Public Act 0391 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1740 Enrolled LRB104 05609 LNS 15639 b

Public Act 104-0391

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act is amended by changing Section 4 as follows:

(30 ILCS 705/4) (from Ch. 127, par. 2304)

Sec. 4. Grant Application and Agreement Requirements.

(a) Any person or organization, public or private, desiring to receive grant funds must submit a grant application to the appropriate grantor agency. Applications for grant funds shall be made on prescribed forms developed by the grantor agency, and shall include, without being limited to, the following provisions:

(1) the name, address, chief officers, and general description of the applicant;

(2) a general description of the program, project, or use for which grant funding is requested;

(3) such plans, equipment lists, and other documents as may be required to show the type, structure, and general character of the program, project, or use for which grant funding is requested;

(4) cost estimates of developing, constructing, operating, or completing the program, project, or use for which grant funding is requested; and

(5) a program of proposed expenditures for the grant funds.

(b) Grant funds may not be used except pursuant to a written grant agreement, and any disbursement of grant funds without a grant agreement is void. At a minimum, a grant agreement must:

(1) describe the purpose of the grant and be signed by the grantor agency making the grant and all grantees of the grant;

(2) except for grant agreements pertaining to school maintenance project grants under Section 5-100 of the School Construction Law, specify how payments shall be made, what constitutes permissible expenditure of the grant funds, and the financial controls applicable to the grant, including, for those grants in excess of $25,000, the filing of quarterly reports describing the progress of the program, project, or use and the expenditure of the grant funds related thereto;

(2.5) for grant agreements pertaining to school maintenance project grants under Section 5-100 of the School Construction Law, specify how payments shall be made, what constitutes permissible expenditure of the grant funds, and the financial controls applicable to the grant, including the filing of final reports describing the program, project, or use and the expenditure of the grant funds related thereto;

(3) specify the period of time for which the grant is valid and, subject to the limitation of Section 5, the period of time during which grant funds may be expended by the grantee;

(4) contain a provision that any grantees receiving grant funds are required to permit the grantor agency, the Auditor General, or the Attorney General to inspect and audit any books, records, or papers related to the program, project, or use for which grant funds were provided;

(5) contain a provision that all funds remaining at the end of the grant agreement or at the expiration of the period of time grant funds are available for expenditure or obligation by the grantee shall be returned to the State within 45 days; and

(6) contain a provision in which the grantee certifies under oath that all information in the grant agreement is true and correct to the best of the grantee's knowledge, information, and belief; that the funds shall be used only for the purposes described in the grant agreement; and that the award of grant funds is conditioned upon such certification.

(Source: P.A. 96-795, eff. 7-1-10 (see Section 5 of P.A. 96-793 for the effective date of changes made by P.A. 96-795).)

Section 10. The Soybean Ink Act is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:

(50 ILCS 520/10)

Sec. 10. Use of soybean ink. Contractors shall use soybean oil-based ink when providing printing services to units of local government and school districts unless the unit of local government or school district determines that another type of ink is required to assure high quality and reasonable pricing of the printed product.

(Source: P.A. 90-146, eff. 1-1-98.)

Section 15. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 2-3.14, 2-3.25, 2-3.25g, 2-3.66b, 2-3.190, 10-17a, 10-20.9a, 10-20.13, 10-20.14, 10-20.19c, 10-22.39, 10-30, 22-80, 22-83, 24-2, 26A-15, 26A-25, 27A-5, 34-18.66, and 34-21.6, by adding Sections 22-62, 22-115, 27-105, 27-205, 27-210, 27-215, 27-220, 27-225, 27-230, 27-235, 27-240, 27-245, 27-250, 27-255, 27-405, 27-510, and 27-1005, by adding headings preceding Sections 27-1, 27-105, 27-205, 27-305, 27-405, 27-505, 27-605, 27-705, 27-805, 27-905, and 27-1005, by changing and renumbering Sections 27-4, 27-6, 27-6.3, 27-7, 27-8.1, 27-9.1b, 27-12.1, 27-13.3, 27-17, 27-20.05, 27-20.08, 27-21, 27-22, 27-22.1, 27-22.05, 27-22.10, 27-24, 27-24.7, 27-24.10, and 27-27, and by renumbering Sections 27-5, 27-6.5, 27-9, 27-9.1a, 27-13.1, 27-14, 27-20.1, 27-20.3, 27-20.4, 27-20.5, 27-20.6, 27-20.7, 27-20.8, 27-22.2, 27-22.3, 27-23.1, 27-23.4, 27-23.5, 27-23.6, 27-23.7, 27-23.8, 27-23.10, 27-23.11, 27-23.13, 27-23.14, 27-23.15, 27-23.16, 27-23.17, as added by Public Act 103-598, 27-23.17, as added by Public Act 103-764, 27-24.1, 27-24.2, 27-24.2a, 27-24.3, 27-24.4, 27-24.5, 27-24.6, 27-24.8, and 27-24.9 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.14)

Sec. 2-3.14. Representative government. To put into effect the provisions of Sections 27-510 and 27-515 of this Code 27-3 and 27-4 relative to representative government.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.25) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25)

Sec. 2-3.25. Standards for schools.

(a) To determine for all types of schools conducted under this Act efficient and adequate standards for the physical plant, heating, lighting, ventilation, sanitation, safety, equipment and supplies, instruction and teaching, curriculum, library, operation, maintenance, administration and supervision, and to issue, refuse to issue or revoke certificates of recognition for schools or school districts pursuant to standards established hereunder; to determine and establish efficient and adequate standards for approval of credit for courses given and conducted by schools outside of the regular school term.

(a-5) (Blank). On or before July 1, 2021, the State Board of Education must adopt revised social science learning standards that are inclusive and reflective of all individuals in this country.

(b) (Blank). Whenever it appears that a secondary or unit school district may be unable to offer courses enabling students in grades 9 through 12 to meet the minimum preparation and admission requirements for public colleges and universities adopted by the Board of Higher Education, the State Board of Education shall assist the district in reviewing and analyzing its existing curriculum with particular reference to the educational needs of all pupils of the district and the sufficiency of existing and future revenues and payments available to the district for development of a curriculum which will provide maximum educational opportunity to pupils of the district. The review and analysis may consider achievement of this goal not only through implementation of traditional classroom methods but also through development of and participation in joint educational programs with other school districts or institutions of higher education, or alternative programs employing modern technological methods including but not limited to the use of television, telephones, computers, radio and other electronic devices.

(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)

Sec. 2-3.25g. Waiver or modification of mandates within the School Code and administrative rules and regulations.

(a) In this Section:

"Board" means a school board or the governing board or administrative district, as the case may be, for a joint agreement.

"Eligible applicant" means a school district, joint agreement made up of school districts, or regional superintendent of schools on behalf of schools and programs operated by the regional office of education.

"Implementation date" has the meaning set forth in Section 24A-2.5 of this Code.

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School Code or any other law of this State to the contrary, eligible applicants may petition the State Board of Education for the waiver or modification of the mandates of this School Code or of the administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. Waivers or modifications of administrative rules and regulations and modifications of mandates of this School Code may be requested when an eligible applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve student performance. Waivers of mandates of the School Code may be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate innovation or improve student performance or when the applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the mandate of the School Code in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner. Waivers may not be requested from laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to special education, teacher educator licensure, teacher tenure and seniority, or Section 5-2.1 of this Code or from compliance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95). Eligible applicants may not seek a waiver or seek a modification of a mandate regarding the requirements for (i) student performance data to be a significant factor in teacher or principal evaluations or (ii) teachers and principals to be rated using the 4 categories of "excellent", "proficient", "needs improvement", or "unsatisfactory". On September 1, 2014, any previously authorized waiver or modification from such requirements shall terminate.

(c) Eligible applicants, as a matter of inherent managerial policy, and any Independent Authority established under Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code may submit an application for a waiver or modification authorized under this Section. Each application must include a written request by the eligible applicant or Independent Authority and must demonstrate that the intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or be based upon a specific plan for improved student performance and school improvement. Any eligible applicant requesting a waiver or modification for the reason that intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more economical manner shall include in the application a fiscal analysis showing current expenditures on the mandate and projected savings resulting from the waiver or modification. Applications and plans developed by eligible applicants must be approved by the board or regional superintendent of schools applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the regional office of education following a public hearing on the application and plan and the opportunity for the board or regional superintendent to hear testimony from staff directly involved in its implementation, parents, and students. The time period for such testimony shall be separate from the time period established by the eligible applicant for public comment on other matters.

(c-5) If the applicant is a school district, then the district shall post information that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the district is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized pursuant to Section 27-815 27-24.2 of this Code, the website information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the district will request. All school districts must publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing. Districts requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the district will request. If the applicant is a joint agreement or regional superintendent, then the joint agreement or regional superintendent shall post information that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the joint agreement or regional superintendent is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized pursuant to Section 27-815 27-24.2 of this Code, the website information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will request. All joint agreements and regional superintendents must publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each school district that is a member of the joint agreement or that is served by the educational service region that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing, provided that a notice appearing in a newspaper generally circulated in more than one school district shall be deemed to fulfill this requirement with respect to all of the affected districts. Joint agreements or regional superintendents requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will request. The eligible applicant must notify either electronically or in writing the affected exclusive collective bargaining agent and those State legislators representing the eligible applicant's territory of its intent to seek approval of a waiver or modification and of the hearing to be held to take testimony from staff. The affected exclusive collective bargaining agents shall be notified of such public hearing at least 7 days prior to the date of the hearing and shall be allowed to attend such public hearing. The eligible applicant shall attest to compliance with all of the notification and procedural requirements set forth in this Section.

(d) A request for a waiver or modification of administrative rules and regulations or for a modification of mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to the State Board of Education within 15 days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall include a description of the public hearing. Following receipt of the waiver or modification request, the State Board shall have 45 days to review the application and request. If the State Board fails to disapprove the application within that 45-day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted. The State Board may disapprove any request if it is not based upon sound educational practices, endangers the health or safety of students or staff, compromises equal opportunities for learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the rule or mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or have improved student performance as a primary goal. Any request disapproved by the State Board may be appealed to the General Assembly by the eligible applicant as outlined in this Section.

A request for a waiver from mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to the State Board within 15 days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall include a description of the public hearing. The description shall include, but need not be limited to, the means of notice, the number of people in attendance, the number of people who spoke as proponents or opponents of the waiver, a brief description of their comments, and whether there were any written statements submitted. The State Board shall review the applications and requests for completeness and shall compile the requests in reports to be filed with the General Assembly. The State Board shall file reports outlining the waivers requested by eligible applicants and appeals by eligible applicants of requests disapproved by the State Board with the Senate and the House of Representatives before each March 1 and October 1.

The report shall be reviewed by a panel of 4 members consisting of:

(1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(3) the President of the Senate; and

(4) the Minority Leader of the Senate. The State Board of Education may provide the panel recommendations on waiver requests. The members of the panel shall review the report submitted by the State Board of Education and submit to the State Board of Education any notice of further consideration to any waiver request within 14 days after the member receives the report. If 3 or more of the panel members submit a notice of further consideration to any waiver request contained within the report, the State Board of Education shall submit the waiver request to the General Assembly for consideration. If less than 3 panel members submit a notice of further consideration to a waiver request, the waiver may be approved, denied, or modified by the State Board. If the State Board does not act on a waiver request within 10 days, then the waiver request is approved. If the waiver request is denied by the State Board, it shall submit the waiver request to the General Assembly for consideration.

The General Assembly may disapprove any waiver request submitted to the General Assembly pursuant to this subsection (d) in whole or in part within 60 calendar days after each house of the General Assembly next convenes after the waiver request is submitted by adoption of a resolution by a record vote of the majority of members elected in each house. If the General Assembly fails to disapprove any waiver request or appealed request within such 60-day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted. Any resolution adopted by the General Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board in whole or in part shall be binding on the State Board.

(e) An approved waiver or modification may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 5 school years and may be renewed upon application by the eligible applicant. However, such waiver or modification may be changed within that 5-year period by a board or regional superintendent of schools applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the regional office of education following the procedure as set forth in this Section for the initial waiver or modification request. If neither the State Board of Education nor the General Assembly disapproves, the change is deemed granted.

(f) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 100-782, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.66b)

Sec. 2-3.66b. IHOPE Program.

(a) There is established the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program. The State Board of Education shall implement and administer the IHOPE Program. The goal of the IHOPE Program is to develop a comprehensive system in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma.

(b) The IHOPE Program shall award grants, subject to appropriation for this purpose, to educational service regions and a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code from appropriated funds to assist in establishing instructional programs and other services designed to re-enroll high school dropouts. From any funds appropriated for the IHOPE Program, the State Board of Education may use up to 5% for administrative costs, including the performance of a program evaluation and the hiring of staff to implement and administer the program.

The IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for regional offices of education and a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code to develop partnerships with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school dropouts in their regions or districts.

Programs funded through the IHOPE Program shall allow high school dropouts, up to and including age 21 notwithstanding Section 26-2 of this Code, to re-enroll in an educational program in conformance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Programs may include without limitation comprehensive year-round programming, evening school, summer school, community college courses, adult education, vocational training, work experience, programs to enhance self-concept, and parenting courses. Any student in the IHOPE Program who wishes to earn a high school diploma must meet the prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma specified in Section 27-605 27-22 of this Code and any other graduation requirements of the student's district of residence. Any student who successfully completes the requirements for his or her graduation shall receive a diploma identifying the student as graduating from his or her district of residence.

(c) In order to be eligible for funding under the IHOPE Program, an interested regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code shall develop an IHOPE Plan to be approved by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall develop rules for the IHOPE Program that shall set forth the requirements for the development of the IHOPE Plan. Each Plan shall involve school districts, public community colleges, and key community programs that work with high school dropouts located in an educational service region or the City of Chicago before the Plan is sent to the State Board for approval. No funds may be distributed to a regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code until the State Board has approved the Plan.

(d) A regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code may operate its own program funded by the IHOPE Program or enter into a contract with other not-for-profit entities, including school districts, public community colleges, and not-for-profit community-based organizations, to operate a program.

A regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code that receives an IHOPE grant from the State Board of Education may provide funds under a sub-grant, as specified in the IHOPE Plan, to other not-for-profit entities to provide services according to the IHOPE Plan that was developed. These other entities may include school districts, public community colleges, or not-for-profit community-based organizations or a cooperative partnership among these entities.

(e) In order to distribute funding based upon the need to ensure delivery of programs that will have the greatest impact, IHOPE Program funding must be distributed based upon the proportion of dropouts in the educational service region or school district, in the case of a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, to the total number of dropouts in this State. This formula shall employ the dropout data provided by school districts to the State Board of Education.

A regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code may claim State aid under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code for students enrolled in a program funded by the IHOPE Program, provided that the State Board of Education has approved the IHOPE Plan and that these students are receiving services that are meeting the requirements of Section 27-605 27-22 of this Code for receipt of a high school diploma and are otherwise eligible to be claimed for general State aid under Section 18-8.05 of this Code or evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, including provisions related to the minimum number of days of pupil attendance pursuant to Section 10-19 of this Code and the minimum number of daily hours of school work required under Section 10-19.05 and any exceptions thereto as defined by the State Board of Education in rules.

(f) IHOPE categories of programming may include the following:

(1) Full-time programs that are comprehensive, year-round programs.

(2) Part-time programs combining work and study scheduled at various times that are flexible to the needs of students.

(3) Online programs and courses in which students take courses and complete on-site, supervised tests that measure the student's mastery of a specific course needed for graduation. Students may take courses online and earn credit or students may prepare to take supervised tests for specific courses for credit leading to receipt of a high school diploma.

(4) Dual enrollment in which students attend high school classes in combination with community college classes or students attend community college classes while simultaneously earning high school credit and eventually a high school diploma.

(g) In order to have successful comprehensive programs re-enrolling and graduating low-skilled high school dropouts, programs funded through the IHOPE Program shall include all of the following components:

(1) Small programs (70 to 100 students) at a separate school site with a distinct identity. Programs may be larger with specific need and justification, keeping in mind that it is crucial to keep programs small to be effective.

(2) Specific performance-based goals and outcomes and measures of enrollment, attendance, skills, credits, graduation, and the transition to college, training, and employment.

(3) Strong, experienced leadership and teaching staff who are provided with ongoing professional development.

(4) Voluntary enrollment.

(5) High standards for student learning, integrating work experience, and education, including during the school year and after school, and summer school programs that link internships, work, and learning.

(6) Comprehensive programs providing extensive support services.

(7) Small teams of students supported by full-time paid mentors who work to retain and help those students graduate.

(8) A comprehensive technology learning center with Internet access and broad-based curriculum focusing on academic and career subject areas.

(9) Learning opportunities that incorporate action into study.

(h) Programs funded through the IHOPE Program must report data to the State Board of Education as requested. This information shall include, but is not limited to, student enrollment figures, attendance information, course completion data, graduation information, and post-graduation information, as available.

(i) Rules must be developed by the State Board of Education to set forth the fund distribution process to regional offices of education and a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, the planning and the conditions upon which an IHOPE Plan would be approved by State Board, and other rules to develop the IHOPE Program.

(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 101-12, eff. 7-1-19.)

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.190)

Sec. 2-3.190. Anaphylactic policy for school districts.

(a) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall establish an anaphylactic policy for school districts setting forth guidelines and procedures to be followed both for the prevention of anaphylaxis and during a medical emergency resulting from anaphylaxis. The policy shall be developed after consultation with the advisory committee established pursuant to Section 27-225 of this Code 5 of the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. In establishing the policy required under this Section, the State Board shall consider existing requirements and current and best practices for schools regarding allergies and anaphylaxis. The State Board must also consider the voluntary guidelines for managing food allergies in schools issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

(b) The anaphylactic policy established under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) A procedure and treatment plan, including emergency protocols and responsibilities for school nurses and other appropriate school personnel, for responding to anaphylaxis.

(2) Requirements for a training course for appropriate school personnel on preventing and responding to anaphylaxis.

(3) A procedure and appropriate guidelines for the development of an individualized emergency health care plan for children with a food or other allergy that could result in anaphylaxis.

(4) A communication plan for intake and dissemination of information provided by this State regarding children with a food or other allergy that could result in anaphylaxis, including a discussion of methods, treatments, and therapies to reduce the risk of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.

(5) Strategies for reducing the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents, including food and other allergens.

(6) A communication plan for discussion with children who have developed adequate verbal communication and comprehension skills and with the parents or guardians of all children about foods that are safe and unsafe and about strategies to avoid exposure to unsafe food.

(c) At least once each calendar year, each school district shall send a notification to the parents or guardians of all children under the care of a school to make them aware of the anaphylactic policy. The notification shall include contact information for parents and guardians to engage further with the school to learn more about individualized aspects of the policy.

(d) At least 6 months after August 20, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-413), the anaphylactic policy established under subsection (a) shall be forwarded by the State Board to the school board of each school district in this State. Each school district shall implement or update, as appropriate, its anaphylactic policy in accordance with those developed by the State Board within 6 months after receiving the anaphylactic policy from the State Board.

(e) The anaphylactic policy established under subsection (a) shall be reviewed and updated, if necessary, at least once every 3 years.

(f) The State Board shall post the anaphylactic policy established under subsection (a) and resources regarding allergies and anaphylaxis on its website.

(g) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-413, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-17a)

Sec. 10-17a. State, school district, and school report cards; Expanded High School Snapshot Report.

(1) By October 31, 2013 and October 31 of each subsequent school year, the State Board of Education, through the State Superintendent of Education, shall prepare a State report card, school district report cards, and school report cards, and shall by the most economical means provide to each school district in this State, including special charter districts and districts subject to the provisions of Article 34, the report cards for the school district and each of its schools. Because of the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency during school year 2020-2021, the State Board of Education shall have until December 31, 2021 to prepare and provide the report cards that would otherwise be due by October 31, 2021. During a school year in which the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the report cards for the school districts and each of its schools shall be prepared by December 31.

(2) In addition to any information required by federal law, the State Superintendent shall determine the indicators and presentation of the school report card, which must include, at a minimum, the most current data collected and maintained by the State Board of Education related to the following:

(A) school characteristics and student demographics, including average class size, average teaching experience, student racial/ethnic breakdown, and the percentage of students classified as low-income; the percentage of students classified as English learners, the number of students who graduate from a bilingual or English learner program, and the number of students who graduate from, transfer from, or otherwise leave bilingual programs; the percentage of students who have individualized education plans or 504 plans that provide for special education services; the number and the percentage of all students in grades kindergarten through 8, disaggregated by the student demographics described in this paragraph (A), in each of the following categories: (i) those who have been assessed for placement in a gifted education program or accelerated placement, (ii) those who have enrolled in a gifted education program or in accelerated placement, and (iii) for each of categories (i) and (ii), those who received direct instruction from a teacher who holds a gifted education endorsement; the number and the percentage of all students in grades 9 through 12, disaggregated by the student demographics described in this paragraph (A), who have been enrolled in an advanced academic program; the percentage of students scoring at the "exceeds expectations" level on the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code; the percentage of students who annually transferred in or out of the school district; average daily attendance; the per-pupil operating expenditure of the school district; and the per-pupil State average operating expenditure for the district type (elementary, high school, or unit);

(B) curriculum information, including, where applicable, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or equivalent courses, dual credit courses, foreign language classes, computer science courses, school personnel resources (including Career Technical Education teachers), before and after school programs, extracurricular activities, subjects in which elective classes are offered, health and wellness initiatives (including the average number of days of Physical Education per week per student), approved programs of study, awards received, community partnerships, and special programs such as programming for the gifted and talented, students with disabilities, and work-study students;

(C) student outcomes, including, where applicable, the percentage of students deemed proficient on assessments of State standards, the percentage of students in the eighth grade who pass Algebra, the percentage of students who participated in workplace learning experiences, the percentage of students enrolled in post-secondary institutions (including colleges, universities, community colleges, trade/vocational schools, and training programs leading to career certification within 2 semesters of high school graduation), the percentage of students graduating from high school who are college and career ready, the percentage of graduates enrolled in community colleges, colleges, and universities who are in one or more courses that the community college, college, or university identifies as a developmental course, and the percentage of students with disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Article 14 of this Code who have fulfilled the minimum State graduation requirements set forth in Section 27-605 27-22 of this Code and have been issued a regular high school diploma;

(D) student progress, including, where applicable, the percentage of students in the ninth grade who have earned 5 credits or more without failing more than one core class, a measure of students entering kindergarten ready to learn, a measure of growth, and the percentage of students who enter high school on track for college and career readiness;

(E) the school environment, including, where applicable, high school dropout rate by grade level, the percentage of students with less than 10 absences in a school year, the percentage of teachers with less than 10 absences in a school year for reasons other than professional development, leaves taken pursuant to the federal Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, long-term disability, or parental leaves, the 3-year average of the percentage of teachers returning to the school from the previous year, the number of different principals at the school in the last 6 years, the number of teachers who hold a gifted education endorsement, the process and criteria used by the district to determine whether a student is eligible for participation in a gifted education program or advanced academic program and the manner in which parents and guardians are made aware of the process and criteria, the number of teachers who are National Board Certified Teachers, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, 2 or more indicators from any school climate survey selected or approved by the State and administered pursuant to Section 2-3.153 of this Code, with the same or similar indicators included on school report cards for all surveys selected or approved by the State pursuant to Section 2-3.153 of this Code, the combined percentage of teachers rated as proficient or excellent in their most recent evaluation, and, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, data on the number of incidents of violence that occurred on school grounds or during school-related activities and that resulted in an out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or removal to an alternative setting, as reported pursuant to Section 2-3.162;

(F) a school district's and its individual schools' balanced accountability measure, in accordance with Section 2-3.25a of this Code;

(G) the total and per pupil normal cost amount the State contributed to the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois in the prior fiscal year for the school's employees, which shall be reported to the State Board of Education by the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois;

(H) for a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code only, State contributions to the Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago and State contributions for health care for employees of that school district;

(I) a school district's Final Percent of Adequacy, as defined in paragraph (4) of subsection (f) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code;

(J) a school district's Local Capacity Target, as defined in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code, displayed as a percentage amount;

(K) a school district's Real Receipts, as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code, divided by a school district's Adequacy Target, as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code, displayed as a percentage amount;

(L) a school district's administrative costs;

(M) whether or not the school has participated in the Illinois Youth Survey. In this paragraph (M), "Illinois Youth Survey" means a self-report survey, administered in school settings every 2 years, designed to gather information about health and social indicators, including substance abuse patterns and the attitudes of students in grades 8, 10, and 12;

(N) whether the school offered its students career and technical education opportunities; and

(O) beginning with the October 2024 report card, the total number of school counselors, school social workers, school nurses, and school psychologists by school, district, and State, the average number of students per school counselor in the school, district, and State, the average number of students per school social worker in the school, district, and State, the average number of students per school nurse in the school, district, and State, and the average number of students per school psychologist in the school, district, and State.

The school report card shall also provide information that allows for comparing the current outcome, progress, and environment data to the State average, to the school data from the past 5 years, and to the outcomes, progress, and environment of similar schools based on the type of school and enrollment of low-income students, special education students, and English learners.

As used in this subsection (2):

"Accelerated placement" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 14A-17 of this Code.

"Administrative costs" means costs associated with executive, administrative, or managerial functions within the school district that involve planning, organizing, managing, or directing the school district.

"Advanced academic program" means a course of study, including, but not limited to, accelerated placement, advanced placement coursework, International Baccalaureate coursework, dual credit, or any course designated as enriched or honors, that a student is enrolled in based on advanced cognitive ability or advanced academic achievement compared to local age peers and in which the curriculum is substantially differentiated from the general curriculum to provide appropriate challenge and pace.

"Computer science" means the study of computers and algorithms, including their principles, their hardware and software designs, their implementation, and their impact on society. "Computer science" does not include the study of everyday uses of computers and computer applications, such as keyboarding or accessing the Internet.

"Gifted education" means educational services, including differentiated curricula and instructional methods, designed to meet the needs of gifted children as defined in Article 14A of this Code.

For the purposes of paragraph (A) of this subsection (2), "average daily attendance" means the average of the actual number of attendance days during the previous school year for any enrolled student who is subject to compulsory attendance by Section 26-1 of this Code at each school and charter school.

(2.5) For any school report card prepared after July 1, 2025, for all high school graduation completion rates that are reported on the school report card as required under this Section or by any other State or federal law, the State Superintendent of Education shall also report the percentage of students who did not meet the requirements of high school graduation completion for any reason and, of those students, the percentage that are classified as students who fulfill the requirements of Section 14-16 of this Code.

The State Superintendent shall ensure that for the 2023-2024 school year there is a specific code for districts to report students who fulfill the requirements of Section 14-16 of this Code to ensure accurate reporting under this Section.

All reporting requirements under this subsection (2.5) shall be included on the school report card where high school graduation completion rates are reported, along with a brief explanation of how fulfilling the requirements of Section 14-16 of this Code is different from receiving a regular high school diploma.

