Education

Amends the School Code. Requires, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, school boards to report specified data to the State Board of Education regarding computer science courses in schools maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 8. Requires the State Board to make the data publicly available. With respect to a Professional Educator License, provides that the State Board shall create an introductory content area endorsement for teaching computer science in grades 5 through 12 that allows licensed educators to teach introductory computer science courses. In provisions concerning required high school courses, provides that a computer science course (rather than an Advanced Placement computer science course) qualifies under the mathematics requirement. Requires each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year to successfully complete one year of high school computer science and artificial intelligence as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, which may be taken in any of grades 7 through 12 and shall count toward the fulfillment of certain other high school graduation requirements. Requires the State Board to create guidelines for school districts. Provides that the computer science course requirement does not apply to a pupil transferring to a high school in this State from another state after the pupil's 11th grade year. Allows a school to enter into a cooperative resource sharing agreement to ensure that its students can enroll in a computer science course. Makes other changes.

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Replaces references to the Community College Cannabis Vocational Pilot Program and the Community College Cannabis Vocational Training Pilot Program with references to the Community College Cannabis Vocational Training Program. Repeals provisions that would automatically repeal the Program on July 1, 2026. Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide grants from appropriations from the Cannabis Business Development Fund to community colleges licensed under the Community College Vocational Training Program, and requires the Department to adopt rules. Provides that the community colleges that received a license before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be deemed to be licensed Responsible Vendor Program Training Providers and that such designation may be revoked for cause under rules adopted by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides for dyslexia screening guidelines and rules. Requires the State Board of Education to provide technical assistance for specific learning disabilities to school districts. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each school district must screen students in grades kindergarten through second for the risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screener. Sets forth what the screening must include. Provides for additional screening for a student who is determined to be at risk, or at some risk, for dyslexia to determine if the student has the characteristics of dyslexia. Requires the use of a multi-tiered system of support framework if screening indicates that a student has some risk factors for dyslexia or has the characteristics of dyslexia. Sets forth provisions concerning exceptions to screening, dyslexia intervention services, and reporting. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the School Code regarding the establishment of kindergartens. With respect to a provision stating that kindergarten should provide opportunities for play-based learning, defines: (1) "play-based learning" as either guided play or student-initiated play; (2) "guided play" as intentional teacher-directed play with activities set up and led by a teacher that are aligned to learning goals or standards; and (3) "student-initiated play" as child-selected opportunities to build, pretend, create, move, or explore in an environment intentionally curated by a teacher to align with learning goals or standards.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires every rail carrier operating within the State to install, operate, and maintain pedestrian crossing gates at every grade crossing located within 1.5 miles of a school. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall have the authority to (i) determine the number, type, and location of the signs, signals, gates, or other protective devices and (ii) prescribe the division of the cost of the installation and subsequent maintenance of the signs, signals, gates, or other protective devices between the rail carrier or carriers, the public highway authority or other public authority in interest, and, in instances involving the use of the Grade Crossing Protection Fund, the Department of Transportation.

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning twice-exceptional children, changes references from "children" to "students" and defines "twice-exceptional student". Provides that in the development of an individualized education program (IEP) or federal Section 504 plan for a twice-exceptional student, if the student's ability or achievement indicates that the student would benefit from advanced academic programs, then those abilities or achievement levels shall be recognized and addressed in the student's IEP or Section 504 plan and be reflected in the individualized services, goals, accommodations, and objectives for the student, while continuing to provide appropriate services and support for the student's disabilities in all educational settings. Sets forth what the services, goals, objectives, accommodations, and best practices for identifying and addressing the educational and related needs of a twice-exceptional student may include. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that "school student record" also means any written or electronic communications and any accompanying attachments in whole or in part sent to or from a parent, guardian, or other family member of a student that are maintained by a school or at its direction or by an employee of the school and that relate to the education, health, safety, discipline, or well-being of the student, regardless of whether the student may be individually identified.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the monetary award program. Beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year through the 2031-2032 academic year, provides that an applicant who is otherwise eligible for grant assistance under the program may receive grant assistance for an additional academic year after receiving a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours if he or she (i) enrolls in a State-approved educator preparation program and (ii) within 5 years after receiving a Professional Educator License, teaches in this State for a minimum of 3 years. Requires repayment if at any time a person fails to meet the requirements. Effective immediately.

HB 4525 appropriates $430,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for distribution to Lake County Tech Campus to cover its operational expenses. This funding, effective July 1, 2026, directly supports the campus's day-to-day operations like staffing, utilities, and facility maintenance. The bill does not create new policies or alter existing laws - it solely allocates state funds for the campus's operational needs. The State Board of Education will manage the distribution of these funds.

HB 4635 appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to fund nursing education scholarships. This bill directly affects nursing students in Illinois by providing financial support for their education. The funding becomes available starting July 1, 2026, and the bill specifies no additional eligibility requirements or program details beyond the appropriation amount and effective date. As a funding measure, it does not create new regulations or alter existing laws.