Public Act 104-0115
 
SB1616 EnrolledLRB104 12054 LNS 22149 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 
2-3.206 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)
    Sec. 2-3.206. Scheduling guidance for major school events. 
    (a) As used in this Section, "major school event" means a 
school sanctioned or sponsored event that is part of a school 
or school district's locally created school calendar for the 
year, including, but not limited to, events or activities that 
would be difficult for a student to make up.
    (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with 
stakeholders, shall identify dates during the year of cultural 
or religious significance to the student population and in 
which students may have out-of-school commitments or otherwise 
be unable to participate in a major school event.
    By July 1 of each year, the State Board of Education shall 
prominently post on its website and distribute to each school 
district a nonexhaustive list of the identified days and dates 
of cultural, religious, or other observances for, at a 
minimum, the school year that begins in the next calendar year 
as a resource for making scheduling decisions for major school 
events. The list shall include a statement encouraging schools 
to be mindful of the days and dates of cultural, religious, or 
other observances that impact student participation as schools 
plan major school events.
    (c) The list of cultural, religious, or other observances 
under subsection (b) shall additionally include a statement 
indicating that the list is only for scheduling guidance 
purposes and does not affect a student's right to be excused 
from attendance because of the observance of a religious 
holiday pursuant to Section 26-2b of this Code, regardless of 
whether the religious holiday appears on the list.
    Upon the posting and distribution of the list, the State 
Board of Education shall also inform school districts that the 
list is nonexhaustive and that a school district may include 
additional days and dates on its locally created school 
calendars based on community feedback or demographics.
    The State Board of Education shall additionally distribute 
the list each year to relevant associations or entities as 
determined by the State Board of Education.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.