(3) At the discretion of the State Superintendent, the school district report card shall include a subset of the information identified in paragraphs (A) through (E) of subsection (2) of this Section, as well as information relating to the operating expense per pupil and other finances of the school district, and the State report card shall include a subset of the information identified in paragraphs (A) through (E) and paragraph (N) of subsection (2) of this Section. The school district report card shall include the average daily attendance, as that term is defined in subsection (2) of this Section, of students who have individualized education programs and students who have 504 plans that provide for special education services within the school district.

(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, in consultation with key education stakeholders, the State Superintendent shall at any time have the discretion to amend or update any and all metrics on the school, district, or State report card.

(5) Annually, no more than 30 calendar days after receipt of the school district and school report cards from the State Superintendent of Education, each school district, including special charter districts and districts subject to the provisions of Article 34, shall present such report cards at a regular school board meeting subject to applicable notice requirements, post the report cards on the school district's Internet web site, if the district maintains an Internet web site, make the report cards available to a newspaper of general circulation serving the district, and, upon request, send the report cards home to a parent (unless the district does not maintain an Internet web site, in which case the report card shall be sent home to parents without request). If the district posts the report card on its Internet web site, the district shall send a written notice home to parents stating (i) that the report card is available on the web site, (ii) the address of the web site, (iii) that a printed copy of the report card will be sent to parents upon request, and (iv) the telephone number that parents may call to request a printed copy of the report card.

(6) Nothing contained in Public Act 98-648 repeals, supersedes, invalidates, or nullifies final decisions in lawsuits pending on July 1, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-648) in Illinois courts involving the interpretation of Public Act 97-8.

(7) As used in this subsection (7):

"Advanced coursework or programs" means any high school courses, sequence of courses, or class or grouping of students organized to provide more rigorous, enriched, advanced, accelerated, gifted, or above grade-level instruction. This may include, but is not limited to, Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, honors, weighted, advanced, or enriched courses, or gifted or accelerated programs, classrooms, or courses.

"Course" means any high school class or course offered by a school that is assigned a school course code by the State Board of Education.

"High school" means a school that maintains any of grades 9 through 12.

"Standard coursework or programs" means any high school courses or classes other than advanced coursework or programs.

By December 31, 2027 and by December 31 of each subsequent year, the State Board of Education, through the State Superintendent of Education, shall prepare a stand-alone report covering all public high schools in this State, to be referred to as the Expanded High School Coursework Snapshot Report. The State Board shall post the Report on the State Board's Internet website. Each school district with high school enrollment for the reporting year shall include on the school district's Internet website, if the district maintains an Internet website, a hyperlink to the Report on the State Board's Internet website titled "Expanded High School Coursework Snapshot Report". Hyperlinks under this subsection (7) shall be displayed in a manner that is easily accessible to the public.

The Expanded High School Coursework Snapshot Report shall include:

(A) a listing of all standard coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment;

(B) a listing of all advanced coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment;

(C) a listing of all coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners;

(D) a listing of all coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by students with disabilities;

(E) data tables and graphs comparing advanced coursework or programs enrollment with standard coursework or programs enrollment according to the following parameters:

(i) the average years of experience of all teachers in a high school who are assigned to teach advanced coursework or programs compared with the average years of experience of all teachers in the high school who are assigned to teach standard coursework or programs;

(ii) the average years of experience of all teachers in a high school who are assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school enrollment by students with disabilities compared with the average years of experience of all teachers in the high school who are not assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by students with disabilities;

(iii) the average years of experience of all teachers in a high school who are assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners compared with the average years of experience of all teachers in the high school who are not assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners;

(iv) the number of high school teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are assigned to teach advanced coursework or programs compared with the number of teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are assigned to teach standard coursework or programs;

(v) the number of high school teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by students with disabilities compared with the number of teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are not assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by students with disabilities;

(vi) the number of high school teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners compared with the number of teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are not assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners;

(vii) the average student enrollment of advanced coursework or programs offered in a high school compared with the average student enrollment of standard coursework or programs;

(viii) the percentages of high school students, by race, gender, and program student group, who are enrolled in advanced coursework or programs;

(ix) (blank);

(x) (blank);

(xi) (blank);

(xii) (blank);

(xiii) (blank);

(xiv) the percentage of high school students, by race, gender, and program student group, who earn the equivalent of a C grade or higher on a grade A through F scale in one or more advanced coursework or programs compared with the percentage of high school students, by race, gender, and program student group, who earn the equivalent of a C grade or higher on a grade A through F scale in one or more standard coursework or programs;

(xv) (blank);

(xvi) (blank); and

(F) data tables and graphs for each race and ethnicity category and gender category describing:

(i) the total student number and student percentage for Advanced Placement courses taken by race and ethnicity category and gender category;

(ii) the total student number and student percentage for International Baccalaureate courses taken by race and ethnicity category and gender category;

(iii) (blank);

(iv) (blank); and

(v) the total student number and student percentage of high school students who earn a score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement exam associated with an Advanced Placement course.

For data on teacher experience and education under this subsection (7), a teacher who teaches a combination of courses designated as advanced coursework or programs, courses or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners, or standard coursework or programs shall be included in all relevant categories and the teacher's level of experience shall be added to the categories.

(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-294, eff. 1-1-22; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-594, eff. 7-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-116, eff. 6-30-23; 103-263, eff. 6-30-23; 103-413, eff, 1-1-24; 103-503, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.9a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.9a)

Sec. 10-20.9a. Final grade; promotion.

(a) Teachers shall administer the approved marking system or other approved means of evaluating pupil progress. The teacher shall maintain the responsibility and right to determine grades and other evaluations of students within the grading policies of the district based upon his or her professional judgment of available criteria pertinent to any given subject area or activity for which he or she is responsible. District policy shall provide the procedure and reasons by and for which a grade may be changed; provided that no grade or evaluation shall be changed without notification to the teacher concerning the nature and reasons for such change. If such a change is made, the person making the change shall assume such responsibility for determining the grade or evaluation, and shall initial such change.

(b) School districts shall not promote students to the next higher grade level based upon age or any other social reasons not related to the academic performance of the students. On or before September 1, 1998, school boards shall adopt and enforce a policy on promotion as they deem necessary to ensure that students meet local goals and objectives and can perform at the expected grade level prior to promotion. Decisions to promote or retain students in any classes shall be based on successful completion of the curriculum, attendance, performance based on the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or other testing or any other criteria established by the school board. Students determined by the local district to not qualify for promotion to the next higher grade shall be provided remedial assistance, which may include, but shall not be limited to, a summer bridge program of no less than 90 hours, tutorial sessions, increased or concentrated instructional time, modifications to instructional materials, and retention in grade.

(c) (Blank). No public high school of a school district shall withhold a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account.

At the end of each school year, the school district shall catalogue and report to the State Board of Education the total amount that remains unpaid by students due to the prohibition under this subsection (c).

(d) (Blank). On and after 3 years from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, subsection (c) is inoperative.

(Source: P.A. 102-727, eff. 5-6-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.13)

Sec. 10-20.13. Textbooks and instructional materials for children of parents unable to buy them; waiver of fees and fines; discrimination and punishment prohibited.

(a) To purchase, at the expense of the district, a sufficient number of textbooks and instructional materials for children whose parents are unable to buy them, including, but not limited to, children living in households that meet the free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines established by the federal government pursuant to Section 1758 of the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245 et seq.) and homeless children and youth as defined in Section 11434a of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), subject to verification as set forth in subsection (c) of this Section. Such textbooks shall be loaned only, and the directors shall require the teacher to see that they are properly cared for and returned at the end of each term of school.

(b) To waive all fees and any fines for the loss of school property assessed by the district on children whose parents are unable to afford them, including, but not limited to:

(1) children living in households that meet the free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines established by the federal government pursuant to Section 1758 of the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245 et seq.) and students whose parents are veterans or active duty military personnel with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, subject to verification as set forth in subsection (c) of this Section, and

(2) homeless children and youth as defined in Section 11434a of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a).

Notice of waiver availability shall be given to parents or guardians with every bill for fees or fines. The school board shall adopt written policies and procedures for such waiver of fees in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education.

(c) Any school board that participates in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program and uses a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245 et seq.) as the basis for waiving fees assessed by the school district must follow the verification requirements of the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245.6a).

A school board that establishes a process for the determination of eligibility for waiver of fees assessed by the school district that is completely independent of a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program may provide for fee waiver verification no more often than once per academic year. Information obtained during the independent, fee waiver verification process indicating that the student does not meet free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines may be used to deny the waiver of the student's fees or fines for the loss of school property, provided that any information obtained through this independent process for determining or verifying eligibility for fee waivers shall not be used to determine or verify eligibility for any federally funded, school-based child nutrition program. This subsection shall not preclude children from obtaining waivers at any point during the academic year.

(d) Regardless of whether a student has obtained a waiver under this Section, a school board may not discriminate against, punish, or penalize a student in any way because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account or because the student's parents or guardians are unable to pay any required fees or fines for the loss of school property. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the lowering of grades, exclusion from any curricular or extracurricular program of the school district, or withholding student records, grades, transcripts, or diplomas. Any person who violates this subsection (d) is guilty of a petty offense.

(Source: P.A. 102-805, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1032, eff. 5-27-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.14)

Sec. 10-20.14. Student discipline policies; parent-teacher advisory committee.

(a) To establish and maintain a parent-teacher advisory committee to develop with the school board or governing body of a charter school policy guidelines on student discipline, including school searches and bullying prevention as set forth in Section 22-110 27-23.7 of this Code. School authorities shall furnish a copy of the policy to the parents or guardian of each student within 15 days after the beginning of the school year, or within 15 days after starting classes for a student who transfers into the district during the school year, and the school board or governing body of a charter school shall require that a school inform its students of the contents of the policy. School boards and the governing bodies of charter schools, along with the parent-teacher advisory committee, must annually review their student discipline policies and the implementation of those policies and any other factors related to the safety of their schools, students, and school personnel.

(a-5) On or before September 15, 2016, each elementary and secondary school and charter school shall, at a minimum, adopt student discipline policies that fulfill the requirements set forth in this Section, subsections (a) and (b) of Section 10-22.6 of this Code, Section 34-19 of this Code if applicable, and federal and State laws that provide special requirements for the discipline of students with disabilities.

(b) The parent-teacher advisory committee in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies shall develop, with the school board, policy guideline procedures to establish and maintain a reciprocal reporting system between the school district and local law enforcement agencies regarding criminal offenses committed by students. School districts are encouraged to create memoranda of understanding with local law enforcement agencies that clearly define law enforcement's role in schools, in accordance with Section 10-22.6 of this Code. In consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for the development of reciprocal reporting systems in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.

(c) The parent-teacher advisory committee, in cooperation with school bus personnel, shall develop, with the school board, policy guideline procedures to establish and maintain school bus safety procedures. These procedures shall be incorporated into the district's student discipline policy. In consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for school bus safety procedures in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.

(d) As used in this subsection (d), "evidence-based intervention" means intervention that has demonstrated a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes as documented in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

The school board, in consultation with the parent-teacher advisory committee and other community-based organizations, must include provisions in the student discipline policy to address students who have demonstrated behaviors that put them at risk for aggressive behavior, including without limitation bullying, as defined in the policy. These provisions must include procedures for notifying parents or legal guardians and intervention procedures based upon available community-based and district resources.

In consultation with behavioral health experts, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for evidence-based intervention procedures, including examples, in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 103-896, eff. 8-9-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.19c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.19c)

Sec. 10-20.19c. Recycled paper and paper products and solid waste management.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Deinked stock" means paper that has been processed to remove inks, clays, coatings, binders and other contaminants.

"High grade printing and writing papers" includes offset printing paper, duplicator paper, writing paper (stationery), tablet paper, office paper, note pads, xerographic paper, envelopes, form bond including computer paper and carbonless forms, book papers, bond papers, ledger paper, book stock and cotton fiber papers.

"Paper and paper products" means high grade printing and writing papers, tissue products, newsprint, unbleached packaging and recycled paperboard.

"Postconsumer material" means only those products generated by a business or consumer which have served their intended end uses, and which have been separated or diverted from solid waste; wastes generated during the production of an end product are excluded.

"Recovered paper material" means paper waste generated after the completion of the papermaking process, such as postconsumer materials, envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, printing waste, cutting and other converting waste, butt rolls, and mill wrappers, obsolete inventories, and rejected unused stock. "Recovered paper material", however, does not include fibrous waste generated during the manufacturing process such as fibers recovered from waste water or trimmings of paper machine rolls (mill broke), or fibrous byproducts of harvesting, extraction or woodcutting processes, or forest residues such as bark.

"Recycled paperboard" includes paperboard products, folding cartons and pad backings.

"Tissue products" includes toilet tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, facial tissue, paper doilies, industrial wipers, paper bags and brown papers. These products shall also be unscented and shall not be colored.

"Unbleached packaging" includes corrugated and fiber storage boxes.

(a-5) Each school district shall periodically review its procurement procedures and specifications related to the purchase of products and supplies. Those procedures and specifications must be modified as necessary to require the school district to seek out products and supplies that contain recycled materials and to ensure that purchased products and supplies are reusable, durable, or made from recycled materials, if economically and practically feasible. In selecting products and supplies that contain recycled material, preference must be given to products and supplies that contain the highest amount of recycled material and that are consistent with the effective use of the product or supply, if economically and practically feasible.

(b) Wherever economically and practically feasible, as determined by the school board, the school board, all public schools and attendance centers within a school district, and their school supply stores shall procure recycled paper and paper products as follows:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2008, at least 10% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(2) Beginning July 1, 2011, at least 25% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(3) Beginning July 1, 2014, at least 50% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(4) Beginning July 1, 2020, at least 75% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(5) (Blank). Beginning upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992, all paper purchased by the board of education, public schools and attendance centers for publication of student newspapers shall be recycled newsprint. The amount purchased shall not be included in calculating the amounts specified in paragraphs (1) through (4).

(c) Paper and paper products purchased from private sector vendors pursuant to printing contracts are not considered paper and paper products for the purposes of subsection (b), unless purchased under contract for the printing of student newspapers.

(d)(1) Wherever economically and practically feasible, the recycled paper and paper products referred to in subsection (b) shall contain postconsumer or recovered paper materials as specified by paper category in this subsection:

(i) Recycled high grade printing and writing paper shall contain at least 50% recovered paper material. Such recovered paper material, until July 1, 2008, shall consist of at least 20% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2008, shall consist of at least 25% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2010, shall consist of at least 30% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2012, shall consist of at least 40% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2014, shall consist of at least 50% deinked stock or postconsumer material.

(ii) Recycled tissue products, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 25% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 30% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material.

(iii) Recycled newsprint, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 60% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 70% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material.

(iv) Recycled unbleached packaging, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 55% postconsumer material.

(v) Recycled paperboard, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 85% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 90% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 95% postconsumer material.

(2) For the purposes of this Section, "postconsumer material" includes:

(i) paper, paperboard, and fibrous waste from retail stores, office buildings, homes and so forth, after the waste has passed through its end usage as a consumer item, including used corrugated boxes, old newspapers, mixed waste paper, tabulating cards, and used cordage; and

(ii) all paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes that are diverted or separated from the municipal waste stream.

(3) For the purposes of this Section, "recovered paper material" includes:

(i) postconsumer material;

(ii) dry paper and paperboard waste generated after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets), including envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming and other converting operations, or from bag, box and carton manufacturing, and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and

(iii) finished paper and paperboard from obsolete inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters or others.

(e) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to apply to art materials, nor to any newspapers, magazines, text books, library books or other copyrighted publications which are purchased or used by any school board or any public school or attendance center within a school district, or which are sold in any school supply store operated by or within any such school or attendance center, other than newspapers written, edited or produced by students enrolled in the school district, public school or attendance center.

(e-5) Each school district shall periodically review its procedures on solid waste reduction regarding the management of solid waste generated by academic, administrative, and other institutional functions. Those waste reduction procedures must be designed to, when economically and practically feasible, recycle the school district's waste stream, including without limitation landscape waste, computer paper, and white office paper. School districts are encouraged to have procedures that provide for the investigation of potential markets for other recyclable materials that are present in the school district's waste stream. The waste reduction procedures must be designed to achieve, before July 1, 2020, at least a 50% reduction in the amount of solid waste that is generated by the school district.

(f) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department of Central Management Services, may adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to assist districts in carrying out the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-444, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-22.39)

Sec. 10-22.39. In-service training programs.

(a) To conduct in-service training programs for teachers, administrators, and school support personnel.

(b) In addition to other topics at in-service training programs listed in this Section, teachers, administrators, and school support personnel who work with pupils must be trained in the following topics: health conditions of students; social-emotional learning; developing cultural competency; identifying warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth; domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth; protections and accommodations for students; educator ethics; responding to child sexual abuse and grooming behavior; and effective instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution. In-service training programs in these topics shall be credited toward hours of professional development required for license renewal as outlined in subsection (e) of Section 21B-45.

School support personnel may be exempt from in-service training if the training is not relevant to the work they do.

Nurses and school nurses, as defined by Section 10-22.23, are exempt from training required in subsection (b-5).

Beginning July 1, 2024, all teachers, administrators, and school support personnel shall complete training as outlined in Section 10-22.39 during an in-service training program conducted by their school board or through other training opportunities, including, but not limited to, institutes under Section 3-11. Such training must be completed within 6 months of employment by a school board and renewed at least once every 5 years, unless required more frequently by other State or federal law or in accordance with this Section. If teachers, administrators, or school support personnel obtain training outside of an in-service training program or from a previous public school district or nonpublic school employer, they may present documentation showing current compliance with this subsection to satisfy the requirement of receiving training within 6 months of first being employed. Training may be delivered through online, asynchronous means.

(b-5) Training regarding health conditions of students for staff required by this Section shall include, but is not limited to:

(1) (Blank).

(2) Anaphylactic reactions and management. Such training shall be conducted by persons with expertise in anaphylactic reactions and management.

(3) The management of asthma, the prevention of asthma symptoms, and emergency response in the school setting.

(4) The basics of seizure recognition and first aid and appropriate emergency protocols. Such training must be fully consistent with the best practice guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(5) The basics of diabetes care, how to identify when a student with diabetes needs immediate or emergency medical attention, and whom to contact in the case of an emergency.

(6) Current best practices regarding the identification and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

(7) Instruction on how to respond to an incident involving life-threatening bleeding and, if applicable, how to use a school's trauma kit. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, training on life-threatening bleeding must be completed within 6 months of the employee first being employed by a school board and renewed within 2 years. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the training must be completed within 6 months of the employee first being employed by a school board and renewed at least once every 5 years thereafter. School district employees who are trained to respond to trauma pursuant to this subsection (b-5) shall be immune from civil liability in the use of a trauma kit unless the action constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

In consultation with professional organizations with expertise in student health issues, including, but not limited to, asthma management, anaphylactic reactions, seizure recognition, and diabetes care, the State Board of Education shall make available resource materials for educating school personnel about student health conditions and emergency response in the school setting.

A school board may satisfy the life-threatening bleeding training under this subsection by using the training, including online training, available from the American College of Surgeons or any other similar organization.

(b-10) The training regarding social-emotional learning for staff required by this Section may include, at a minimum, providing education to all school personnel about the content of the Illinois Social and Emotional Learning Standards, how those standards apply to everyday school interactions, and examples of how social emotional learning can be integrated into instructional practices across all grades and subjects.

(b-15) The training regarding developing cultural competency for staff required by this Section shall include, but is not limited to, understanding and reducing implicit bias, including implicit racial bias. As used in this subsection, "implicit racial bias" has the meaning set forth in Section 10-20.61.

(b-20) The training regarding identifying warning signs of mental illness, trauma, and suicidal behavior in youth for staff required by this Section shall include, but is not limited to, appropriate intervention and referral techniques, including resources and guidelines as outlined in Section 2-3.166, and must include the definitions of trauma, trauma-responsive learning environments, and whole child set forth in subsection (b) of Section 3-11 of this Code.

Illinois Mental Health First Aid training, established under the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act, may satisfy the requirements of this subsection.

If teachers, administrators, or school support personnel obtain mental health first aid training outside of an in-service training program, they may present a certificate of successful completion of the training to the school district to satisfy the requirements of this subsection. Training regarding the implementation of trauma-informed practices under subsection (b) of Section 3-11 satisfies the requirements of this subsection.

(b-25) As used in this subsection:

"Domestic violence" means abuse by a family or household member, as "abuse" and "family or household members" are defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

"Sexual violence" means sexual assault, abuse, or stalking of an adult or minor child proscribed in the Criminal Code of 1961 or in Sections 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, 11-1.60, 12-7.3, 12-7.4, 12-7.5, 12-12, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15, and 12-16 of the Criminal Code of 2012, including sexual violence committed by perpetrators who are strangers to the victim and sexual violence committed by perpetrators who are known or related by blood or marriage to the victim.

The training regarding domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth for staff required by this Section must be conducted by persons with expertise in domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth, and shall include, but is not limited to:

(1) communicating with and listening to youth victims of domestic or sexual violence and expectant and parenting youth;

(2) connecting youth victims of domestic or sexual violence and expectant and parenting youth to appropriate in-school services and other agencies, programs, and services as needed;

(3) implementing the school district's policies, procedures, and protocols with regard to such youth, including confidentiality; at a minimum, school personnel must be trained to understand, provide information and referrals, and address issues pertaining to youth who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence; and

(4) procedures for responding to incidents of teen dating violence that take place at the school, on school grounds, at school-sponsored activities, or in vehicles used for school-provided transportation as outlined in Section 27-240 of this Code 3.10 of the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act.

(b-30) The training regarding protections and accommodations for students shall include, but is not limited to, instruction on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, as it pertains to the school environment, and homelessness. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, training on homelessness must be completed within 6 months of an employee first being employed by a school board and renewed within 2 years. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the training must be completed within 6 months of the employee first being employed by a school board and renewed at least once every 5 years thereafter. Training on homelessness shall include the following:

(1) the definition of homeless children and youths under 42 U.S.C. 11434a;

(2) the signs of homelessness and housing insecurity;

(3) the rights of students experiencing homelessness under State and federal law;

(4) the steps to take when a homeless or housing-insecure student is identified; and

(5) the appropriate referral techniques, including the name and contact number of the school or school district homeless liaison.

School boards may work with a community-based organization that specializes in working with homeless children and youth to develop and provide the training.

(b-35) The training regarding educator ethics and responding to child sexual abuse and grooming behavior shall include, but is not limited to, teacher-student conduct, school employee-student conduct, and evidence-informed training on preventing, recognizing, reporting, and responding to child sexual abuse and grooming as outlined in Section 10-23.13.

(b-40) The training regarding effective instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution required by this Section shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Section 27-115 of this Code 27-23.4.

(b-45) Beginning July 1, 2024, all nonpublic elementary and secondary school teachers, administrators, and school support personnel shall complete the training set forth in subsection (b-5). Training must be completed within 6 months of first being employed by a nonpublic school and renewed at least once every 5 years, unless required more frequently by other State or federal law. If nonpublic teachers, administrators, or school support personnel obtain training from a public school district or nonpublic school employer, the teacher, administrator, or school support personnel may present documentation to the nonpublic school showing current compliance with this subsection to satisfy the requirement of receiving training within 6 months of first being employed.

(c) (Blank).

(d) (Blank).

(e) (Blank).

(f) (Blank).

(g) (Blank).

(h) At least once every 2 years, a school board shall conduct in-service training on homelessness for all school personnel. The training shall include:

(1) the definition of homeless children and youth under Section 11434a of Title 42 of the United States Code;

(2) the signs of homelessness and housing insecurity;

(3) the rights of students experiencing homelessness under State and federal law;

(4) the steps to take when a homeless or housing-insecure student is identified; and

(5) the appropriate referral techniques, including the name and contact number of the school or school district homeless liaison.

A school board may work with a community-based organization that specializes in working with homeless children and youth to develop and provide the training.

(Source: P.A. 102-197, eff. 7-30-21; 102-638, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-41, eff. 8-20-24; 103-128, eff. 6-30-23; 103-413, eff. 1-1-24; 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542); 103-603, eff. 1-1-25; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-30)

Sec. 10-30. Remote and blended remote learning. This Section applies if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(1) If the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the State Superintendent of Education may declare a requirement to use remote learning days or blended remote learning days for a school district, multiple school districts, a region, or the entire State. During remote learning days, schools shall conduct instruction remotely. During blended remote learning days, schools may utilize hybrid models of in-person and remote instruction. Once declared, remote learning days or blended remote learning days shall be implemented in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 as days of attendance and shall be deemed pupil attendance days for calculation of the length of a school term under Section 10-19.

(2) For purposes of this Section, a remote learning day or blended remote learning day may be met through a district's implementation of an e-learning program under Section 10-20.56.

(3) For any district that does not implement an e-learning program under Section 10-20.56, the district shall adopt a remote and blended remote learning day plan approved by the district superintendent. Each district may utilize remote and blended remote learning planning days, consecutively or in separate increments, to develop, review, or amend its remote and blended remote learning day plan or provide professional development to staff regarding remote education. Up to 5 remote and blended remote learning planning days may be deemed pupil attendance days for calculation of the length of a school term under Section 10-19.

(4) Each remote and blended remote learning day plan shall address the following:

(i) accessibility of the remote instruction to all students enrolled in the district;

(ii) if applicable, a requirement that the remote learning day and blended remote learning day activities reflect State learning standards;

(iii) a means for students to confer with an educator, as necessary;

(iv) the unique needs of students in special populations, including, but not limited to, students eligible for special education under Article 14, students who are English learners as defined in Section 14C-2, and students experiencing homelessness under the Education for Homeless Children Act, or vulnerable student populations;

(v) how the district will take attendance and monitor and verify each student's remote participation; and

(vi) transitions from remote learning to on-site learning upon the State Superintendent's declaration that remote learning days or blended remote learning days are no longer deemed necessary.

(5) The district superintendent shall periodically review and amend the district's remote and blended remote learning day plan, as needed, to ensure the plan meets the needs of all students.

(6) Each remote and blended remote learning day plan shall be posted on the district's Internet website where other policies, rules, and standards of conduct are posted and shall be provided to students and faculty.

(7) This Section does not create any additional employee bargaining rights and does not remove any employee bargaining rights.

(8) Statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and offerings may be administered via a district's remote and blended remote learning day plan, except that a district may not offer individual behind-the-wheel instruction required by Section 27-815 of this Code 27-24.2 via a district's remote and blended remote learning day plan. This Section does not relieve schools and districts from completing all statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and offerings.

(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-107) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-9)

Sec. 21B-107. 27-9. Training teachers to teach physical education. The curriculum in all elementary educator preparation programs approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall contain instruction in methods and materials of physical education and training for teachers. No teacher candidate shall be graduated from such an educator preparation program who has not successfully completed instruction in methods and materials in the teaching of physical education and training, whether by way of a specific course or as incorporated in existing courses taught in the educator preparation program.

(Source: P.A. 99-58, eff. 7-16-15.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-62 new)

Sec. 22-62. School Code Mandate Reduction Council.

(a) The School Code Mandate Reduction Council is created to evaluate and assess mandates in the School Code for the purposes of modifying, combining, or eliminating mandates that are outdated, duplicative, unnecessarily burdensome, or no longer necessary to providing an efficient system of high-quality public educational institutions and services. The Council may choose to focus on specific areas of mandates or specific articles and sections of the School Code as the Council sees fit for the purposes of mandate reduction.

