imposes or may impose through mandates on a local school district. Sets forth provisions concerning membership, compensation, administrative support, and meetings. Provides that the Task Force shall submit its final report, including model language that may be used as legislation, to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education on or before November 15, 2024 and, upon the filing of its final report, the Task Force is dissolved. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2025. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that all school districts shall, with guidance and standards provided by the State Board of Education and a group of educators convened by the State Board of Education, ensure that students receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain digital literacy skills beginning in elementary school. Provides that digital literacy instruction shall include developmentally appropriate instruction in digital citizenship skills, media literacy, and AI literacy. Provides that digital literacy skills may, based on the recommendation of the State Board of Education, incorporate existing computer literacy standards. Sets forth what the digital citizenship skills instruction, media literacy instruction, and AI literacy instruction shall include. Effective July 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that a public school student may communicate and work with federally elected, State-elected, or locally elected officials or other stakeholders or officials as part of the student's education.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for health care services provided at a school-based health center at the same rate that would apply if those health care services were provided in a different health care setting.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State shall adopt a policy that allows for a student to participate in interscholastic athletics immediately upon completing a transfer from one school to another school and enrolling in that other school. Provides that the policy may prohibit the student from participating in interscholastic athletics at that other school before the school transfer process is complete and the transfer has been accepted by the principal of the school from which the student is transferring and the principal of the school to which the student is transferring. Effective July 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching and to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher no later than June 1, 2025 or no later than June 1 each year thereafter. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1, 2025 and no later than July 1 each year thereafter and all eligible students shall be participants in the stipend program. Provides that no later than August 1, 2025 and no later than August 1 each year thereafter, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that the educator preparation program shall distribute stipend funds using the standard methods for allocating State-based financial aid or as wages for employment to each eligible student in monthly installments. Sets forth additional provisions concerning the distribution of funds. Provides for rulemaking.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes provisions specifying notification deadlines. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $2,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning the distribution of funds to eligible cooperating teachers. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning cooperating teacher training.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that "salary" includes stipends paid to an eligible cooperating teacher under the Board of Higher Education Act. Authorizes a person to establish optional credit for periods of service as a student teacher under a specified provision of the Board of Higher Education Act. In provisions requiring an additional employer contribution for certain salary increases greater than 6%, provides that the System shall exclude any stipends paid to an eligible cooperating teacher under the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Makes changes concerning how funds are to be distributed under the student teaching stipend program. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall disburse funds to the State Board of Education, who shall disburse funds to each school district or early childhood education provider employing an eligible cooperating teacher (instead of having the Board of Higher Education disburse funds to educator preparation programs employing an eligible cooperating teacher). Makes related changes. Makes changes concerning when the report shall be completed. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall provide guidance and technical assistance to educator preparation programs on the administration of the stipend program. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/21/2024 - Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Natalie Toro

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, to encourage youth voter participation, each high school in the State shall hold at least 2 nonpartisan voter registration days per year: (i) one nonpartisan voter registration day shall be held on the second Tuesday in October or the first day thereafter that school is in session; and (ii) the other shall be held on the second Tuesday in February or the first day thereafter that school is in session.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Creates the Communication and Actions in Public Schools Act. Provides that no communication by a public school entity, official representative thereof, professional employee, or guest school speaker may compel a person to adopt, affirm, adhere to, or profess an idea that violates Title IV or Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 or adopt, affirm, adhere to, or profess specified concepts. Provides that nothing in those provisions may be construed to prohibit the discussion of ideas and history of the described concepts or may be construed to prohibit the discussion of public policy issues of the day or ideas that individuals may find unwelcome, disagreeable, or offensive. Sets forth provisions concerning a refusal to engage in any of the specified concepts. Provides that no public school entity may use funds from any source to engage in any of the specified concepts. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop and make available to professional employees technical assistance, guidance, and professional development in accordance with specified provisions. Sets forth requirements for contractors with a public school entity. Provides that a parent, student, professional employee, or other person interacting with a public school entity may file a complaint with the school board of the school district alleging a violation of the Act by a professional employee or contractor. Sets forth other enforcement provisions. Provides that the State Board shall develop a policy on how a complaint may be filed. Provides that the policy shall be made available on the State Board's Internet website. Provides that the State Board may adopt rules to implement the Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of election commissioners may use public school buildings as polling places only if a school board or a local school council approves the use of that school. Provides that, if the county board or board of election commissioners uses all convenient and available public buildings and determines that a public school building is needed as a polling place, it shall send a written request to use the public school building to the school board or local school council. Sets forth provisions concerning the contents of the request and the response to the request. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board or local school council shall have the power to approve or deny, in accordance with the school board or local school council's rules and policies, any request of a county board or board of election commissioners to use a school building as a polling place. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "confidential information" means, for purposes of a provision requiring the results of each public school's Carbon-Free Assessment to be memorialized in a non-confidential report that redacts confidential information, information or facts exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that "confidential information" does not include program offerings, solar opportunities, health and safety certifications, energy efficiency recommendations, information about transportation and other funding offerings. Provides that a copy of the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment report shall be provided to the applicable public school by the utility or the third party acting on behalf of the utility.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/19/2024 - Effective Date January 1, 2025

Creates the School District Impact Note Act. Requires every bill that could have a negative impact on the finances of a school district in the State or that could cause a school district to expend additional staffing resources to have prepared for it by the Illinois State Board of Education a brief explanatory statement or note describing the bill's anticipated impact on education in the State. Specifies the contents of the note and the circumstances under which the note is to be prepared. Clarifies that the preparation of such a note does not preclude a State official or employee from participating in legislative hearings concerning the bill. Provides that the subject matter of bills submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education shall be kept in strict confidence, and no information relating to the bill or its anticipated impact on education in the State shall be divulged, before the bill's introduction in the General Assembly, by any State official or employee of the State Board, except to the bill's sponsor or his or her designee. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning State interventions, provides that the support provided by a vendor or learning partner approved to support a school's continuous improvement plan related to English language arts must be based on the comprehensive literacy plan for the State developed by the State Board of Education.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/13/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, compile resources for elementary and secondary schools relating to indoor air quality in schools, including best practices for assessing and maintaining ventilation systems and information on any potential State or federal funding sources that may assist a school in identifying ventilation needs. Provides that the State Board of Education shall compile these resources in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Department of Public Health, local public health professionals, ventilation professionals affiliated with a Department of Labor apprenticeship program, licensed design professionals, representatives from regional offices of education, school district administrators, teachers, or any other relevant professionals, stakeholders, or representatives of State agencies. Provides that, no later than 30 days after resources are compiled, the State Board of Education shall implement outreach strategies to make the compiled resources available to elementary and secondary schools, including publication of the compiled resources on the State Board of Education's website. Provides that the State Board of Education may, in consultation with the Department of Public Health or any other relevant stakeholders, update the compiled resources as necessary. Effective January 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/13/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the Illinois Pesticide Act. Requires certified pesticide applicators to give written or email notice 72 hours prior to application of pesticide to schools and parks within half of a mile from the site of application. Provides other notice requirements. Defines terms.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

House Committee Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the State Board of Education may not provide funding for any standardized assessment or test any students in grades kindergarten through 6 beyond the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Provides that nothing in these provisions may be construed to limit the ability of a classroom teacher or school district to develop, purchase, administer, or score an assessment for an individual classroom, grade level, or group of grade levels in any subject area in grades kindergarten through 6. Provides that the State Board of Education shall explore any assessment flexibility afforded to states through waivers under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

House Floor Amendment No. 3 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 2 with the following changes. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the State Board of Education may not mandate or require the use of funding for any additional standardized assessments in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, or science in grades kindergarten through 6 beyond the requirements of federal law (instead of providing that the State Board of Education may not provide funding for any standardized assessment or test any students in grades kindergarten through 6 beyond the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act). Makes a conforming change.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning holidays, provides that no deduction shall be made from the time or compensation of a school employee, including an educational support personnel employee, on account of any legal or special holiday during which time the employee is contractually employed (instead of on account of any legal or special holiday in which that employee would have otherwise been scheduled to work but for the legal or special holiday).

