Education

passed · Illinois · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 3503: CURRICULUM OVERVIEW&ALIGNMENT

Creates the Illinois Curriculum Overview and Alignment Act. Requires, beginning January 1, 2026, the State Board of Education to conduct a comprehensive review of all mandated units of study every 5 years. Sets forth what the review shall include. Provides that the review process shall incorporate feedback from educators and administrators, parents and guardians, students, via surveys or focus groups, and subject matter experts and community organizations. Requires the State Board of Education to publish a public report summarizing findings and recommendations from the curriculum overview. Provides that following each curriculum overview, the State Board of Education shall: (1) develop an action plan to address identified gaps or areas for improvement; (2) provide professional development for educators on updates or changes; and (3) monitor the implementation of curriculum updates and assess their impact on student outcomes. Requires the General Assembly to appropriate funds necessary for the State Board of Education to carry out the requirements of the Act. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires curriculum review with stakeholder feedback to ensure alignment and quality, advancing educational standards through structured oversight.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Illinois · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 1838: SCH CD-SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board of a school district with 275,000 students or more shall prohibit any school of the district that has selective admission requirements from requiring a student in a pre-kindergarten program of the district to take a standardized test in order to be admitted to that school. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves standardized test requirement for pre-K admission to selective schools, expanding access without barriers for young students in K-12 education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Illinois · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 2466: HIGHER ED-INCARCERATED STUDENT

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes a provision specifically excluding academic programs for incarcerated students from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". In provisions concerning the AIM HIGH Grant Program, removes the grant eligibility requirement that an applicant not be incarcerated.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves barriers to higher education for incarcerated individuals, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves exclusion of incarcerated students from higher education program definitions and grant eligibility, expanding educational access for a previously barred population.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Illinois · House May 31, 2025

HR 247: FIRST ROBOTICS DAY

Declares the third Friday in March 2025 and March 2026 as FIRST Robotics Day in the State of Illinois. Recognizes the continuing importance of the National Science Foundation's math and science education programs and encourages local school districts and other educational agencies to fund afterschool robotics programs. Encourages schools and educators to observe the day with appropriate activities that teach students about robotics and engage them about the study of mathematics and science.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill encourages schools to fund robotics programs and recognize STEM education, directly advancing student engagement in math/science curricula through afterschool activities.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEncourages school funding for robotics programs and STEM education, directly promoting technology-focused learning initiatives.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Illinois · House May 31, 2025

HR 135: EDUCATION REFORM-PLANNING TIME

States that meaningful reform of education in Illinois requires structural changes at all levels, including increases to paid teacher preparation and collaboration time, staffing models, and systems for recognition and incentives for educators. Urges school districts across the state to provide adequate paid planning time for teachers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates paid planning time for teachers, requiring school districts to allocate funds toward educator support, advancing education budget priorities.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationUrges paid planning time for teachers, directly supporting educator effectiveness and reform efforts through structural changes.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid planning time for teachers, improving employment standards and workplace conditions for educators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Illinois · House May 30, 2025

HJR 39: SUPPORT-AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS

Reaffirms commitment to upholding the health, dignity, and civil rights of all people with disabilities, including Autistic individuals across the spectrum of strengths, needs, and identities. Recognizes and honors the rightful presence, contributions, and leadership of neurodivergent individuals in inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities throughout every stage of life.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly recognizes neurodivergent individuals' presence in inclusive schools, advancing educational access for autistic students through civil rights affirmation.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Illinois · House May 21, 2025

HB 2696: SCH CD/SOPPA-COVERED INFO

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents commercial exploitation of student assessment data under SOPPA, protecting student privacy in educational contexts per bill's vendor restrictions.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPrevents vendors from selling student data under SOPPA, directly protecting student data privacy per bill's prohibition on commercial exploitation of covered information.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Illinois · House May 2, 2025

HB 3252: SCH CD-WORK PREP COURSE

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates workplace prep and anti-discrimination training in career programs, enhancing curriculum standards for student safety and rights in K-12 education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires workplace preparation instruction covering legal protections, anti-harassment, and anti-discrimination, directly advancing worker rights education for future employees.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Illinois · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 1869: SCH CD-SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDesignates regional offices as learning partners to provide support services to schools under improvement, strengthening systemic support for struggling schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 2503: SCH CD-ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish the State Instructional Technology Advisory Board, which shall collaborate with the State Board of Education to provide guidance, integration, oversight, and evaluation of education technologies, including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence technologies. Sets forth the membership of the Advisory Board and terms. Requires the State Board, with the Advisory Board, to develop standards concerning safety, transparency, data privacy, and educational quality for any artificial intelligence technology that may be used in schools and develop guidance for school districts and educators on the use of artificial intelligence in education and the development of artificial intelligence literacy. Requires the annual school district report to the State Board regarding educational technology capacity and policies to include how students, teachers, and district employees use artificial intelligence. Provides that the Internet safety education curriculum shall include instruction in the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates State Instructional Technology Advisory Board to guide AI tech integration in schools, establishing standards for safety and oversight in educational technology use.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates Advisory Board to oversee AI in education with safety/transparency standards, advancing responsible tech integration in schools85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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