(b) Before January 1, 2027, members of the Council shall include all of the following:

(1) Two members appointed by the President of the Senate.

(2) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(3) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(5) Three representatives of a statewide professional teachers' organization appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(6) Three representatives of a different statewide professional teachers' organization appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(7) One representative of a teachers' association representing health, physical education, recreation, and dance teachers appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(8) One representative of a statewide organization representing school principals appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(9) One representative of a statewide organization representing school boards appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(10) One representative of a statewide organization representing regional superintendents of schools appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(11) One representative of a statewide organization representing school administrators appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(12) One representative of a statewide organization representing school business officials appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(13) One representative of a statewide organization representing administrators for special education appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(14) One representative of a statewide organization representing school districts in the southern suburbs of the City of Chicago appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(15) One representative of a statewide organization representing school districts in the collar counties of the City of Chicago appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(16) One representative of an organization representing large unit school districts appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(17) One representative of the State Board of Education appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(c) On and after January 1, 2027, members of the Council shall include all members listed in paragraphs (5) through (19) of subsection (b) of this Section along with the following members:

(1) One member appointed by the President of the Senate.

(2) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(d) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation.

(e) The State Board of Education shall provide administrative assistance and necessary staff support services.

(f) The State Superintendent of Education shall convene the Council for an initial meeting and shall select one member as chairperson at that initial meeting. The Council shall meet no less than 4 times between October 1, 2025 and September 1, 2026.

(g) No later than October 1, 2026, the Council shall file a report with the General Assembly. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A list of mandates recommended to be eliminated from the School Code. The report shall include references to each appropriate statute that contains the mandates recommended to be eliminated.

(2) A list of mandates to be modified or combined with other mandates in the School Code and how these mandates should be modified or combined. The report shall include references to each appropriate statute that contains the mandates recommended to be modified or combined with other mandates.

(h) In any year after 2026, the State Superintendent of Education may convene the Council if the State Superintendent of Education deems appropriate. Any organization that had representation on the Council in the most recent year the Council met may request that the State Superintendent of Education once again convene the Council. To convene the Council, the State Superintendent of Education shall send notice to the General Assembly and all organizations listed in subsection (b) of this Section. The notice must reference this Section and state the date that representatives of each participating organization shall be chosen and the date for the initial meeting of the Council for that year. The State Superintendent of Education shall convene the Council for an initial meeting and shall select one member as chairperson at that initial meeting. If the State Superintendent of Education convenes the Council in any given year, then the Council must issue a report to the General Assembly consistent with the requirements of subsection (g) of this Section by October 1 after the Council's last meeting.

(105 ILCS 5/22-80)

Sec. 22-80. Student athletes; concussions and head injuries.

(a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:

(1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death is significant when a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed.

(2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of concussions occur without loss of consciousness.

(3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly recognizes that, despite having generally recognized return-to-play standards for concussions and head injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical injury or death to youth athletes in this State.

(4) Student athletes who have sustained a concussion may need informal or formal accommodations, modifications of curriculum, and monitoring by medical or academic staff until the student is fully recovered. To that end, all schools are encouraged to establish a return-to-learn protocol that is based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and conduct baseline testing for student athletes.

(b) In this Section:

"Athletic trainer" means an athletic trainer licensed under the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act who is working under the supervision of a physician.

"Coach" means any volunteer or employee of a school who is responsible for organizing and supervising students to teach them or train them in the fundamental skills of an interscholastic athletic activity. "Coach" refers to both head coaches and assistant coaches.

"Concussion" means a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain caused by a traumatic physical force or impact to the head or body, which may include temporary or prolonged altered brain function resulting in physical, cognitive, or emotional symptoms or altered sleep patterns and which may or may not involve a loss of consciousness.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Game official" means a person who officiates at an interscholastic athletic activity, such as a referee or umpire, including, but not limited to, persons enrolled as game officials by the Illinois High School Association or Illinois Elementary School Association.

"Interscholastic athletic activity" means any organized school-sponsored or school-sanctioned activity for students, generally outside of school instructional hours, under the direction of a coach, athletic director, or band leader, including, but not limited to, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country track, fencing, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, marching band, rugby, soccer, skating, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track (indoor and outdoor), ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. All interscholastic athletics are deemed to be interscholastic activities.

"Licensed healthcare professional" means a person who has experience with concussion management and who is a nurse, a psychologist who holds a license under the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act and specializes in the practice of neuropsychology, a physical therapist licensed under the Illinois Physical Therapy Act, an occupational therapist licensed under the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act, a physician assistant, or an athletic trainer.

"Nurse" means a person who is employed by or volunteers at a school and is licensed under the Nurse Practice Act as a registered nurse, practical nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse.

"Physician" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

"Physician assistant" means a physician assistant licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987.

"School" means any public or private elementary or secondary school, including a charter school.

"Student" means an adolescent or child enrolled in a school.

(c) This Section applies to any interscholastic athletic activity, including practice and competition, sponsored or sanctioned by a school, the Illinois Elementary School Association, or the Illinois High School Association. This Section applies beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.

(d) The governing body of each public or charter school and the appropriate administrative officer of a private school with students enrolled who participate in an interscholastic athletic activity shall appoint or approve a concussion oversight team. Each concussion oversight team shall establish a return-to-play protocol, based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, for a student's return to interscholastic athletics practice or competition following a force or impact believed to have caused a concussion. Each concussion oversight team shall also establish a return-to-learn protocol, based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, for a student's return to the classroom after that student is believed to have experienced a concussion, whether or not the concussion took place while the student was participating in an interscholastic athletic activity.

Each concussion oversight team must include to the extent practicable at least one physician. If a school employs an athletic trainer, the athletic trainer must be a member of the school concussion oversight team to the extent practicable. If a school employs a nurse, the nurse must be a member of the school concussion oversight team to the extent practicable. At a minimum, a school shall appoint a person who is responsible for implementing and complying with the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols adopted by the concussion oversight team. At a minimum, a concussion oversight team may be composed of only one person and this person need not be a licensed healthcare professional, but it may not be a coach. A school may appoint other licensed healthcare professionals to serve on the concussion oversight team.

(e) A student may not participate in an interscholastic athletic activity for a school year until the student and the student's parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student have signed a form for that school year that acknowledges receiving and reading written information that explains concussion prevention, symptoms, treatment, and oversight and that includes guidelines for safely resuming participation in an athletic activity following a concussion. The form must be approved by the Illinois High School Association.

(f) A student must be removed from an interscholastic athletics practice or competition immediately if one of the following persons believes the student might have sustained a concussion during the practice or competition:

(1) a coach;

(2) a physician;

(3) a game official;

(4) an athletic trainer;

(5) the student's parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student;

(6) the student; or

(7) any other person deemed appropriate under the school's return-to-play protocol.

(g) A student removed from an interscholastic athletics practice or competition under this Section may not be permitted to practice or compete again following the force or impact believed to have caused the concussion until:

(1) the student has been evaluated, using established medical protocols based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, by a treating physician (chosen by the student or the student's parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student), an athletic trainer, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant;

(2) the student has successfully completed each requirement of the return-to-play protocol established under this Section necessary for the student to return to play;

(3) the student has successfully completed each requirement of the return-to-learn protocol established under this Section necessary for the student to return to learn;

(4) the treating physician, the athletic trainer, or the physician assistant has provided a written statement indicating that, in the physician's professional judgment, it is safe for the student to return to play and return to learn or the treating advanced practice registered nurse has provided a written statement indicating that it is safe for the student to return to play and return to learn; and

(5) the student and the student's parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student:

(A) have acknowledged that the student has completed the requirements of the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols necessary for the student to return to play;

(B) have provided the treating physician's, athletic trainer's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's written statement under subdivision (4) of this subsection (g) to the person responsible for compliance with the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols under this subsection (g) and the person who has supervisory responsibilities under this subsection (g); and

(C) have signed a consent form indicating that the person signing:

(i) has been informed concerning and consents to the student participating in returning to play in accordance with the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols;

(ii) understands the risks associated with the student returning to play and returning to learn and will comply with any ongoing requirements in the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols; and

(iii) consents to the disclosure to appropriate persons, consistent with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191), of the treating physician's, athletic trainer's, physician assistant's, or advanced practice registered nurse's written statement under subdivision (4) of this subsection (g) and, if any, the return-to-play and return-to-learn recommendations of the treating physician, the athletic trainer, the physician assistant, or the advanced practice registered nurse, as the case may be.

A coach of an interscholastic athletics team may not authorize a student's return to play or return to learn.

The district superintendent or the superintendent's designee in the case of a public elementary or secondary school, the chief school administrator or that person's designee in the case of a charter school, or the appropriate administrative officer or that person's designee in the case of a private school shall supervise an athletic trainer or other person responsible for compliance with the return-to-play protocol and shall supervise the person responsible for compliance with the return-to-learn protocol. The person who has supervisory responsibilities under this paragraph may not be a coach of an interscholastic athletics team.

(h)(1) The Illinois High School Association shall approve, for coaches, game officials, and non-licensed healthcare professionals, training courses that provide for not less than 2 hours of training in the subject matter of concussions, including evaluation, prevention, symptoms, risks, and long-term effects. The Association shall maintain an updated list of individuals and organizations authorized by the Association to provide the training.

(2) The following persons must take a training course in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection (h) from an authorized training provider at least once every 2 years:

(A) a coach of an interscholastic athletic activity;

(B) a nurse, licensed healthcare professional, or non-licensed healthcare professional who serves as a member of a concussion oversight team either on a volunteer basis or in his or her capacity as an employee, representative, or agent of a school; and

(C) a game official of an interscholastic athletic activity.

(3) A physician who serves as a member of a concussion oversight team shall, to the greatest extent practicable, periodically take an appropriate continuing medical education course in the subject matter of concussions.

(4) For purposes of paragraph (2) of this subsection (h):

(A) a coach, game official, or non-licensed healthcare professional, as the case may be, must take a course described in paragraph (1) of this subsection (h);

(B) an athletic trainer must take a concussion-related continuing education course from an athletic trainer continuing education sponsor approved by the Department;

(C) a nurse must take a concussion-related continuing education course from a nurse continuing education sponsor approved by the Department;

(D) a physical therapist must take a concussion-related continuing education course from a physical therapist continuing education sponsor approved by the Department;

(E) a psychologist must take a concussion-related continuing education course from a psychologist continuing education sponsor approved by the Department;

(F) an occupational therapist must take a concussion-related continuing education course from an occupational therapist continuing education sponsor approved by the Department; and

(G) a physician assistant must take a concussion-related continuing education course from a physician assistant continuing education sponsor approved by the Department.

(5) Each person described in paragraph (2) of this subsection (h) must submit proof of timely completion of an approved course in compliance with paragraph (4) of this subsection (h) to the district superintendent or the superintendent's designee in the case of a public elementary or secondary school, the chief school administrator or that person's designee in the case of a charter school, or the appropriate administrative officer or that person's designee in the case of a private school.

(6) A physician, licensed healthcare professional, or non-licensed healthcare professional who is not in compliance with the training requirements under this subsection (h) may not serve on a concussion oversight team in any capacity.

(7) A person required under this subsection (h) to take a training course in the subject of concussions must complete the training prior to serving on a concussion oversight team in any capacity.

(i) The governing body of each public or charter school and the appropriate administrative officer of a private school with students enrolled who participate in an interscholastic athletic activity shall develop a school-specific emergency action plan for interscholastic athletic activities to address the serious injuries and acute medical conditions in which the condition of the student may deteriorate rapidly. The plan shall include a delineation of roles, methods of communication, available emergency equipment, and access to and a plan for emergency transport. This emergency action plan must be:

(1) in writing;

(2) reviewed by the concussion oversight team;

(3) approved by the district superintendent or the superintendent's designee in the case of a public elementary or secondary school, the chief school administrator or that person's designee in the case of a charter school, or the appropriate administrative officer or that person's designee in the case of a private school;

(4) distributed to all appropriate personnel;

(5) posted conspicuously at all venues utilized by the school; and

(6) reviewed annually by all athletic trainers, first responders (including, but not limited to, emergency medical dispatchers), coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, and volunteers for interscholastic athletic activities.

(j) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this Section, including, but not limited to, rules governing the informal or formal accommodation of a student who may have sustained a concussion during an interscholastic athletic activity.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-1006, eff. 1-1-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-83)

Sec. 22-83. Police training academy job training program.

(a) In a county of 175,000 or more inhabitants, any school district with a high school may establish one or more partnerships with a local police department, county sheriff, or police training academy to establish a jobs training program for high school students. The school district shall establish its partnership or partnerships on behalf of all of the high schools in the district; no high school shall establish a partnership for this purpose separate from the school district's partnership under this Section. The jobs training program shall be open to all students, regardless of prior academic history. However, to encourage and maintain successful program participation and partnerships, the school districts and their partner agencies may impose specific program requirements.

(b) (Blank). The State Board of Education shall track participation and the success of students participating in the jobs training program established under this Section and annually publish a report on its website examining the program and its success.

(Source: P.A. 100-331, eff. 1-1-18.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-105) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1)

Sec. 22-105. 27-8.1. Health examinations and immunizations.

(1) In compliance with rules and regulations which the Department of Public Health shall promulgate, and except as hereinafter provided, all children in Illinois shall have a health examination as follows: within one year prior to entering kindergarten or the first grade of any public, private, or parochial elementary school; upon entering the sixth and ninth grades of any public, private, or parochial school; prior to entrance into any public, private, or parochial nursery school; and, irrespective of grade, immediately prior to or upon entrance into any public, private, or parochial school or nursery school, each child shall present proof of having been examined in accordance with this Section and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder. Any child who received a health examination within one year prior to entering the fifth grade for the 2007-2008 school year is not required to receive an additional health examination in order to comply with the provisions of Public Act 95-422 when he or she attends school for the 2008-2009 school year, unless the child is attending school for the first time as provided in this paragraph.

A tuberculosis skin test screening shall be included as a required part of each health examination included under this Section if the child resides in an area designated by the Department of Public Health as having a high incidence of tuberculosis. Additional health examinations of pupils, including eye examinations, may be required when deemed necessary by school authorities. Parents are encouraged to have their children undergo eye examinations at the same points in time required for health examinations.

(1.5) In compliance with rules adopted by the Department of Public Health and except as otherwise provided in this Section, all children in kindergarten and the second, sixth, and ninth grades of any public, private, or parochial school shall have a dental examination. Each of these children shall present proof of having been examined by a dentist in accordance with this Section and rules adopted under this Section before May 15th of the school year. If a child in the second, sixth, or ninth grade fails to present proof by May 15th, the school may hold the child's report card until one of the following occurs: (i) the child presents proof of a completed dental examination or (ii) the child presents proof that a dental examination will take place within 60 days after May 15th. A school may not withhold a child's report card during a school year in which the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. The Department of Public Health shall establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show an undue burden or a lack of access to a dentist. Each public, private, and parochial school must give notice of this dental examination requirement to the parents and guardians of students at least 60 days before May 15th of each school year.

(1.10) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all children enrolling in kindergarten in a public, private, or parochial school on or after January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-671) and any student enrolling for the first time in a public, private, or parochial school on or after January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-671) shall have an eye examination. Each of these children shall present proof of having been examined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches or a licensed optometrist within the previous year, in accordance with this Section and rules adopted under this Section, before October 15th of the school year. If the child fails to present proof by October 15th, the school may hold the child's report card until one of the following occurs: (i) the child presents proof of a completed eye examination or (ii) the child presents proof that an eye examination will take place within 60 days after October 15th. A school may not withhold a child's report card during a school year in which the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. The Department of Public Health shall establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show an undue burden or a lack of access to a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches who provides eye examinations or to a licensed optometrist. Each public, private, and parochial school must give notice of this eye examination requirement to the parents and guardians of students in compliance with rules of the Department of Public Health. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow a school to exclude a child from attending because of a parent's or guardian's failure to obtain an eye examination for the child.

(2) The Department of Public Health shall promulgate rules and regulations specifying the examinations and procedures that constitute a health examination, which shall include an age-appropriate developmental screening, an age-appropriate social and emotional screening, and the collection of data relating to asthma and obesity (including at a minimum, date of birth, gender, height, weight, blood pressure, and date of exam), and a dental examination and may recommend by rule that certain additional examinations be performed. The rules and regulations of the Department of Public Health shall specify that a tuberculosis skin test screening shall be included as a required part of each health examination included under this Section if the child resides in an area designated by the Department of Public Health as having a high incidence of tuberculosis. With respect to the developmental screening and the social and emotional screening, the Department of Public Health must, no later than January 1, 2019, develop rules and appropriate revisions to the Child Health Examination form in conjunction with a statewide organization representing school boards; a statewide organization representing pediatricians; statewide organizations representing individuals holding Illinois educator licenses with school support personnel endorsements, including school social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses; a statewide organization representing children's mental health experts; a statewide organization representing school principals; the Director of Healthcare and Family Services or his or her designee, the State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee; and representatives of other appropriate State agencies and, at a minimum, must recommend the use of validated screening tools appropriate to the child's age or grade, and, with regard to the social and emotional screening, require recording only whether or not the screening was completed. The rules shall take into consideration the screening recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and must be consistent with the State Board of Education's social and emotional learning standards. The Department of Public Health shall specify that a diabetes screening as defined by rule shall be included as a required part of each health examination. Diabetes testing is not required.

Physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, licensed advanced practice registered nurses, or licensed physician assistants shall be responsible for the performance of the health examinations, other than dental examinations, eye examinations, and vision and hearing screening, and shall sign all report forms required by subsection (4) of this Section that pertain to those portions of the health examination for which the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant is responsible. If a registered nurse performs any part of a health examination, then a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches must review and sign all required report forms. Licensed dentists shall perform all dental examinations and shall sign all report forms required by subsection (4) of this Section that pertain to the dental examinations. Physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches or licensed optometrists shall perform all eye examinations required by this Section and shall sign all report forms required by subsection (4) of this Section that pertain to the eye examination. For purposes of this Section, an eye examination shall at a minimum include history, visual acuity, subjective refraction to best visual acuity near and far, internal and external examination, and a glaucoma evaluation, as well as any other tests or observations that in the professional judgment of the doctor are necessary. Vision and hearing screening tests, which shall not be considered examinations as that term is used in this Section, shall be conducted in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Public Health, and by individuals whom the Department of Public Health has certified. In these rules and regulations, the Department of Public Health shall require that individuals conducting vision screening tests give a child's parent or guardian written notification, before the vision screening is conducted, that states, "Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months.".

(2.5) With respect to the developmental screening and the social and emotional screening portion of the health examination, each child may present proof of having been screened in accordance with this Section and the rules adopted under this Section before October 15th of the school year. With regard to the social and emotional screening only, the examining health care provider shall only record whether or not the screening was completed. If the child fails to present proof of the developmental screening or the social and emotional screening portions of the health examination by October 15th of the school year, qualified school support personnel may, with a parent's or guardian's consent, offer the developmental screening or the social and emotional screening to the child. Each public, private, and parochial school must give notice of the developmental screening and social and emotional screening requirements to the parents and guardians of students in compliance with the rules of the Department of Public Health. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow a school to exclude a child from attending because of a parent's or guardian's failure to obtain a developmental screening or a social and emotional screening for the child. Once a developmental screening or a social and emotional screening is completed and proof has been presented to the school, the school may, with a parent's or guardian's consent, make available appropriate school personnel to work with the parent or guardian, the child, and the provider who signed the screening form to obtain any appropriate evaluations and services as indicated on the form and in other information and documentation provided by the parents, guardians, or provider.

(3) Every child shall, at or about the same time as he or she receives a health examination required by subsection (1) of this Section, present to the local school proof of having received such immunizations against preventable communicable diseases as the Department of Public Health shall require by rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Section and the Communicable Disease Prevention Act.

(4) The individuals conducting the health examination, dental examination, or eye examination shall record the fact of having conducted the examination, and such additional information as required, including for a health examination data relating to asthma and obesity (including at a minimum, date of birth, gender, height, weight, blood pressure, and date of exam), on uniform forms which the Department of Public Health and the State Board of Education shall prescribe for statewide use. The examiner shall summarize on the report form any condition that he or she suspects indicates a need for special services, including for a health examination factors relating to asthma or obesity. The duty to summarize on the report form does not apply to social and emotional screenings. The confidentiality of the information and records relating to the developmental screening and the social and emotional screening shall be determined by the statutes, rules, and professional ethics governing the type of provider conducting the screening. The individuals confirming the administration of required immunizations shall record as indicated on the form that the immunizations were administered.

(5) If a child does not submit proof of having had either the health examination or the immunization as required, then the child shall be examined or receive the immunization, as the case may be, and present proof by October 15 of the current school year, or by an earlier date of the current school year established by a school district. To establish a date before October 15 of the current school year for the health examination or immunization as required, a school district must give notice of the requirements of this Section 60 days prior to the earlier established date. If for medical reasons one or more of the required immunizations must be given after October 15 of the current school year, or after an earlier established date of the current school year, then the child shall present, by October 15, or by the earlier established date, a schedule for the administration of the immunizations and a statement of the medical reasons causing the delay, both the schedule and the statement being issued by the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, registered nurse, or local health department that will be responsible for administration of the remaining required immunizations. If a child does not comply by October 15, or by the earlier established date of the current school year, with the requirements of this subsection, then the local school authority shall exclude that child from school until such time as the child presents proof of having had the health examination as required and presents proof of having received those required immunizations which are medically possible to receive immediately. During a child's exclusion from school for noncompliance with this subsection, the child's parents or legal guardian shall be considered in violation of Section 26-1 and subject to any penalty imposed by Section 26-10. This subsection (5) does not apply to dental examinations, eye examinations, and the developmental screening and the social and emotional screening portions of the health examination. If the student is an out-of-state transfer student and does not have the proof required under this subsection (5) before October 15 of the current year or whatever date is set by the school district, then he or she may only attend classes (i) if he or she has proof that an appointment for the required vaccinations has been scheduled with a party authorized to submit proof of the required vaccinations. If the proof of vaccination required under this subsection (5) is not submitted within 30 days after the student is permitted to attend classes, then the student is not to be permitted to attend classes until proof of the vaccinations has been properly submitted. No school district or employee of a school district shall be held liable for any injury or illness to another person that results from admitting an out-of-state transfer student to class that has an appointment scheduled pursuant to this subsection (5).

(6) Every school shall report to the State Board of Education by November 15, in the manner which that agency shall require, the number of children who have received the necessary immunizations and the health examination (other than a dental examination or eye examination) as required, indicating, of those who have not received the immunizations and examination as required, the number of children who are exempt from health examination and immunization requirements on religious or medical grounds as provided in subsection (8). On or before December 1 of each year, every public school district and registered nonpublic school shall make publicly available the immunization data they are required to submit to the State Board of Education by November 15. The immunization data made publicly available must be identical to the data the school district or school has reported to the State Board of Education.

Every school shall report to the State Board of Education by June 30, in the manner that the State Board requires, the number of children who have received the required dental examination, indicating, of those who have not received the required dental examination, the number of children who are exempt from the dental examination on religious grounds as provided in subsection (8) of this Section and the number of children who have received a waiver under subsection (1.5) of this Section.

Every school shall report to the State Board of Education by June 30, in the manner that the State Board requires, the number of children who have received the required eye examination, indicating, of those who have not received the required eye examination, the number of children who are exempt from the eye examination as provided in subsection (8) of this Section, the number of children who have received a waiver under subsection (1.10) of this Section, and the total number of children in noncompliance with the eye examination requirement.

The reported information under this subsection (6) shall be provided to the Department of Public Health by the State Board of Education.

(7) Upon determining that the number of pupils who are required to be in compliance with subsection (5) of this Section is below 90% of the number of pupils enrolled in the school district, 10% of each State aid payment made pursuant to Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 to the school district for such year may be withheld by the State Board of Education until the number of students in compliance with subsection (5) is the applicable specified percentage or higher.

(8) Children of parents or legal guardians who object to health, dental, or eye examinations or any part thereof, to immunizations, or to vision and hearing screening tests on religious grounds shall not be required to undergo the examinations, tests, or immunizations to which they so object if such parents or legal guardians present to the appropriate local school authority a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption detailing the grounds for objection and the specific immunizations, tests, or examinations to which they object. The grounds for objection must set forth the specific religious belief that conflicts with the examination, test, immunization, or other medical intervention. The signed certificate shall also reflect the parent's or legal guardian's understanding of the school's exclusion policies in the case of a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or exposure. The certificate must also be signed by the authorized examining health care provider responsible for the performance of the child's health examination confirming that the provider provided education to the parent or legal guardian on the benefits of immunization and the health risks to the student and to the community of the communicable diseases for which immunization is required in this State. However, the health care provider's signature on the certificate reflects only that education was provided and does not allow a health care provider grounds to determine a religious exemption. Those receiving immunizations required under this Code shall be provided with the relevant vaccine information statements that are required to be disseminated by the federal National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which may contain information on circumstances when a vaccine should not be administered, prior to administering a vaccine. A healthcare provider may consider including without limitation the nationally accepted recommendations from federal agencies such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the information outlined in the relevant vaccine information statement, and vaccine package inserts, along with the healthcare provider's clinical judgment, to determine whether any child may be more susceptible to experiencing an adverse vaccine reaction than the general population, and, if so, the healthcare provider may exempt the child from an immunization or adopt an individualized immunization schedule. The Certificate of Religious Exemption shall be created by the Department of Public Health and shall be made available and used by parents and legal guardians by the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year. Parents or legal guardians must submit the Certificate of Religious Exemption to their local school authority prior to entering kindergarten, sixth grade, and ninth grade for each child for which they are requesting an exemption. The religious objection stated need not be directed by the tenets of an established religious organization. However, general philosophical or moral reluctance to allow physical examinations, eye examinations, immunizations, vision and hearing screenings, or dental examinations does not provide a sufficient basis for an exception to statutory requirements. The local school authority is responsible for determining if the content of the Certificate of Religious Exemption constitutes a valid religious objection. The local school authority shall inform the parent or legal guardian of exclusion procedures, in accordance with the Department's rules under Part 690 of Title 77 of the Illinois Administrative Code, at the time the objection is presented.

If the physical condition of the child is such that any one or more of the immunizing agents should not be administered, the examining physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant responsible for the performance of the health examination shall endorse that fact upon the health examination form.

Exempting a child from the health, dental, or eye examination does not exempt the child from participation in the program of physical education training provided in Sections 27-705, 27-710, and 27-725 27-5 through 27-7 of this Code.

(8.5) The school board of a school district shall include informational materials regarding influenza and influenza vaccinations developed, provided, or approved by the Department of Public Health under Section 2310-700 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois when the board provides information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications, or other school health issues to the parents or guardians of students.

(9) For the purposes of this Section, "nursery schools" means those nursery schools operated by elementary school systems or secondary level school units or institutions of higher learning.

(Source: P.A. 103-985, eff. 1-1-25.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-110) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7)

Sec. 22-110. 27-23.7. Bullying prevention.

