State Legislation

RECENT BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE

ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PERTAINING TO EDUCATION

PREPARED BY BEV JOHNS

September 6, 2021

 

House Bill 15—Tarver II. Amends the School Code.  Requires a school to provide written notification to the parent or guardian of a student who commits an act of misconduct involving offensive touching, a physical altercation, or the use of violence. Provides that if a student makes a written statement to a school employee relating to an act of misconduct, the school shall provide the written statement to the student’s parent or guardian, upon request. Provides that if the parent or guardian of a student involved in an act or acts of misconduct requests a synopsis of any statement made by the parent’s or guardian’s child, the school shall provide any existing records responsive to that request. Provides that a school shall make reasonable attempts to provide a copy of any disciplinary report resulting from an investigation into a student’s act of misconduct to the student’s parent or guardian within 2 school days after the completion of the report. Sets forth the information that must be included in the disciplinary report. Effective July 1, 2021. Senate Floor Amendment 1 replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the engrossed bill, but removes the provisions amending the School Boards Article of the School Code. Effective July 1, 2021. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 6, 2021. Public Act 102-0251.

 

House Bill 18—Scherer. Amends the School Code. With regard to teacher evaluations, provides that no later than September 1, 2022, each school district must establish a teacher evaluation plan that ensures that each teacher in contractual continued service whose performance is rated as either “excellent” or “proficient” is evaluated at least once in the course of the 3 school years after receipt of the rating (rather than at least once in the course of every 2 school years) and establish an informal teacher evaluation plan that ensures that each teacher in contractual continued service whose performance is rated as either “excellent” or “proficient” is informally evaluated at least once in the course of the 2 school years after receipt of the rating. Senate Floor Amendment #1 replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Requires a school district to implement (rather than establish) an informal teacher observation plan (rather than an informal teacher evaluation plan); makes related changes. In provisions concerning the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council, provides that the Council shall meet until June 30, 2024 (instead of June 30, 2021). Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code to provide that no later than September 1, 2022, the school district must establish a teacher evaluation plan that ensures that each teacher in contractual continued service whose performance is rated as either “excellent” or “proficient” is evaluated at least once in the course of the 3 school years after receipt of the rating and establish an informal teacher observation plan that ensures that each teacher in contractual continued service whose performance is rated as either “excellent” or “proficient” is informally observed at least once in the course of the 2 school years after receipt of the rating. Passed Both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 6, 2021. Public Act 102-0252

 

House Bill 24—West II. Amends the School Code. Provides that sex education course material and instruction in grades 6 through 12 must include an age-appropriate discussion on sexting; defines “sexting”. Provides that the discussion on sexting must include an exploration of: (i) the possible consequences of sexting, (ii) the identification of situations in which bullying or harassment result from sexting, (iii) the possible long-term consequences of sexting, (iv) the importance of using the Internet safely, (v) the identification of individuals in the school or community that may be contacted for assistance with issues, concerns, or problems, and (vi) the development of strategies for resisting peer pressure and for communicating in a positive manner. Effective immediately. With respect to age-appropriate discussion about sexting, provides that a principal, teacher, school social worker, or counselor or a trusted community leader (rather than a teacher, school social worker, or counselor or a police officer or community leader) are individuals whom students may contact for assistance with issues, concerns, or problems. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor 8-20-2021. Public Act 102-0412.

 

House Bill 26—Mah. Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district must require (rather than the State Board of Education shall require) that the Internet website or web service comply with Level AA of the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Adds an effective date of August 1, 2022.  Passed both Houses.  Signed by the Governor August 2, 2021. Public Act 102-0238

 

House Bill 40—Hurley. Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that a student whose 22nd birthday occurs during the school year is eligible for special education services through the end of the school year (rather than being eligible for services only until the day before his or her 22nd birthday). Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 28, 2021.  Public Act 102-172

 

House Bill 41—Stuart. Provides that prior to the placement of a child in an out-of-state special
education residential facility, the school district, Illinois placing agency, or court must offer to the child or the child’s parent or guardian the option to place the child in a special education residential facility located within this State, if any, (instead of within this State) that provides treatment and services comparable to those provided by the out-of-state facility. Requires the school district, Illinois placing agency, or court to review annually the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility and to offer placement in a comparable facility located within this State, if any (instead of within this State).  Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 6, 2021. Public Act 102-0254.

