Happy Friday!
With the General Assembly on break this week, there's a sense of calm amid the spring sunshine. Yet, behind the scenes, negotiations are active, making this a pivotal time for deals. Tasks such as refining bill language, gaining support from key stakeholders and resolving disagreements can be tackled with greater focus during this hiatus from formal proceedings.
In Springfield, where politics is a blend of art and science, the break between sessions underscores the importance of patience and persistence in achieving progress, even during quieter periods. Despite the General Assembly not being in session this week, governance continues as negotiations progress behind the scenes.
House Appropriations - Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
While the legislative session in Springfield was not convened this week, several committees convened to deliberate on matters central to legislation and budgetary allocations.
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee commenced its series of discussions on budgetary proposals for the FY 25 state budget. During the session, the committee engaged with representatives, including the Illinois Principals Association, who emphasized the criticality of principal mentoring and recruitment. Additionally, the National Board of Certified Teachers provided testimony on how the program fosters the development, retention, and recognition of proficient educators, thereby enhancing student outcomes across schools nationwide. Furthermore, the committee received testimony from the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) underscoring the advantages of teacher mentoring and virtual instruction coaching.
Upcoming Committee Hearings
Next week, as the General Assembly convenes, a diverse array of bills is slated for discussion and consideration. Our team is tracking over 100 bills that are scheduled for hearing next week, and these proposed pieces of legislation encapsulate a wide spectrum including curriculum, training, health and safety, transportation etc.
One of the most concerning bills that we have seen posted for next week is HB 5009 (Croke-D; Chicago). This bill is a trailer from last year’s SB 2017, which became PA 103-0395, and contained language regarding the provision to pay educational support personnel on holidays. There were differing legal interpretations of the legislation and HB 5009 seeks to clarify that all school districts must pay their educational support personnel for holidays. The bill is scheduled for hearing on Wednesday at 2:00pm in the House Labor and Commerce committee.
Several bills from last week persist in their respective committees, while a handful of new ones have been earmarked for hearings. Some of the most notable proposals are listed below.
Tuesday, March 5th
Senate Education
SB 3261 (Fowler-R; Harrisburg) - Starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, every two years, the school board is required to provide training sessions for all employees of the school district. These sessions will focus on teaching them how to recognize signs of human trafficking. Additionally, in-service training programs must include the definition of trauma, trauma-responsive learning environments, and the whole child.
SB 3473 (Sims-D; Chicago) - ISBE, along with the Department of Public Health, will create educational materials about type 1 diabetes for parents and guardians of students. These materials will be available on the State Board's website and must be provided by school districts and charter schools to parents when a student is first enrolled in elementary school or in the school's handbook starting from July 1, 2024.
SB 3553 (Lightford-D; Hillside) - Provides that a school district's policy may allow students to skip certain courses if they've already mastered the content required for high school graduation. The district must keep records of how they determined this mastery, including what standards were used, how the student was assessed and who was involved. If a student qualifies for this waiver, the district must inform their parent or guardian.
SB 3571 (Harriss-R; Edwardsville) - A school district must ensure that each school has at least one automated external defibrillator and one or more trained AED users present during the school day and school-sponsored extracurricular activities. Additionally, an AED installed and maintained in compliance with the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act can fulfill the requirements of this section.
SB 3606 (Cappel-D; Crest Hill) - Allows the tuition of students placed in separate public special education schools to be eligible for reimbursement if the tuition is beyond two times the district’s per capita tuition rate.
SB 3644 (Ellman-D; Naperville) - Starting from the 2025-2026 academic year, all public high schools must integrate climate change education into various courses from grades 9 to 12. This includes: Science courses (e.g., biology, geology, environmental science, AP courses); agricultural, food and natural resources courses (e.g., agronomy, horticulture); social science courses (e.g., civics, economics); and career and technical education courses related to climate change (e.g., engineering, business).
SB 3645 (Ellman-D; Naperville) - Amends the School Code in Illinois to require radon testing in occupied or soon-to-be-occupied school buildings every 5 years, with specific standards for new school construction. The bill mandates reporting of radon test results to the State Board of Education every 2 years for submission to the General Assembly and the Governor.
Senate Transportation
SB 2696 (Morrison-D; Deerfield) - The bill seeks to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code by mandating that school buses must be equipped with 3-point seat belts or other federally approved restraint systems for each passenger seat, along with a rooftop safety hatch. Starting from January 1, 2028, all newly purchased school buses must be equipped with 3-point seat belts or other federally approved restraint systems for each passenger. The bill exempts school buses legally registered in another state if they are not regularly operated in Illinois and are used in the state for specific activities involving students from schools located outside of Illinois. The bill specifies that the school district or school bus company will not be liable for a passenger's failure to properly adjust or fasten a seat belt or other restraint system.