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Makes changes concerning high school and community college partnership agreements, the Dual Credit Committee, instructor and other standards for dual credit courses, and the data in reports made by institutions of higher learning. Provides that a Dual Credit Instructor Endorsement Framework shall be developed through a committee involving collaboration between the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Education by December 31, 2024. Sets forth the membership of the committee. Provides that the Framework shall establish criteria for evaluating instructors on the basis of academic credentials, progress toward academic credentials, equivalent experience, or some combination of these. Sets forth what the criteria shall include and what the Framework may do. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. Provides that a Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework (instead of a Dual Credit Instructor Endorsement Framework) shall be developed through a committee involving collaboration between the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Education by December 31, 2024. Changes the membership of the committee and what the Framework shall include. Makes related changes concerning school district and community college partnership agreements, the Dual Credit Committee, and instructor and other standards for dual credit courses. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Makes changes concerning high school and community college partnership agreements, out-of-state dual credit contracts, and standards concerning dual credit courses. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall conduct a study to examine dual credit students and their short-term and long-term outcomes, including determining how differing types and levels of credit-hour achievement influence college enrollment, persistence, advancement, and completion, either at a public community college or public university. Sets forth requirements concerning the study. Changes the membership of the Dual Credit Committee and requirements concerning the Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework. Makes grammatical and stylistic changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/20/2024 - Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Win Stoller

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the fourth Tuesday in September shall be known as High School Voter Registration Day. Amends the Elections Code. In provisions concerning high school voter registration, provides that the one page document explaining the process to register to vote that every high school must provide to students shall be disseminated each year prior to the fourth Tuesday in September. Provides that the one page document prepared by the State Board of Elections must include a direct link to the State's online voter registration portal. Provides that the one page document shall also include sample ballot instructions and instructions for voting in the next election. Provides that a high school may adopt reasonable regulations restricting nonpartisan voter registration activities only if nonpartisan voter registration activities present a disruption to the school day or normal school operations. Provides that the board of each school district operating a high school shall allow each student who is at least 18 years of age, or 17 years of age on or before the date of the next primary election and turns 18 on or before the date of the general or consolidated election, and meets all other requirements of voter registration to register to vote during school hours on the fourth Tuesday in September of each year, or on the next school day if school is not in session on that the fourth Tuesday in September. Amends the School Code to make a conforming change.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/8/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that "policy on bullying" means a bullying prevention policy that is age and developmentally appropriate. Effective July 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2024 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning radon testing, provides that every school building of a school district that is occupied or will be occupied shall be tested by January 1, 2028 and shall be tested every 5 years thereafter for radon (instead of recommending that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon). Provides that all new schools of a school district shall be built using radon resistant new construction techniques in accordance with the American National Standards Institute/American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists CC-1000, Soil Gas Control Systems in New Construction of Multifamily, School, Commercial and Mixed-Use Buildings standard or a successor standard (instead of recommending that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques, as shown in the United States Environmental Protection Agency document, Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings). Removes a provision allowing a person to perform radon screening tests without a license. Makes changes concerning the exemption. Provides that if radon is found to exceed specified levels, then the school district shall (instead of may) hire a licensed radon professional to perform confirmatory measurements (instead of to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made). Sets forth provisions concerning mitigation. Provides that a school district may use life safety funds, if available, for radon testing and mitigation. Preempts home rule powers.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/22/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter

Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy may allow for the waiver of a course or unit of instruction completion requirement if (i) completion of the course or unit of instruction is required by the Code or rules adopted by the State Board of Education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma and (ii) the school district has determined that the student has demonstrated mastery of or competency in the content of the course or unit of instruction. Provides that the school district shall maintain documentation of this determination of mastery or competency for each student, which must include identification of the learning standards or competencies reviewed, the methods of measurement used, student performance, the date of the determination, and identification of the district personnel involved in the determination process. Provides that a school district must provide notification to a student's parent or guardian that the student will receive a waiver. Makes a corresponding change in the Courses of Study Article of the Code. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. In provisions concerning accelerated placement, provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy shall cover a student who exceeds State standards in specified coursework (instead of meets or exceeds State standards in specified coursework). Provides that by no later than the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall provide the option, in the following school term, for a student to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered following specified requirements for specified coursework. Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Provides that by no later than the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall allow for automatic eligibility (instead of provide the option), in the following school term, for a student to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy must include a process through which the parent or guardian of each student who meets State standards is provided notification in writing of the student's eligibility for enrollment in accelerated courses. Sets forth what the notification must provide. Provides that nothing in the provisions concerning accelerated placement shall prohibit the implementation of policies that allow for automatic enrollment of students who meet standards on State assessments into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by a high school.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/21/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that the term "Student Permanent Record" may include reports of psychological evaluations, including information on intelligence and personality, academic information obtained through test administration, observation, or interviews, elementary and secondary achievement-level test results, special education records, and records associated with a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. With respect to the term "Student Permanent Record", removes intelligence test scores, aptitude test scores, psychological and personality test results, teacher evaluations, and other information of clear relevance to the education of a student from the information allowed to be included. Provides that if consent is provided by a student or the student's parent or guardian, then a copy of the student's school student records shall be provided at no cost to the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, an independent service coordination agency, or Equip for Equality to establish access to adult disability services and related benefits.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Specifies the annual reporting requirements of the Illinois Labor Relations Board and Illinois Educational and Labor Relations Board. Provides that the Board shall maintain the following schedule upon the filing of unfair labor practice charges filed under this Act: (i) complete the investigation and issue a complaint, dismissal or deferral within 30 days of the charges being filed; (ii) if a complaint is issued, a hearing shall be scheduled to begin within 30 days of its issuance; (iii) post-hearing briefs shall be issued within 30 days of the close of the hearing; and (iv) recommended decisions and orders shall be issued within 45 days of the submission of post-hearing briefs.

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Illinois Labor Relations Board, at the end of every State fiscal year, shall make a report that includes the number of unfair labor practice charge cases at the end of the fiscal year that have been pending before the Board between 1 and 100 days, 101 and 150 days, 151 and 200 days, 201 and 250 days, 251 and 300 days, 301 and 350 days, 351 and 400 days, 401 and 450 days, 451 and 500 days, 501 and 550 days, 551 and 600 days, 601 and 650 days, 651 and 700 days, and over 701 days, and other data. Provides that the report shall include the Board's progress in meeting timeliness goals, including specified data. Provides that the Board shall adopt goals (i) to ensure effective enforcement through timely and quality consideration and resolution of unfair labor practices with appropriate remedies and (ii) to protect employee free choice with timely and effective mechanisms to resolve questions concerning representation. Provides that the Board shall adopt timeliness goals for the processing of unfair labor practice charges (rather than maintain a certain schedule upon the filing of unfair labor practice charges), including (i) to complete the investigation and issue a complaint, dismissal, or deferral within 100 days (rather than 30 days) of the charges being filed, and, in the case of an appeal, to issue decisions within 90 days of the completion of the Board's process for filing appeals, and (ii) to schedule hearings, upon the issuance of complaints, to begin within 60 days of a complaint's issuance, to issue recommended decisions and orders within 120 days of the close of record, and, if exceptions to recommended decisions and orders are filed, issue Board decisions within 90 days of the completion of the Board's process for filing exceptions (rather than post hearing briefs to be issued within 30 days of the close of hearing and recommended decisions and orders to be issued within 45 days of the submission of post-hearing briefs, no longer than 150 days after the filing of charges, with certain permitted extensions).

  CURRENT STATUS

6/21/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district shall allow a dependent of United States military personnel who is housed in temporary housing located outside of a school district, but will be living within the district within 6 months after the time of initial enrollment, to be educated through an electronic learning program or remote learning program for the time period that the dependent is housed in temporary housing. Provides that if a dependent of United States military personnel is moving out of the State because the United States military personnel received a permanent change of station order, then the student shall be allowed to remain enrolled in the school district and be educated through an electronic learning program or remote learning program until a student enrolls in another school district.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that no later than 30 days after the first day of each school year, the school board of each public elementary and secondary school in the State shall provide all teachers, administrators, and other school personnel, as determined by school officials, with information regarding emergency procedures and techniques, including, without limitation, the Heimlich maneuver, hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use of the school district's automatic external defibrillator, and identify the cardiac emergency response team (instead of providing that the school board of each public elementary and secondary school in the State shall encourage all teachers and other school personnel to acquire, develop, and maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to properly administer life-saving techniques, including, without limitation, the Heimlich maneuver and rescue breathing). Makes related changes. Provides that the annual review shall include reviewing procedures regarding the school district's cardiac emergency response plan. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that school districts and private schools shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan in place in accordance with guidelines set forth by either the American Heart Association or other nationally recognized, evidence-based standards that addresses the appropriate response to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while at a school or at a school-sponsored activity or event. Requires the plan to be distributed to all teachers, administrators, school support personnel, coaches, and other school staff identified by school administrators at each school. Sets forth what shall be included in the cardiac emergency response plan.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Changes references from "automatic external defibrillator" to "automated external defibrillator". Removes the requirement that a school board identify the cardiac emergency response team.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/1/2024 - Effective Date January 1, 2025

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning State goals and assessments, provides that students who have been enrolled in schools in the United States for less than 12 months may not be required to participate in the State assessments.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that, for the benefit of the physical and mental health of athletes, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, all practices, games, or contests by a State high school athletic program or team that is a part of an association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among high schools and high school students within this State shall meet all specified requirements. Provides that an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State shall enforce a penalty for a State high school athletic program or team exceeding practice maximums, which may include, but are not limited to, a loss of a practice day or other sanctions determined by the Illinois High School Association for each violation and shall be imposed as appropriate to the level, extent, and duration of the penalty. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Removes provisions requiring that an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State enforce a penalty for a State high school athletic program or team exceeding practice maximums.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Education for Homeless Children Act. In provisions concerning the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program, provides that grants shall be awarded to applicant school districts based on the percentage of students experiencing homelessness in an applicant school district (instead of to applicant school districts). Makes other changes concerning the award of grants. Specifies activities eligible for assistance. Provides that the State Board of Education may use up to 25% (instead 5%) of appropriated funds for administrative costs.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/18/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to reduce financial barriers into the teaching profession and increase the quality of the student teaching experience in order to better prepare teaching candidates for the classroom and increase teacher retention. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1. Provides that all eligible students shall be enrolled in the stipend program. Provides that subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 for one academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning funding if the amount appropriated for the program is insufficient to fund all eligible students. Provides that subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $1,500 per academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that a cooperating teacher may receive professional development hours for completing cooperating teacher training that counts towards the cooperating teacher's license renewal or Gateways credential. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible teacher from participating in the program or receiving a stipend from the program. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the State Board of Educations shall report and evaluate about the program to the Governor and General Assembly on or before June 30, 2028 and each June 30 thereafter. Provides for rulemaking.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/29/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that a school, school board, or school district shall require a medical note for an absence to be excused only after 9 unexcused absences. Provides that if a student's medical note states that the student should be excused for a specific period of time or if the illness stated in the medical note has a recommended isolation period issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, then a school, school board, or school district shall excuse all days listed in the note or for the amount of days of the recommended isolation period set by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning school maintenance project grants, provides that the State Board of Education is authorized to make grants to school districts, regional offices of education, intermediate service centers, and special education cooperatives established by school districts (instead of school districts and special education cooperatives established by school districts). Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, but provides that the grants are to be used for school maintenance projects on publicly owned property (rather than providing that the grants are for school maintenance projects). Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/19/2024 - Effective Date July 19, 2024