 

House Bill 160—Didech. Amends the School Code. Provides that a pupil shall be excused from engaging in any physical activity components of a physical education course (rather than from engaging in a physical education course) during a period of religious fasting. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 19, 2021. Public Act 102-0405.

 

House Bill 169—Didech.  Amends the Compulsory Attendance of Pupils Article of the School Code. Provides that a child may be absent from a public school because of religious reasons, including the observance of a religious holiday or participation in religious instruction. Removes the provision that requires a school board to prescribe rules relative to absences for religious holidays, including a list of religious holidays on which it shall be mandatory to excuse a child’s absence. Provides instead that a district superintendent shall develop and distribute to schools appropriate procedures with regard to an absence. Effective immediately.  Passed both Houses.  Signed by the Governor August 19, 2021.  Public Act 102-0406.

 

House Bill 212—Conroy. Amends the Children’s Mental Health Act of 2003. Provides that the Children’s Mental Health Plan shall include recommendations for ensuring all Illinois youth receive mental health education and have access to mental health care in the school setting. Provides that in developing these recommendations, the Children’s Mental Health Partnership shall consult with the State Board of Education, education practitioners, health care professionals, disability advocates, and other representatives as necessary to ensure the interests of all students are represented. Effective July 1, 2021. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 23, 2021. Public Act 102-0116.

 

House Bill 219—Carroll. Amends the School Code.  Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt rules governing the use of isolated time, time out, and physical restraint in public schools and special education nonpublic facilities (rather than just in public schools). Provides that the State Board shall, by the adoption of emergency rules if it so chooses, create (rather than must create) a grant program for school districts, certain special education nonpublic facilities, and special education cooperatives (rather than for school districts and special education cooperatives and charter schools  approved by the State Board).  Makes changes concerning the prohibition against the use of prone restraint to allow prone restraint to be used when specified conditions are satisfied. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make a related change. Corrects grammatical errors. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment #2 states that with respect to the grant program, requires the State Board of Education to prioritize grant funding to those school districts, special education nonpublic facilities, and special education cooperatives that submit a plan to achieve a significant reduction or elimination in the use of isolated time out and physical restraint in less than 3 years. In provisions allowing the use of prone restraint if certain conditions are satisfied, allows the use of prone restraint if the use of prone restraint occurs within the 2021- 2022 school year (rather than within the school years of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023). Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 13, 2021. Public Act 102-0339.

 

House Bill 234—Hernandez.. Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, requires every public high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on media literacy; sets forth what topics the unit of instruction shall include. Provides that 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 the unit of instruction. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 9,2021. Public Act 102-0055.

 

House Bill 290—Hirschauer. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database, requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, through school districts, to provide to parents and guardians of students a copy of the Department of Human Services’ guide titled “Understanding PUNS: A Guide to Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services” each year at the annual review meeting for the student’s individualized education program (rather than requiring the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to inform parents and guardians of students through school districts about the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services waiting list). Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor 7-9-2021. Public Act 102-0057.

 

House Bill 576—LaPointe. Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. With respect to the exceptions to the compulsory attendance requirement, provides that absence for cause by illness shall include the mental or behavioral health of a student. Senate Floor Amendment #1 reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Provides that the child, after the second mental health day used, may be referred to the appropriate school support personnel. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor 8-6-2021. Public Act 102-266.

 

House Bill 577-LaPointe. Amends the School Code. Makes changes to provisions regarding youth
suicide awareness and prevention. Sets forth some of the characteristics of students at an increased risk of suicide. Effective July 1, 2022. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor 8-6-2021. Public Act 102-267.

 

House Bill 597—Marron. Amends the School Code. Requires school districts to provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and for the Crisis Text Line on the back of each student identification card issued by the school district. Provides that if the school district does not issue student identification cards to its students or to all of its students, the school district must publish this information on its website. Effective July 1, 2021. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 23, 2021. Public Act 102-134.

 

House Bill 1719—Mazzochi. Amends the School Code, the Seizure Smart School Act, the College and Career Success for All Students Act, the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the Sex Offender Community Notification Law, and the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act to replace the terms “school guidance counselor” and “guidance counselor” with the term “school counselor”. Effective July 1, 2021. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 30, 2021. Public Act 102-0197.