(a) The General Assembly finds that a safe and civil school environment is necessary for students to learn and achieve and that bullying causes physical, psychological, and emotional harm to students and interferes with students' ability to learn and participate in school activities. The General Assembly further finds that bullying has been linked to other forms of antisocial behavior, such as vandalism, shoplifting, skipping and dropping out of school, fighting, using drugs and alcohol, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. Because of the negative outcomes associated with bullying in schools, the General Assembly finds that school districts, charter schools, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary and secondary schools should educate students, parents, and school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school personnel about what behaviors constitute prohibited bullying.

Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, physical appearance, socioeconomic status, academic status, pregnancy, parenting status, homelessness, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender-related identity or expression, unfavorable discharge from military service, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in all school districts, charter schools, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary and secondary schools. No student shall be subjected to bullying:

(1) during any school-sponsored education program or activity;

(2) while in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities;

(3) through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment; or

(4) through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a nonschool-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by a school district or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school. This item (4) applies only in cases in which a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred and does not require a district or school to staff or monitor any nonschool-related activity, function, or program.

(a-5) Nothing in this Section is intended to infringe upon any right to exercise free expression or the free exercise of religion or religiously based views protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or under Section 3 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution.

(b) In this Section:

"Bullying" includes "cyber-bullying" and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

(1) placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student's or students' person or property;

(2) causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student's or students' physical or mental health;

(3) substantially interfering with the student's or students' academic performance; or

(4) substantially interfering with the student's or students' ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

Bullying, as defined in this subsection (b), may take various forms, including without limitation one or more of the following: harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive.

"Cyber-bullying" means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectronic system, or photooptical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. "Cyber-bullying" includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section. "Cyber-bullying" also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section.

"Policy on bullying" means a bullying prevention policy that meets the following criteria:

(1) Includes the bullying definition provided in this Section.

(2) Includes a statement that bullying is contrary to State law and the policy of the school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school and is consistent with subsection (a-5) of this Section.

(3) Includes procedures for promptly reporting bullying, including, but not limited to, identifying and providing the school e-mail address (if applicable) and school telephone number for the staff person or persons responsible for receiving such reports and a procedure for anonymous reporting; however, this shall not be construed to permit formal disciplinary action solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

(4) Consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, includes procedures for informing parents or guardians of all students involved in the alleged incident of bullying within 24 hours after the school's administration is made aware of the students' involvement in the incident and discussing, as appropriate, the availability of social work services, counseling, school psychological services, other interventions, and restorative measures. The school shall make diligent efforts to notify a parent or legal guardian, utilizing all contact information the school has available or that can be reasonably obtained by the school within the 24-hour period.

(5) Contains procedures for promptly investigating and addressing reports of bullying, including the following:

(A) Making all reasonable efforts to complete the investigation within 10 school days after the date the report of the incident of bullying was received and taking into consideration additional relevant information received during the course of the investigation about the reported incident of bullying.

(B) Involving appropriate school support personnel and other staff persons with knowledge, experience, and training on bullying prevention, as deemed appropriate, in the investigation process.

(C) Notifying the principal or school administrator or his or her designee of the report of the incident of bullying as soon as possible after the report is received.

(D) Consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, providing parents and guardians of the students who are parties to the investigation information about the investigation and an opportunity to meet with the principal or school administrator or his or her designee to discuss the investigation, the findings of the investigation, and the actions taken to address the reported incident of bullying.

(6) Includes the interventions that can be taken to address bullying, which may include, but are not limited to, school social work services, restorative measures, social-emotional skill building, counseling, school psychological services, and community-based services.

(7) Includes a statement prohibiting reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying and the consequences and appropriate remedial actions for a person who engages in reprisal or retaliation.

(8) Includes consequences and appropriate remedial actions for a person found to have falsely accused another of bullying as a means of retaliation or as a means of bullying.

(9) Is based on the engagement of a range of school stakeholders, including students and parents or guardians.

(10) Is posted on the school district's, charter school's, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school's existing, publicly accessible Internet website, is included in the student handbook, and, where applicable, posted where other policies, rules, and standards of conduct are currently posted in the school and provided periodically throughout the school year to students and faculty, and is distributed annually to parents, guardians, students, and school personnel, including new employees when hired.

(11) As part of the process of reviewing and re-evaluating the policy under subsection (d) of this Section, contains a policy evaluation process to assess the outcomes and effectiveness of the policy that includes, but is not limited to, factors such as the frequency of victimization; student, staff, and family observations of safety at a school; identification of areas of a school where bullying occurs; the types of bullying utilized; and bystander intervention or participation. The school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school may use relevant data and information it already collects for other purposes in the policy evaluation. The information developed as a result of the policy evaluation must be made available on the Internet website of the school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school. If an Internet website is not available, the information must be provided to school administrators, school board members, school personnel, parents, guardians, and students.

(12) Is consistent with the policies of the school board, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school.

(13) Requires all individual instances of bullying, as well as all threats, suggestions, or instances of self-harm determined to be the result of bullying, to be reported to the parents or legal guardians of those involved under the guidelines provided in paragraph (4) of this definition.

"Restorative measures" means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that: (i) are adapted to the particular needs of the school and community, (ii) contribute to maintaining school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate, (iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (v) serve to build and restore relationships among students, families, schools, and communities, (vi) reduce the likelihood of future disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students' behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school, and (vii) increase student accountability if the incident of bullying is based on religion, race, ethnicity, or any other category that is identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act.

"School personnel" means persons employed by, on contract with, or who volunteer in a school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school, including without limitation school and school district administrators, teachers, school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, school resource officers, and security guards.

(c) (Blank).

(d) Each school district, charter school, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school shall create, maintain, and implement a policy on bullying, which policy must be filed with the State Board of Education. The policy on bullying shall be based on the State Board of Education's template for a model bullying prevention policy under subsection (h) and shall include the criteria set forth in the definition of "policy on bullying". The policy or implementing procedure shall include a process to investigate whether a reported act of bullying is within the permissible scope of the district's or school's jurisdiction and shall require that the district or school provide the victim with information regarding services that are available within the district and community, such as counseling, support services, and other programs. School personnel available for help with a bully or to make a report about bullying shall be made known to parents or legal guardians, students, and school personnel. Every 2 years, each school district, charter school, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school shall conduct a review and re-evaluation of its policy and make any necessary and appropriate revisions. No later than September 30 of the subject year, the policy must be filed with the State Board of Education after being updated. The State Board of Education shall monitor and provide technical support for the implementation of policies created under this subsection (d). In monitoring the implementation of the policies, the State Board of Education shall review each filed policy on bullying to ensure all policies meet the requirements set forth in this Section, including ensuring that each policy meets the 12 criterion identified within the definition of "policy on bullying" set forth in this Section.

If a school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school fails to file a policy on bullying by September 30 of the subject year, the State Board of Education shall provide a written request for filing to the school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school. If a school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school fails to file a policy on bullying within 14 days of receipt of the aforementioned written request, the State Board of Education shall publish notice of the non-compliance on the State Board of Education's website.

Each school district, charter school, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school may provide evidence-based professional development and youth programming on bullying prevention that is consistent with the provisions of this Section.

(e) This Section shall not be interpreted to prevent a victim from seeking redress under any other available civil or criminal law.

(f) School districts, charter schools, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary and secondary schools shall collect, maintain, and submit to the State Board of Education non-identifiable data regarding verified allegations of bullying within the school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school. School districts, charter schools, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary and secondary schools must submit such data in an annual report due to the State Board of Education no later than August 15 of each year starting with the 2024-2025 school year through the 2030-2031 school year. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the submission of data that includes, but is not limited to: (i) a record of each verified allegation of bullying and action taken; and (ii) whether the instance of bullying was based on actual or perceived characteristics identified in subsection (a) and, if so, lists the relevant characteristics. The rules for the submission of data shall be consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, including, but not limited to, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and the Illinois School Student Records Act, which shall include, without limitation, a record of each complaint and action taken. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules regarding the notification of school districts, charter schools, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary and secondary schools that fail to comply with the requirements of this subsection.

(g) Upon the request of a parent or legal guardian of a child enrolled in a school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school within this State, the State Board of Education must provide non-identifiable data on the number of bullying allegations and incidents in a given year in the school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school to the requesting parent or legal guardian. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules regarding (i) the handling of such data, (ii) maintaining the privacy of the students and families involved, and (iii) best practices for sharing numerical data with parents and legal guardians.

(h) By January 1, 2024, the State Board of Education shall post on its Internet website a template for a model bullying prevention policy.

(i) The Illinois Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Any moneys appropriated to the Fund may be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board of Education for the purposes of subsection (j).

(j) Subject to appropriation, the State Superintendent of Education may provide a grant to a school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school to support its anti-bullying programming. Grants may be awarded from the Illinois Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Fund. School districts, charter schools, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary schools that are not in compliance with subsection (f) are not eligible to receive a grant from the Illinois Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Fund.

(Source: P.A. 102-197, eff. 7-30-21; 102-241, eff. 8-3-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 103-47, eff. 6-9-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/22-115 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/3 in part)

Sec. 22-115. Emergency procedures and life-saving techniques. 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 life-saving techniques, including, without limitation, the Heimlich maneuver, hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use of the school district's automated external defibrillator. The information shall be in accordance with standards of the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or another nationally recognized certifying organization. A school board may use the services of non-governmental entities whose personnel have expertise in life-saving techniques to instruct teachers, administrators, and other school personnel in these techniques.

Each school board is encouraged to have in its employ or on its volunteer staff at least one person who is certified, by the American Red Cross or by another qualified certifying agency, as qualified to administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In addition, each school board is authorized to allocate appropriate portions of its institute or inservice days to conduct training programs for teachers and other school personnel who have expressed an interest in becoming certified to administer emergency first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

School boards are urged to encourage their teachers and other school personnel who coach school athletic programs and other extracurricular school activities to acquire, develop, and maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to properly administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in accordance with standards and requirements established by the American Red Cross or another qualified certifying agency.

Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish and administer a matching grant program to pay for half of the cost that a school district incurs in training those teachers and other school personnel who express an interest in becoming qualified to administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (which training must be in accordance with standards of the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or another nationally recognized certifying organization). A school district that applies for a grant must demonstrate that it has funds to pay half of the cost of the training for which matching grant money is sought. The State Board of Education shall award the grants on a first-come, first-serve basis.

(105 ILCS 5/24-2)

Sec. 24-2. Holidays.

(a) Teachers shall not be required to teach on Saturdays, nor, except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section, shall teachers, educational support personnel employees, or other school employees, other than noncertificated school employees whose presence is necessary because of an emergency or for the continued operation and maintenance of school facilities or property, be required to work on legal school holidays, which are January 1, New Year's Day; the third Monday in January, the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; February 12, the Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln; the first Monday in March (to be known as Casimir Pulaski's birthday); Good Friday; the day designated as Memorial Day by federal law; June 19, Juneteenth National Freedom Day; July 4, Independence Day; the first Monday in September, Labor Day; the second Monday in October, Columbus Day; November 11, Veterans' Day; the Thursday in November commonly called Thanksgiving Day; and December 25, Christmas Day. School boards may grant special holidays whenever in their judgment such action is advisable. 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 in which that employee would have otherwise been scheduled to work but for the legal or special holiday.

(b) A school board or other entity eligible to apply for waivers and modifications under Section 2-3.25g of this Code is authorized to hold school or schedule teachers' institutes, parent-teacher conferences, or staff development on the third Monday in January (the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.); February 12 (the Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln); the first Monday in March (known as Casimir Pulaski's birthday); the second Monday in October (Columbus Day); and November 11 (Veterans' Day), provided that:

(1) the person or persons honored by the holiday are recognized through instructional activities conducted on that day or, if the day is not used for student attendance, on the first school day preceding or following that day; and

(2) the entity that chooses to exercise this authority first holds a public hearing about the proposal. The entity shall provide notice preceding the public hearing to both educators and parents. The notice shall set forth the time, date, and place of the hearing, describe the proposal, and indicate that the entity will take testimony from educators and parents about the proposal.

(c) Commemorative holidays, which recognize specified patriotic, civic, cultural or historical persons, activities, or events, are regular school days. Commemorative holidays are: January 17 (the birthday of Muhammad Ali), January 28 (to be known as Christa McAuliffe Day and observed as a commemoration of space exploration), February 15 (the birthday of Susan B. Anthony), March 29 (Viet Nam War Veterans' Day), the last Friday in April (Arbor and Bird Day), September 11 (September 11th Day of Remembrance), September 17 (Constitution Day), the school day immediately preceding Veterans' Day (Korean War Veterans' Day), October 1 (Recycling Day), October 7 (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Remembrance Day), October 9 (Leif Erikson Day), the day immediately after Thanksgiving (Native American Heritage Day), December 7 (Pearl Harbor Veterans' Day), and any day so appointed by the President or Governor. School boards may establish commemorative holidays whenever in their judgment such action is advisable. School boards may shall include instruction relative to commemorated persons, activities, or events on the commemorative holiday or at any other time during the school year and at any point in the curriculum when such instruction may be deemed appropriate. The State Board of Education may shall prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials relative to commemorated persons, activities, or events which may be used by school boards in conjunction with any instruction provided pursuant to this paragraph.

(d) City of Chicago School District 299 shall observe March 4 of each year as a commemorative holiday. This holiday shall be known as Mayors' Day which shall be a day to commemorate and be reminded of the past Chief Executive Officers of the City of Chicago, and in particular the late Mayor Richard J. Daley and the late Mayor Harold Washington. If March 4 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, Mayors' Day shall be observed on the following Monday.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the contrary, November 3, 2020 shall be a State holiday known as 2020 General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the State pursuant to Public Act 101-642. All government offices, with the exception of election authorities, shall be closed unless authorized to be used as a location for election day services or as a polling place.

Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the contrary, November 8, 2022 shall be a State holiday known as 2022 General Election Day and shall be observed throughout the State under Public Act 102-15.

Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the contrary, November 5, 2024 shall be a State holiday known as 2024 General Election Day and shall be observed throughout this State pursuant to Public Act 103-467.

(Source: P.A. 102-14, eff. 1-1-22; 102-15, eff. 6-17-21; 102-334, eff. 8-9-21; 102-411, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-15, eff. 7-1-23; 103-395, eff. 1-1-24; 103-467, eff. 8-4-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/26A-15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 1, 2025)

Sec. 26A-15. Ensuring Success in School Task Force.

(a) The Ensuring Success in School Task Force is created to draft and publish model policies and intergovernmental agreements for inter-district transfers; draft and publish model complaint resolution procedures as required in subsection (c) of Section 26A-25; identify current mandatory educator and staff training and additional new trainings needed to meet the requirements as required in Section 26A-25 and Section 26A-35. These recommended policies and agreements shall be survivor-centered and rooted in trauma-informed responses and used to support all students, from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, who are survivors of domestic or sexual violence, regardless of whether the perpetrator is school-related or not, or who are parenting or pregnant, regardless of whether the school is a public school, nonpublic school, or charter school.

(b) The Task Force shall be representative of the geographic, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, and cultural diversity of this State. The Task Force shall consist of all of the following members, who must be appointed no later than 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly:

(1) One Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) One Representative appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(3) One Senator appointed by the President of the Senate.

(4) One Senator appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(5) One member who represents a State-based organization that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(6) One member who represents a State-based, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that advocates for survivors of domestic violence appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(7) One member who represents a statewide, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that advocates for survivors of sexual violence appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(8) One member who represents a statewide, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that offers free legal services, including victim's rights representation, to survivors of domestic violence or sexual violence appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(9) One member who represents an organization that advocates for pregnant or parenting youth appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(10) One member who represents a youth-led organization with expertise in domestic and sexual violence appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(11) One member who represents the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(12) One representative of the State Board of Education appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(13) One member who represents a statewide organization of social workers appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(14) One member who represents a statewide organization for school psychologists appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(15) One member who represents a statewide organization of school counselors appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(16) One member who represents a statewide professional teachers' organization appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(17) One member who represents a different statewide professional teachers' organization appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(18) One member who represents a statewide organization for school boards appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(19) One member who represents a statewide organization for school principals appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(20) One member who represents a school district organized under Article 34 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(21) One member who represents an association representing rural school superintendents appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(c) The Task Force shall first meet at the call of the State Superintendent of Education, and each subsequent meeting shall be called by the chairperson, who shall be designated by the State Superintendent of Education. The State Board of Education shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation.

(d) On or before June 30, 2024, the Task Force shall report its work, including model policies, guidance recommendations, and agreements, to the Governor and the General Assembly. The report must include all of the following:

(1) Model school and district policies to facilitate inter-district transfers for student survivors of domestic or sexual violence, expectant parents, and parents. These policies shall place high value on being accessible and expeditious for student survivors and pregnant and parenting students.

(2) Model school and district policies to ensure confidentiality and privacy considerations for student survivors of domestic or sexual violence, expectant parents, and parents. These policies must include guidance regarding appropriate referrals for nonschool-based services.

(3) Model school and district complaint resolution procedures as prescribed by Section 26A-25.

(4) Guidance for schools and districts regarding which mandatory training that is currently required for educator licenses or under State or federal law would be suitable to fulfill training requirements for resource personnel as prescribed by Section 26A-35 and for the staff tasked with implementing the complaint resolution procedure as prescribed by Section 26A-25. The guidance shall evaluate all relevant mandatory or recommended training, including, but not limited to, the training required under subsection (j) of Section 4 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, Sections 3-11, 10-23.12, 10-23.13, and 22-110 27-23.7 of this Code, and subsections (d) and (f) of Section 10-22.39 of this Code. The guidance must also identify what gaps in training exist, including, but not limited to, training on trauma-informed responses and racial and gender equity, and make recommendations for future training programs that should be required or recommended for the positions as prescribed by Sections 26A-25 and 26A-35.

(e) The Task Force is dissolved upon submission of its report under subsection (d).

(f) This Section is repealed on December 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 5-20-22 (see Section 5 of P.A. 102-894 for effective date of P.A. 102-466).)

(105 ILCS 5/26A-25)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 26A-25. Complaint resolution procedure.

(a) On or before July 1, 2024, each school district must adopt one procedure to resolve complaints of violations of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. The respondent must be one or more of the following: the school, school district, or school personnel. These procedures shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of Sections 26A-20 and 26A-30. The procedures must include, at minimum, all of the following:

(1) The opportunity to consider the most appropriate means to execute the procedure considering school safety, the developmental level of students, methods to reduce trauma during the procedure, and how to avoid multiple communications with students involved with an alleged incident of domestic or sexual violence.

(2) Any proceeding, meeting, or hearing held to resolve complaints of any violation of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly must protect the privacy of the participating parties and witnesses. A school, school district, or school personnel may not disclose the identity of parties or witnesses, except as necessary to resolve the complaint or to implement interim protective measures and reasonable support services or when required by State or federal law.

(3) Complainants alleging violations of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly must have the opportunity to request that the complaint resolution procedure begin promptly and proceed in a timely manner.

(b) A school district must determine the individuals who will resolve complaints of violations of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(1) All individuals whose duties include resolution of complaints of violations of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly must complete a minimum of 8 hours of training on issues related to domestic and sexual violence and how to conduct the school's complaint resolution procedure, which may include the in-service training required under subsection (d) of Section 10-22.39, before commencement of those duties, and must receive a minimum of 6 hours of such training annually thereafter. This training must be conducted by an individual or individuals with expertise in domestic or sexual violence in youth and expertise in developmentally appropriate communications with elementary and secondary school students regarding topics of a sexual, violent, or sensitive nature.

(2) Each school must have a sufficient number of individuals trained to resolve complaints so that (i) a substitution can occur in the case of a conflict of interest or recusal, (ii) an individual with no prior involvement in the initial determination or finding may hear any appeal brought by a party, and (iii) the complaint resolution procedure proceeds in a timely manner.

(3) The complainant and any witnesses shall (i) receive notice of the name of the individual with authority to make a finding or approve an accommodation in the proceeding before the individual may initiate contact with the complainant and any witnesses and (ii) have the opportunity to request a substitution if the participation of an individual with authority to make a finding or approve an accommodation poses a conflict of interest.

(c) When the alleged violation of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly involves making a determination or finding of responsibility of causing harm:

(1) The individual making the finding must use a preponderance of evidence standard to determine whether the incident occurred.

(2) The complainant and respondent and any witnesses may not directly or through a representative question one another. At the discretion of the individual resolving the complaint, the complainant and the respondent may suggest questions to be posed by the individual resolving the complaint and if the individual resolving the complaint decides to pose such questions.

(3) A live hearing is not required. If the complaint resolution procedure includes a hearing, no student who is a witness, including the complainant, may be compelled to testify in the presence of a party or other witness. If a witness invokes this right to testify outside the presence of the other party or other witnesses, then the school district must provide an option by which each party may, at a minimum, hear such witnesses' testimony.

(d) Each party and witness may request and must be allowed to have a representative or support persons of their choice accompany them to any meeting or proceeding related to the alleged violence or violation of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly if the involvement of the representative or support persons does not result in undue delay of the meeting or proceeding. This representative or support persons must comply with any rules of the school district's complaint resolution procedure. If the representative or support persons violate the rules or engage in behavior or advocacy that harasses, abuses, or intimidates either party part, a witness, or an individual resolving the complaint, the representative or support person may be prohibited from further participation in the meeting or proceeding.

(e) The complainant, regardless of the level of involvement in the complaint resolution procedure, and the respondent must have the opportunity to provide or present evidence and witnesses on their behalf during the complaint resolution procedure.

(f) The complainant and respondent and any named perpetrator directly impacted by the results of the complaint resolution procedure, are entitled to simultaneous written notification of the results of the complaint resolution procedure, including information regarding appeals rights and procedures, within 10 business days after a decision or sooner if required by State or federal law or district policy.

(1) The complainant, respondents, and named perpetrator if directly impacted by the results of the complaint resolution procedure must, at a minimum, have the right to timely appeal the complaint resolution procedure's findings or remedies if a party alleges (i) a procedural error occurred, (ii) new information exists that would substantially change the outcome of the proceeding, (iii) the remedy is not sufficiently related to the finding, or (iv) the decision is against the weight of the evidence.

(2) An individual reviewing the findings or remedies may not have previously participated in the complaint resolution procedure and may not have a conflict of interest with either party.

(3) The complainant and respondent and any perpetrators directly impacted by the results of the complaint resolution procedure must receive the appeal decision, in writing, within 10 business days, but never more than 15 business days, after the conclusion of the review of findings or remedies or sooner if required by State or federal law.

(g) Each school district must have a procedure to determine interim protective measures and support services available pending the resolution of the complaint including the implementation of court orders.

(Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 7-1-25.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-1 heading new)

GENERAL PROVISIONS

(105 ILCS 5/27-50) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-27)

Sec. 27-50. 27-27. System of categorizing classes. When school districts use a system of categorizing classes of instruction by degree of difficulty and issues grades in accordance therewith, identification of said system shall be reflected in the affected students' class ranking and permanent records.

(Source: P.A. 81-707.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-105 heading new)

SAFETY EDUCATION

(105 ILCS 5/27-105 new) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-13.2 in part)

Sec. 27-105. Abduction education. In every public school there shall be instruction, study, and discussion of effective methods by which pupils may recognize the danger of and avoid abduction.

(105 ILCS 5/27-110) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.11)

Sec. 27-110. 27-23.11. Traffic injury prevention; policy. The school board of a school district that maintains any of grades kindergarten through 8 shall adopt a policy on educating students on the effective methods of preventing and avoiding traffic injuries related to walking and bicycling, which education must be made available to students in grades kindergarten through 8.

(Source: P.A. 100-1056, eff. 8-24-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-115) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.4)

Sec. 27-115. 27-23.4. Violence prevention and conflict resolution education. School districts shall provide instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution education for grades kindergarten through 12 and may include such instruction in the courses of study regularly taught therein. School districts may give regular school credit for satisfactory completion by the student of such courses.

As used in this Section, "violence prevention and conflict resolution education" means and includes instruction in the following:

(1) The consequences of violent behavior.

(2) The causes of violent reactions to conflict.

(3) Nonviolent conflict resolution techniques.

(4) The relationship between drugs, alcohol and violence.

The State Board of Education shall prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of a violence prevention program under this Section, provided that each school board shall determine the appropriate curriculum for satisfying the requirements of this Section. The State Board of Education shall assist in training teachers to provide effective instruction in the violence prevention curriculum.

The State Board of Education and local school boards shall not be required to implement the provisions of this Section unless grants of funds are made available and are received after July 1, 1993 from private sources or from the federal government in amounts sufficient to enable the State Board and local school boards to meet the requirements of this Section. Any funds received by the State or a local educational agency pursuant to the federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994 shall first be applied or appropriated to meet the requirements and implement the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-87, eff. 7-8-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-205 heading new)

HEALTH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

(105 ILCS 5/27-205 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/1)

Sec. 27-205. Short title. This Section and the following Sections preceding Section 27-235 shall be known and may be cited as the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act.

(105 ILCS 5/27-210 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/2)

Sec. 27-210. Definition of term. The following term has the following meaning, except as the context otherwise requires:

"Comprehensive health education program" means a systematic and extensive educational program designed to provide a variety of learning experiences based upon scientific knowledge of the human organism as it functions within its environment, which will favorably influence the knowledge, attitudes, values, and practices of Illinois school youth and which will aid them in making wise personal decisions in matters of health.

(105 ILCS 5/27-215 new)

Sec. 27-215. Comprehensive health education program.

(a) In this subsection (a):

"Age and developmentally appropriate" means suitable to particular ages or age groups of children or adolescents, based on the developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.

"Consent" means an affirmative, knowing, conscious, ongoing, and voluntary agreement to engage in interpersonal, physical, or sexual activity, which can be revoked at any point, including during the course of interpersonal, physical, or sexual activity.

The program established under this Act shall include, but not be limited to, the following major educational areas as a basis for curricula in all elementary and secondary schools in this State, with applicable Illinois Learning Standards adopted by the State Board of Education guiding the instruction in the program:

(1) human ecology, health, growth, development, personal health habits, and nutrition, consistent with the Illinois Learning Standards adopted by the State Board of Education;

(2) the emotional, psychological, physiological, hygienic, and social responsibilities of family life, including evidence-based and medically accurate information regarding sexual abstinence;

(3) the prevention and control of disease, including instruction in grades 6 through 12 on the prevention, transmission, and spread of AIDS;

(4) age and developmentally appropriate sexual abuse, consistent with Section 10-23.13 of this Code, abuse during pregnancy, and assault awareness and prevention education in grades prekindergarten through 12;

(5) public health, environmental health, disaster preparedness education, and safety education;

(6) mental health and illness;

(7) dental health;

(8) cancer education that includes the types of cancer, signs and symptoms, risk factors, the importance of early prevention and detection, and information on where to get help and treatment for cancer; and

(9) age and developmentally appropriate consent education.

The instruction on mental health and illness must evaluate the multiple dimensions of health by reviewing the relationship between physical and mental health to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors that promote health, well-being, and human dignity and must include how and where to find mental health resources and specialized treatment in the State. The program shall also provide course material and instruction to advise pupils of the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.

Consent education must be age and developmentally appropriate, and the instruction on age and developmentally appropriate consent shall require only instruction aligning with consent as defined in this Section.