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that a student shall remain on the attendance rolls of a school district until a cause for disenrollment is given and confirmed with specified documentation. Amends the School Board Article of the Code. Requires the school district report card to contain data concerning the number of students who remained on the school district's attendance rolls, and the length of time in which each student remained on the school district's attendance rolls but was not attending school. Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the Code to make a corresponding change regarding a chronic or habitual truant.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Makes changes concerning the specified documentation that may be provided to confirm a cause for disenrollment.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning e-learning days, provides that a school or school district that offers e-learning days may not use any real property owned or leased by a school or school district to house migrants while students are not present at a school. Provides that a school or school district may not utilize a e-learning day to house migrants on any real property owned or leased by the school or school district due to a mandate by a unit of local government that the school or school district house migrants on any real property owned or leased by the school or school district.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/3/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall require, in a manner and method determined by the State Board, that each school district report the number of student referrals to law enforcement. Provides that the disaggregated data shall include data on referrals to law enforcement required to be submitted by a school district and charter school under the Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall post the disaggregated data on the State Board's Internet website for the previous school year by October 31, starting with the 2023-2024 school year. Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that school personnel may not issue a monetary fine, fee, or municipal ticket for school-based behavior as a disciplinary consequence, (instead of providing that a student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence). Sets forth provisions concerning disciplinary responses of schools. Provides that school personnel (instead of a school district) may not refer a truant, chronic truant, or truant minor to any other local public entity, school resource officer, or peace officer (instead of any other local public entity). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. In provisions concerning exceptions allowing the release of student records, provides that school student records or information contained may be released, transferred, disclosed or otherwise disseminated to law enforcement officers for purposes of review, recording, or contemporaneous access to security or surveillance video, audio, or footage, to the extent that the release, transfer, disclosure, or dissemination is consistent with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that any child who is (i) 17 years of age or older or (ii) projected to graduate from a high school at the completion of the current school year shall be excused from attendance for no more than one-half of each school day in order to participate in an unpaid apprenticeship program. Provides that the student shall be excused from any mandatory school events during the school day.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot; defines "native name, logo, or mascot". However, provides that a school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act until September 1, 2027 if specified requirements are met.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/11/2024 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez

Amends the School Code. Provides that notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, from July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2028, any State mandate under the State Mandates Act enacted after July 1, 2024 does not apply to a school district if the State mandate is non-academic. Provides that the State Board of Education shall determine if a State mandate is non-academic. Effective July 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the Code does not apply to contracts for public education programming, noncommercial sustaining announcements, public service announcements, and public awareness and education messaging with the nonprofit trade associations of the providers of those services that inform the public on immediate and ongoing health and safety risks and hazards.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Conversion and Formation of School Districts Article of the School Code. Within 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires elementary school districts to form new school districts but only with other elementary school districts and high school districts to form new school districts but only with other high school districts, notwithstanding any referendum requirements or any other laws to the contrary. Provides that the State Board of Education shall facilitate the creation of the new school districts by providing recommendations on which districts must consolidate. Sets forth the factors that the State Board must take into consideration. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, requires a school board to allow a student who resides in the school district but attends a nonpublic school to participate in extracurricular athletic activities sponsored by the district without being required to enroll or complete coursework at a public school within the district if certain conditions are met. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/23/2023 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Andrew S. Chesney

Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to provide for a program by which both halal and kosher food options are offered in public school cafeterias by request. Provides further requirements concerning the provision of halal and kosher food in public schools. Amends the Halal Food Act. Defines "State-owned or State-operated facility". Provides that any State-owned or State-operated facility that provides food services or cafeteria services for which food products are provided or offered for sale also shall offer, upon request provided with reasonable notice, halal food options at the State-owned or State-operated facility. Provides that any halal food product offered shall be certified as halal by a State-approved organization or purchased from a State-approved halal-certified vendor. Provides that any person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a food product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as a halal-certified vendor shall be subject to penalties under the Act. Provides for the adoption of rules. Provides that the amendatory provisions shall not infringe upon or affect any obligation in a contract entered into and in effect on or before the amendatory Act's effective date. Amends the Kosher Food Act. Makes substantially similar changes as to kosher food options at State facilities, defines "kosher", and provides that a violation of the provisions concerning State facility kosher food services is a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for the second and each subsequent offense. Effective June 1, 2024.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning the School Code, provides that halal and kosher lunch options shall be available as lunch options as part of the school boards lunch program to student who submit a request at the time of registration (instead of having a halal or kosher food service program). Provides that the school board shall make accommodations to provide a halal or kosher lunch option upon finding a vendor or the school district itself is able to provide the lunch option. Removes provisions regarding certification of a vendor. Sets forth requirements for selecting a vendor, reimbursement, and compliance. In provisions concerning the Halal Food Act, provides that after an individual submits a request for a halal or kosher option, the state-owned or state-operated facility shall make accommodations for the request as soon as the state-owned or state-operated facility is able to provide the meals. Removes provisions regarding State-certification. Amends the Kosher Food Act. Makes substantially similar changes as to kosher food options at State facilities. Moves the definition of "kosher".

  CURRENT STATUS

5/11/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall adopt a rule requiring informational material about testicular cancer to be provided as part of the health examination of any male child entering the ninth grade. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall develop the content of the informational material to be provided. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Makes an appropriation of $717,765,720 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for early childhood education. Makes various appropriations from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for early intervention, for grants and administration expenses associated with the Maternal and Child Home Visiting Program, for grants and administrative expenses associated with the Healthy Families Program, and for grants and administrative expenses associated with child care services, including prior year costs. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2023 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Amends the School Construction Law. Provides that for school districts that have consolidated or approved a cooperative high school within a prior fiscal year, the grant index shall be calculated for each of those school districts that form the new school district or cooperative high school. Provides that whichever grant index is the highest shall be used as the grant index for the newly consolidated school district or approved cooperative high school. Amends the priority of school construction projects by adding 2 additional categories of capital needs and reordering the priority of the remaining categories of capital needs. Makes a related change. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, including funding for any administrative costs reasonably incurred by the State Board of Education, upon the execution of one or more required statewide master contracts entered by the State Board of Education and annually thereafter, the State Board of Education shall notify school districts of any prepackaged meal options, including, but not limited to, halal and kosher food options, available for purchase under a statewide master contract for the upcoming school year. Requires the State Board to enter into one or more statewide master contracts to purchase religious dietary food options, and sets forth provisions concerning the contracts. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Provides that the University of Illinois Hospital shall offer religious dietary food options that comply with federal and State nutritional guidelines. Amends the Halal Food Act. Provides that any halal food product offered by a State-owned or State-operated facility shall be purchased from a halal-certified vendor; defines "State-owned or State-operated facility". Provides that any person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a food product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as a halal-certified vendor is subject to penalties under the Act. Amends the Kosher Food Act. Defines "kosher". Makes substantially similar changes as to kosher food products at State facilities. Provides that a violation of the provisions concerning State facility kosher food products is a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for the second and each subsequent offense. Amends the Facilities Article of the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that any Department of Corrections facility that provides food services or cafeteria services for which food products are provided or offered for sale shall also offer religious dietary food options that comply with federal and State nutritional guidelines. Provides that nothing in providing religious dietary food options is intended to expand any Department of Corrections facility's obligations beyond that required under federal law. Contains a severability clause. Effective June 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Trustees of Schools Article of the School Code. In the provisions concerning the sale of school sites, buildings, or other real estate, provides that if a school board decides to sell property under these provisions or direct the property to be sold in the manner provided in the Local Government Property Transfer Act or in the manner provided under the provisions or engage a broker, the school board shall obtain a minimum of 3 appraisals of the property at the property's current zoning. Provides that the appraisals shall be conducted by a appraiser certified by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that if a school board decides to sell property under the provisions or direct the property to be sold in the manner provided in the Local Government Property Transfer Act or in the manner provided under the provisions or engage a broker, the school board shall offer the municipality, township, and park district in which the property is located the option to purchase the property being sold at the property's median appraised value from the required 3 appraisals before the property is otherwise offered for sale. Provides that a municipality, township, or park district that purchases property may do so with other units of local government. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/31/2023 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that a financial institution or investment provider, by entering into a written agreement, may offer or provide services to a plan established or maintained by a school district with an enrollment of at least 1,000 students under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 if the written agreement is not combined with any other written agreement for the administration of a school district's 457 plan. Provides that each school district that provides a 457 plan shall make available to participants at least 4 financial institutions or investment providers that have not entered into a written agreement and that provide services to the school district's 457 plan. Sets forth requirements for a financial institution or investment provider providing services for a 457 plan.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the provisions apply to school districts with a full-time, licensed teacher population of 525 teachers or more (instead of with an enrollment of at least 1,000 students). Provides that each school district that provides a 457 plan shall make available to participants a minimum of one financial institution or investment provider (instead of at least 4 financial institutions or investment providers). Provides that a school district shall have one year from the effective date of the amendatory Act to find a 457 plan provider. Makes conforming changes.