 

House Bill 1739—Willis. Amends the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act. Makes changes to effective and repeal dates. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of any violent crime as defined in the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the court may set any conditions it finds just and appropriate on the taking of testimony of a victim who is a child under the age of 18 years or a moderately, severely, or profoundly  intellectually disabled person or a person affected by a developmental disability, involving the use of a facility dog in any proceeding involving that offense. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that the office of the State’s Attorney shall consult with the crime victim regarding the State’s Attorney’s decision not to charge an offense and that the victim has the right to have an attorney, advocate, and other support person of the victim’s choice attend this consultation with them. Provides that the office of the State’s Attorney shall give the crime victim timely notice of any decision not to pursue charges and consider the safety of the victim when deciding how to give such notice. Provides that no later than January 1, 2023, the Office of the Attorney General shall: (1) designate an administrative authority within the Office of the Attorney General to receive and investigate complaints relating to the provision or violation of the rights of a crime victim; (2) create and administer a course of training for employees and offices of the State of Illinois that fail to comply with provisions of Illinois law pertaining to the treatment of crime victims; and (3) have the authority to make recommendations to employees and offices of the State of Illinois to respond more effectively to the needs of crime victims, including regarding the violation of the rights of a crime victim. Provides for penalties for violations of victims rights by certain offices and employees. Provides that a prosecuting attorney who seeks to subpoena information or records concerning the victim that are confidential or privileged by law must first request the written consent of the crime victim. Amends the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. In a provision concerning the sexual assault evidence tracking system, provides that the Illinois State Police may (rather than shall) develop rules to implement a sexual assault evidence tracking system. Amends the Sexual Assault Incident Procedure Act. Provides for victim notification under specified circumstances in various provisions. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor June 25, 2021. Public Act 102-0022.

 

House Bill 1778—Mussman.  Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Beyond Charity Law. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 shall provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and either the Safe2Help Illinois helpline or a local suicide prevention hotline or both on the identification card. Amends the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. Provides that if a public higher education institution issues student identification cards to its students, the institution must provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and a local suicide prevention hotline on the identification card. Requires the contact information on the school’s or institution’s card to identify each helpline that may be contacted through text messaging. Provides that the contact information shall also be included in the student handbook and student planner if a student planner is custom printed by the school or institution. Effective July 1, 2022. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0416.

 

House Bill 1785—DeLuca. Amends the School Code. Provides that unless a school building is unsafe, unsanitary, or unfit for occupancy and notice has been served or notice is provided by a licensed entity able to determine the safety of a school building, the school board must hold at least 3 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to close a school building and to receive input from the community. Provides that the notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time date, place, and name or description of the school building that the board is considering closing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the board’s Internet website. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 30, 2021. Public Act 102-0204.

 

House Bill 1954—Hernandez.  Provides that the first full week of April of each year is designated as Autism Acceptance Week (rather than Autism Awareness Week). Makes conforming changes. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 27, 2021. Public Act 102-0588.

 

House Bill 2400—Hirschauer. Changes certain references relating to law enforcement drills to law enforcement lockdown drills. Removes the requirement that parents or guardians must receive prior notice of a law enforcement drill not less than 5 days prior to the drill. Provides that (i) school administrators and school support personnel may, in their discretion, exempt a student or students from participating in a walk-through lockdown drill; (ii) schools must provide sufficient information and notification to parents and guardians in advance of any walk-through lockdown drill that involves the participation of students and must also provide to parents and guardians an opportunity to exempt their child for any reason from participating in the walk-through lockdown drill; (iii) schools must provide alternative safety education and instruction related to an active threat or active shooter event to students who do not participate in a walk-through lockdown drill to provide them with essential information, training, and instruction through less sensorial safety training methods; (iv) during a drill, students must be allowed to ask questions related to the drill; and (v) law enforcement may choose to run an active shooter simulation, but only on school days when students are not present, and parental notification is not required if students are not required to be present. Corrects a typographical error. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 16, 2021. Public Act 102-0395.

 

House Bill 2425—Crespo. Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that complaints concerning delays and denials of special education services in the 2016-2017 or 2017-2018 school year by the Chicago school district as a result of the adoption of policies and procedures identified by the State Board of Education as unlawful must be filed on or before September 30, 2022 (rather than September 30, 2021). Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0429.