(b) Notwithstanding the educational areas under subsection (a), the following areas may also be included as a basis for curricula in all elementary and secondary schools in this State: basic first aid (including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the Heimlich maneuver), heart disease, diabetes, stroke, the prevention of child abuse, neglect, and suicide, and teen dating violence in grades 7 through 12.

(c) The State Superintendent of Education, in cooperation with the Department of Children and Family Services, shall prepare and disseminate to all public schools and nonpublic schools information on instructional materials and programs about child sexual abuse, which may be used by such schools for their own or community programs. Such information may also be disseminated by such schools to parents.

(d) No pupil shall be required to take or participate in any class or course on AIDS or family life instruction or to receive training on how to properly administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or how to use an automated external defibrillator if his or her parent or guardian submits written objection thereto, and refusal to take or participate in the course or program or the training shall not be reason for suspension or expulsion of the pupil.

(105 ILCS 5/27-220 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/4)

Sec. 27-220. Powers of the State Board of Education. In order to carry out the purposes of this Act, the State Board of Education is empowered to do all of the following:

(1) Establish the minimum amount of instruction time to be devoted to comprehensive health education at all elementary and secondary grade levels.

(2) Establish guidelines to aid local school districts in developing comprehensive health education programs at all grade levels.

(3) Establish special in-service programs to provide professional preparation in the field of health education for teachers and administrators throughout the schools of the State.

(4) Develop cooperative health training programs between school districts and institutions of higher education whereby qualified health education personnel of such institutions will be available to guide the continuing professional preparation of teachers in health education.

(5) Encourage institutions of higher education to develop and extend curricula in health education for professional preparation in both in-service and pre-service programs.

(6) Assist in the development of evaluative techniques that will ensure that a comprehensive program in health education is being conducted throughout the State that meets the needs of Illinois youth.

(7) Make sure there are additions to the staff of the State Board of Education to ensure a sufficient number of health education personnel to effectuate the purposes of this Act.

(105 ILCS 5/27-225 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/5)

Sec. 27-225. Advisory committee. An advisory committee consisting of 11 members is hereby established as follows: the Director of Public Health or his or her designee, the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee and an additional person representing the Department of Human Services designated by the Secretary, the Director of Children and Family Services or his or her designee, and 7 members to be appointed by the State Board of Education and to be chosen, insofar as is possible, from the following groups: colleges and universities, voluntary health agencies, medicine, dentistry, professional health associations, teachers, administrators, members of local boards of education, and lay citizens.

The original public members shall, upon their appointment, serve until July 1, 1973, and, thereafter, new appointments of public members shall be made in like manner and such members shall serve for 4-year terms commencing on July 1, 1973 and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies in the terms of public members shall be filled in a like manner as original appointments for the balance of the unexpired terms. The members of the advisory committee shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Such committee shall select a chairperson and establish rules and procedures for its proceedings not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act.

Such committee shall advise the State Board of Education on all matters relating to the implementation of the provisions of this Act. The committee shall assist in presenting advice and interpretation concerning a comprehensive health education program to the Illinois public, especially as related to critical health problems. The committee shall also assist in establishing a sound understanding and sympathetic relationship between such comprehensive health education program and the public health, welfare, and educational programs of other agencies in the community.

(105 ILCS 5/27-230 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/6)

Sec. 27-230. Rules and regulations. In carrying out the powers and duties of the State Board of Education and the advisory committee established by this Act, the State Board and such committee are authorized to promulgate rules and regulations in order to implement the provisions of this Act.

(105 ILCS 5/27-235 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/3.5)

Sec. 27-235. Nutrition and physical activity best practices database.

(a) The State Board of Education shall develop and maintain a nutrition and physical activity best practices database. The database shall contain the results of any wellness-related fitness testing done by local school districts, as well as information on successful programs and policies implemented by local school districts designed to improve nutrition and physical activity in the public and charter schools. This information may include (i) a description of the program or policy, (ii) advice on implementation, (iii) any assessment of the program or policy, (iv) a contact person from the local school district, and (v) any other information the State Board of Education deems appropriate. The database shall be readily accessible to all local school districts statewide. The State Board of Education shall encourage local school districts to submit information to the database; however, no school district shall be required to submit information.

(b) The State Board of Education may adopt rules necessary for administration of this Section.

(c) The requirements of the State Board of Education to establish this database shall become effective once the State Board of Education has secured all of the funding necessary to implement it.

(105 ILCS 5/27-240 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/3.10)

Sec. 27-240. Policy on teen dating violence.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Dating" or "dating relationship" means an ongoing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature between 2 persons. "Dating" or "dating relationship" does not include a casual relationship or ordinary fraternization between 2 persons in a business or social context.

"Teen dating violence" means either of the following:

(1) A pattern of behavior in which a person uses or threatens to use physical, mental, or emotional abuse to control another person who is in a dating relationship with the person, where one or both persons are 13 to 19 years of age.

(2) Behavior by which a person uses or threatens to use sexual violence against another person who is in a dating relationship with the person, where one or both persons are 13 to 19 years of age.

(b) The school board of each public school district in this State shall adopt a policy that does all of the following:

(1) States that teen dating violence is unacceptable and is prohibited and that each student has the right to a safe learning environment.

(2) Incorporates age-appropriate education about teen dating violence into new or existing training programs for students in grades 7 through 12 and school employees as outlined in Sections 3-11 and 10-22.39 of this Code.

(3) Establishes procedures for the manner in which employees of a school are to respond to incidents of teen dating violence that take place at the school, on school grounds, at school-sponsored activities, or in vehicles used for school-provided transportation.

(4) Identifies by job title the school officials who are responsible for receiving reports related to teen dating violence.

(5) Notifies students and parents of the teen dating violence policy adopted by the board.

(105 ILCS 5/27-245 new) (was 105 ILCS 110/3 in part)

Sec. 27-245. Allergy education. The curriculum in grades 9 through 12 shall include instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of allergies. Information for the instruction, study, and discussion shall come from information provided by the Department of Public Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This instruction, study, and discussion shall include, at a minimum:

(1) recognizing the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis;

(2) the steps to take to prevent exposure to allergens; and

(3) safe emergency epinephrine administration.

(105 ILCS 5/27-250 new)

Sec. 27-250. High school CPR and AED training for pupils. All secondary schools in this State shall include training on how to properly administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to use an automated external defibrillator in their curriculum. This training must be in accordance with standards of the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or another nationally recognized certifying organization.

No pupil is required to receive training on how to properly administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or how to use an automated external defibrillator if his or her parent or guardian submits written objection thereto, and refusal to take or participate in the training must not be a reason for suspension or expulsion of the pupil.

(105 ILCS 5/27-255 new)

Sec. 27-255. Drug, alcohol, and anabolic steroid abuse prevention education.

(a) Every public school maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 4 shall include in its curriculum age and developmentally appropriate instruction, study, and discussion of effective methods for the prevention and avoidance of drugs and the dangers of opioid and substance abuse. School boards may include such required instruction, study, and discussion in the courses of study regularly taught in the public schools of their respective districts; however, such instruction shall be given each year to all pupils in grades kindergarten through 4.

The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all public and nonpublic schools instructional materials that may be used by such schools as guidelines for the development of a program of instruction under this subsection (a); however, each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instruction time that shall qualify as a program of instruction that will satisfy the requirements of this subsection (a).

(b) School districts shall provide age and developmentally appropriate classroom instruction on alcohol and drug use and abuse for students in grades 5 through 12. This instruction may include the information contained in the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Instruction Resource Guide under Section 22-81 of this Code, as applicable. The instruction, which shall include matters relating to both the physical and legal effects and ramifications of drug and substance abuse, shall be integrated into existing curricula; and the State Board of Education shall determine how to develop and make available to all elementary and secondary schools in this State instructional materials and guidelines that will assist the schools in incorporating the instruction into their existing curricula.

In addition, school districts may offer, as part of existing curricula during the school day or as part of an after-school program, support services and instruction for pupils or pupils whose parent, parents, or guardians are chemically dependent.

(c) The curriculum in grades 6 through 12 shall include instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl. Information for the instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl shall be age and developmentally appropriate and may include information contained in the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Instruction Resource Guide under Section 22-81 of this Code, as applicable. The instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl in grades 9 through 12 shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) Information on fentanyl itself, including an explanation of the differences between synthetic and nonsynthetic opioids and illicit drugs, the variations of fentanyl itself, and the differences between the legal and illegal uses of fentanyl.

(2) The side effects and the risk factors of using fentanyl, along with information comparing the lethal amounts of fentanyl to other drugs. Information on the risk factors may include, but is not limited to:

(A) the lethal dose of fentanyl;

(B) how often fentanyl is placed in drugs without a person's knowledge;

(C) an explanation of what fentanyl does to a person's body and the severity of fentanyl's addictive properties; and

(D) how the consumption of fentanyl can lead to hypoxia, as well as an explanation of what hypoxia precisely does to a person's body.

(3) Details about the process of lacing fentanyl in other drugs and why drugs get laced with fentanyl.

(4) Details about how to detect fentanyl in drugs and how to save someone from an overdose of fentanyl, which shall include:

(A) how to buy and use fentanyl test strips;

(B) how to buy and use naloxone, either through a nasal spray or an injection; and

(C) how to detect if someone is overdosing on fentanyl. Students in grades 9 through 12 shall be assessed on the instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl. The assessment may include, but is not limited to:

(i) the differences between synthetic and nonsynthetic drugs;

(ii) hypoxia;

(iii) the effects of fentanyl on a person's body;

(iv) the lethal dose of fentanyl; and

(v) how to detect and prevent overdoses. The instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl may be taught by a licensed educator, school nurse, school social worker, law enforcement officer, or school counselor.

(d) School districts shall provide instruction in relation to the prevention of abuse of anabolic steroids in grades 7 through 12 and shall include such instruction in science, health, drug abuse, physical education, or other appropriate courses of study. School districts shall also provide this instruction to students who participate in interscholastic athletic programs. The instruction shall emphasize that the use of anabolic steroids presents a serious health hazard to persons who use steroids to enhance athletic performance or physical development.

The State Board of Education may assist in the development of instructional materials and teacher training in relation to steroid abuse prevention.

(105 ILCS 5/27-260) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-13.1)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-837)

Sec. 27-260. 27-13.1. In every public school there shall be instruction, study and discussion of current problems and needs in the conservation of natural resources, including but not limited to air pollution, water pollution, waste reduction and recycling, the effects of excessive use of pesticides, preservation of wilderness areas, forest management, protection of wildlife and humane care of domestic animals.

(Source: P.A. 86-229.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-837)

Sec. 27-260. 27-13.1. Environmental education.

(a) In every public school there shall be instruction, study and discussion of current problems and needs in the conservation of natural resources, including but not limited to air pollution, water pollution, waste reduction and recycling, the effects of excessive use of pesticides, preservation of wilderness areas, forest management, protection of wildlife and humane care of domestic animals.

(b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public school shall provide instruction on climate change, which shall include, but not be limited to, identifying the environmental and ecological impacts of climate change on individuals and communities and evaluating solutions for addressing and mitigating the impact of climate change and shall be in alignment with State learning standards, as appropriate.

The State Board of Education shall, subject to appropriation, prepare and make available multi-disciplinary instructional resources and professional learning opportunities for educators that may be used to meet the requirements of this subsection (b).

(Source: P.A. 103-837, eff. 7-1-25.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-265) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-14)

Sec. 27-265. 27-14. Experiments upon animals. No experiment upon any living animal for the purpose of demonstration in any study shall be made in any public school. No animal provided by, or killed in the presence of any pupil of a public school shall be used for dissection in such school, and in no case shall dogs or cats be killed for such purposes. Dissection of dead animals, or parts thereof, shall be confined to the classroom and shall not be practiced in the presence of any pupil not engaged in the study to be illustrated thereby.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-305 heading new)

SKILLS AND WORKFORCE EDUCATION

(105 ILCS 5/27-305) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-12.1)

Sec. 27-305. 27-12.1. Consumer education.

(a) Pupils in the public schools in grades 9 through 12 shall be taught and be required to study courses which include instruction in the area of consumer education, including but not necessarily limited to (i) understanding the basic concepts of financial literacy, including consumer debt and installment purchasing (including credit scoring, managing credit debt, and completing a loan application), budgeting, savings and investing, banking (including balancing a checkbook, opening a deposit account, and the use of interest rates), understanding simple contracts, State and federal income taxes, personal insurance policies, the comparison of prices, higher education student loans, identity-theft security, and homeownership (including the basic process of obtaining a mortgage and the concepts of fixed and adjustable rate mortgages, subprime loans, and predatory lending), and (ii) understanding the roles of consumers interacting with agriculture, business, labor unions and government in formulating and achieving the goals of the mixed free enterprise system. The State Board of Education shall devise or approve the consumer education curriculum for grades 9 through 12 and specify the minimum amount of instruction to be devoted thereto.

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank)...

(d) A school board may establish a special fund in which to receive public funds and private contributions for the promotion of financial literacy. Money in the fund shall be used for the following:

(1) Defraying the costs of financial literacy training for teachers.

(2) Rewarding a school or teacher who wins or achieves results at a certain level of success in a financial literacy competition.

(3) Rewarding a student who wins or achieves results at a certain level of success in a financial literacy competition.

(4) Funding activities, including books, games, field trips, computers, and other activities, related to financial literacy education.

(e) The State Board of Education, upon the next comprehensive review of the Illinois Learning Standards, is urged to include the basic principles of personal insurance policies and understanding simple contracts.

(Source: P.A. 103-616, eff. 7-1-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-310) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.15)

Sec. 27-310. 27-23.15. Computer science.

(a) In this Section, "computer science" means the study of computers and algorithms, including their principles, their hardware and software designs, their implementation, and their impact on society. "Computer science" does not include the study of everyday uses of computers and computer applications, such as keyboarding or accessing the Internet.

(b) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 shall provide an opportunity for every high school student to take at least one computer science course aligned to rigorous learning standards of the State Board of Education.

(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-315) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.7)

Sec. 27-315. 27-20.7. Cursive writing. Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, public elementary schools shall offer at least one unit of instruction in cursive writing. School districts shall, by policy, determine at what grade level or levels students are to be offered cursive writing, provided that such instruction must be offered before students complete grade 5.

(Source: P.A. 100-548, eff. 7-1-18.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-320) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-22.2)

Sec. 27-320. 27-22.2. Career and technical education elective. Whenever the school board of any school district which maintains grades 9 through 12 establishes a list of courses from which secondary school students each must elect at least one course, to be completed along with other course requirements as a pre-requisite to receiving a high school diploma, that school board must include on the list of such elective courses at least one course in career and technical education.

(Source: P.A. 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-405 heading new)

ONLINE SAFETY AND MEDIA LITERACY

(105 ILCS 5/27-405 new)

Sec. 27-405. Online safety and media literacy.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Media literacy" means the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and communicate using a variety of objective forms, including, but not limited to, print, visual, audio, interactive, and digital texts.

"Online safety" means safe practices relating to an individual's or group's use of the Internet, social networking websites, electronic mail, online messaging and posting, and other means of communication on the Internet.

(b) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, every public school shall adopt an age and developmentally appropriate curriculum for online safety instruction to be taught at least once each school year to students in grades 3 through 8. The school board shall determine the scope and duration of this unit of instruction. The instruction may be incorporated into the current courses of study regularly taught in the district's schools, as determined by the school board, and it is recommended that the unit of instruction include all of the following topics:

(1) Safe and responsible use of the Internet, social networking websites, electronic mail, online messaging and posting, and other means of communication on the Internet.

(2) Recognizing, avoiding, and reporting online solicitations of students, their classmates, and their friends by sexual predators.

(3) Risks of transmitting personal information on the Internet.

(4) Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive communications received online.

(5) Reporting online harassment, cyber-bullying, and illegal activities and communications on the Internet.

(6) The legal penalties and social ramifications for illicit actions taken online, including infringement of copyright laws and the creation and sharing of harmful, defamatory, or sexually explicit content.

(7) The relationship between responsible use of online resources and social-emotional health.

(c) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, every public school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy and Internet safety for students in grades 9 through 12. The unit of instruction shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following topics:

(1) Accessing and evaluating information: Evaluating multiple media platforms to better understand the general landscape and economics of the platforms, the issues regarding the trustworthiness of the source of information, and the authenticity of each source to distinguish fact from opinion. This includes analyzing misinformation online and identifying if online content is real or fabricated.

(2) Creating media: Conveying a coherent message using multimodal practices to a specific target audience. This may include, but is not limited to, writing blogs, composing songs, designing video games, producing podcasts, making videos, or coding a mobile or software application.

(3) Reflecting on media consumption and social responsibility: Assessing how media affects the consumption of information and how it triggers emotions and behavior. This also includes suggesting a plan of action in the class, school, or community to engage others in a respectful, thoughtful, and inclusive dialogue over a specific issue using facts and reason.

(4) Legal and Social Penalties for Illicit Actions Online: Understanding the legal penalties and social ramifications for illicit actions taken online, including infringement of copyright laws and the creation and sharing of harmful, defamatory, or sexually explicit content.

(5) Reporting Illicit Content Online: Understanding how and whom to report online harassment, cyber-bullying, and illegal activities and communications on the Internet.

(d) The State Board of Education shall determine how to prepare and make available instructional resources and professional learning opportunities for educators that may be used for the development of a unit of instruction under this Section.

The State Board of Education shall, subject to appropriation, prepare and make available multidisciplinary instructional resources and professional learning opportunities for educators that may be used to meet the following requirements:

(1) The unit of instruction shall be age and developmentally appropriate for each intended grade level being taught.

(2) The unit of instruction shall educate students about the legal and social penalties for illicit actions online.

(3) The unit of instruction shall educate students about the social and legal penalties for illicit actions taken online.

(4) The unit of instruction shall teach about the harmful physical, emotional, and psychological effects associated with unhealthy use of the Internet and social media.

(5) The unit of instruction shall provide information on resources to report cyberbullying and the illicit online behavior of others.

The State Board, in coordination with any other individuals, groups, or organizations the State Board deems appropriate, shall update these instructional resources and professional learning opportunities periodically as the State Board sees fit.

The State Board shall make the instructional resources and professional learning opportunities available on its Internet website.

(105 ILCS 5/27-410) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-13.3)

Sec. 27-410. 27-13.3. Internet safety education curriculum.

(a) The purpose of this Section is to inform and protect students from inappropriate or illegal communications and solicitation and to encourage school districts to provide education about Internet threats and risks, including without limitation child predators, fraud, and other dangers.

(b) The General Assembly finds and declares the following:

(1) it is the policy of this State to protect consumers and Illinois residents from deceptive and unsafe communications that result in harassment, exploitation, or physical harm;

(2) children have easy access to the Internet at home, school, and public places;

(3) the Internet is used by sexual predators and other criminals to make initial contact with children and other vulnerable residents in Illinois; and

(4) education is an effective method for preventing children from falling prey to online predators, identity theft, and other dangers.

(c) Each school may adopt an age-appropriate curriculum for Internet safety instruction of students in grades kindergarten through 12. However, beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, a school district must incorporate into the school curriculum a component on Internet safety to be taught at least once each school year to students in grades 3 through 12. The school board shall determine the scope and duration of this unit of instruction. The age-appropriate unit of instruction may be incorporated into the current courses of study regularly taught in the district's schools, as determined by the school board, and it is recommended that the unit of instruction include the following topics:

(1) Safe and responsible use of social networking websites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards, instant messaging, and other means of communication on the Internet.

(2) Recognizing, avoiding, and reporting online solicitations of students, their classmates, and their friends by sexual predators.

(3) Risks of transmitting personal information on the Internet.

(4) Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive communications received online.

(5) Recognizing and reporting online harassment and cyber-bullying.

(6) Reporting illegal activities and communications on the Internet.

(7) Copyright laws on written materials, photographs, music, and video.

(d) Curricula devised in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section may be submitted for review to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

(e) The State Board of Education shall make available resource materials for educating children regarding child online safety and may take into consideration the curriculum on this subject developed by other states, as well as any other curricular materials suggested by education experts, child psychologists, or technology companies that work on child online safety issues. Materials may include without limitation safe online communications, privacy protection, cyber-bullying, viewing inappropriate material, file sharing, and the importance of open communication with responsible adults. The State Board of Education shall make these resource materials available on its Internet website.

(f) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2027.

(Source: P.A. 95-509, eff. 8-28-07; 95-869, eff. 1-1-09; 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-415) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.08)

Sec. 27-415. 27-20.08. Media literacy.

(a) In this Section, "media literacy" means the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and communicate using a variety of objective forms, including, but not limited to, print, visual, audio, interactive, and digital texts.

(b) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, every public high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy. The unit of instruction shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following topics:

(1) Accessing information: Evaluating multiple media platforms to better understand the general landscape and economics of the platforms, as well as issues regarding the trustworthiness of the source of information.

(2) Analyzing and evaluating media messages: Deconstructing media representations according to the authors, target audience, techniques, agenda setting, stereotypes, and authenticity to distinguish fact from opinion.

(3) Creating media: Conveying a coherent message using multimodal practices to a specific target audience. This may include, but is not limited to, writing blogs, composing songs, designing video games, producing podcasts, making videos, or coding a mobile or software application.

(4) Reflecting on media consumption: Assessing how media affects the consumption of information and how it triggers emotions and behavior.

(5) Social responsibility and civics: Suggesting a plan of action in the class, school, or community to engage others in a respectful, thoughtful, and inclusive dialogue over a specific issue using facts and reason.

(c) The State Board of Education shall determine how to prepare and make available instructional resources and professional learning opportunities for educators that may be used for the development of a unit of instruction under this Section.

(d) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2027.

(Source: P.A. 102-55, eff. 7-9-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-505 heading new)

HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES

(105 ILCS 5/27-505) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-21)

Sec. 27-505. 27-21. History of the United States.

(a) History of the United States shall be taught in all public schools and in all other educational institutions in this State supported or maintained, in whole or in part, by public funds.

The teaching of history shall have as one of its objectives the imparting to pupils of a comprehensive idea of our democratic form of government and the principles for which our government stands as regards other nations, including the studying of the place of our government in world-wide movements and the leaders thereof, with particular stress upon the basic principles and ideals of our representative form of government.

The teaching of history shall include a study of the role and contributions of African Americans and other ethnic groups, including, but not restricted to, Native Americans, Polish, Lithuanian, German, Hungarian, Irish, Bohemian, Russian, Albanian, Italian, Czech, Slovak, French, Scots, Hispanics, Asian Americans, etc., in the history of this country and this State. To reinforce the study of the role and contributions of Hispanics, such curriculum shall include the study of the events related to the forceful removal and illegal deportation of Mexican-American U.S. citizens during the Great Depression.

The teaching of history shall also include teaching about Native American nations' sovereignty and self-determination, both historically and in the present day, with a focus on urban Native Americans.

In public schools only, the teaching of history shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State.

The teaching of history also shall include a study of the role of labor unions and their interaction with government in achieving the goals of a mixed free enterprise system.

Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the teaching of history must also include instruction on the history of Illinois.

The teaching of history shall include the contributions made to society by Americans of different faith practices, including, but not limited to, Native Americans, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, Christian Americans, Hindu Americans, Sikh Americans, Buddhist Americans, and any other collective community of faith that has shaped America.

(b) No pupils shall be graduated from the eighth grade of any public school unless the pupils have received instruction in the history of the United States as provided in this Section and give evidence of having a comprehensive knowledge thereof, which may be administered remotely.

(c) Instructional materials that include the addition of content related to Native Americans shall be prepared by the State Superintendent of Education and made available to all school boards on the State Board of Education's Internet website no later than July 1, 2024. These instructional materials may be used by school boards as guidelines for the development of instruction under this Section; however, each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instructional time for satisfying the requirements of this Section. Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, a school or other educational institution is not required to teach and a pupil is not required to learn the additional content related to Native Americans until instructional materials are made available on the State Board's Internet website.

Instructional materials related to Native Americans shall be developed in consultation with members of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative who are members of a federally recognized tribe, are documented descendants of Indigenous communities, or are other persons recognized as contributing community members by the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative and who currently reside in this State.

(Source: P.A. 102-411, eff. 1-1-22; 103-422, eff. 8-4-23; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-510 new)

Sec. 27-510. Patriotism, principles of representative government, and elementary civics education.

(a) American patriotism and the principles of representative government, as enunciated in the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag shall be taught in all public schools and other educational institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds. No student may receive a certificate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination upon such subjects, which may be administered remotely. This instruction may be taught alongside the curriculum in the one semester of civics education for students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade under subsection (b) of this Section.

(b) Every public elementary school shall include at least one semester of civics education in its 6th, 7th, or 8th grade curriculum. This instruction shall help young people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. The course content shall be in accordance with the Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science and shall include discussion on current societal issues, service learning, simulations of the democratic process, and instruction on the method of voting at elections by means of the Australian Ballot system.

(c) The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited each school day by pupils in elementary and secondary educational institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds.

(105 ILCS 5/27-515) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-4)

Sec. 27-515. 27-4. Time requirement for civics studies. Time devoted to subjects mentioned in Section 27-3. Not less than one hour of each school week, or an amount of time equal to one hour per school week through the school year, shall be devoted to the study of the subjects subject mentioned in Section 27-510 of this Code 27-3 in the seventh and eighth grades or their equivalent, and not less than one hour of each school week to the advanced study thereof in all high school grades, in the public schools and other institutions mentioned in such Section.

This Section does not prevent the study of such subjects in any of the lower grades in such schools or institutions.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-520) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.05)

Sec. 27-520. 27-20.05. Native American history study.

(a) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, every public elementary school and high school social studies course pertaining to American history or government shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the Native American experience and Native American history within the Midwest and this State since time immemorial. These events shall include the contributions of Native Americans in government and the arts, humanities, and sciences, as well as the contributions of Native Americans to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of their own nations and of the United States. The unit of instruction must describe large urban Native American populations in this State, including the history and experiences of contemporary Native Americans living in this State. Instruction in grades 6 through 12 shall include the study of the genocide of and discrimination against Native Americans, as well as tribal sovereignty, treaties made between tribal nations and the United States, and the circumstances around forced Native American relocation. This unit of instruction may be integrated as part of the unit of instruction required under Section 27-505 or 27-525 27-20.03 or 27-21 of this Code.

(b) The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials and professional development opportunities that may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction under this Section. However, each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section.

(c) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with this Section's curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit and make recommendations for improvement, including professional development.

(Source: P.A. 103-422, eff. 8-4-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-525) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.3)

Sec. 27-525. 27-20.3. Holocaust and Genocide Study.

(a) Every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the Nazi atrocities of 1933 to 1945. This period in world history is known as the Holocaust, during which 6,000,000 Jews and millions of non-Jews were exterminated. One of the universal lessons of the Holocaust is that national, ethnic, racial, or religious hatred can overtake any nation or society, leading to calamitous consequences. To reinforce that lesson, such curriculum shall include an additional unit of instruction studying other acts of genocide across the globe. This unit shall include, but not be limited to, the Native American genocide in North America, the Armenian Genocide, the Famine-Genocide in Ukraine, and more recent atrocities in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan. The studying of this material is a reaffirmation of the commitment of free peoples from all nations to never again permit the occurrence of another Holocaust and a recognition that crimes of genocide continue to be perpetrated across the globe as they have been in the past and to deter indifference to crimes against humanity and human suffering wherever they may occur.