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that the amendatory provisions do not apply to the Chicago school district. Provides that the amendatory provisions apply to a school district with a population of 575 or more teachers that maintain a 457 plan, including a plan established under provisions of the Illinois Pension Code concerning an optional defined contribution benefit. Provides that every applicable school district shall make available to participants more than one financial institution or investment provider to provide services to the school district's 457 plan. Provides that a financial institution or investment provider, by entering into a written agreement, may offer or provide services to a plan offered, established, or maintained by a school district (instead of established or maintained by a school district). Provides that each school district that offers (instead of provides) a 457 plan shall make available to participants more than one financial institution or investment provider that has not entered into a written agreement to provide administration services and that provides services to a 457 plan offered to school districts (instead of that has not entered into a written agreement and that provides services to the school district's 457 plan). Provides that a financial institution or investment provider shall cover all plan administration costs relating to the administration of the 457 plan (instead of relating to the 457 plan). Provides that nothing in the amendatory provisions shall apply to or impact the optional defined contribution benefit established by the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois under the Illinois Pension Code. Sets forth provisions regarding sharing data. Makes grammatical and typographical corrections.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Provides that the amendatory provisions do not apply to the Chicago school district. Provides that the amendatory provisions apply to a school district with a population of 575 or more teachers that maintain a 457 plan, including a plan established under provisions of the Illinois Pension Code concerning an optional defined contribution benefit. Provides that every applicable school district shall make available to participants more than one financial institution or investment provider to provide services to the school district's 457 plan. Provides that a financial institution or investment provider, by entering into a written agreement, may offer or provide services to a plan offered, established, or maintained by a school district (instead of established or maintained by a school district). Provides that each school district that offers (instead of provides) a 457 plan shall make available to participants more than one financial institution or investment provider that has not entered into a written agreement to provide administration services and that provides services to a 457 plan offered to school districts (instead of that has not entered into a written agreement and that provides services to the school district's 457 plan). Provides that a financial institution or investment provider shall cover all plan administration costs relating to the administration of the 457 plan (instead of relating to the 457 plan). Provides that nothing in the amendatory provisions shall apply to or impact the optional defined contribution benefit established by the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois under the Illinois Pension Code. Sets forth provisions regarding sharing plan data. Makes grammatical and typographical corrections.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2023 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions that limit the number of days and hours an annuitant may accept employment for without impairing retirement status, provides that the limitation does not apply to an annuitant who returns to teaching as a substitute teacher in a school district that has been granted a waiver by the System. Provides that a school district may apply for a waiver by providing to the System sufficient evidence that there is a substitute teacher shortage in the school district and an estimate of the number of paid hours in the school year that the annuitant will work. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/3/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may (instead of shall) make menstrual hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in bathrooms of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/28/2023 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that all surplus funds in the special tax allocation fund shall be distributed as soon as possible after they are calculated (rather than distributed annually within 180 days after the close of the municipality's fiscal year).

  CURRENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that certain property may be certified by the Department of Revenue as containing a mega project. Provides that a "mega project" is a project with respect to which a company makes a specified investment during a specified investment period. Provides that the mega project property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that mega project property may be granted an abatement. Provides that a company that operates a mega project shall enter into an agreement with the municipality in which the project is located to make certain special payments. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that qualified tangible personal property used in the construction or operation of a mega project is exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Effective June 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/15/2024 - Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Don Harmon

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act in the Illinois Municipal Code. Modifies factors used by a municipality to determine if an area is a blighted area or a conservation area to be included in the area of a redevelopment project area when establishing the area. Provides that a new redevelopment project area shall have a completion date no later than December 31st of the 20th year after the ordinance was adopted (rather than the 23rd year), and provides that the redevelopment project area may be extended, with the approval of each member of the joint review board, only 2 additional years (rather than extended to the 35th year and extended again to the 47th year). Provides that a municipality may not approve redevelopment project areas or expansions of redevelopment project areas that overlap with an existing redevelopment project area. Provides that 10% of moneys deposited into the special tax allocation fund shall be transferred to the local chamber of commerce or chambers of commerce representing the redevelopment project area for the chamber or chambers of commerce to use for grants to businesses that employee fewer than 50 full-time employees if the business moves within the redevelopment project area. Provides that moneys transferred to a chamber of commerce not used or pledged within one year of transfer of the moneys shall be returned to the municipality and are designated surplus funds of the redevelopment project area. Adds nonvoting members to joint review boards. Provides that, if a school district or community college district does not approve of the creation of a redevelopment project area, then the portion of the taxes attributable to the increase in the current equalized assessed valuation which would be payable to the nonconsenting district shall be paid to that district. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/22/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning student discipline policies, provides that the State Board of Education shall draft and publish model policy guidelines for the development of reciprocal reporting systems and school bus safety protocols and for evidence-based early intervention procedures. In provisions concerning the suspension or expulsion of students, makes changes concerning a student's gross disobedience or misconduct posing an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, when school exclusions should be used, the number and duration of expulsions and suspensions, the implementation of proactive evidence-based interventions that improve behavioral outcomes for all students, non-exclusionary discipline, out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less, model policy guidelines for the re-engagement of students, professional development, and the removal of children with disabilities who violate the student discipline policies from their current placement. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 3 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. Restores current law with respect to annually reviewing discipline policies. Requires the State Board of Education to consult with stakeholders in its drafted and published guidance, and requires the guidance to be drafted and published on or before July 1, 2025. Changes certain references from "early intervention" to "intervention". Makes changes concerning suspensions, school exclusions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/21/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the Illinois Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Provides that local emergency response planning officials, in consultation with the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), shall partner with school districts in their regions to disseminate information pertaining to safety threats related to the storage and transport of hazardous substances, including petroleum oil and high-hazard flammable trains (HHFTs), to the parents of attending students, faculty and staff, and schools at risk of being negatively impacted by storage facilities of such hazardous substances or the transport of such hazardous substances. Requires the SERC to perform specified tasks. Provides that the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall have joint rulemaking authority to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Contains other provisions.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Illinois income Tax Act. Provides that, for purposes of the tax credit for instructional materials and supplies, the term "qualified school" also includes public institutions of higher education. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Allows a school district to utilize a remote learning day in lieu of an emergency day provided for in the school calendar or because a school was selected as a polling place. Provides that the number of remote learning days used in a school year may not exceed 5 days and the district superintendent must approve a remote learning plan for the district before the district may utilize a remote learning day. Sets forth what the plan must address, the term of approval, and how the plan must be posted. Sets forth district requirements. Allows statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and offerings to be administered via remote learning, allows for electronic communication for instruction and interaction between educators and students, and provides for rulemaking. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2023.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that before the district superintendent adopts a remote learning plan, the school board must hold a public hearing on the school district's initial proposal for a remote learning plan or for renewal of the remote learning plan at a regular or special meeting of the school board, at which meeting the terms of the proposal or renewal must be substantially presented and an opportunity for allowing public comments must be provided. Makes typographical and grammatical changes regarding provisions concerning payment to contractors providing educational support services. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/27/2023 - Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

Amends the School Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, the State Board of Education shall administer all public schools in this State instead of school districts, and each school district shall remit to the State Board an amount of money sufficient to administer the district's schools. Provides that any amount in taxes levied by the school district in excess of the amount required to be remitted to the State Board shall be returned to the district's taxpayers. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, all public school teachers in this State are State employees instead of school district employees. Provides that, for the 2024-2025 school year, the starting salary for public school teachers serving on a full-time basis shall be $45,000, and, for each school year thereafter, the starting salary shall equal the starting salary for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to one-half of the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that during the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2024 (instead of June 30, 2022) an additional 20 paid days or 100 paid hours shall be added to a provision that authorizes an annuitant to accept employment for a certain number of paid days or paid hours as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status. Removes a reference to the substitute teacher shortage being exacerbated by the ongoing global pandemic. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding the compulsory school age, provides that a child whose absence is excused for up to 5 days for a mental or behavioral health reason shall be designated as taking a mental health day, which shall be equivalent to a day of compulsory attendance for purposes of reporting and calculating the child's absenteeism rate for the school year. In provisions concerning chronic absenteeism reporting and support, provides that the definition of "student" does not mean a student who is not present at school for up to 5 days for mental or behavioral health reasons.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that requires the System to automatically enroll certain employees in the System's defined contribution benefit, provides an exception for employees whose school district provides an alternative qualifying plan. Provides that the alternative qualifying plan shall abide by the automatic enrollment procedures and automatic increase in contribution provisions applicable to the System's defined contribution benefit. Sets forth additional requirements for alternative qualifying plans. Requires a school district that has an alternative qualifying to file a letter of compliance, passed by resolution of the school board, with the System. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/4/2023 - Senate Senate Special Committee on Pensions