Wednesday, March 6th
House K12 Curriculum and Policies
HB 1107 (West-D; Rockford) - Outlines the requirement for school districts to develop and implement individualized plans to provide additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations to students who have experienced traumatic events, ensuring their academic needs are met.
HB 2401 (Ford-D; Chicago) - Provides that a school district shall require that books that are included as a part of any course, material, instruction, reading assignment or other school curricula related to literature during the school year or that appear on summer reading lists must include books that are written by diverse authors.
HB 4658 (Tarver-D; Chicago) - Mandates a standalone personal finance course for grade 11 or 12 students in public schools starting from the 2027-2028 school year. The State Board of Education will set standards for this course, with school boards overseeing its implementation. A Financial Literacy Implementation Committee will be established to advise on course implementation and students must complete this course to graduate. Additionally, the amendment removes the option of including financial literacy within the social studies requirement.
HB 4895 (Yang Rohr-D; Naperville) - Mandates that every public high school, starting from the 2025-2026 school year, include a unit of instruction on climate change in either a science or social studies class. Additionally, starting from the 2026-2027 school year, climate change instruction will be integrated into grades 9 through 12 in specific courses. A working group comprising students, educators, and climate change experts will be convened to develop state learning standards, with the Superintendent providing further instructional support.
HB 5184 (Davidsmeyer-R; Jacksonville) - Provides that "policy on bullying" means a bullying prevention policy that is age and developmentally appropriate. The legislation defines age and developmentally appropriate as being suitable to a particular age or age group of children and adolescents, based on the developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.
HB 5406 (Yang Rohr-D; Naperville) - Aims to establish practice time limits for high school athletic programs and teams, with a focus on maintaining the physical and mental health of athletes. Starting from the 2024-2025 school year, the bill sets specific requirements for practices, games, or contests conducted by state high school athletic programs or teams. It defines "practice" in detail, including various activities intended to maintain or enhance athletes' skills, and sets limitations on practice hours per week and maximum hours per day. The bill also addresses the enforcement of penalties by athletic associations for any violations of the practice time limits, such as the loss of practice days or other sanctions.
HB 5416 (Davidsmeyer-R; Jacksonville) - Requires a medical note for an absence to be excused only after 9 unexcused absences. If a student's medical note specifies a period of excused absence or if the illness mentioned has a recommended isolation period issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the school must excuse all the days listed in the note or for the duration of the recommended isolation period.
HB 5434 (J. Davis-R; Yorkville) - Establishes that a student must remain on a school district's attendance rolls until a documented cause for disenrollment is provided and confirmed. Additionally, requires school district report cards to include data on the number of students remaining on attendance rolls and the duration they were not attending school.
House K12 Administration, Licensing and Charter Schools
HB 4581 (Mussman-D; Schaumburg) - Provides that if a student who is 18 years of age or older with no legal guardian is placed residentially outside of the school district in which the student's parent lives and the placement is funded by a state agency or through private insurance, then the resident district is the school district in which the parent lives.
HB 4647 (Sosnowski-R; Machesney Park) - Provides that IHSA shall adopt a policy that allows for a student to participate in interscholastic athletics immediately upon completing a transfer from one school to another school and enrolling in the other school. However, the policy may prohibit the student from participating in interscholastic athletics at that other school before the school transfer process is complete and the transfer has been accepted by the principal of the school from which the student is transferring and the principal of the school to which the student is transferring.
HB 4903 (Faver Dias-D; Grayslake) - Creates the Air Quality in Schools Task Force. Provides that the purpose of the task force is to study and make recommendations to the General Assembly on air quality goals for elementary, middle, and high schools, processes to assess current ventilation systems in schools, processes to improve ventilation after assessment, and potential State and federal funding sources to improve school air quality in this State.
HB 5025 (Faver Dias-D; Grayslake) - Allows an applicant to qualify for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License if the applicant has retired in good standing while holding a valid paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations.
HB 5226 (A. Williams-D; Chicago) - Requires school districts must conduct radon testing by January 1, 2028, and subsequently every 5 years. New schools must adhere to radon-resistant construction standards specified by the American National Standards Institute. It removes the option for unlicensed individuals to conduct radon screening tests and requires hiring licensed radon professionals for confirmatory measurements if radon levels exceed certain thresholds. Mitigation procedures are outlined, and school districts are permitted to utilize life safety funds for radon testing and mitigation.
HB 5617 (West-D; Rockford) - Provides that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo or mascot; defines "native name, logo, or mascot". However, provides that a school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the amendatory act until September 1, 2027, if specified requirements are met.
HB 5632 (Mayfield-D; Waukegan) - Provides that notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, from July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2028, any State mandate under the State Mandates Act enacted after July 1, 2024, does not apply to a school district if the State mandate is non-academic. Provides that the State Board of Education shall determine if a State mandate is non-academic.
Thank you for your continued dedication and support to ensuring the success of our educational community!