Education (K-12 Education)

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. With respect to the requirement that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses, requires a high school to offer 2 years of foreign-language course credit to any student who either (i) successfully passes a standardized test of language proficiency for a language other than English at the level required for the State Seal of Biliteracy or (ii) presents an official transcript demonstrating completion of 2 years of high-school equivalency in which the language of instruction was in a language other than English.

Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. Requires each school district to ensure that every student in grades K-12 receives direct instruction in social and emotional learning no fewer than 4 times each academic year, approximately once per academic quarter. Requires social and emotional learning instruction to be delivered by a trained professional, provided during a class period, and address age-appropriate competencies as outlined in the Illinois Learning Standards for Social/Emotional Learning. Requires classroom teachers to reinforce social and emotional learning concepts through integrated academic curriculum and classroom practices. Requires each school district to provide professional development to assist educators in aligning instructional practices with social and emotional learning principles. Effective January 1, 2028.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois to make changes concerning in-state tuition to remove a condition concerning attending high school or a community college while residing in this State and not having established residency outside of this State before enrolling in the public university. Amends the Public Community College Act to change specified conditions under which the board of trustees of a community college district is required to deem an individual an Illinois resident. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires every public elementary and high school to include in its curriculum the study of the contributions made by Latin Americans to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the requirement during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit and make recommendations for improvement. Provides that the failure by a school district or school to comply with the requirement shall result in a written warning for the first offense, and if the school district or school continues to fail to comply with the requirements, the school district or school shall face disciplinary action at the discretion of the regional superintendent. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials and professional development opportunities that may be used as guidelines for the development of a Latin American unit of study. Effective August 1, 2026.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall create an introductory content area endorsement for computer science that allows individuals with a Professional Educator License to teach introductory computer science courses in grades 5 through 12. Provides that the endorsement shall require no more than 8 credit hours of graduate-level preparation that includes instruction in introductory computer science concepts and computer science pedagogy. Allows an individual with a Professional Educator License seeking the endorsement to substitute a State Board-approved, one-week, professional development program in introductory high school computer science education for 4 credit hours of the graduate-level preparation in introductory computer science concepts. Provides that the one-week, professional development program may count as 4 credit hours of the graduate-level preparation. Allows an individual with an Educator License with Stipulations with a paraprofessional educator endorsement who completes the 8 credit hours of graduate-level preparation to count those credit hours toward completion of the requirements for a Professional Educator License with a computer science endorsement.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a National Board certification-early childhood generalist endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a valid Early Childhood Generalist certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Provides that the endorsement holder is deemed qualified and authorized to provide instruction in early childhood education programs and is deemed to meet or exceed all early childhood instructional competency requirements established by the State Board for pre-kindergarten instruction.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall establish an outcome-based Adult Workforce High School Diploma Program to allow eligible students to qualify for enrollment in the Program, and, upon successful completion of the Program, to be awarded a high school diploma. Sets forth requirements for approved Program providers and Program funding. Requires each approved Program provider to submit an annual report to the Board regarding the Program. Requires the Board to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the Program. Repeals the provisions on June 30, 2030.

Specifies that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Educational Choice for Illinois Children Act. Amends the School Code. Provides that the General Assembly elects, on behalf of the State, to: (1) participate in the federal tax credit established under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act for individuals who make qualified contributions to scholarship granting organizations; and (2) identify scholarship granting organizations located in this State. Authorizes and empowers the State Board of Education to certify and submit a list of qualifying scholarship granting organizations to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States in accordance with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its associated regulations. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that provisions concerning a pass-through entity tax apply until January 1, 2030. Creates income tax deductions for qualified tips, overtime, and qualified vehicle loan interest. Creates an income tax deduction for qualified senior citizens. Provides that distributions from the College Savings Pool may be used for certain elementary and secondary school expenses. Makes changes concerning the bonus depreciation deduction under Section 168(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Encourages all public school districts serving grades 6 through 12 to develop a plan to adopt school start times that reflect the biological sleep needs of adolescents.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, every public high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on civic engagement. Provides that, as part of the unit of instruction, students must attend an open meeting of the governing body of a special district, the corporate authorities of a municipality, the township board of a township, the county board of a county, or any similar governing or legislating body of a unit of government. Provides that, if physical attendance at such a meeting is not feasible, then attendance may be virtual.