Amends the School Code. Provides that school districts may regulate and restrict access to public restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, and other similar places on the basis of biological sex and may also adopt a policy that provides for gender neutral or alternative facilities for students, staff, and members of the public, as the school district deems appropriate. Provides that school districts are not required to: (1) adopt a policy that restricts or regulates access to public restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, and other similar places on the basis of biological sex; (2) adopt a policy that includes the facilitation of gender neutral or alternative facilities for students, staff, and members of the public; (3) limit access by a minor accompanied by an adult guardian of the opposite sex into a specified facility appropriate for the adult guardian; (4) prohibit a person with disabilities from using a specified facility appropriate to the biological sex of either the person with disabilities or of an adult caretaker providing assistance; (5) prohibit access to these facilities by custodial staff, school staff, or other persons in an emergency situation; or (6) alter their current policies on access to public restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, and other similar places.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/8/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that if (1) 3 or more improved lots, blocks, tracts, or parcels of real property within a single redevelopment project area are purchased by a developer or a developer's parent company or wholly-owned subsidiary, or any combination thereof, within the 3 years prior to the date that the ordinance providing for the tax increment allocation was adopted by the municipality, and (2) an improvement on any of the lots, blocks, tracts, or parcels of real property is demolished or otherwise rendered uninhabitable, then the initial equalized assessed value for the lot, block, tract or parcel of real property shall be the equalized assessed value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property on the date it was purchased by the developer, the developer's parent company, or the developer's wholly-owned subsidiary or purchased by any combination thereof. Limits the provisions to ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a county clerk determines that any lot, block, tract, or parcel of real property within a redevelopment project area is not taxable or has an initial equalized assessed value of $0, then the fair market value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel shall be instead determined by a written MAI-certified appraisal or by a written certified appraisal of a State-certified or State-licensed real estate appraiser. Provides that this reappraisal shall be the initial equalized assessed value of the lot, block, tract, or parcel and shall be added to the total initial equalized assessed value of the taxable real property within the redevelopment project area. Limits the provisions to tax increment allocation financing ordinances adopted after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Supporting Special Needs Students Law. Amends the School Code. When computing certain completion rates, requires the State Superintendent of Education to exclude students who: are at least 18 years of age as of September 1 of the school year as reported for the fall semester and have satisfied the credit requirements for high school graduation; have not completed their individualized education program; and are enrolled and receiving individualized education program services. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, in high school districts in counties with populations greater than 800,000 but less than 4,000,000 where there are 2 high schools individually serving grades 9 through 12 and where enrollment is less than 2,500 at any school, enrollment shall be balanced across high schools within the district equally, not to exceed a 15% enrollment difference when averaged over the previous 3 consecutive years.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Removes the provisions amending the Section of the School Code concerning standards for schools.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2023 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Requires an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State to allow a student for whom it is determined that special education services are needed under the School Code to participate in interscholastic athletics and other forms of athletic competition for as long as the student is eligible for such special education services, which, for purposes of the School Code, means through the day before the student's 22nd birthday.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/23/2023 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the State Board of Education shall develop and maintain a program aimed at facilitating education in advanced manufacturing technical skills. Provides that the program shall be implemented in no less than 12 public high schools, over the span of 3 years, where the youth unemployment rate is at least twice the national average. Specifies program requirements. Provides that the State Board shall ensure that each high school participating in the program has adequate funding for at least one industry coordinator, tutoring, pre-employment and on-the-job mentoring, professional and leadership development, and life and financial management instruction. Provides that the State Board shall use a program provider to help design, build, and accredit the training program. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that any task force, study committee, blue ribbon panel, commission, or organization created or appointed by the State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Education after the effective date of the amendatory Act, including one created by the State Board of Education or one mandated by the Governor or General Assembly, shall include representatives that reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State, including representatives of rural, suburban, and urban areas.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2023 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Construction Law. Provides that the eligibility standards for school construction project grants shall not include minimum enrollment requirements (instead of including minimum enrollment requirements for eligibility for school construction project grants of 200 students for elementary districts, 200 students for high school districts, and 400 students for unit districts). Removes provisions concerning the total enrollment of member districts forming a cooperative high school. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Allows the use of a multi-function school activity bus (MFSAB) that is manufactured to transport not more than 15 persons, including the driver, or a vehicle manufactured to transport not more than 10 persons, including the driver, for the transportation of students in any of grades 9 through 12 or who attends an alternative education program operated by a regional office of education for any curriculum-related activity (other than for transportation to and from home on regular bus routes) if the driver (i) holds a minimum of a valid driver's license and (ii) is an employee or contractual employee of the school district or alternative education program or of a third-party contractor (rather than allowing the use of an MFSAB for transporting students in grades 9 through 12 only if the driver holds a valid school bus driver permit). Makes a conforming change to the Illinois Vehicle Code. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/9/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that "redevelopment project costs" include the costs of demolishing buildings, site preparation, or site improvements of a dilapidated or vacant parcel zoned for residential use or costs of reconstruction, repair, remodeling, or new construction of a single-family residence on a dilapidated or vacant parcel zoned for residential use. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a municipality, upon adoption of an ordinance or resolution by majority vote of its corporate authorities, may order the county clerk to abate, for 20 years, the portion of the taxes levied upon an improved parcel of real property that is attributable to the increase in the current equalized assessed valuation of the parcel over and above the equalized assessed valuation of the parcel immediately before the demolition of the dilapidated structure on the parcel. Provides that "improved parcel of real property" means a parcel where redevelopment project costs have been used by the municipality for the construction of a new single-family residence on a parcel zoned for residential use after demolition or removal of a dilapidated structure from that parcel. Provides that an abatement approved under the provisions shall be extended to all subsequent owners of the improved parcel of real property during the abatement period.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/9/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall reimburse not less than the actual cost to school boards for each free lunch or breakfast supplied by them (instead of reimbursing school boards $0.15 or the actual cost, whichever is less, for each free lunch or breakfast), taking into consideration (rather than being in addition to) any federal contributions.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/22/2023 - Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to develop and implement a School Share Table Program, including guidelines for the use of share tables in schools for kindergarten through grade 12; defines "share tables". Provides that the Program shall be implemented as a part of any school-based child nutrition program administered by the State Board. Requires the guidelines for the use of share tables to be made available on the website of the State Board on or before January 1, 2024. Requires the use of share tables to comply with any applicable local and State health and food safety requirements. Provides for the adoption of rules. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the evidence-based funding provisions of the School Code. Provides that the Minimum Funding Level is equal to $550,000,000 (instead of $350,000,000). Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no person shall bring a food product with a Scoville rating of 100,000 SHUs or higher onto school property. Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that a food is misbranded if it contains a food product with a Scoville rating of 100,000 SHUs or higher without its labeling stating that the food product has a Scoville rating of at least 100,000 SHUs.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/9/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. Provides that any money appropriated to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for scholarship awards for a particular academic year that remains unused at the end of that academic year shall be deposited into the Student Teaching Fund. Requires the Commission to establish and administer a student teaching stipend program in which the Commission receives and considers applications for a stipend from scholarship recipients who are student teaching. Subject to appropriation from the Student Teaching Fund, provides that the Commission shall select stipend recipients from among applicants who are in financial need. Provides that the amount and payment of any stipend shall be determined by the Commission, and provides for rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Student Teaching Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2024-2025 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2025-2026 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/13/2023 - Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas

Amends the Pupils Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding compulsory school age, provides that a student absent from a school in which the student is regularly enrolled shall be considered as being in attendance if the reason for such absence is to participate in scheduled Future Farmers of America Organization and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. Provides that the student and parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for obtaining assignments missed while the student was participating in such an activity from the student's teacher.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/6/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that all school buses that are newly purchased, leased, or contracted after January 1, 2028, shall be an electric vehicle. Provides that all school buses that provide transportation for enrolled students operating primarily within an equity investment eligible community or primarily serving students living in an equity investment eligible community after January 1, 2030, shall be an electric vehicle. Provides that all school buses that provide transportation for enrolled students in the State after January 1, 2035, shall be an electric vehicle. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that Constitution Day (September 17) shall also be a commemorative holiday. Effective July 1, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/10/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the State Mandates Act. Provides that any State mandate regarding any subject matter enacted on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act that necessitates additional expenditures from local government revenues shall be void and unenforceable unless the General Assembly makes necessary appropriations and reimbursements to implement that mandate. Provides that the failure of the General Assembly to make necessary appropriations and reimbursements shall relieve the local government of the obligation to implement any State mandate. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that a taxing district shall reduce its aggregate extension base for the purpose of lowering its limiting rate for future years upon referendum approval initiated by the submission of a petition by the voters of the district. Provides that the extension limitation shall be: (a) the lesser of 5% or the average percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the immediately preceding 10 years; or (b) the rate of increase approved by the voters. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases distributions into the Local Government Distributive Fund on and after August 1, 2022. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/10/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award grants of up to $5,000 per school site on a competitive basis to eligible school districts, regional superintendents of schools, or entities approved by the State Board of Education for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating a school breakfast after the bell program. Sets forth what the grants may be used for and who gets preference for a grant.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/17/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, all internships for school social workers must be paid internships. Provides that subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts to assist in the funding of these paid internships. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program. Provides that higher priority shall be given to schools that demonstrate a shortage of school social workers, which is determined by the average ratio of school social workers to students in the target school district over the preceding 3 school years. Provides that the State Board of Education shall produce an annual report on the program. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education, shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to colleges or universities in the State to fund field placements for social workers. Provides that Subject to appropriation, colleges and universities shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program. Provides that colleges and universities, upon receiving funding, shall provide applications to students eligible for this funding. Provides that the college or university shall give priority to applicants who are a member of a racial minority. Provides that each college or university that receives funds shall provide an annual report to the State Board of Higher Education, and the Board of Higher Education shall publish those reports on the State Board's website. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Creates the Classrooms First Commission. Provides for the membership and support of the Commission. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the electorate on the number of school districts in this State and where reorganization and realignment of school districts into unit districts would be beneficial. Sets forth what areas the recommendations must focus on, including drafting recommendations to reduce the statewide total number of school districts through the reorganization of school districts into unit districts. Provides that, on or before May 1, 2024, the Commission must vote on its recommendations and file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly. Provides that if the Commission adopts the recommendations by an affirmative vote of at least 13 of its members, then the Commission's specific recommendations for reorganization of school districts into unit districts shall be filed with the appropriate regional superintendent of schools. Sets forth the regional superintendent's and State Superintendent of Education's duties with respect to the recommendations. Repeals these provisions on January 31, 2026. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/26/2023 - Senate Executive

Amends the Care of Students with Diabetes Act. Provides that a school shall maintain a supply of glucagon in any secure location that is immediately accessible to a school nurse or a delegated care aide if a student diagnosed with diabetes attends the school. Provides that schools shall obtain a prescription for glucagon, even if the school is not required to maintain the glucagon.

