Education

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to create a school counselor stipend program. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students and eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program. Sets forth requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating school counselor who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the suspension or expulsion of a student, requires all evidence, including, but not limited to, video evidence and written materials, held by a school district that has led to the decision to suspend or expel the student to be given to the student's parents or guardians before a suspension or expulsion hearing. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Removes language that requires, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade to, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses.

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the total payments under a provision concerning the Board providing partial reimbursement of health insurance costs may not exceed $100,000,000 (instead of $65,000,000) in any year. Provides that the amount shall annually thereafter be increased by the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index for the 12 months ending with the September preceding each November 1, including all previous adjustments. Defines "consumer price index".

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Prison Education Fund. Provides that moneys in the Prison Education Fund shall be used by the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to make grants to prison education programs that award associate degrees or bachelor's degrees to currently incarcerated students. Makes changes concerning the allocation of money from the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Provides that 0.5% of the moneys in the Cannabis Regulation Fund, after certain allocations have been made, shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Prison Education Fund.

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In a provision requiring a school board, before setting a hearing on charges stemming from causes that are considered remediable, to give a teacher reasonable warning, in writing, stating specifically the causes that, if not removed, may result in charges, allows a teacher to grieve the issuance of such warning pursuant to the applicable collective bargaining agreement to determine whether the board had just cause in issuing the warning. Requires the written warning to narrowly specify the nature of the alleged misconduct that needs to be remedied. Provides that under no circumstances may the written warning remain effective for longer than 4 years from the date of the issuance of the written warning. Requires the school district to use reasonable efforts to remove the written warning from the teacher's personnel file after the 4 years have elapsed or sooner if agreed to through the exclusive bargaining representative, with an exception. Effective immediately.

Amends the Energy Community Reinvestment Act. In provisions concerning the Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship, provides that a student may receive a scholarship under those provisions for a period that is equivalent to 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms (currently, one calendar year of full-time enrollment, including summer terms). Provides that the displaced energy worker must have lost his or her employment while a resident of Illinois to be eligible for the scholarship program. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the School Code. Requires every voting member of a school board of a school district (other than the Chicago school district) to complete a minimum of 4 hours of professional development and leadership training within the first year of every elected term (rather than within the first year of his or her first term). Provides that in addition to training, every voting member of a school board shall, within the first year of every elected term, tour any affiliated education buildings that a student may attend while under the direction of the school district. Effective July 1, 2027.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates sales tax holiday periods for clothing, school supplies, diapers, wipes, and hygiene products. Provides that the sales tax periods shall run from January 1 through January 7 of 2027 and each year thereafter and from August 1 through August 7 of 2027 and each year thereafter. Requires retailers to clearly label sales tax holiday items as such in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Revenue. Requires the Department of Revenue to establish a public awareness campaign in connection with the sales tax holiday program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Project Success pilot program that is aimed at improving child and family well-being by coordinating services that promote school success, local planning and decision-making, parental involvement, and prevention through partnerships between local school districts and community-based organizations and relevant State agencies. Provides that the pilot program shall operate in communities in East-Central Illinois and shall focus on increasing parents' involvement in their children's academic and emotional development by linking parents to community resources and services that include, but are not limited to, violence prevention, mentoring, tutoring, health education, and community safety. Requires participating communities to establish a local governing board to oversee and implement the coordination of needed services and supports. Contains provisions on the composition of the local governing boards and their duties, including the development of an evolving community action plan that guides their community's use of financial resources, time, staff, services, and other resources to improve families' access to basic health care, behavioral health services, and services that promote family stability and proper nutrition. Requires the Department to initially assist participating communities on how to coordinate services through school-community provider partnerships. Requires the Department to hire a Project Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of Project Success and to assist participating communities in the development of their community actions plans. Requires the Project Manager to post annual reports on the success of the pilot program, issues or barriers to community implementation, and recommendations. Makes implementation of Project Success subject to appropriations and private funding or resources. Amends the State Finance Act. Adds the Project Success Pilot Program Fund to the list of State special funds.