 

House Bill 2438—Stuart. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education’s school report cards to include the number of teachers who are National Board Certified Teachers. Effective July 1, 2022. Requires the number of teachers who are National Board Certified Teachers to be disaggregated by race and ethnicity. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 27, 2021. Public Act 102-0594.

 

House Bill 2748—Ness.  Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that if a student with an individualized education program (IEP) reaches the age of 22 during the time in which the student’s in-person instruction, services, or activities are suspended for a period of 3 months or more during the school year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the student is eligible for such services up to the end of the regular 2021-2022 school year, unless the student is no longer a resident of the school district that was responsible for the student’s IEP at the time the student reached the student’s 22nd birthday. Provides for (i) the resumption of the IEP goals in effect when the student reached the student’s 22nd birthday; an exception for a private therapeutic day or residential program, and (iii) notification. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 28, 2021, Public Act 102-0173.

 

House Bill 2795—Harper. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. With respect to a charter school’s retention of an outside, independent contractor to audit the charter school’s finances, provides that 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. Effective July 1, 2021. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0445.

 

House Bill 2878—Stuart. Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to create and establish the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity. Provides that the purpose of the Consortium is to serve the needs of the incumbent early childhood workforce and the employers of early childhood educators and to advance racial equity by streamlining, coordinating, and improving the accessibility to degree completion pathways at institutions of higher of education. Requires all public universities and community colleges in this State that offer early childhood programs to participate in the Consortium; sets forth membership requirements. Contains provisions concerning the functions of the Consortium. Establishes an advisory committee; sets forth provisions concerning the membership of the advisory committee and meeting requirements. Contains provisions concerning reporting, goals and metrics, affordability, and rulemaking. Amends the Transitions in Education Act. Provides that a community college student who earns the Department of Human Services’ Gateway ECE Credential Level 4 as part of an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in early childhood education that is consistent with the degree requirements established by the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education, as appropriate, is deemed eligible for transfer into an early childhood education baccalaureate program at a public university if the student meets specified requirements. Requires a public university to grant junior level status in an early childhood education program to any community college student who has graduated from an Illinois community college with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in early childhood education. Sets forth provisions concerning the transfer of coursework credit. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 28, 2021. Public Act 102-0174.

 

House Bill 2908—Ramirez. Amends the Election Code to provide for the election of the Chicago Board of Education in accordance with specified procedures. Amends the School Code. Provides, on January 15, 2025, for the abolition of the terms of all members of the Chicago Board of Education appointed under specified provisions. Provides for a combination of appointed and elected members and the eventual election of all members. Provides for qualifications of members. Changes eligibility requirements for membership. Specifies the form of nominating petitions for candidates for membership. Changes provisions regarding the appointment of the Inspector General. Adds provisions regarding the creation of districts for election of members and redistricting. Provides that the Chicago Board of Education shall commission an independent review and report of the district’s finances. Creates the Chicago Board of Education Diversity Advisory Board and the Chicago Board of Education Non-Citizen Advisory Board.  Prohibits the Board from approving any school closings, consolidations, or phase-outs prior to January 15, 2024. Provides that the Chicago Board of Education may adopt rules necessary to implement the
provisions. Provides that the terms of specified appointed members end on January 14, 2027 (currently, 2025).  Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 29, 2021. Public Act 102-0177.

 

House Bill 3099—Harper.  Restores current law with respect to the provisions concerning a truant officer’s determination as to compliance. Instead, provides that those provisions do not apply to the Chicago school district. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0456.

 

House Bill 3114—Delgado. Amends the School Code to create the State Education Equity Committee within the State Board of Education. Provides that the purpose of the committee is to strive to ensure equity in education for all children from birth through grade 12. Sets forth the membership of the task force. Contains provisions concerning meetings, duties, and reporting. Repeals a Section concerning the Advisory Council on At-Risk Students. Effective immediately. Makes changes concerning the membership of the Committee, including adding members. Provides that the members of the Committee must reflect, as much as possible, the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State. Provides that members appointed by the State Superintendent of Education may (rather than shall) be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0458.