  CURRENT STATUS

4/16/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Removes the repeal date for the short-term substitute teacher training program. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning short-term substitute teacher licenses, removes the June 30, 2023 expiration date for issuing short-term substitute teacher licenses. Removes the licensing fees for short-term substitute teacher, substitute teaching, and professional teaching licenses.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district must employ a sufficient number of school psychologists and school nurses to address the needs of the school district's students and schools, but no less than a student-to-social worker and student-to-nurse ratio of 750 to 1. For school nurses, provides that consideration for school nurse staffing should include the complex health needs of students, needs for continuous professional nursing services, the number of free and reduced lunch students in a school building, and the average number of medical emergencies at a school per year. Effective June 30, 2023.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that, when expelling a student, the board shall notify the parents of the nature of the hearing and the option of retaining legal counsel. Provides that, when the suspension period is over, the pupil may return to school. Provides that for a pupil suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, a written decision about whether the student can use a school bus shall be made within 15 days of the incident. Provides that a school shall offer written demonstration of remediation efforts excluding out of school suspensions. Provides that schools shall use data to track whether significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity is occurring both in the State and in the district with respect to the incidence, duration, and type of disciplinary removals from placement, including suspensions and expulsions. Provides that, if it is determined that significant disproportionality is occurring, the school shall provide that determination for annual review and, if appropriate, revision of the policies, practices, and procedures used in disciplinary removals to ensure that the policies, practices, and procedures comply with the district's equity requirements. Provides that notice of suspension shall also include other evidence-based alternatives to suspension. provides that when a student is suspended for more than 4 days, that options for automatically placing the student in an e-learning program or distance learning program through written materials if (1) the removal is for more than 5 consecutive school days; or (2) the child has been subjected to a series of removals that constitute a pattern, because the series of removals total more than 10 school days in a school year, because the child's behavior is substantially similar to the child's behavior in previous incidents that resulted in the series of removals, and the effects of additional factors such as the length of each removal, the total amount of time the child has been removed, and the proximity of the removals to one another shall be included.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. With respect to the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, removes language that provides that the State Board of Education may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the moneys appropriated for the Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Provides that if the appropriation for the Program for a given fiscal year is less than $15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to certain school districts and shall impose additional eligibility criteria to limit the number of approved applicants to a cohort sufficient for each selected district to provide adequate training and ongoing coaching support to each teacher of students in grades K through 2 and special education teachers and evidence-based curriculum investments. Removes language that provides that programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom reading instruction. Provides that Program funds may be used for grades K through 6 to provide both evidence-based, high-quality core literacy curriculum materials that consider the unique needs of English learners for concurrent oral language practice and high-quality screening assessments designed to inform instruction in English language arts and literacy for students (instead of classroom reading materials for students). Sets forth other provisions concerning if the appropriation is less than $15,000,000 or is at least $15,000,000.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Provides that for all schools operating a school breakfast program, the State Board of Education shall collect information about whether the school is operating a breakfast after the bell program and, if so, what breakfast after the bell model the school operates, including breakfast in the classroom, second chance breakfast, and grab and go breakfast. Provides that the State Board of Education shall make this data publicly available annually. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award grants of up to $7,000 per school site on a competitive basis to eligible schools, school districts, or entities approved by the State Board of Education for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating a school breakfast after the bell program. Sets forth what the grants may be used for and who gets preference for a grant.

  CURRENT STATUS

10/19/2023 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Natalie Toro

Amends the Student Online Personal Protection Act. Provides that "covered information" does not include de-identified or aggregate information from which all personally identifiable information of a student has been removed. Makes conforming changes. Provides that the covered information restrictions shall be included as part of the operator's terms of service agreement, privacy policy, or similar document (instead of requiring that an operator enter into a written agreement with the school, school district, or State Board before the covered information may be transferred) Removes provisions requiring that if the school maintains a website, a the operator shall provide a statement that the school must publish the written agreement on the school's website. Makes related changes. Provides that a statement that the operator will implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices that otherwise meet or exceed industry standards designed to protect covered information from unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure Provides that the business address of the operator and a link to the terms of service agreement, privacy policy, or similar document shall be provided. Provides that de-identified or aggregate information from which all personally identifiable information of a student has been removed are not prohibited for an operator to use. Removes restrictions prohibiting a school from sharing, transferring, disclosing, or providing access to a students covered information to an entity of individual. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/10/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that a screening to determine risk of cardiac arrest shall be included in the required health examination.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the date of the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in even years (rather than November 8, 2022) shall be a State holiday known as General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the State. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code, School Code, and State Universities Civil Service Act making conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/31/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the school board of a school district of a public elementary or secondary school or a non-public elementary or secondary school may develop a policy to permit the carrying of a firearm by an employee of the school, licensed under the Act, in any building or on any real property or parking area under the control of the public or non-public elementary or secondary school. Provides that the policy must contain safe storage provisions for the firearm. Those provisions must include securing the firearm in a locked box or container that cannot be accessed by students. Changes "private" elementary or secondary school references in the Act to "non-public" elementary or secondary school.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/23/2023 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Andrew S. Chesney

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a grant program to support cultural and language immersion programs, gifted and talented programs, and advanced placement programs. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop and administer an application program for schools to apply for grant funds. Provides that, to receive grant funds, schools must: (1) ensure that any student can apply to any school in the school district with restrictive admission procedures; and (2) provide transportation to each student in the school district to the school the student attends.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, provides that beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, all teachers shall be paid based on the federal General Schedule classification at the GS-9 level. Provides that if the teacher's base salary does not exceed $45,000, then the teacher shall be paid starting at $45,000. Provides that if the increase in the salary from the federal GS-9 level has not exceeded the starting salary for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to one-half of the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year, the teacher's salary shall increase by a percentage equal to one-half of the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items. Provides that public school teachers shall be paid for any time spent taking a continuing education course.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/10/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create a Committee on Mandate Review. Provides that the purpose of the committee is to complete a statewide review of State mandates on school districts. Sets forth the membership of the committee. Contains provisions concerning meetings, administrative support, and reporting. Repeals these provisions on December 31, 2025. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/10/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, a public school may obtain crisis response mapping data and provide copies of the crisis response mapping data to appropriate local, county, State, and federal first responders for use in response to emergencies. Provides that the crisis response mapping data shall be stored and provided in an electronic or digital format to assist first responders in responding to emergencies at the school. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall provide grants to public schools to cover the costs incurred in obtaining crisis response mapping data. Sets forth requirements for the crisis response mapping data. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the crisis response mapping data may be reviewed annually to update the data as necessary. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/19/2023 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin

Amends the Downstate Teachers Article of Illinois Pension Code. Specifies that the provision that requires an employer to make an additional contribution to the System for certain salary increases greater than 6% excludes salary increases necessary to bring a school board in compliance with the changes to the minimum salary provisions of the School Code under the amendatory Act. Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the minimum salary, provides that the minimum salary shall be $50,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, $55,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, and $60,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall certify and publish the minimum salary rate to be used for the 2027-2028 school year (rather than for the 2024-2025 school year) no later than September 30, 2026 (rather than September 30, 2023); makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

