Education

Directs the Professional Review Panel and the Illinois State Board of Education to conduct the analysis and financial modeling required to evaluate the implications of including other categories of advanced learners in addition to gifted as adequacy factors beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Urges the federal government to allocate more funding toward finding a cure for Lyme disease. Encourages the Illinois State Board of Education to begin health education to prevent tick bites for children who represent the highest risk group for tick-borne diseases. Declares the month of May 2025 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.

Declares March 2025 as Illinois Whole Child Month to recognize the value of assuring that each student is challenged, supported, healthy, safe, and engaged. Urges parents, educators, and community members to support a whole child approach to education for each student. Urges every school in Illinois to celebrate Whole Child Month by adopting at least one of the whole child tenets to promote and encourage throughout the month.

Expresses strong support for the continued offering and expansion of night courses and programs at Illinois colleges and universities. Urges higher education institutions and governing bodies to prioritize and protect night programs from budgetary cuts or elimination.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the vendor of an assessment administered by the State Board of Education for the purpose of student application to or admissions consideration by institutions of higher education under a contract entered into, amended, renewed, or extended on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act must not sell or commercially exploit in any way covered information, as defined in the Student Online Personal Protection Act, that the vendor has access to because of its status as the vendor. Amends the Student Online Personal Protection Act. Provides that any person aggrieved by an operator's violation of the Act shall have a right of action in a State circuit court or as a supplemental claim in federal district court against the operator.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 and offers school facilitated employment, career pathways, or internship experiences shall provide to students participating in the program (rather than may include in its high school curriculum): (1) instruction on workplace preparation that covers legal protections in the workplace; and (2) protection against sexual harassment and racial and other forms of discrimination.

Amends the Regional Superintendent of Schools Article of the School Code. Allows the State Superintendent of Education to designate a regional office of education or intermediate service center as a learning partner in any iteration of the statewide system of support so that services are provided to schools that are identified for school improvement under (i) the accountability system and (ii) the definition for Targeted, Comprehensive, or Intensive. Provides that the status of learning partner may be revoked at the State Superintendent's sole discretion. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish, implement, and administer a STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program, using funds appropriated from the STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program Fund, for the purpose of offering scholarships to young women pursuing degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at public universities in this State. Sets forth provisions concerning eligibility, preference and priority, the assistance awarded, funding, and rulemaking. Creates the STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Makes a corresponding change in the State Finance Act.

Amends the School Code. Creates the Waiver Process Task Force. Sets forth provisions concerning membership, meetings, and support services. Provides that the purposes of the Task Force are to examine the current waiver response process and make recommendations on a more equitable and fair waiver response at the elementary and secondary school levels in this State; develop and use metrics to access the viability of waiver requests and the impact of such requests on students in kindergarten through grade 12; promote training and professional development on creating waiver requests that include accountability measures for teachers and other community stakeholders across this State; identify and seek local, State, and national resources to support an equitable and fair waiver process; and complete such other strategies as may be identified by the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on how waivers should be requested, how waivers should be reviewed for approval, and how to demonstrate the ability to fulfill accountability measures proposed in requested waivers. Requires the Task Force to file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2025. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. In provisions concerning State grants, provides that the grants shall include, among other things, planning and construction grants to library systems and public libraries that are members of a library system (rather than planning and construction grants to public libraries and library systems) and grants to improve or enhance security of libraries.