 

House Bill 3223—Moeller. Amends the School Code and the Illinois School Student Records Act. Repeals the Section concerning the Ensuring Success in School Task Force on December 1, 2025 (instead of December 1, 2023). Amends the provisions concerning confidentiality. Requires each school district to adopt and ensure that the school has and implements a confidentiality policy regarding students. Provides that information about a student concerning whether the student has obtained assistance, support, or services (rather than only assistance or services) must be kept in strictest of confidence, except if the disclosure is permitted under (rather than in conflict with) certain State or federal laws or consented to in writing by the student or the student’s parent or guardian. Provides that information about students may not be disclosed to any other individual outside of the district (rather than may not be disclosed to any other individual). With regard to domestic or sexual violence, provides that except as permitted (rather than except as required) under State or federal law, a school official may contact (instead of must not contact) the person named to be the perpetrator if the school official determines that the school official has an obligation to do so based on safety concerns or threats to the community, including the victim. Provides that a school district must not contact a person named by a student or the student’s parent or guardian without providing prior written notice to the student or the student’s parent or guardian (rather than without obtaining written permission from the student or the student’s parent or guardian). Removes provisions requiring a school district to comply with the confidentiality provisions no later than July 1, 2024. Effective July 1, 2025. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0466.

 

House Bill 3272—Harper. Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to adopt written policies related to absences and missed homework or classwork assignments as a result of or related to a student’s pregnancy. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0471.

 

House Bill 3281—Ortiz. Amends the School Code to require a high school to 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. Provides that the course of instruction shall include content from the components of the naturalization test administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Provides that each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time required. Effective immediately. Provides that every public high school may include (rather than shall include) in its curriculum a unit of instruction on the process of naturalization. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0472.

 

House Bill 3461—Crespo. Amends the School Code.  Provides that the school district shall include in its policy and any relevant training materials a definition of prohibited grooming behaviors and boundary violations for school personnel and how to report these behaviors (instead of how to report these behaviors to school authorities). Makes conforming changes. Makes changes to provisions concerning the required policies addressing sexual abuse. Provides that a school district must provide training for school personnel on specified child sexual abuse and grooming behaviors no later than January 31 of each year. Effective immediately. Adds the definition of grooming. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 27, 2021. Public Act 102-0610.

 

House Bill 3906—Davis. Amends the Article of the School Code relating to children with disabilities. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may determine that the location of the parent or guardian of a student is unknown after considering information submitted from the school district that last enrolled the student or from the school or special education facility providing special education and related services to meet the needs of the student. Provides that the information submitted to the State Superintendent must include an affidavit from that school district’s superintendent or the facility’s director attesting that the location of the parent or guardian is unknown and 4 items of documentary evidence that a minimum of 4 separate attempts were made to locate the parent or guardian. Provides that any determination by the State Superintendent that the location of a parent or guardian is unknown is final, but that any determination made by the State Superintendent is subject to review and reconsideration any time a parent’s or guardian’s location becomes known. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0514.

 

House Bill 3950—LaPointe. Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code in provisions concerning transition services. Makes changes relating to the definition of terms. Provides that, as a component of transition planning, a school district shall provide a student with information about the school district’s career and technical education (CTE) opportunities and postsecondary CTE opportunities; sets forth what the CTE information must include. Provides that a student in high school with an individualized education program may enroll in the school district’s CTE program at any time if participation in a CTE program is consistent with the student’s transition goals. Makes changes concerning the participants in the transition planning process. Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Requires a high school and community college partnership agreement to include the collaborative process and criteria by which a school district and a community college district shall work to ensure that individual students with disabilities have access to dual credit courses, provided that those students are able to meet the criteria for entry into a dual credit course; sets forth other requirements. Amends the Public Community College Act. Requires each community college district to provide access to higher education for students with disabilities. Encourages each community college to offer for-credit and non-credit courses as deemed appropriate for the individual student based on the student’s abilities, interests, and postsecondary transition goals, with the appropriate individualized supplementary aids and accommodations. Strongly encourages each community college to have its disability services coordinator or the coordinator’s representative participate either in person or remotely in meetings held by high schools within the community college district to provide information to the student’s individualized education program team about the community college and the availability of courses and programs at the community college. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0516.