10/25/2023 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning early childhood construction grants, removes a provision that specifies that grants made in fiscal year 2024 may be made only to public school districts. Provides that a not-for-profit early childhood entity that rents or leases from another not-for-profit entity shall be considered an eligible entity. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Provides that the Capital Development Board may adopt rules to specify additional eligibility requirements for each type of applicant for early childhood construction grants.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/12/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. By June 1, 2025, requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, to establish, by rule, a Montessori education endorsement to be added to a Professional Educator License. Requires the rules adopted by the State Board of Education to outline the requirements for obtaining the endorsement. Provides that these provisions are inoperative on and after January 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a school district or a school bus company under contract with a school district shall not operate a Type I or Type II school bus manufactured after the effective date of the bill unless the bus is equipped with a set of 3-point seat belts or any other federally approved restraint system in good operating condition for each passenger seat and a rooftop safety hatch. Provides that, on or after January 1, 2028, all newly purchased school buses shall be equipped with 3-point seat belts or any other federally approved restraint system in good operating condition for each passenger. Provides that the provision shall not apply to a school bus that is legally registered in another state and displaying valid registration plates of that state if the bus is not operated in Illinois on a regular basis and the bus is operated in Illinois in connection with a cultural, tourist, athletic, or other similar activity for students enrolled in a school located outside of the State. Provides that nothing in the provision shall make a school district or a school bus company liable for a passenger's failure to properly adjust or fasten a seat belt or other restraint system. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions requiring referendum approval to build or purchase a school building, provides that for any school district: (i) that is designated as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 school district under the evidence-based funding provisions of the Code, (ii) with at least one school that is located on federal property, (iii) whose overall student population is no more than 4,500 students and no less than 2,500 students, and (iv) that receives a federal Public Schools on Military Installations grant until June 30, 2030, no referendum shall be required if at least 75% of the cost of construction or building of any such building is paid or will be paid with funds received or expected to be received from the Public Schools on Military Installations grant. Provides that the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from those community members in attendance. Provides that the notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and description of the school construction project must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school district's website. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/12/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall pay one-half of the salary of an employee that is employed by a manufacturing company and working within a school district at a high school as a licensed career and technical education teacher. Provides that the school board of a school district that intends to hire a manufacturing employee shall first notify any labor organization that has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the school district of the school board's intent to hire such an employee. Provides that if there are eligible employees in the applicable bargaining unit, then the school board shall offer to hire an employee who is a member of the applicable bargaining unit. Provides that if there are no eligible employees in the applicable bargaining unit, then the labor organization shall notify the school district and affirm that the position is unable to be filled by any members of the applicable bargaining unit.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall create and maintain a comprehensive training program in advanced manufacturing to ensure an adequate supply of trained and skilled individuals to work in advanced manufacturing and to ensure appropriate representation of racial and ethnic groups in all phases of the industry. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop the program to be taught as part of the curriculum of the public school system from grades kindergarten through 12 and made readily available to all school districts. Provides that school districts may include programs in education in advanced manufacturing as a part of the curriculum of those districts. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement these provisions. Provides that the rules may not create any new State mandates on school districts as a condition of districts receiving federal, State, or local funds. Provides that the State Board of Education shall assume responsibility for the administration of the program throughout all school districts, as well as developing the program to match the requirements and mandates of federal programming.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish and administer a student teaching stipend program. Subject to appropriation, requires the Commission to receive and consider applications for additional funds from recipients of scholarships who are student teaching. Provides that the Commission shall select stipend recipients from among applicants who are in financial need. Provides that certain recipients may receive an additional payment for other expenses during the year in which the recipient is engaged in student teaching. Provides for rulemaking.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Child Protective Service Unit to send a notification letter (rather than a copy of the Unit's final finding report) to a child's school following an investigation and finding of physical or sexual abuse. Provides that if an indicated finding is overturned in an appeal or hearing, the Department of Children and Family Services shall request that the notification letter (rather than final finding report) be purged from the student's record, and the school shall purge the notification letter (rather than final finding report) from the student's record in accordance with the Illinois School Student Records Act. Requires the notification letter to provide the date of expungement from the central register. Removes a provision requiring all reports made by mandated reporters to be confirmed in writing to the appropriate Child Protective Service Unit within 48 hours of any initial report.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/1/2024 - Effective Date January 1, 2025

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning residency and the payment of tuition, provides that a child who has been removed from the child's parent or guardian by the Department of Children and Family Services as part of a safety plan shall not be charged tuition as a nonresident pupil if the foster parent, childcare facility, relative caregiver, or non-custodial parent is located in a school district other than the child's former school district and it is in the child's best interest to maintain attendance at the child's former school district.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 - Specifies that when placing the child in a school district other than the child's former school district, the Department of Children and Family Services may make the placement decision when it is in the child's best interest to maintain attendance at the child's former school district or at a school district the child would have attended if the child was not removed from the child's parent or guardian by the Department of Children and Family Services.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/1/2024 - Effective Date January 1, 2025

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that scholarships awarded under the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program may be granted to individuals employed as teachers who agree to pursue a master's degree at a qualified institution of higher learning in order to teach dual credit courses at a secondary school. Provides that for any individual receiving a scholarship to teach dual credit courses, following the completion of the program of study, the individual must teach at least one dual credit course per school year in a secondary school in this State for a period of at least 5 years. Provides that individuals who fail to comply shall refund all of the awarded scholarships to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, whether payments were made directly to the institutions of higher learning or to the individuals, and this condition shall be agreed to in writing by the scholarship recipients at the time the scholarship is awarded. Provides that no individual may be required to refund tuition payments if his or her failure to teach a dual credit course in a secondary school is the result of financial conditions within school districts. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that certain property may be certified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as containing a megaproject. Provides that a "megaproject" is a project that meets certain investment and job creation specifications. Provides that the megaproject property is eligible for an assessment freeze. Provides that megaproject property may be granted an abatement. Provides that a company that operates a megaproject shall enter into an agreement with the municipality in which the project is located and other local taxing districts to make certain special payments. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that qualified tangible personal property used in the construction or development of a megaproject is exempt from the taxes imposed under those Acts. Effective June 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2024 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that an association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State shall adopt the Spirit Rules Book published by the National Federation of State High School Associations or a similar document as the safety standards for student cheerleaders, spirit groups, and their coaches who participate in any school activity or extracurricular student activity sponsored or sanctioned by that association or other entity. Effective January 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/1/2024 - Effective Date January 1, 2025

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that each school district shall provide to students, in addition to and not substituting recess, at least once a week, relaxation activities to enhance the mental and physical health of students as part of the school day. Specifies which activities may be considered relaxation activities. Provides that a school district may partner with local community-based organizations to provide relaxation activities. Provides that these activities may take place in a physical education class, social-emotional learning class, or student-support or advisory class or as a part of another similar class, including a new class.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Provides that the relaxation activities may (instead of shall) be provided for at least 20 minutes a week (instead of at least once a week). Provides that a school district may partner with public and private community organizations (instead of local community-based organizations) to provide relaxation activities.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/14/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may (instead of shall) make menstrual hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in bathrooms of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/9/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sue Rezin

Amends the Data Governance and Organization to Support Equity and Racial Justice Act. Provides that, when the State Board of Education and specified Departments report demographic data, they shall use the same classifications as the Governor's Office of Equity, or other classifications as designated by the Governor, to develop a common set of racial and ethnic classifications for use by the Board and Department. Provides that the demographic classifications established shall be reviewed and updated as necessary every 5 years. Provides for exemptions from this reporting requirement. Provides that the Governor's Office of Equity shall establish a project implementation team to oversee the implementation of the Act. Provides that the Governor's Office of Equity or other entity as the Governor may designate shall work in conjunction with the Department of Innovation and Technology to identify and provide advice on common technological processes and procedures. Makes other changes.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that reports issued under the provisions shall be issued by October 31 of each year (rather than September 30 of each year). Provides that the Department of Human Services, under the direction of the Office of the Governor, shall establish, by rule, demographic classifications for each reporting category, including race and ethnicity, age, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and primary or preferred language. Provides that the project implementation team shall include a representative from the Department of Human Services. Removes a provision concerning programs administered by the State Board of Education or specified Departments that serves and collects data from individuals younger than 18 years old or adults who are receiving services due to having been victims of domestic violence. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/21/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a comprehensive strategic plan, provides that the State Board of Education shall annually review the strategic plan, update the contents of the plan if necessary, and provide updates to the Governor and General Assembly (instead of requiring the plan to be updated and issued to the Governor and General Assembly). Makes changes concerning property tax relief pool grants and tuition for non-resident pupils. In provisions concerning hazardous materials training, provides that the State Board may identify in-service training programs to be used by school boards (instead of shall approve in-service training programs). In provisions concerning e-learning days, provides that a research-based program for e-learning days shall be verified annually before the implementation of any e-learning days in a school year (instead of requiring verification on or before September 1st annually); makes other changes. In provisions concerning school counseling services, provides that school counseling services shall (instead of may) be provided by school counselors and may be delivered through a comprehensive school counseling program; makes other changes. Makes changes concerning the reporting of firearms and drug-related incidents in schools, educator licensure, reenrolled students, and career and technical education. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Makes changes concerning threat assessment team members, and fixes a typographical error. Amends the Vocational Education Act. Makes changes regarding the Gender Equity Advisory Committee.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. Makes changes concerning the data on teacher experience and education for a teacher who teaches a combination of courses. Makes changes to provisions concerning school counseling services and the reporting of firearms and drug-related incidents in schools. Makes changes regarding the membership of the Gender Equity Advisory Committee. Further amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the Expanded High School Snapshot Report, changes the name of the report to the Expanded High School Coursework Snapshot Report, specifies that the Report shall cover public high schools, and makes changes concerning when the Report shall be prepared and what the Report shall include. Allows intermediate service centers to claim evidence-based funding for students enrolled in truants' alternative and optional education programs. Provides that a regional office of education or intermediate service center that operates an alternative school program or an entity that operates an alternative learning opportunities program is entitled to evidence-based funding. Makes related changes, including removing an alternative school, safe school, and alternative learning opportunities program from the definition of "Specially Funded Unit" in the provisions concerning the evidence-based funding formula and providing for a Base Funding Minimum. Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as engrossed with the following changes. Removes changes concerning alternative school programs. Makes changes to the definitions of "local capacity percentage" and "low-income count". Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 3 - Provides that the Teacher Performance Assessment Task Force shall report to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly by October 31, 2024 (rather than August 1, 2024).