(b) The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials which may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction under this Section; provided, however, that each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instruction time which shall qualify as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section.

Instructional materials that include the addition of content related to the Native American genocide in North America shall be prepared and made available to all school boards on the State Board of Education's Internet website no later than July 1, 2024. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, a school is not required to teach the additional content related to the Native American genocide in North America until instructional materials are made available on the State Board's Internet website.

Instructional materials related to the Native American genocide in North America shall be developed in consultation with members of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative who are members of a federally recognized tribe, are documented descendants of Indigenous communities, or are other persons recognized as contributing community members by the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative and who currently reside in this State or their designees.

(Source: P.A. 103-422, eff. 8-4-23; 103-564, eff. 11-17-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-530) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.4)

Sec. 27-530. 27-20.4. Black History study. Every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Black History, including the history of the pre-enslavement of Black people from 3,000 BCE to AD 1619, the African slave trade, slavery in America, the study of the reasons why Black people came to be enslaved, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the study of the American civil rights renaissance. These events shall include not only the contributions made by individual African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities and sciences to the economic, cultural and political development of the United States and Africa, but also the socio-economic struggle which African-Americans experienced collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment under the laws of this nation. The studying of this material shall constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.

The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Amistad Commission, which may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction under this Section; provided, however, that each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instruction time which shall qualify as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section.

A school may meet the requirements of this Section through an online program or course.

(Source: P.A. 100-634, eff. 1-1-19; 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-535) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.5)

Sec. 27-535. 27-20.5. Study of the History of Women. Every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the history of women in America. These events shall include not only the contributions made by individual women in government, the arts, sciences, education, and in the economic, cultural, and political development of Illinois and of the United States, but shall also include a study of women's struggles to gain the right to vote and to be treated equally as they strive to earn and occupy positions of merit in our society.

The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction under this Section. Each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that shall qualify as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 86-1256.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-540) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.8)

Sec. 27-540. 27-20.8. Asian American history study.

(a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American history, including the history of Asian Americans in Illinois and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Asian Americans toward advancing civil rights from the 19th century onward. These events shall include the contributions made by individual Asian Americans in government and the arts, humanities, and sciences, as well as the contributions of Asian American communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States. The studying of this material shall constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.

(b) The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction under this Section. However, each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section.

(c) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with this Section's curricular requirements during his or her annual compliance visit.

(d) A school may meet the requirements of this Section through an online program or course.

(Source: P.A. 102-44, eff. 1-1-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-545) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.8)

Sec. 27-545. 27-23.8. Disability history and awareness.

(a) A school district shall provide instruction on disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement. Instruction may be included in those courses that the school district chooses. This instruction must be founded on the principle that all students, including students with disabilities, have the right to exercise self-determination. When possible, individuals with disabilities should be incorporated into the development and delivery of this instruction. This instruction may be supplemented by knowledgeable guest speakers from the disability community. A school board may collaborate with community-based organizations, such as centers for independent living, parent training and information centers, and other consumer-driven groups, and disability membership organizations in creating this instruction.

(b) The State Board of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards resource materials that may be used as guidelines for the development of instruction for disability history and awareness under this Section.

(c) Each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time required under this Section.

(d) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with this Section's curricular requirement during his or her annual compliance visit.

(Source: P.A. 96-191, eff. 1-1-10.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-605 heading new)

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

(105 ILCS 5/27-605) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-22)

Sec. 27-605. 27-22. Required high school courses.

(a) (Blank).

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank).

(d) (Blank).

(e) Through the 2023-2024 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 all of the following courses:

(1) Four years of language arts.

(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of which must be English and the other of which may be English or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.

(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science course. A mathematics course that includes geometry content may be offered as an integrated, applied, interdisciplinary, or career and technical education course that prepares a student for a career readiness path.

(3.5) For pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2022-2023 school year and 2023-2024 school year, one year of a course that includes intensive instruction in computer literacy, which may be English, social studies, or any other subject and which may be counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.

(4) Two years of science.

(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one year must be history of the United States or a combination of history of the United States and American government and, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2016-2017 school year and each school year thereafter, at least one semester must be civics, which shall help young people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course content shall focus on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of the democratic process. School districts may utilize private funding available for the purposes of offering civics education. Beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year, one semester, or part of one semester, may include a financial literacy course.

(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C) foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E) forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech course used to satisfy the course requirement under subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course requirement under this subdivision (6).

(e-5) Beginning with the 2024-2025 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 all of the following courses:

(1) Four years of language arts.

(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of which must be English and the other of which may be English or any other subject. If applicable, writing-intensive courses may be counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.

(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science course. A mathematics course that includes geometry content may be offered as an integrated, applied, interdisciplinary, or career and technical education course that prepares a student for a career readiness path.

(3.5) One year of a course that includes intensive instruction in computer literacy, which may be English, social studies, or any other subject and which may be counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation requirements.

(4) Two years of laboratory science.

(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one year must be history of the United States or a combination of history of the United States and American government and at least one semester must be civics, which shall help young people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course content shall focus on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of the democratic process. School districts may utilize private funding available for the purposes of offering civics education. One semester, or part of one semester, may include a financial literacy course.

(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C) foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E) forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech course used to satisfy the course requirement under subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course requirement under this subdivision (6).

(e-10) 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. A pupil may choose a third year of foreign language to satisfy the requirement under subdivision (6) of subsection (e-5).

(f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform school districts of standards for writing-intensive coursework.

(f-5) If a school district offers an Advanced Placement computer science course to high school students, then the school board must designate that course as equivalent to a high school mathematics course and must denote on the student's transcript that the Advanced Placement computer science course qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for students in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of this Section.

(g) Public Act 83-1082 does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior school years or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program.

Public Act 94-676 does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program.

Subdivision (3.5) of subsection (e) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program.

Subsection (e-5) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2023-2024 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program. Subsection (e-10) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028 school year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an individualized education program.

(h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the provisions of Sections 14A-32 and 27-610 27-22.05 of this Code and the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.

(i) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to modify the requirements of this Section for any students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-366, eff. 8-13-21; 102-551, eff. 1-1-22; 102-864, eff. 5-13-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-743, eff. 8-2-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-610) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-22.05)

Sec. 27-610. 27-22.05. Required course substitute. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article or this Code, a school board that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 is authorized to adopt a policy under which a student who is enrolled in any of those grades may satisfy one or more high school course or graduation requirements, including, but not limited to, any requirements under Sections 27-605 and 27-710 of this Code 27-6 and 27-22, by successfully completing a registered apprenticeship program under rules adopted by the State Board of Education under Section 2-3.175 of this Code, or by substituting for and successfully completing in place of the high school course or graduation requirement a related vocational or technical education course. A vocational or technical education course shall not qualify as a related vocational or technical education course within the meaning of this Section unless it contains at least 50% of the content of the required course or graduation requirement for which it is substituted, as determined by the State Board of Education in accordance with standards that it shall adopt and uniformly apply for purposes of this Section. No vocational or technical education course may be substituted for a required course or graduation requirement under any policy adopted by a school board as authorized in this Section unless the pupil's parent or guardian first requests the substitution and approves it in writing on forms that the school district makes available for purposes of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-992, eff. 8-20-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-615) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-22.10)

Sec. 27-615. 27-22.10. Course credit for high school diploma.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 is authorized to adopt a policy under which a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 who is enrolled in the unit school district or would be enrolled in the high school district upon completion of elementary school, whichever is applicable, may enroll in a course required under Section 27-605 27-22 of this Code, provided that the course is offered by the high school that the student would attend, and (i) the student participates in the course at the location of the high school, and the elementary student's enrollment in the course would not prevent a high school student from being able to enroll, or (ii) the student participates in the course where the student attends school as long as the course is taught by a teacher who holds a professional educator license issued under Article 21B of this Code and endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course.

(b) A school board that adopts a policy pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section must grant academic credit to an elementary school student who successfully completes the high school course, and that credit shall satisfy the requirements of Section 27-605 27-22 of this Code for that course.

(c) A school board must award high school course credit to a student transferring to its school district for any course that the student successfully completed pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section, unless evidence about the course's rigor and content shows that it does not address the relevant Illinois Learning Standard at the level appropriate for the high school grade during which the course is usually taken, and that credit shall satisfy the requirements of Section 27-605 27-22 of this Code for that course.

(d) A student's grade in any course successfully completed under this Section must be included in his or her grade point average in accordance with the school board's policy for making that calculation.

(Source: P.A. 99-189, eff. 7-30-15.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-705 heading new)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

(105 ILCS 5/27-705) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-5)

Sec. 27-705. 27-5. Physical education and training. School boards of public schools and the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities shall provide for the physical education and training of pupils of the schools and laboratory schools under their respective control, and shall include physical education and training in the courses of study regularly taught therein. The physical education and training course offered in grades 5 through 10 may include the health education course required in the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act.

(Source: P.A. 89-618, eff. 8-9-96.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-710) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-6)

Sec. 27-710. 27-6. Courses in physical education required; special activities.

(a) Pupils enrolled in the public schools and State universities engaged in preparing teachers shall be required to engage during the school day, except on block scheduled days for those public schools engaged in block scheduling, in courses of physical education for such periods as are compatible with the optimum growth and developmental needs of individuals at the various age levels except when appropriate excuses are submitted to the school by a pupil's parent or guardian or by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section. A school board may determine the schedule or frequency of physical education courses, provided that a pupil engages in a course of physical education for a minimum of 3 days per 5-day week.

Special activities in physical education shall be provided for pupils whose physical or emotional condition, as determined by a person licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, prevents their participation in the courses provided for normal children.

(b) A school board is authorized to excuse pupils enrolled in grades 11 and 12 from engaging in physical education courses if those pupils request to be excused for any of the following reasons: (1) for ongoing participation in an interscholastic athletic program; (2) to enroll in academic classes which are required for admission to an institution of higher learning, provided that failure to take such classes will result in the pupil being denied admission to the institution of his or her choice; or (3) to enroll in academic classes which are required for graduation from high school, provided that failure to take such classes will result in the pupil being unable to graduate. A school board may also excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in a marching band program for credit from engaging in physical education courses if those pupils request to be excused for ongoing participation in such marching band program. A school board may also, on a case-by-case basis, excuse pupils in grades 7 through 12 who participate in an interscholastic or extracurricular athletic program from engaging in physical education courses. In addition, a pupil in any of grades 3 through 12 who is eligible for special education may be excused if the pupil's parent or guardian agrees that the pupil must utilize the time set aside for physical education to receive special education support and services or, if there is no agreement, the individualized education program team for the pupil determines that the pupil must utilize the time set aside for physical education to receive special education support and services, which agreement or determination must be made a part of the individualized education program. However, a pupil requiring adapted physical education must receive that service in accordance with the individualized education program developed for the pupil. If requested, a school board is authorized to excuse a pupil from engaging in a physical education course if the pupil has an individualized educational program under Article 14 of this Code, is participating in an adaptive athletic program outside of the school setting, and documents such participation as determined by the school board. A school board may also excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in a Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) program sponsored by the school district from engaging in physical education courses. School boards which choose to exercise this authority shall establish a policy to excuse pupils on an individual basis.

(b-5) A pupil shall be excused from engaging in any physical activity components of a physical education course during a period of religious fasting if the pupil's parent or guardian notifies the school principal in writing that the pupil is participating in religious fasting.

(c) The provisions of this Section are subject to the provisions of Section 27-610 of this Code 27-22.05.

(Source: P.A. 102-405, eff. 8-19-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-715) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-6.3)

Sec. 27-715. 27-6.3. Play time required in elementary school.

(a) All public schools shall provide daily time for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students in kindergarten through grade 5. Play time must allow unstructured play, and may include organized games, but shall not include the use of computers, tablets, phones, or videos. Schools are encouraged to provide play time outdoors, but it may be held indoors. If play time is held indoors, schools are encouraged to provide it in a space that promotes physical activity. Time spent dressing or undressing for outdoor play time shall not count towards the daily time for play.

(b) Play time shall not count as a course of physical education that fulfills the requirements of Section 27-710 of this Code 27-6, nor shall time spent in a course of physical education count towards the daily time for play.

(c) Play time shall be considered clock hours for the purposes of Section 10-19.05. For any school day 5 clock hours or longer in length, the total time allotted for play for students in kindergarten through grade 5 must be at least 30 minutes. For any school day less than 5 clock hours in length, the total time allotted for play each school day must be at least one-tenth of a day of attendance for the student pursuant to Section 10-19.05. Play time may be divided into play periods of at least 15 consecutive minutes in length.

(d) For students with disabilities, play time shall comply with a student's applicable individualized education program (IEP) or federal Section 504 plan.

(e) All public schools shall prohibit the withholding of play time as a disciplinary or punitive action, except when a student's participation in play time poses an immediate threat to the safety of the student or others. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats and minimize the use of exclusion from play to the greatest extent practicable and in accordance with subsection (d).

(Source: P.A. 102-357, eff. 8-13-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-720) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-6.5)

Sec. 27-720. 27-6.5. Physical fitness assessments in schools.

(a) As used in this Section, "physical fitness assessment" means a series of assessments to measure aerobic capacity, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.

(b) To measure the effectiveness of State Goal 20 of the Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health, beginning with the 2016-2017 school year and every school year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall require all public schools to use a scientifically-based, health-related physical fitness assessment for grades 3 through 12 and periodically report fitness information to the State Board of Education, as set forth in subsections (c) and (e) of this Section, to assess student fitness indicators.

Public schools shall integrate health-related fitness testing into the curriculum as an instructional tool, except in grades before the 3rd grade. Fitness tests must be appropriate to students' developmental levels and physical abilities. The testing must be used to teach students how to assess their fitness levels, set goals for improvement, and monitor progress in reaching their goals. Fitness scores shall not be used for grading students or evaluating teachers.

(c) (Blank).

(d) The State Board of Education must adopt rules for the implementation of physical fitness assessments under this Section by each public school. The requirements of this Section do not apply if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(e) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for data submission by school districts and develop a system for collecting and reporting the aggregated fitness information from the physical fitness assessments. This system shall also support the collection of data from school districts that use a fitness testing software program.

(f) School districts may report the aggregate findings of physical fitness assessments by grade level and school to parents and members of the community through typical communication channels, such as Internet websites, school newsletters, school board reports, and presentations. Districts may also provide individual fitness assessment reports to students' parents.

(g) Nothing in this Section precludes schools from implementing a physical fitness assessment before the 2016-2017 school year or from implementing more robust forms of a physical fitness assessment.

(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-725) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-7)

Sec. 27-725. 27-7. Physical education course of study. A physical education course of study shall include a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances health-related fitness, increases students' knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle. A physical education course of study shall provide students with an opportunity for an appropriate amount of physical activity. A physical education course of study must be part of the regular school curriculum and not extra-curricular in nature or organization.

The State Board of Education shall prepare and make available guidelines for the various grades and types of schools in order to make effective the purposes set forth in this Section and the requirements provided in Section 27-710 of this Code 27-6, and shall see that the general provisions and intent of Sections 21B-107, 22-105, and 27-705 through 27-725 of this Code 27-5 to 27-9, inclusive, are enforced.

(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-805 heading new)

DRIVER EDUCATION

(105 ILCS 5/27-805) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24)

Sec. 27-805. 27-24. Short title. This Section and the following Sections preceding Section 27-905 of this Code Sections 27-24 through 27-24.10 of this Article are known and may be cited as the Driver Education Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-810) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.1)

Sec. 27-810. 27-24.1. Definitions. As used in the Driver Education Act unless the context otherwise requires:

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

"Driver education course" and "course" means a course of instruction in the use and operation of cars, including instruction in the safe operation of cars and rules of the road, the laws of this State relating to motor vehicles, and law enforcement procedures during traffic stops, including appropriate interactions with law enforcement officers, which meets the minimum requirements of this Act and the rules and regulations issued thereunder by the State Board and has been approved by the State Board as meeting such requirements.

"Car" means a motor vehicle of the first division as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code.

"Motorcycle" or "motor driven cycle" means such a vehicle as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code.

"Driver's license" means any license or permit issued by the Secretary of State under Chapter 6 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

"Distance learning program" means a program of study in which all participating teachers and students do not physically meet in the classroom and instead use the Internet, email, or any other method other than the classroom to provide instruction.

With reference to persons, the singular number includes the plural and vice versa, and the masculine gender includes the feminine.

(Source: P.A. 101-183, eff. 8-2-19; 102-455, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-815) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.2)

Sec. 27-815. 27-24.2. Safety education; driver education course. Instruction shall be given in safety education in each of grades one through 8, equivalent to one class period each week, and any school district which maintains grades 9 through 12 shall offer a driver education course in any such school which it operates. Its curriculum shall include content dealing with Chapters 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the rules adopted pursuant to those Chapters insofar as they pertain to the operation of motor vehicles, and the portions of the Litter Control Act relating to the operation of motor vehicles. The course of instruction given in grades 10 through 12 shall include an emphasis on the development of knowledge, attitudes, habits, and skills necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles, including motorcycles insofar as they can be taught in the classroom, and instruction on distracted driving as a major traffic safety issue. In addition, the course shall include instruction on special hazards existing at and required safety and driving precautions that must be observed at emergency situations, highway construction and maintenance zones, including worker safety in highway construction and maintenance zones, and railroad crossings and the approaches thereto. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the course shall also include instruction concerning law enforcement procedures for traffic stops, including a demonstration of the proper actions to be taken during a traffic stop and appropriate interactions with law enforcement. The course of instruction required of each eligible student at the high school level shall consist of a minimum of 30 clock hours of classroom instruction and a minimum of 6 clock hours of individual behind-the-wheel instruction in a dual control car on public roadways taught by a driver education instructor endorsed by the State Board of Education. A school district's decision to allow a student to take a portion of the driver education course through a distance learning program must be determined on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the school's administration, including the student's driver education teacher, and the student's parent or guardian. Under no circumstances may the student take the entire driver education course through a distance learning program. Both the classroom instruction part and the practice driving part of a driver education course shall be open to a resident or non-resident student attending a non-public school in the district wherein the course is offered. Each student attending any public or non-public high school in the district must receive a passing grade in at least 8 courses during the previous 2 semesters prior to enrolling in a driver education course, or the student shall not be permitted to enroll in the course; provided that the local superintendent of schools (with respect to a student attending a public high school in the district) or chief school administrator (with respect to a student attending a non-public high school in the district) may waive the requirement if the superintendent or chief school administrator, as the case may be, deems it to be in the best interest of the student. A student may be allowed to commence the classroom instruction part of such driver education course prior to reaching age 15 if such student then will be eligible to complete the entire course within 12 months after being allowed to commence such classroom instruction.

A school district may offer a driver education course in a school by contracting with a commercial driver training school to provide both the classroom instruction part and the practice driving part or either one without having to request a modification or waiver of administrative rules of the State Board of Education if the school district approves the action during a public hearing on whether to enter into a contract with a commercial driver training school. The public hearing shall be held at a regular or special school board meeting prior to entering into such a contract. If a school district chooses to approve a contract with a commercial driver training school, then the district must provide evidence to the State Board of Education that the commercial driver training school with which it will contract holds a license issued by the Secretary of State under Article IV of Chapter 6 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and that each instructor employed by the commercial driver training school to provide instruction to students served by the school district holds a valid teaching license issued under the requirements of this Code and rules of the State Board of Education. Such evidence must include, but need not be limited to, a list of each instructor assigned to teach students served by the school district, which list shall include the instructor's name, personal identification number as required by the State Board of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. Once the contract is entered into, the school district shall notify the State Board of Education of any changes in the personnel providing instruction either (i) within 15 calendar days after an instructor leaves the program or (ii) before a new instructor is hired. Such notification shall include the instructor's name, personal identification number as required by the State Board of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If the school district maintains an Internet website, then the district shall post a copy of the final contract between the district and the commercial driver training school on the district's Internet website. If no Internet website exists, then the school district shall make available the contract upon request. A record of all materials in relation to the contract must be maintained by the school district and made available to parents and guardians upon request. The instructor's date of birth and driver's license number and any other personally identifying information as deemed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 must be redacted from any public materials.

Such a course may be commenced immediately after the completion of a prior course. Teachers of such courses shall meet the licensure requirements of this Code and regulations of the State Board as to qualifications. Except for a contract with a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, a school district that contracts with a third party to teach a driver education course under this Section must ensure the teacher meets the educator licensure and endorsement requirements under Article 21B and must follow the same evaluation and observation requirements that apply to non-tenured teachers under Article 24A. The teacher evaluation must be conducted by a school administrator employed by the school district and must be submitted annually to the district superintendent and all school board members for oversight purposes.

Subject to rules of the State Board of Education, the school district may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed $50, to students who participate in the course, unless a student is unable to pay for such a course, in which event the fee for such a student must be waived. However, the district may increase this fee to an amount not to exceed $250 by school board resolution following a public hearing on the increase, which increased fee must be waived for students who participate in the course and are unable to pay for the course. The total amount from driver education fees and reimbursement from the State for driver education must not exceed the total cost of the driver education program in any year and must be deposited into the school district's driver education fund as a separate line item budget entry. All moneys deposited into the school district's driver education fund must be used solely for the funding of a high school driver education program approved by the State Board of Education that uses driver education instructors endorsed by the State Board of Education.

(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 103-944, eff. 8-9-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-820) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.2a)

Sec. 27-820. 27-24.2a. Non-public school driver education course. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, any non-public school's driver education course shall include instruction concerning law enforcement procedures for traffic stops, including a demonstration of the proper actions to be taken during a traffic stop and appropriate interactions with law enforcement.

(Source: P.A. 99-720, eff. 1-1-17.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-825) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.3)

Sec. 27-825. 27-24.3. Reimbursement. In order for the school district to receive reimbursement from the State as hereinafter provided, the driver education course offered in its schools shall consist of at least 30 clock hours of classroom instruction and, subject to modification as hereinafter allowed, at least 6 clock hours of practice driving in a car having dual operating controls under direct individual instruction.

(Source: P.A. 95-310, eff. 7-1-08.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-830) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.4)

Sec. 27-830. 27-24.4. Reimbursement amount.

(a) Each school district shall be entitled to reimbursement for each student who finishes either the classroom instruction part or the practice driving part of a driver education course that meets the minimum requirements of this Act. Reimbursement under this Act is payable from the Drivers Education Fund in the State treasury.

Each year all funds appropriated from the Drivers Education Fund to the State Board of Education, with the exception of those funds necessary for administrative purposes of the State Board of Education, shall be distributed in the manner provided in this paragraph to school districts by the State Board of Education for reimbursement of claims from the previous school year. As soon as may be after each quarter of the year, if moneys are available in the Drivers Education Fund in the State treasury for payments under this Section, the State Comptroller shall draw his or her warrants upon the State Treasurer as directed by the State Board of Education. The warrant for each quarter shall be in an amount equal to one-fourth of the total amount to be distributed to school districts for the year. Payments shall be made to school districts as soon as may be after receipt of the warrants.

The base reimbursement amount shall be calculated by the State Board by dividing the total amount appropriated for distribution by the total of: (a) the number of students who have completed the classroom instruction part for whom valid claims have been made times 0.2; plus (b) the number of students who have completed the practice driving instruction part for whom valid claims have been made times 0.8.

The amount of reimbursement to be distributed on each claim shall be 0.2 times the base reimbursement amount for each validly claimed student who has completed the classroom instruction part, plus 0.8 times the base reimbursement amount for each validly claimed student who has completed the practice driving instruction part.

(b) The school district which is the residence of a student who attends a nonpublic school in another district that has furnished the driver education course shall reimburse the district offering the course, the difference between the actual per capita cost of giving the course the previous school year and the amount reimbursed by the State, which, for purposes of this subsection (b), shall be referred to as "course cost". If the course cost offered by the student's resident district is less than the course cost of the course in the district where the nonpublic school is located, then the student is responsible for paying the district that furnished the course the difference between the 2 amounts. If a nonpublic school student chooses to attend a driver's education course in a school district besides the district where the nonpublic school is located, then the student is wholly responsible for the course cost; however, the nonpublic school student may take the course in his or her resident district on the same basis as public school students who are enrolled in that district.

By April 1 the nonpublic school shall notify the district offering the course of the names and district numbers of the nonresident students desiring to take such course the next school year. The district offering such course shall notify the district of residence of those students affected by April 15. The school district furnishing the course may claim the nonresident student for the purpose of making a claim for State reimbursement under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09; 97-1025, eff. 1-1-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-835) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.5)

Sec. 27-835. 27-24.5. Submission of claims. The district shall report on forms prescribed by the State Board, on an ongoing basis, a list of students by name, birth date and sex, with the date the behind-the-wheel instruction or the classroom instruction or both were completed and with the status of the course completion.

The State shall not reimburse any district for any student who has repeated any part of the course more than once or who did not meet the age requirements of this Act during the period that the student was instructed in any part of the drivers education course.

(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-840) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.6)

Sec. 27-840. 27-24.6. Attendance records. The school board shall require the teachers of drivers education courses to keep daily attendance records for students attending such courses in the same manner as is prescribed in Section 24-18 of this Act and such records shall be used to prepare and certify claims made under the Driver Education Act. Claims for reimbursement shall be made under oath or affirmation of the chief school administrator for the district employed by the school board or authorized driver education personnel employed by the school board.

Whoever submits a false claim under the Driver Education Act or makes a false record upon which a claim is based shall be fined in an amount equal to the sum falsely claimed.

(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-845) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.7)

Sec. 27-845. 27-24.7. School Code code to apply. The provisions of this Code Act not inconsistent with the provisions of the Driver Education Act shall apply to the conduct of instruction offered by a school district under the provisions of the Driver Education Act.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-850) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.8)

Sec. 27-850. 27-24.8. Rules and regulations. The State Board may promulgate rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of the Driver Education Act for the administration of the Driver Education Act.

(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-855) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.9)

Sec. 27-855. 27-24.9. Driver education standards. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of State, an association representing teachers of driver education, students, education practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers in colleges of education, administrators, and regional superintendents of schools, shall adopt rigorous learning standards for the classroom and laboratory phases of driver education for novice teen drivers under the age of 18 years, including, but not limited to, the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards developed and written by the Association of National Stakeholders in Traffic Safety Education in affiliation with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The national learning standards may be adapted to meet Illinois licensing and educational requirements, including classroom and behind-the-wheel hours and the cognitive, physiological, and psychological aspects of the safe operation of a motor vehicle and equipment of motor vehicles. As the national standards are updated, the Board shall update these learning standards.

(Source: P.A. 102-951, eff. 1-1-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-860) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-24.10)

Sec. 27-860. 27-24.10. Cost report. The State Board of Education shall annually prepare a report to be posted on the State Board's Internet website that indicates the approximate per capita driver education cost for each school district required to provide driver education. This report, compiled each spring from data reported the previous school year, shall be computed from expenditure data for driver education submitted by school districts on the annual financial statements required pursuant to Section 3-15.1 of this Code and the number of students provided driver education for that school year, as required to be reported under Section 27-835 27-24.5 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 97-1025, eff. 1-1-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-905 heading new)

SUMMER SCHOOL

(105 ILCS 5/27-905) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-22.1)

Sec. 27-905. 27-22.1. Summer school; required school - required instructional time. Each course offered for high school graduation credit during summer school or any period of the calendar year not embraced within the regular school year, whether or not such course must be successfully completed as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma and whether or not such course if successfully completed would be included in the minimum units of credit required by regulation of the State Board of Education for high school graduation, shall provide no fewer than 60 hours of classroom instruction for the equivalent of one semester of high school course credit.

(Source: P.A. 85-839.)

(105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 27-1005 heading new)

PERMISSIVE CURRICULUM

(105 ILCS 5/27-1005 new)

Sec. 27-1005. General permissive education. No school or school board is required to administer any curriculum or instruction contained in the following Sections of this Article. The curriculum and instruction contained in the following Sections of this Article are entirely permissive. However, if a school or school board chooses to administer the curriculum or instruction in any of the following Sections of this Article, then the school or school board shall follow all requirements listed in the appropriate Section. The State Board of Education shall abide by all requirements of each of the following Sections of this Article.

(105 ILCS 5/27-1010) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1b)

Sec. 27-1010. 27-9.1b. Consent education.

(a) In this Section:

"Age and developmentally appropriate" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 27-1015 of this Code 27-9.1a.

"Consent" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 27-1015 of this Code 27-9.1a.

(b) A school district may provide age and developmentally appropriate consent education in kindergarten through the 12th grade.

(1) In kindergarten through the 5th grade, instruction and materials shall include age and developmentally appropriate instruction on consent and how to give and receive consent, including a discussion that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Setting appropriate physical boundaries with others.

(B) Respecting the physical boundaries of others.

(C) The right to refuse to engage in behaviors or activities that are uncomfortable or unsafe.

(D) Dealing with unwanted physical contact.

(E) Helping a peer deal with unwanted physical contact.

(2) In the 6th through 12th grades, instruction and materials shall include age and developmentally appropriate instruction on consent and how to give and receive consent, including a discussion that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(A) That consent is a freely given agreement to sexual activity.

(B) That consent to one particular sexual activity does not constitute consent to other types of sexual activities.

(C) That a person's lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from the use or threat of force does not constitute consent.

(D) That a person's manner of dress does not constitute consent.

(E) That a person's consent to past sexual activity does not constitute consent to future sexual activity.

(F) That a person's consent to engage in sexual activity with one person does not constitute consent to engage in sexual activity with another person.

(G) That a person can withdraw consent at any time.

(H) That a person cannot consent to sexual activity if that person is unable to understand the nature of the activity or give knowing consent due to certain circumstances that include, but are not limited to:

(i) the person is incapacitated due to the use or influence of alcohol or drugs;

(ii) the person is asleep or unconscious;

(iii) the person is a minor; or

(iv) the person is incapacitated due to a mental disability.

(I) The legal age of consent in this State.

(Source: P.A. 102-522, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1015) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1a)

Sec. 27-1015. 27-9.1a. Comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education.

(a) In this Section:

"Adapt" means to modify an evidence-based or evidence-informed program model for use with a particular demographic, ethnic, linguistic, or cultural group.

"Age and developmentally appropriate" means suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on the developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.

"Characteristics of effective programs" includes development, content, and implementation of such programs that (i) have been shown to be effective in terms of increasing knowledge, clarifying values and attitudes, increasing skills, and impacting behavior, (ii) are widely recognized by leading medical and public health agencies to be effective in changing sexual behaviors that lead to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, unintended pregnancy, interpersonal violence, and sexual violence among young people, and (iii) are taught by professionals who provide a safe learning space, free from shame, stigma, and ideology and are trained in trauma-informed teaching methodologies.

"Complete" means information that aligns with the National Sex Education Standards, including information on consent and healthy relationships, anatomy and physiology, puberty and adolescent sexual development, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and identity, sexual health, and interpersonal violence.

"Comprehensive personal health and safety education" means age and developmentally appropriate education that aligns with the National Sex Education Standards, including information on consent and healthy relationships, anatomy and physiology, puberty and adolescent sexual development, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and identity, sexual health, and interpersonal violence.

"Comprehensive sexual health education" means age and developmentally appropriate education that aligns with the National Sex Education Standards, including information on consent and healthy relationships, anatomy and physiology, puberty and adolescent sexual development, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and identity, sexual health, and interpersonal violence.

"Consent" means an affirmative, knowing, conscious, ongoing, and voluntary agreement to engage in interpersonal, physical, or sexual activity, which can be revoked at any point, including during the course of interpersonal, physical, or sexual activity.

"Culturally appropriate" means affirming culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities in an inclusive, respectful, and effective manner, including materials and instruction that are inclusive of race, ethnicity, language, cultural background, immigration status, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior.

"Evidence-based program" means a program for which systematic, empirical research or evaluation has provided evidence of effectiveness.

"Evidence-informed program" means a program that uses the best available research and practice knowledge to guide program design and implementation.

"Gender stereotype" means a generalized view or preconception about what attributes, characteristics, or roles are or ought to be taught, possessed by, or performed by people based on their gender identity.

"Healthy relationships" means relationships between individuals that consist of mutual respect, trust, honesty, support, fairness, equity, separate identities, physical and emotional safety, and good communication.

"Identity" means people's understanding of how they identify their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression without stereotypes, shame, or stigma.

"Inclusive" means inclusion of marginalized communities that include, but are not limited to, people of color, immigrants, people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, people who are intersex, people with disabilities, people who have experienced interpersonal or sexual violence, and others.

"Interpersonal violence" means violent behavior used to establish power and control over another person.

"Medically accurate" means verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and published in peer-reviewed journals, if applicable, or comprising information recognized as accurate and objective.

"Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)" means medications approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the United States Public Health Service or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and related pre-exposure prophylaxis services, including, but not limited to, HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, medical monitoring, laboratory services, and sexual health counseling, to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection for individuals who are not living with HIV but are vulnerable to HIV exposure.

"Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PeP)" means the medications that are recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health authorities to help prevent HIV infection after potential occupational or non-occupational HIV exposure.

"Sexual violence" means discrimination, bullying, harassment, including sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, incest, rape, and human trafficking.

"Trauma informed" means to address vital information about sexuality and well-being that takes into consideration how adverse life experiences may potentially influence a person's well-being and decision making.

(b) All classes that teach comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education shall satisfy the following criteria:

(1) Course material and instruction shall be age and developmentally appropriate, medically accurate, complete, culturally appropriate, inclusive, and trauma informed.

(2) Course material and instruction shall replicate evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or substantially incorporate elements of evidence-based programs or evidence-informed programs or characteristics of effective programs.

(3) Course material and instruction shall be inclusive and sensitive to the needs of students based on their status as pregnant or parenting, living with STIs, including HIV, sexually active, asexual, or intersex or based on their gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, or disability.

(4) Course material and instruction shall be accessible to students with disabilities, which may include the use of a modified curriculum, materials, instruction in alternative formats, assistive technology, and auxiliary aids.

(5) Course material and instruction shall help students develop self-advocacy skills for effective communication with parents or guardians, health and social service professionals, other trusted adults, and peers about sexual health and relationships.

(6) Course material and instruction shall provide information to help students develop skills for developing healthy relationships and preventing and dealing with interpersonal violence and sexual violence.

(7) Course material and instruction shall provide information to help students safely use the Internet, including social media, dating or relationship websites or applications, and texting.

(8) Course material and instruction shall provide information about local resources where students can obtain additional information and confidential services related to parenting, bullying, interpersonal violence, sexual violence, suicide prevention, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, substance abuse, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and other related issues.

(9) Course material and instruction shall include information about State laws related to minor confidentiality and minor consent, including exceptions, consent education, mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect, the safe relinquishment of a newborn child, minors' access to confidential health care and related services, school policies addressing the prevention of and response to interpersonal and sexual violence, school breastfeeding accommodations, and school policies addressing the prevention of and response to sexual harassment.

(10) Course material and instruction may not reflect or promote bias against any person on the basis of the person's race, ethnicity, language, cultural background, citizenship, religion, HIV status, family structure, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or sexual behavior.

(11) Course material and instruction may not employ gender stereotypes.

(12) Course material and instruction shall be inclusive of and may not be insensitive or unresponsive to the needs of survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual violence.

(13) Course material and instruction may not proselytize any religious doctrine.

(14) Course material and instruction may not deliberately withhold health-promoting or life-saving information about culturally appropriate health care and services, including reproductive health services, hormone therapy, and FDA-approved treatments and options, including, but not limited to, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PeP).

(15) Course material and instruction may not be inconsistent with the ethical imperatives of medicine and public health.

(c) A school may utilize guest lecturers or resource persons to provide instruction or presentations in accordance with Section 10-22.34b. Comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education instruction and materials provided by guest lecturers or resource persons may not conflict with the provisions of this Section.

(d) No student shall be required to take or participate in any class or course in comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education. A student's parent or guardian may opt the student out of comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education by submitting the request in writing. Refusal to take or participate in such a course or program may not be a reason for disciplinary action, academic penalty, suspension, or expulsion or any other sanction of a student. A school district may not require active parental consent for comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education.

(e) An opportunity shall be afforded to individuals, including parents or guardians, to review the scope and sequence of instructional materials to be used in a class or course under this Section, either electronically or in person. A school district shall annually post, on its Internet website if one exists, which curriculum is used to provide comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education and the name and contact information, including an email address, of school personnel who can respond to inquiries about instruction and materials.

(f) On or before August 1, 2022, the State Board of Education, in consultation with youth, parents, sexual health and violence prevention experts, health care providers, advocates, and education practitioners, including, but not limited to, administrators, regional superintendents of schools, teachers, and school support personnel, shall develop and adopt rigorous learning standards in the area of comprehensive personal health and safety education for pupils in kindergarten through the 5th grade and comprehensive sexual health education for pupils in the 6th through 12th grades, including, but not limited to, all of the National Sex Education Standards, including information on consent and healthy relationships, anatomy and physiology, puberty and adolescent sexual development, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and identity, sexual health, and interpersonal violence, as authored by the Future of Sex Education Initiative. As the National Sex Education Standards are updated, the State Board of Education shall update these learning standards.

(g) By no later than August 1, 2022, the State Board of Education shall make available resource materials developed in consultation with stakeholders, with the cooperation and input of experts that provide and entities that promote age and developmentally appropriate, medically accurate, complete, culturally appropriate, inclusive, and trauma-informed comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education policy. Materials may include, without limitation, model comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education resources and programs. The State Board of Education shall make these resource materials available on its Internet website, in a clearly identified and easily accessible place.

(h) Schools may choose and adapt the age and developmentally appropriate, medically accurate, complete, culturally appropriate, inclusive, and trauma-informed comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education curriculum that meets the specific needs of their community. All instruction and materials, including materials provided or presented by outside consultants, community groups, or organizations, may not conflict with the provisions of this Section.

(i) The State Board of Education shall, through existing reporting mechanisms if available, direct each school district to identify the following:

(1) if instruction on comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education is provided;

(2) whether the instruction was provided by a teacher in the school, a consultant, or a community group or organization and specify the name of the outside consultant, community group, or organization;

(3) the number of students receiving instruction;

(4) the number of students excused from instruction; and

(5) the duration of instruction.

The State Board of Education shall report the results of this inquiry to the General Assembly annually, for a period of 5 years beginning one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 102-522, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1020) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-17)

Sec. 27-1020. 27-17. Safety education. School boards of public schools and all boards in charge of educational institutions supported wholly or partially by the State may provide instruction in safety education in all grades and include such instruction in the courses of study regularly taught therein.

In this Section, "safety education" means and includes instruction in the following:

1. automobile safety, including traffic regulations, highway safety, and the consequences of alcohol consumption and the operation of a motor vehicle;

2. safety in the home, including safe gun storage;

3. safety in connection with recreational activities;

4. safety in and around school buildings;

5. safety in connection with vocational work or training;

6. cardio-pulmonary resuscitation for students enrolled in grades 9 through 11;

7. for students enrolled in grades 6 through 8, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and how to use an automated external defibrillator by watching a training video on those subjects; and

8. for students enrolled in prekindergarten through grade 6, water safety that incorporates evidence-based water safety instructional materials and resources.

Such boards may make suitable provisions in the schools and institutions under their jurisdiction for instruction in safety education for not less than 16 hours during each school year.

The curriculum in all educator preparation programs approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board shall contain instruction in safety education for teachers that is appropriate to the grade level of the educator license. This instruction may be by specific courses in safety education or may be incorporated in existing subjects taught in the educator preparation program.

(Source: P.A. 102-971, eff. 1-1-23; 103-567, eff. 12-8-23.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1025) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.1)

Sec. 27-1025. 27-20.1. Illinois Law Week. The first full school week in May is designated "Illinois Law Week". During that week, the public schools may devote appropriate time, instruction, study, and exercises in the procedures of the legislature and the enactment of laws, the courts and the administration of justice, the police and the enforcement of law, citizen responsibilities, and other principles and ideals to promote the importance of government under law in the State.

(Source: P.A. 92-85, eff. 7-12-01.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1030) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-20.6)

Sec. 27-1030. 27-20.6. "Irish Famine" study. Every public elementary school and high school may include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the causes and effects of mass starvation in mid-19th century Ireland. This period in world history is known as the "Irish Famine", in which millions of Irish died or emigrated. The study of this material is a reaffirmation of the commitment of free people of all nations to eradicate the causes of famine that exist in the modern world.

The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction under this Section; provided, however, that each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instruction time that shall qualify as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1035) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-22.3)

Sec. 27-1035. 27-22.3. Volunteer service credit program.

(a) A school district may establish a volunteer service credit program that enables secondary school students to earn credit towards graduation through performance of community service. This community service may include participation in the organization of a high school or community blood drive or other blood donor recruitment campaign. Any program so established shall begin with students entering grade 9 in the 1993-1994 school year or later. The amount of credit given for program participation shall not exceed that given for completion of one semester of language arts, math, science or social studies.

(b) Any community service performed as part of a course for which credit is given towards graduation shall not qualify under a volunteer service credit program. Any service for which a student is paid shall not qualify under a volunteer service credit program. Any community work assigned as a disciplinary measure shall not qualify under a volunteer service credit program.

(c) School districts that establish volunteer service credit programs shall establish any necessary rules, regulations and procedures.

(Source: P.A. 93-547, eff. 8-19-03.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1040) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.1)

Sec. 27-1040. 27-23.1. Parenting education.

(a) The State Board of Education must assist each school district that offers an evidence-based parenting education model. School districts may provide instruction in parenting education for grades 6 through 12 and include such instruction in the courses of study regularly taught therein. School districts may give regular school credit for satisfactory completion by the student of such courses.

As used in this subsection (a), "parenting education" means and includes instruction in the following:

(1) Child growth and development, including prenatal development.

(2) Childbirth and child care.

(3) Family structure, function, and management.

(4) Prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and infants.

(5) Prevention of child abuse.

(6) The physical, mental, emotional, social, economic, and psychological aspects of interpersonal and family relationships.

(7) Parenting skill development.

The State Board of Education shall assist those districts offering parenting education instruction, upon request, in developing instructional materials, training teachers, and establishing appropriate time allotments for each of the areas included in such instruction.

School districts may offer parenting education courses during that period of the day which is not part of the regular school day. Residents of the school district may enroll in such courses. The school board may establish fees and collect such charges as may be necessary for attendance at such courses in an amount not to exceed the per capita cost of the operation thereof, except that the board may waive all or part of such charges if it determines that the individual is indigent or that the educational needs of the individual requires his or her attendance at such courses.

(b) Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, from appropriations made for the purposes of this Section, the State Board of Education shall implement and administer a 7-year pilot program supporting the health and wellness student-learning requirement by utilizing a unit of instruction on parenting education in participating school districts that maintain grades 9 through 12, to be determined by the participating school districts. The program is encouraged to include, but is not limited to, instruction on (i) family structure, function, and management, (ii) the prevention of child abuse, (iii) the physical, mental, emotional, social, economic, and psychological aspects of interpersonal and family relationships, and (iv) parenting education competency development that is aligned to the social and emotional learning standards of the student's grade level. Instruction under this subsection (b) may be included in the comprehensive health education program Comprehensive Health Education Program set forth under Section 22-115 of this Code 3 of the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. The State Board of Education is authorized to make grants to school districts that apply to participate in the pilot program under this subsection (b). The provisions of this subsection (b), other than this sentence, are inoperative at the conclusion of the pilot program.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-175, eff. 6-30-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1045) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.5)

Sec. 27-1045. 27-23.5. Organ/tissue and blood donor and transplantation programs. Each school district that maintains grades 9 and 10 may include in its curriculum and teach to the students of either such grade one unit of instruction on organ/tissue and blood donor and transplantation programs. No student shall be required to take or participate in instruction on organ/tissue and blood donor and transplantation programs if a parent or guardian files written objection thereto on constitutional grounds, and refusal to take or participate in such instruction on those grounds shall not be reason for suspension or expulsion of a student or result in any academic penalty.

The regional superintendent of schools in which a school district that maintains grades 9 and 10 is located shall obtain and distribute to each school that maintains grades 9 and 10 in his or her district information and data, including instructional materials provided at no cost by America's Blood Centers, the American Red Cross, and Gift of Hope, that may be used by the school in developing a unit of instruction under this Section. However, each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that shall qualify as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1050) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.6)

Sec. 27-1050. 27-23.6. Anti-bias education.

(a) The General Assembly finds that there is a significant increase in violence in the schools and that much of that violence is the result of intergroup tensions. The General Assembly further finds that anti-bias education and intergroup conflict resolution are effective methods for preventing violence and lessening tensions in the schools and that these methods are most effective when they are respectful of individuals and their divergent viewpoints and religious beliefs, which are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

(b) Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, public elementary and secondary schools may incorporate activities to address intergroup conflict, with the objectives of improving intergroup relations on and beyond the school campus, defusing intergroup tensions, and promoting peaceful resolution of conflict. The activities must be respectful of individuals and their divergent viewpoints and religious beliefs, which are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

(c) A school board that adopts a policy to incorporate activities to address intergroup conflict as authorized under subsection (b) of this Section shall make information available to the public that describes the manner in which the board has implemented the authority granted to it in this Section. The means for disseminating this information (i) shall include posting the information on the school district's Internet web site, if any, and making the information available, upon request, in district offices, and (ii) may include without limitation incorporating the information in a student handbook and including the information in a district newsletter.

(Source: P.A. 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542).)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1055) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.10)

Sec. 27-1055. 27-23.10. Gang resistance education and training.

(a) The General Assembly finds that the instance of youth delinquent gangs continues to rise on a statewide basis. Given the higher rates of criminal offending among gang members, as well as the availability of increasingly lethal weapons, the level of criminal activity by gang members has taken on new importance for law enforcement agencies, schools, the community, and prevention efforts.

(b) As used in this Section:

"Gang resistance education and training" means and includes instruction in, without limitation, each of the following subject matters when accompanied by a stated objective of reducing gang activity and educating children in grades K through 12 about the consequences of gang involvement:

(1) conflict resolution;

(2) cultural sensitivity;

(3) personal goal setting; and

(4) resisting peer pressure.

(c) Each school district and non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school in this State may make suitable provisions for instruction in gang resistance education in all grades and include that instruction in the courses of study regularly taught in those grades. For the purposes of gang resistance education, a school board or the governing body of a non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school must collaborate with State and local law enforcement agencies. The State Board of Education may assist in the development of instructional materials and teacher training in relation to gang resistance education and training.

(Source: P.A. 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542).)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1060) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.13)

Sec. 27-1060. 27-23.13. Hunting safety. A school district may offer its students a course on hunting safety as part of its curriculum during the school day or as part of an after-school program. The State Board of Education may prepare and make available to school boards resources on hunting safety that may be used as guidelines for the development of a course under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 101-152, eff. 7-26-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1065) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.14)

Sec. 27-1065. 27-23.14. Workplace preparation course. A school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 may include in its high school curriculum a unit of instruction on workplace preparation that covers legal protections in the workplace, including protection against sexual harassment and racial and other forms of discrimination and other protections for employees. A school board may determine the minimum amount of instruction time that qualifies as a unit of instruction under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 101-347, eff. 1-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1070) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.16)

Sec. 27-1070. 27-23.16. Study of the process of naturalization. Every public high school may include in its curriculum a unit of instruction about the process of naturalization by which a foreign citizen or foreign national becomes a U.S. citizen. The course of instruction shall include content from the components of the naturalization test administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-472, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1075) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.17)

Sec. 27-1075. 27-23.17. Workplace Readiness Week.

(a) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, all public high schools, including charter schools, may designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week". During that week, students shall be provided information on their rights as workers. The topics covered shall include, but are not limited to, local, State, and federal laws regarding each of the following areas and shall include the labor movement's role in winning the protections and benefits described in those areas:

(1) Prohibitions against misclassification of employees as independent contractors.

(2) Child labor.

(3) Wage and hour protections.

(4) Worker safety.

(5) Workers' compensation.

(6) Unemployment insurance.

(7) Paid sick leave and paid family leave.

(8) The right to organize a union in the workplace.

(9) Prohibitions against retaliation by employers when workers exercise their rights as workers or any other rights guaranteed by law.

During Workplace Readiness Week, students shall also be provided information introducing them to State-approved apprenticeship programs, how to access them, the variety of programs available, and how they can provide an alternative career path for those students who choose not to attend a traditional higher education program.

(b) If a school observes Workplace Readiness Week under this Section, then, for students in grades 11 and 12, the information required to be provided in subsection (a) shall be integrated into the regular school program but may also be provided during special events after regular school hours. Integration into the regular school program is encouraged, but not required, to occur during Workplace Readiness Week.

(Source: P.A. 103-598, eff. 7-1-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-1080) (was 105 ILCS 5/27-23.17)

Sec. 27-1080. 27-23.17. Relaxation activities. Each school district may provide to students, in addition to and not substituting recess, at least 20 minutes a week of relaxation activities to enhance the mental and physical health of students as part of the school day. Relaxation activities may include, but are not limited to, mindful-based movements, yoga, stretching, meditation, breathing exercises, guided relaxation techniques, quiet time, walking, in-person conversation, and other stress-relieving activities. A school district may partner with public and private community organizations to provide relaxation activities. 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.

(Source: P.A. 103-764, eff. 1-1-25; revised 12-3-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/27A-5)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-466)

Sec. 27A-5. Charter school; legal entity; requirements.

(a) A charter school shall be a public, nonsectarian, nonreligious, non-home based, and non-profit school. A charter school shall be organized and operated as a nonprofit corporation or other discrete, legal, nonprofit entity authorized under the laws of the State of Illinois.

(b) A charter school may be established under this Article by creating a new school or by converting an existing public school or attendance center to charter school status. In all new applications to establish a charter school in a city having a population exceeding 500,000, operation of the charter school shall be limited to one campus. This limitation does not apply to charter schools existing or approved on or before April 16, 2003.

(b-5) (Blank).

(c) A charter school shall be administered and governed by its board of directors or other governing body in the manner provided in its charter. The governing body of a charter school shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. A charter school's board of directors or other governing body must include at least one parent or guardian of a pupil currently enrolled in the charter school who may be selected through the charter school or a charter network election, appointment by the charter school's board of directors or other governing body, or by the charter school's Parent Teacher Organization or its equivalent.

(c-5) No later than January 1, 2021 or within the first year of his or her first term, every voting member of a charter school's board of directors or other governing body shall complete a minimum of 4 hours of professional development leadership training to ensure that each member has sufficient familiarity with the board's or governing body's role and responsibilities, including financial oversight and accountability of the school, evaluating the principal's and school's performance, adherence to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act, and compliance with education and labor law. In each subsequent year of his or her term, a voting member of a charter school's board of directors or other governing body shall complete a minimum of 2 hours of professional development training in these same areas. The training under this subsection may be provided or certified by a statewide charter school membership association or may be provided or certified by other qualified providers approved by the State Board.

(d) For purposes of this subsection (d), "non-curricular health and safety requirement" means any health and safety requirement created by statute or rule to provide, maintain, preserve, or safeguard safe or healthful conditions for students and school personnel or to eliminate, reduce, or prevent threats to the health and safety of students and school personnel. "Non-curricular health and safety requirement" does not include any course of study or specialized instructional requirement for which the State Board has established goals and learning standards or which is designed primarily to impart knowledge and skills for students to master and apply as an outcome of their education.

A charter school shall comply with all non-curricular health and safety requirements applicable to public schools under the laws of the State of Illinois. The State Board shall promulgate and post on its Internet website a list of non-curricular health and safety requirements that a charter school must meet. The list shall be updated annually no later than September 1. Any charter contract between a charter school and its authorizer must contain a provision that requires the charter school to follow the list of all non-curricular health and safety requirements promulgated by the State Board and any non-curricular health and safety requirements added by the State Board to such list during the term of the charter. Nothing in this subsection (d) precludes an authorizer from including non-curricular health and safety requirements in a charter school contract that are not contained in the list promulgated by the State Board, including non-curricular health and safety requirements of the authorizing local school board.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the School Code, a charter school shall not charge tuition; provided that a charter school may charge reasonable fees for textbooks, instructional materials, and student activities.

(f) A charter school shall be responsible for the management and operation of its fiscal affairs, including, but not limited to, the preparation of its budget. An audit of each charter school's finances shall be conducted annually by an outside, independent contractor retained by the charter school. The contractor shall not be an employee of the charter school or affiliated with the charter school or its authorizer in any way, other than to audit the charter school's finances. To ensure financial accountability for the use of public funds, on or before December 1 of every year of operation, each charter school shall submit to its authorizer and the State Board a copy of its audit and a copy of the Form 990 the charter school filed that year with the federal Internal Revenue Service. In addition, if deemed necessary for proper financial oversight of the charter school, an authorizer may require quarterly financial statements from each charter school.

(g) A charter school shall comply with all provisions of this Article, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, all federal and State laws and rules applicable to public schools that pertain to special education and the instruction of English learners, and its charter. A charter school is exempt from all other State laws and regulations in this Code governing public schools and local school board policies; however, a charter school is not exempt from the following:

(1) Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this Code regarding criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database of applicants for employment;

(2) Sections 10-20.14, 10-22.6, 22-100, 24-24, 34-19, and 34-84a of this Code regarding discipline of students;

(3) the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act;

(4) Section 108.75 of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 regarding indemnification of officers, directors, employees, and agents;

(5) the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;

(5.5) subsection (b) of Section 10-23.12 and subsection (b) of Section 34-18.6 of this Code;

(6) the Illinois School Student Records Act;

(7) Section 10-17a of this Code regarding school report cards;

(8) the P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act;

(9) Section 22-110 27-23.7 of this Code regarding bullying prevention;

(10) Section 2-3.162 of this Code regarding student discipline reporting;

(11) Sections 22-80 and 22-105 27-8.1 of this Code;

(12) Sections 10-20.60 and 34-18.53 of this Code;

(13) Sections 10-20.63 and 34-18.56 of this Code;

(14) Sections 22-90 and 26-18 of this Code;

(15) Section 22-30 of this Code;

(16) Sections 24-12 and 34-85 of this Code;

(17) the Seizure Smart School Act;

(18) Section 2-3.64a-10 of this Code;

(19) Sections 10-20.73 and 34-21.9 of this Code;

(20) Section 10-22.25b of this Code;

(21) Section 27-1015 27-9.1a of this Code;

(22) Section 27-1010 27-9.1b of this Code;

(23) Section 34-18.8 of this Code;

(25) Section 2-3.188 of this Code;

(26) Section 22-85.5 of this Code;

(27) subsections (d-10), (d-15), and (d-20) of Section 10-20.56 of this Code;

(28) Sections 10-20.83 and 34-18.78 of this Code;

(29) Section 10-20.13 of this Code;

(30) (blank); Section 28-19.2 of this Code;

(31) Section 34-21.6 of this Code;

(32) Section 22-85.10 of this Code;

(33) Section 2-3.196 of this Code;

(34) Section 22-95 of this Code;

(35) Section 34-18.62 of this Code;

(36) the Illinois Human Rights Act; and

(37) Section 2-3.204 of this Code.

The change made by Public Act 96-104 to this subsection (g) is declaratory of existing law.

(h) A charter school may negotiate and contract with a school district, the governing body of a State college or university or public community college, or any other public or for-profit or nonprofit private entity for: (i) the use of a school building and grounds or any other real property or facilities that the charter school desires to use or convert for use as a charter school site, (ii) the operation and maintenance thereof, and (iii) the provision of any service, activity, or undertaking that the charter school is required to perform in order to carry out the terms of its charter. Except as provided in subsection (i) of this Section, a school district may charge a charter school reasonable rent for the use of the district's buildings, grounds, and facilities. Any services for which a charter school contracts with a school district shall be provided by the district at cost. Any services for which a charter school contracts with a local school board or with the governing body of a State college or university or public community college shall be provided by the public entity at cost.

(i) In no event shall a charter school that is established by converting an existing school or attendance center to charter school status be required to pay rent for space that is deemed available, as negotiated and provided in the charter agreement, in school district facilities. However, all other costs for the operation and maintenance of school district facilities that are used by the charter school shall be subject to negotiation between the charter school and the local school board and shall be set forth in the charter.

(j) A charter school may limit student enrollment by age or grade level.

(k) If the charter school is authorized by the State Board, then the charter school is its own local education agency.

(Source: P.A. 102-51, eff. 7-9-21; 102-157, eff. 7-1-22; 102-360, eff. 1-1-22; 102-445, eff. 8-20-21; 102-522, eff. 8-20-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-676, eff. 12-3-21; 102-697, eff. 4-5-22; 102-702, eff. 7-1-23; 102-805, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-175, eff. 6-30-23; 103-472, eff. 8-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-641, eff. 7-1-24; 103-806, eff. 1-1-25; revised 10-9-24.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-466)

Sec. 27A-5. Charter school; legal entity; requirements.

(a) A charter school shall be a public, nonsectarian, nonreligious, non-home based, and non-profit school. A charter school shall be organized and operated as a nonprofit corporation or other discrete, legal, nonprofit entity authorized under the laws of the State of Illinois.

(b) A charter school may be established under this Article by creating a new school or by converting an existing public school or attendance center to charter school status. In all new applications to establish a charter school in a city having a population exceeding 500,000, operation of the charter school shall be limited to one campus. This limitation does not apply to charter schools existing or approved on or before April 16, 2003.

(b-5) (Blank).

(c) A charter school shall be administered and governed by its board of directors or other governing body in the manner provided in its charter. The governing body of a charter school shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. A charter school's board of directors or other governing body must include at least one parent or guardian of a pupil currently enrolled in the charter school who may be selected through the charter school or a charter network election, appointment by the charter school's board of directors or other governing body, or by the charter school's Parent Teacher Organization or its equivalent.

(c-5) No later than January 1, 2021 or within the first year of his or her first term, every voting member of a charter school's board of directors or other governing body shall complete a minimum of 4 hours of professional development leadership training to ensure that each member has sufficient familiarity with the board's or governing body's role and responsibilities, including financial oversight and accountability of the school, evaluating the principal's and school's performance, adherence to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act, and compliance with education and labor law. In each subsequent year of his or her term, a voting member of a charter school's board of directors or other governing body shall complete a minimum of 2 hours of professional development training in these same areas. The training under this subsection may be provided or certified by a statewide charter school membership association or may be provided or certified by other qualified providers approved by the State Board.

(d) For purposes of this subsection (d), "non-curricular health and safety requirement" means any health and safety requirement created by statute or rule to provide, maintain, preserve, or safeguard safe or healthful conditions for students and school personnel or to eliminate, reduce, or prevent threats to the health and safety of students and school personnel. "Non-curricular health and safety requirement" does not include any course of study or specialized instructional requirement for which the State Board has established goals and learning standards or which is designed primarily to impart knowledge and skills for students to master and apply as an outcome of their education.

A charter school shall comply with all non-curricular health and safety requirements applicable to public schools under the laws of the State of Illinois. The State Board shall promulgate and post on its Internet website a list of non-curricular health and safety requirements that a charter school must meet. The list shall be updated annually no later than September 1. Any charter contract between a charter school and its authorizer must contain a provision that requires the charter school to follow the list of all non-curricular health and safety requirements promulgated by the State Board and any non-curricular health and safety requirements added by the State Board to such list during the term of the charter. Nothing in this subsection (d) precludes an authorizer from including non-curricular health and safety requirements in a charter school contract that are not contained in the list promulgated by the State Board, including non-curricular health and safety requirements of the authorizing local school board.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in the School Code, a charter school shall not charge tuition; provided that a charter school may charge reasonable fees for textbooks, instructional materials, and student activities.

(f) A charter school shall be responsible for the management and operation of its fiscal affairs, including, but not limited to, the preparation of its budget. An audit of each charter school's finances shall be conducted annually by an outside, independent contractor retained by the charter school. The contractor shall not be an employee of the charter school or affiliated with the charter school or its authorizer in any way, other than to audit the charter school's finances. To ensure financial accountability for the use of public funds, on or before December 1 of every year of operation, each charter school shall submit to its authorizer and the State Board a copy of its audit and a copy of the Form 990 the charter school filed that year with the federal Internal Revenue Service. In addition, if deemed necessary for proper financial oversight of the charter school, an authorizer may require quarterly financial statements from each charter school.

(g) A charter school shall comply with all provisions of this Article, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, all federal and State laws and rules applicable to public schools that pertain to special education and the instruction of English learners, and its charter. A charter school is exempt from all other State laws and regulations in this Code governing public schools and local school board policies; however, a charter school is not exempt from the following:

(1) Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of this Code regarding criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database of applicants for employment;

(2) Sections 10-20.14, 10-22.6, 22-100, 24-24, 34-19, and 34-84a of this Code regarding discipline of students;

(3) the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act;

(4) Section 108.75 of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 regarding indemnification of officers, directors, employees, and agents;

(5) the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;

(5.5) subsection (b) of Section 10-23.12 and subsection (b) of Section 34-18.6 of this Code;

(6) the Illinois School Student Records Act;

(7) Section 10-17a of this Code regarding school report cards;

(8) the P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act;

(9) Section 22-110 27-23.7 of this Code regarding bullying prevention;

(10) Section 2-3.162 of this Code regarding student discipline reporting;

(11) Sections 22-80 and 22-105 27-8.1 of this Code;

(12) Sections 10-20.60 and 34-18.53 of this Code;

(13) Sections 10-20.63 and 34-18.56 of this Code;

(14) Sections 22-90 and 26-18 of this Code;

(15) Section 22-30 of this Code;

(16) Sections 24-12 and 34-85 of this Code;

(17) the Seizure Smart School Act;

(18) Section 2-3.64a-10 of this Code;

(19) Sections 10-20.73 and 34-21.9 of this Code;

(20) Section 10-22.25b of this Code;

(21) Section 27-1015 27-9.1a of this Code;

(22) Section 27-1010 27-9.1b of this Code;

(23) Section 34-18.8 of this Code;

(24) Article 26A of this Code;

(25) Section 2-3.188 of this Code;

(26) Section 22-85.5 of this Code;

(27) subsections (d-10), (d-15), and (d-20) of Section 10-20.56 of this Code;

(28) Sections 10-20.83 and 34-18.78 of this Code;

(29) Section 10-20.13 of this Code;

(30) (blank); Section 28-19.2 of this Code;

(31) Section 34-21.6 of this Code;

(32) Section 22-85.10 of this Code;

(33) Section 2-3.196 of this Code;

(34) Section 22-95 of this Code;

(35) Section 34-18.62 of this Code;

(36) the Illinois Human Rights Act; and

(37) Section 2-3.204 of this Code.

The change made by Public Act 96-104 to this subsection (g) is declaratory of existing law.

(h) A charter school may negotiate and contract with a school district, the governing body of a State college or university or public community college, or any other public or for-profit or nonprofit private entity for: (i) the use of a school building and grounds or any other real property or facilities that the charter school desires to use or convert for use as a charter school site, (ii) the operation and maintenance thereof, and (iii) the provision of any service, activity, or undertaking that the charter school is required to perform in order to carry out the terms of its charter. Except as provided in subsection (i) of this Section, a school district may charge a charter school reasonable rent for the use of the district's buildings, grounds, and facilities. Any services for which a charter school contracts with a school district shall be provided by the district at cost. Any services for which a charter school contracts with a local school board or with the governing body of a State college or university or public community college shall be provided by the public entity at cost.

(i) In no event shall a charter school that is established by converting an existing school or attendance center to charter school status be required to pay rent for space that is deemed available, as negotiated and provided in the charter agreement, in school district facilities. However, all other costs for the operation and maintenance of school district facilities that are used by the charter school shall be subject to negotiation between the charter school and the local school board and shall be set forth in the charter.

(j) A charter school may limit student enrollment by age or grade level.

(k) If the charter school is authorized by the State Board, then the charter school is its own local education agency.

(Source: P.A. 102-51, eff. 7-9-21; 102-157, eff. 7-1-22; 102-360, eff. 1-1-22; 102-445, eff. 8-20-21; 102-466, eff. 7-1-25; 102-522, eff. 8-20-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-676, eff. 12-3-21; 102-697, eff. 4-5-22; 102-702, eff. 7-1-23; 102-805, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-175, eff. 6-30-23; 103-472, eff. 8-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-641, eff. 7-1-24; 103-806, eff. 1-1-25; revised 11-26-24.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.66)

Sec. 34-18.66. Remote and blended remote learning. This Section applies if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.

(1) If the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the State Superintendent of Education may declare a requirement to use remote learning days or blended remote learning days for the school district, multiple school districts, a region, or the entire State. During remote learning days, schools shall conduct instruction remotely. During blended remote learning days, schools may utilize hybrid models of in-person and remote instruction. Once declared, remote learning days or blended remote learning days shall be implemented in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 as days of attendance and shall be deemed pupil attendance days for calculation of the length of a school term under Section 10-19.

(2) For purposes of this Section, a remote learning day or blended remote learning day may be met through the district's implementation of an e-learning program under Section 10-20.56.

(3) If the district does not implement an e-learning program under Section 10-20.56, the district shall adopt a remote and blended remote learning day plan approved by the general superintendent of schools. The district may utilize remote and blended remote learning planning days, consecutively or in separate increments, to develop, review, or amend its remote and blended remote learning day plan or provide professional development to staff regarding remote education. Up to 5 remote and blended remote learning planning days may be deemed pupil attendance days for calculation of the length of a school term under Section 10-19.

(4) Each remote and blended remote learning day plan shall address the following:

(i) accessibility of the remote instruction to all students enrolled in the district;

(ii) if applicable, a requirement that the remote learning day and blended remote learning day activities reflect State learning standards;

(iii) a means for students to confer with an educator, as necessary;

(iv) the unique needs of students in special populations, including, but not limited to, students eligible for special education under Article 14, students who are English learners as defined in Section 14C-2, and students experiencing homelessness under the Education for Homeless Children Act, or vulnerable student populations;

(v) how the district will take attendance and monitor and verify each student's remote participation; and

(vi) transitions from remote learning to on-site learning upon the State Superintendent's declaration that remote learning days or blended remote learning days are no longer deemed necessary.

(5) The general superintendent of schools shall periodically review and amend the district's remote and blended remote learning day plan, as needed, to ensure the plan meets the needs of all students.

(6) Each remote and blended remote learning day plan shall be posted on the district's Internet website where other policies, rules, and standards of conduct are posted and shall be provided to students and faculty.

(7) This Section does not create any additional employee bargaining rights and does not remove any employee bargaining rights.

(8) Statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and offerings may be administered via the district's remote and blended remote learning day plan, except that the district may not offer individual behind-the-wheel instruction required by Section 27-815 of this Code 27-24.2 via the district's remote and blended remote learning day plan. This Section does not relieve schools and the district from completing all statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and offerings.

(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-21.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-21.6)

Sec. 34-21.6. Waiver of fees and fines.

(a) The board shall waive all fees and any fines for the loss of school property assessed by the district on children whose parents are unable to afford them, including but not limited to:

(1) children living in households that meet the free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines established by the federal government pursuant to Section 1758 of the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245 et seq.) and students whose parents are veterans or active duty military personnel with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, subject to verification as set forth in subsection (b) of this Section; and

(2) homeless children and youths as defined in Section 11434a of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a).

Notice of waiver availability shall be given to parents or guardians with every bill for fees or fines. The board shall develop written policies and procedures implementing this Section in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education.

(b) If the board participates in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program and uses a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 245 et seq.) as the basis for waiving fees assessed by the district, then the board must follow the verification requirements of the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245.6a).

If the board establishes a process for the determination of eligibility for waiver of all fees assessed by the district that is completely independent of the criteria listed in subsection (b), the board may provide for waiver verification no more often than once every academic year. Information obtained during the independent waiver verification process indicating that the student does not meet free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines may be used to deny the waiver of the student's fees or fines for the loss of school property, provided that any information obtained through this independent process for determining or verifying eligibility for fee waivers shall not be used to determine or verify eligibility for any federally funded, school-based child nutrition program.

This subsection shall not preclude children from obtaining waivers at any point during the academic year.

(c) The board may not discriminate against, punish, or penalize a student in any way because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account or because the student's parents or guardians are unable to pay any required fees or fines for the loss of school property. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the lowering of grades, exclusion from any curricular or extracurricular program of the school district, or withholding of student records, grades, transcripts, or diplomas. Any person who violates this subsection (c) is guilty of a petty offense.

(Source: P.A. 102-805, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1032, eff. 5-27-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

Section 20. The School Safety Drill Act is amended by changing Section 60 as follows:

(105 ILCS 128/60)

Sec. 60. Cardiac emergency response plan.

(a) A school district and a private school 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. The plan must be distributed to all teachers, administrators, school support personnel, coaches, and other school staff identified by school administrators at each school.

(b) A cardiac emergency response plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Procedures to follow in the event of a cardiac emergency at a school.

(2) A listing of every automated external defibrillator that is present and clearly marked or easily accessible at school athletic venues and events and at school and the maintenance schedule for the automated external defibrillator. The automated external defibrillators shall be installed in accordance with the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act, guidelines from the American Heart Association, or other nationally recognized guidelines focused on emergency cardiovascular care.

(3) Information on hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of automated external defibrillators to teachers, administrators, coaches, assistant coaches, and other school staff identified by school administrators, in accordance with Section 22-115 of the School Code 3 of the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-608, eff. 1-1-25.)

Section 25. The College Planning Act is amended by changing Section 20 as follows:

(110 ILCS 17/20)

Sec. 20. Qualifications to participate in the Program. To qualify to participate in the Program, a student must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) He or she must reside in this State.

(2) At the time of application to the Program, he or she must be enrolled in grade 8 at a public school in this State or a nonpublic school that is recognized by the State Board of Education and, by the end of grade 8, be enrolled in a public high school in this State or a nonpublic school that is recognized by the State Board of Education.

(3) At the time of enrollment in the Program, he or she either (i) must not have a custodial parent or guardian who has received a postsecondary degree or (ii) must be eligible to participate in the free and reduced-price lunch program under the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act.

(4) He or she agrees, in writing, together with the student's custodial parent or guardian, that the student will do all of the following:

(A) Complete the course requirements specified in Section 27-605 27-22 of the School Code and graduate from a secondary school located in this State.

(B) Not be convicted of a felony offense that would disqualify the student from receipt of federal student aid.

(C) Timely apply, during grade 12, (i) for admission to a postsecondary institution in this State approved to participate in the Monetary Award Program under Section 35 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act and (ii) for any federal and State student financial assistance available to the student to attend a postsecondary institution in this State.

(D) Achieve a cumulative grade point average upon graduation from high school of at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 grading scale (or its equivalent if another grading scale is used) for courses taken during grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.

(E) Update demographic and contact information required within the initial Program participation application and agreement at least once each academic year on a schedule to be determined by the Commission.

(F) Take a recognized standardized college entrance examination no later than the end of the 11th grade.

(G) Participate in college planning and preparation activities required by the Commission as part of the administration of the Program.

(H) Share personal academic and financial data with the Commission beginning in grade 8 and through the attainment of a bachelor's degree.

(Source: P.A. 97-289, eff. 8-10-11.)

Section 30. The Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act is amended by changing Section 25 as follows:

(110 ILCS 148/25)

Sec. 25. Competency-based, high school graduation requirements pilot program eligibility and application process.

(a) The pilot program established under Section 20 of this Act shall be administered by the State Superintendent of Education in 2 phases: (i) an initial application and selection process phase, and (ii) a subsequent phase for full development and implementation of a detailed plan for a competency-based learning system for high school graduation requirements.

(b) For the initial phase under clause (i) of subsection (a) of this Section, the State Superintendent of Education shall develop and issue a pilot program application that requires:

(1) demonstration of commitment from the school district superintendent; the president of the school board of the district; teachers within the school district who will be involved with the pilot program implementation; a community college partner; and a higher education institution other than a community college;

(2) an indication of which of the year and course graduation requirements set forth in Section 27-605 27-22 of the School Code the school district wishes to replace with a competency-based learning system;

(3) a general description of the school district's plan for implementing a competency-based learning system for high school graduation requirements, including how the plan addresses the requirements of Section 20 of this Act and this Section;

(4) the school district's prior professional development and stakeholder engagement efforts that will support its successful development and implementation of a competency-based learning system, including, without limitation, prior implementation of professional development systems for major district instructional initiatives; and

(5) identification of any waivers or modifications of State law or rules for implementation of the proposed plan.

The demonstration of commitment from teachers as required by paragraph (1) of this subsection (b) must include a description of how teachers have been engaged throughout the application development process. If the school district has an exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers and the president of the exclusive bargaining representative does not submit a statement of commitment for the application, the school district must submit either a statement by the president of the position of the exclusive bargaining representative on the application or a description of the school district's good faith efforts to obtain such a statement.

(c) Subject to subsection (g) of this Section, the State Superintendent of Education shall select school districts meeting the requirements set forth in this Section to participate in the pilot program based on the quality of the proposed plan, the strength of the local commitments, including, without limitation, teachers within the school district who will be involved in the program's implementation and postsecondary institution partnerships, and demonstration of prior professional development and stakeholder engagement efforts that will support the proposed system's successful implementation. The State Superintendent of Education, in selecting the participating school districts, shall also consider the diversity of school district types and sizes, the diversity of geographic representation from across the State, and the diversity of plan approaches (such as approaches that involve one subject only, multiple subjects, and the types of subjects).

(d) School districts selected to participate in the pilot program shall receive technical assistance coordinated by the State Superintendent of Education to develop a full pilot program implementation plan. The State Superintendent of Education shall have discretion to remove a school district from the pilot program during this period if the school district does not submit a full pilot program implementation plan that meets the State Superintendent of Education's specifications.

(e) School districts shall, as part of the development of their application and participation in the competency-based learning system pilot program, establish and maintain a standing planning and implementation committee that includes representation from administrators and teachers, including teachers who will be involved in the competency-based learning system's implementation. The teacher representatives shall be selected by teachers or, where applicable, the exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers, and the number of teacher representatives shall be at least equal to administrator representatives, unless otherwise agreed to by the teachers or, where applicable, the exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers. The standing planning and implementation committee shall develop reports that shall be included within the initial application, the full pilot program plan, and any subsequent annual submissions to the State Superintendent of Education as part of the assessment and evaluation of the program. The reports shall describe the members' assessment of the school district's plan or implementation, as applicable, of the school district's competency-based learning system and any recommendations for modifications or improvements to the system. If the committee does not reach consensus on the report, the administrator members shall submit the report and the teacher members may provide a position statement that must be included with the report submitted to the State Superintendent of Education.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the School Code or any other law of this State to the contrary, school districts participating in the pilot program may petition the State Superintendent of Education for a waiver or modification of the mandates of the School Code or of the administrative rules adopted by ISBE in order to support the implementation of the school district's proposed competency-based learning system. However, no waiver shall be granted under this subsection (f) relating to State assessments, accountability requirements, teacher tenure or seniority, teacher or principal evaluations, or learning standards or that removes legal protections or supports intended for the protection of children or a particular category of students, such as students with disabilities or English learners. Any waiver or modification of teacher educator licensure requirements to permit instruction by non-educators or educators without an appropriate license must ensure that an appropriately licensed teacher and the provider of instruction partner in order to verify the method for assessing competency of mastery and verify whether a student has demonstrated mastery. All requests must be jointly signed by the school district superintendent and the president of the school board and must describe the position of teachers within the school district that will be involved in the competency-based learning system's implementation on the application. If the school district has an exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers and the president of the exclusive bargaining representative does not submit a statement of support for the application, the school district must submit either a statement by the president that describes the position of the exclusive bargaining representative on the application or a description of the school district's good faith efforts to obtain such a statement. The State Superintendent of Education shall approve a waiver or modification request meeting the requirements of this subsection (f) if the State Superintendent of Education determines the request is reasonably necessary to support the implementation of the school district's proposed competency-based learning system, and the request shall not diminish the overall support of teachers within the school district involved with the system's implementation as demonstrated in the school district's initial application to participate in the pilot program. An approved request shall take effect in accordance with the timeline set forth in the school district's application, and an approved waiver or modification shall remain in effect for so long as the school district participates in the pilot program established by this Act. The State Superintendent of Education's approval of a school district plan for implementation of competency-based, high school graduation requirements shall serve as a waiver or modification of any conflicting requirements of Section 27-22 of the School Code. School districts participating in the pilot program may additionally pursue waivers and modifications pursuant to Section 2-3.25g of the School Code.

(g) For purposes of this subsection (g), "annual cohort" means the group of school districts selected by the State Superintendent of Education to participate in the pilot program during an annual application and selection process. The State Superintendent of Education shall limit each annual cohort of the pilot program as follows: the first 2 annual cohorts shall be limited to no more than 12 school districts, and any subsequent annual cohort shall be limited to no more than 15 school districts. A school district may submit only one application for each annual cohort of the pilot program. The application of a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants may not include more than 6 schools. The expansion of a school district's competency-based learning system to a new school or new subject area identified in Section 27-605 27-22 of the School Code shall require a new application by the school district.

School districts may collaboratively apply to participate in the pilot program. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection (g), the application of a collaborative of districts shall be counted as one district application in the annual cohort selection process. In the application of a collaborative of districts, each district participating in the collaborative shall comply with the requirements outlined in subsection (b) of this Section as if applying as an individual district. The districts participating in the collaborative may establish and maintain a standing planning and implementation committee individually or collaboratively. If a collaborative of districts decides at a later date to participate as individual districts in the pilot program, the districts shall submit to the State Superintendent of Education a revised implementation plan that outlines the changes to their original plan, the individual district applications from these districts shall be considered as separate district applications, and none of these districts may be counted as one of the districts that are already part of the cohort limitation.

(Source: P.A. 99-674, eff. 7-29-16; 100-599, eff. 6-29-18.)

Section 35. The Illinois Health Statistics Act is amended by changing Section 4 as follows:

(410 ILCS 520/4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5604)

Sec. 4. (a) In carrying out the purposes of this Act, the Department may:

(1) Collect and maintain health data on:

(i) The extent, nature, and impact of illness, including factors relating to asthma, obesity, and disability on the population of the State;

(ii) The determinants of health and health hazards including asthma and obesity;

(iii) Health resources, including the extent of available manpower and resources;

(iv) Utilization of health care;

(v) Health care costs and financing;

(vi) Other health or health-related matters; and

(vii) The connection between the long-term effects of childhood cancer and the original cancer diagnosis and treatment.

(2) Undertake and support research, demonstrations, and evaluations respecting new or improved methods for obtaining current data on the matters referred to in subparagraph (1).

(b) The Department may collect health data under authority granted by any unit of local government and on behalf of other governmental or not-for-profit organizations, including data collected by local schools and the State Board of Education relating to asthma and obesity on the health examination form required pursuant to Section 22-105 27-8.1 of the School Code. The data shall be de-identified and aggregated pursuant to rules promulgated by the Department to prevent disclosure of personal identifying information.

(c) The Department shall collect data only on a voluntary basis from individuals and organizations, except when there is specific legal authority to compel the mandatory reporting of the health data so requested. In making any collection of health data from an individual or organization the Department must give to such individual or organization a written statement which states:

(1) Whether the individual or organization is required to respond, and any sanctions for noncompliance;

(2) The purposes for which the health data are being collected; and

(3) In the case of any disclosure of identifiable health data for other than research and statistical purposes, the items to be disclosed, to whom the data are to be disclosed and the purposes for which the data are to be disclosed.

(d) Except as provided in Section 5, no health data obtained in the course of activities undertaken or supported under this Act may be used for any purpose other than the purpose for which they were supplied or for which the individual or organization described in the data has otherwise consented.

(e) The Department shall take such actions as may be necessary to assure that statistics developed under this Act are of high quality, timely, comprehensive, as well as specific, standardized and adequately analyzed and indexed.

(f) The Department shall take such action as is appropriate to effect the coordination of health data activities, including health data specifically relating to obesity collected pursuant to Section 22-105 27-8.1 of the School Code, within the State to eliminate unnecessary duplication of data collection and maximize the usefulness of data collected.

(g) The Department shall (1) participate with state, local and federal agencies in the design and implementation of a cooperative system for producing comparable and uniform health information and statistics at the federal, state, and local levels; and (2) undertake and support research, development, demonstrations, and evaluations respecting such cooperative system.

(Source: P.A. 100-238, eff. 1-1-18.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-3 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-3.5 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-3.10 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-12 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-13.2 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-15 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-18 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-19 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-20 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-20.2 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-23.3 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/27-23.12 rep.)

(105 ILCS 5/28-19.2 rep.)

Section 90. The School Code is amended by repealing Sections 27-3, 27-3.5, 27-3.10, 27-12, 27-13.2, 27-15, 27-18, 27-19, 27-20, 27-20.2, 27-23.3, 27-23.12, and 28-19.2.

(105 ILCS 50/Act rep.)

Section 95. The Voting by Minors Act is repealed.

(105 ILCS 110/Act rep.)

Section 100. The Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act is repealed.

Section 995. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.