 

Senate Bill 517—Cappel and Rezin.  Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code to create the High-Cost Special Education Funding Commission for the purpose of making recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly for an alternative funding structure in this State for high-cost special education students that is aligned to the principles of the evidence-based funding formula. Sets forth the membership of the Commission. Sets forth the topics the Commission must review. Contains provisions concerning administrative support, compensation, and reporting. Repeals the provisions on December 31, 2022. Effective immediately. Makes changes to the membership of the Commission. Specifies that one member must be from a special education cooperative that is not a member district of a special education cooperative. Provides that the one member who represents a nonpublic special education school may be an educator or an administrator (rather than educator only). Adds one member who represents private special education schools in rural school districts; adds one member who represents a residential program. Removes the member who is a parent of a high-cost special education student. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 23, 2021, Public Act 102-0150.

 

Senate Bill 564—Ellman. In the provisions relating to courses of study, provides that the teaching of history of the United States shall include the contributions made to society by Americans of different faith practices, including, but not limited to, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, Christian Americans, Hindu Americans, Sikh Americans, Buddhist Americans, and any other collective community of faith that has shaped America (rather than the study of the contributions made by Muslims and Muslim Americans to society). Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 19, 2021. Public Act 102-0411.

 

Senate Bill 605—Collins. Amends the School Code. Requires that each school district, charter school, or alternative school or any school receiving public funds develop an absenteeism and truancy policy to be communicated to students and their parent or guardian on an annual basis. Sets forth the minimum elements that must be included in the policy. Requires the policy to be updated every 2 years and filed with the State Board of Education. Provides that the absenteeism and truancy policy must be filed with the State Board of Education and the regional superintendent of schools (rather than only the State Board of Education). Changes the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2022 (rather than July 1, 2021). Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor July 23, 2021. Public Act 102-0157.

 

Senate Bill 633—Murphy. Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, requires the State Board of Education’s school report card to include 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. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 6, 2021. Public Act 102-294.

 

Senate Bill 654—Peters. Amends the School Code. Provides that all public schools shall provide daily time for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students in kindergarten through grade 8. Specifies further requirements concerning play time. Provides that play time shall not count as a course of physical education. Provides that play time shall be considered clock hours for purposes of the Code. Provides for the inclusion of students with disabilities in play time. Provides that 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. Effective July 1, 2021. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 13, 2021. Public Act 102-0357.

 

Senate Bill 661—Gillespie and Fine. Adds provisions concerning the priority in the award of post master school social work scholarships for a fiscal year in which the amount of an appropriation is insufficient to provide scholarships to all qualified candidates. Makes changes concerning priority consideration to those applicants who are members of a racial minority. Removes a reference to “private or parochial school”. Requires the repayment of amounts received if a recipient fails to fulfill the work obligation required under the terms of the scholarship, with exceptions. Effective January 1, 2022. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 27, 2021. Public Act 102-0621.

 

Senate Bill 662—Gillespie and Fine. Adds provisions concerning the priority for the award of grants for years in which the amount of the appropriation allocated to the program is insufficient to provide grants to all qualified candidates. Sets forth the purpose for giving priority under the program to applicants who are members of a racial minority. Effective July 1, 2022. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 27, 2021. Public Act 102-0622.

 

Senate Bill 673—Collins. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that the term “restorative measures” includes alternatives to exclusionary discipline that 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. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 3, 2021. Public Act 102-0241.

 

Senate Bill 808—Murphy. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of School Code. With regard to licensure candidates being required to pass a teacher performance assessment, provides that a candidate may not be required to submit test materials by video submission. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 6, 2021. Public Act 102-0301.

 

Senate Bill 812—Bennett. Amends the School Code. For each school district, requires the State Board of Education to make available on its website, not later than January 1, 2023 and annually thereafter, the total number of personnel with a school support personnel endorsement and the pupil-to- school support personnel ratio, along with other information. Requires a school district to report the required information to the State Board of Education no later than November 16, 2022 and annually thereafter. House Floor Amendment replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Removes the definition of “pupil-to-school support personnel ratio”. Requires the State Board of Education to make the information reported by school districts available on its website no later than December 1, 2023 and each December 1st annually thereafter (rather than January 1, 2023 and annually thereafter); changes the dates for reporting. Makes changes concerning the information to be reported and made available. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 6, 2021. Public Act 102-0302.

 

Senate Bill 818—Villivalam. Specifies that the comprehensive personal health and safety education learning standards shall be adopted for pupils in kindergarten through the 5th grade and the comprehensive sexual health education learning standards shall be adopted for pupils in the 6th through 12th grades. Removes a provision requiring school districts to provide comprehensive personal health and safety education and comprehensive sexual health education by no later than July 1, 2023. Provides that the annual report to the General Assembly must be submitted for a period of 5 (rather than 2) years. Provides that a school district may (rather than shall) provide age and developmentally appropriate consent education in kindergarten through the 12th grade. Makes grammatical and typographical changes. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0522.

 

Senate Bill 1577—Martwick. Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. With respect to the exceptions to the compulsory attendance requirement, provides that absence for cause by illness shall include the mental or behavioral health of a student for up to 5 days for which the child need not provide a medical note, in which case the child shall be given the opportunity to make up any school work missed during the mental or behavioral health absence. Provides that the child, after the second mental health day used, may be referred to the appropriate school support personnel. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 6, 2021. Public Act 102-0321.

 

Senate Bill 1830—Cappel. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that of the 2 years of social studies required to receive a high school diploma, one semester, or part of one semester, may include a financial literacy course beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year and each school year thereafter. Effective immediately. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 13, 2021. Public Act 102-0366.

 

Senate Bill 2043—Pacione-Zayas. Amends the Sick Leave Bank Act. Provides that the term “Agency” does not include the State Board of Education. Amends the School Code to make changes in provisions concerning the State Board’s strategic plan, a State mandate report, the School Technology Program, a reading advisory group, school district and school report cards, the  suspension or expulsion of pupils, licensure requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, chronic absenteeism in preschool children, physical fitness assessments, State reimbursement for transportation, and the Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force. Repeals a provision concerning the State Board’s annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on the condition of the schools. Effective immediately. Removes provisions concerning the School Technology Program. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0539.

 

Senate Bill 2088—Belt. Amends the School Code. In provisions about appointment of members by the State Superintendent of Education to a committee relating to kindergarten assessment, includes state policy advocates, early childhood administrators, and other stakeholders as members. Adds, as a goal of the Whole Child Task Force, recommending legislation, policies, and practices to prevent learning loss in students during periods of suspension and expulsion, including, but not limited to, remote instruction. Adds one member who represents an organization representing regional offices of education to the membership of the Whole Child Task Force. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 27, 2021. Public Act 102-0635.

 

Senate Bill 2109—Villa. Amends the School Code.  Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board member’s leadership training, requires that professional development leadership training cover trauma-informed practices for students and staff. Sets forth what the training must include and who may provide the training. Allows the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement and administer the provisions concerning a school board member’s leadership training. In provisions relating to in-service training programs for licensed school personnel and administrators, requires training to identify the warning signs of trauma. Provides for training regarding the adoption and administration of a trauma-informed school standard. Sets forth the information that may be provided in a course of instruction. Effective immediately. Requires that the training in trauma-informed practices for students and staff begin with the 2023-2024 school year rather than the 2022-2023 school year. Makes changes concerning the information that must be included in the training both for school board members and for in-service training programs. Effective January 1, 2023 (rather than immediately). Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 27, 2021. Public Act 102-0638.

 

Senate Bill 2354—Rezin. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Adds forensic speech (speech and debate) to the music, art, foreign language, or vocational education elective that a pupil may choose to satisfy the one year prerequisite that each pupil entering the 9th grade is required to successfully complete to receive a high school diploma. Provides that a forensic speech course used to satisfy the course requirement in language arts may not be used to satisfy a forensic speech course chosen as an elective course. Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0551.

 

Senate Bill 2434—Harmon. Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that school student records or information may be shared under an intergovernmental agreement, if the elementary school district and the high school district have attendance boundaries that overlap and are parties to an intergovernmental agreement that allows the sharing of student records and information between the districts. Requires the sharing of student information under an intergovernmental agreement to be voluntary, to apply only to students who have been enrolled in both districts or would be enrolled in both districts based on district attendance boundaries, and does not exceed the scope of information that is shared among schools in a unit school district. Allows the terms of an intergovernmental agreement to place further limitations on the information that is allowed to be shared. Effective immediately. To allow the sharing of student information under an intergovernmental agreement, provides that a student’s parent or guardian must also express in writing that the student intends to enroll or has enrolled in the high school district (instead of only requiring that the student has been enrolled or would be enrolled in both districts based on district attendance boundaries to allow the sharing of the student information). Passed both Houses. Signed by the Governor August 20, 2021. Public Act 102-0557.