  CURRENT STATUS

6/18/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Creates the Zero Emissions School Bus Funding Program Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency shall administer a Zero Emissions School Bus Funding Program for public schools to acquire funding to transition their school bus fleets to zero-emission fleets. Provides requirements for the Program, as well as factors for the Agency to consider in awarding funds, including demonstrating the ability to deploy the largest number of electric buses feasible, leveraging local, State, and federal funding, as well as incorporating microgrid technology. Authorities the Agency to adopt rules to implement and administer the Act. Defines terms.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning restrictions on prekindergarten through grade 2 assessments, provides that the term "diagnostic and screening purposes" includes to determine eligibility for advanced academic programs, as defined in the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the Code. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/14/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that the term "Student Permanent Record" may include a special education summary of performance form. Provides that representatives of the Department of Human Services, for the sole purpose of assessing waiver services qualification of a student, shall have the right to inspect and copy the student's school student permanent record.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/10/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching, to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage, and to encourage teachers to be matched with student teachers. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $2,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning the distribution of funds to eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning cooperating teacher training. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, shall submit a report evaluating the impact of the stipend program on educator preparation programs to the General Assembly and Governor on or before June 30, 2028. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Illinois Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Provides that Local Emergency Planning Committees and the State Emergency Response Commission partner with schools and school districts regarding safety threats posed by storage and transport of hazardous substances near schools. Provides requirements for a comprehensive emergency response plan to go into effect. Details duties of the State Emergency Response Commission, working in consultation with Local Emergency Planning Committees and schools, with respect to planning and preparedness. Provides for rulemaking by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. Directs the Illinois Emergency Response Commission and Local Emergency Response Committees to create a timeline for compliance with the requirements of the amendatory Act not to exceed 2 years. Defines terms.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning grant award amounts and required local matches, provides that the required local match and grant award amount are calculated by multiplying the required local match percentage and the grant award percentage by the recognized project cost, provided that, for the first application in which an applicant is funded (instead of only during the first application cycle after June 30, 2022), the amounts may be adjusted. Provides that to receive an adjustment, a school district on the 2004, 2005, or 2006 School Construction Grant List must initially apply and be approved during the first 3 application cycles after June 30, 2024. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/20/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning holidays, provides that no deduction shall be made from the time or compensation of a school employee, including an educational support personnel employee, on account of any legal or special holiday during which time the employee is contractually employed (instead of on account of any legal or special holiday in which that employee would have otherwise been scheduled to work but for the legal or special holiday).

  CURRENT STATUS

2/7/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning State Global Scholar Certification, provides that 6 units of credit shall be required to achieve State Global Scholar Certification (instead of not specifying how many units of credit are required). Provides for global collaboration or (instead of and) dialogue. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to provide students attending schools that do not currently offer State Global Scholar Certification the opportunity to earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Sets forth what those rules shall include and other requirements. Provides that a student enrolled in a school district or nonpublic school that awarded State Global Scholar Certification prior to the 2026-2027 school year and offered a course to complete the capstone project requirement prior to the 2026-2027 school year may not earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely.

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Deletes references to "units of credit". Provides that the rules that the State Board of Education is required to adopt shall include a list of all school courses and course codes derived from the State Board of Education's Illinois State Course Catalog and Illinois Virtual Course Catalog (instead of just the Illinois State Course Catalog) that are designated as and qualify as globally focused coursework. Removes the requirement that the adopted rules include a mechanism to complete the capstone project requirement as part of an online course taught by a licensed teacher. Provides for the provider (instead of a provider) of the online course determining and demonstrating that a student meets all of the criteria required to earn State Global Scholar Certification.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/21/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of election commissioners may use public school buildings as polling places only if a school board or a local school council approves the use of that school. Provides that, if the county board or board of election commissioners uses all convenient and available public buildings and determines that a public school building is needed as a polling place, it shall send a written request to use the public school building to the school board or local school council. Sets forth provisions concerning the contents of the request and the response to the request. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board or local school council shall have the power to approve or deny, in accordance with the school board or local school council's rules and policies, any request of a county board or board of election commissioners to use a school building as a polling place. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

6/26/2024 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department of Public Health, shall develop type 1 diabetes informational materials for parents and guardians of students. Provides that the informational materials shall be made available to each school district and charter school on the State Board's website. Provides that the school board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school shall make the informational materials accessible to a parent or guardian when the student is first enrolled in elementary school or in a school's student handbook on and after July 1, 2024. Sets forth what the provided information may include. Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. Provides that each school district and charter school shall post the informational materials on the school district's or charter school's website, if any. Removes the provision requiring that the school board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school make the informational materials accessible to the parent or guardian of a student when the student is first enrolled in elementary school or in a school's student handbook on and after July 1, 2024. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

7/1/2024 - Effective Date July 1, 2024

Creates the Let America Read Act. Provides that an entity or an entity's staff with oversight over the books, instructional materials, or curriculum used in a public school may not refuse to approve or prohibit the use of books, instructional materials, or a curriculum, including, but not limited to, memoirs, autobiographies, and biographies, based upon the depiction of matters of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health, gender identity, religion, or human rights activism. Provides that these provisions do not restrict an entity with oversight over the books, instructional materials, or curriculum used in a public school from imposing limitations on the access to books, instructional materials, or a curriculum based upon the age and developmental level of the students who will have access. Amends the School Code to set forth a penalty for a school district that violates the Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/14/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III

Amends the Transitional Bilingual Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, a program in transitional bilingual education shall include a unit of instruction that teaches English learners about American civics and culture. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Advisory Council on Bilingual Education, shall establish and publish learning standards for a school district to utilize for this unit of instruction. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/9/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy may allow for the waiver of a course or unit of instruction completion requirement if (i) completion of the course or unit of instruction is required by the Code or rules adopted by the State Board of Education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma and (ii) the school district has determined that the student has demonstrated mastery of or competency in the content of the course or unit of instruction. Provides that the school district shall maintain documentation of this determination of mastery or competency for each student, which must include identification of the learning standards or competencies reviewed, the methods of measurement used, student performance, the date of the determination, and identification of the district personnel involved in the determination process. Provides that a school district must provide notification to a student's parent or guardian that the student will receive a waiver. Makes a corresponding change in the Courses of Study Article of the Code. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. In provisions concerning accelerated placement, provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy shall cover a student who exceeds State standards in specified coursework (instead of meets or exceeds State standards in specified coursework). Provides that by no later than the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall provide the option, in the following school term, for a student to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered following specified requirements for specified coursework. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/3/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall require a school to have present at the school during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity at least one automated external defibrillator and one or more trained AED users. Provides that an automated external defibrillator installed and maintained in accordance with the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced, but provides that a school district shall require all attendance centers to have present during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity on school grounds at least one automated external defibrillator (instead of a school district shall require a school to have present at the school during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity at least one automated external defibrillator and one or more trained AED users).

  CURRENT STATUS

6/21/2024 - Sent to Governor for Signature

Creates the School District Impact Note Act. Requires the State Board of Education to prepare a School District Impact Note for every bill or amendment to a bill that direct appropriation, regulates, imposes a mandate upon, or otherwise affects the provision of public education. Specifies the contents of the note and the circumstances under which the note is to be prepared. Clarifies that the preparation of the note does not preclude any State officials or employees from participating in legislative hearings concerning the bill. Provides that the subject matter of bills submitted to the State Board of Education shall be kept in strict confidence, and no information relating to the bill or its anticipated impact on education in the State shall be divulged, before the bill's introduction in the General Assembly, by any State official or employee of the State Board, except to the bill's sponsor or his or her designee. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/26/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Donald P. DeWitte

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning daily pupil attendance calculation, removes provisions specifying that days of attendance by pupils through verified participation in an e-learning program adopted by a school board and verified by the regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district shall be considered as full days of attendance. Effective July 1, 2024.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/21/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Chapin Rose

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning radon testing, provides that every school building of a school district that is occupied or will be occupied shall be tested by January 1, 2028 and shall be tested every 5 years thereafter for radon (instead of recommending that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon). Provides that all new schools of a school district shall be built using radon resistant new construction techniques in accordance with the American National Standards Institute/American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists CC-1000, Soil Gas Control Systems in New Construction of Multifamily, School, Commercial and Mixed-Use Buildings standard or a successor standard (instead of recommending that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques, as shown in the United States Environmental Protection Agency document, Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings). Removes a provision allowing a person to perform radon screening tests without a license. Makes changes concerning the exemption. Provides that if radon is found to exceed specified levels, then the school district shall (instead of may) hire a licensed radon professional to perform confirmatory measurements (instead of to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made). Sets forth provisions concerning mitigation. Provides that a school district may use life safety funds, if available, for radon testing and mitigation. Preempts home rule powers.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/26/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick

Repeals the School Construction Bond Act. Amends the Statute on Statutes, the General Obligation Bond Act, and the Prevailing Wage Act to make conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/9/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Recognizes that public high schools in the State are uniquely positioned to reach all young people, that public schools have a civic purpose to prepare youth, regardless of college or career aspirations, to participate in our democracy, and that public schools fulfill that civic purpose when the school provides education on the registration process and the infrastructure to register qualified students to vote. Urges election authorities in the State of Illinois to conduct outreach and trainings for high school principals to encourage principals to become deputy registrars. Urges election authorities in the State of Illinois to conduct outreach and trainings for qualified students to serve as deputy registrars so that students appointed as deputy registrars may register qualified peers to vote on their school campuses. Encourages every public high school in the State of Illinois to conduct voter registration drives on its campus for all qualified students.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Removes a clause referencing principals being qualified to be appointed deputy registrars under the Election Code. Removes a clause urging election authorities to conduct outreach and training for high school principals to become deputy registrars.

  CURRENT STATUS

5/25/2024 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen