Education (K-12 Education)

Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that qualified expenses related to special needs services include elementary and secondary school expenses incurred as a result of a recognized disability or an individualized education program. Makes conforming changes to the definition of "eligible educational institution". Defines "recognized disability" as a physical, developmental, or learning disability recognized by the State Board of Education.

Creates the Student-Athlete Fairness and Education (SAFE) Act. Requires each public high school to ensure student-athletes receive substance education annually for at least 30 minutes per school year. Sets forth how substance education sessions may be given and what substance education sessions may cover. Provides protection for students with regard to questions or disclosures during substance education sessions and any request for assistance. Requires schools to inform parents of substance education sessions. Allows parents to opt their student-athletes out of substance education sessions for religious or philosophical reasons. Provides that no State reimbursement is required for the implementation of the Act. Sets forth certification requirements in offering substance education. Establishes optional best practices for offering substance education. Includes provisions regarding review of substance education by the State Board of Education and review of the Act by the General Assembly. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

HB 4811 prohibits all Illinois public high schools from starting classes before 8:30 a.m. This law directly affects every public high school in the state by requiring a minimum start time. The bill amends the School Code to establish this specific time requirement, replacing any existing earlier start times. It creates a concrete policy change with no exceptions specified in the current text. The law applies uniformly to all public high schools under Illinois education regulations.

Amends the School Code. For websites that are blocked from being accessed by a student on a school-issued electronic device, requires each school board to develop an appeal process by which a student, at the request of the student's parent or guardian, may access a blocked website if the website is reasonably related to the student's education or pursuit of work opportunities during or after high school.

Amends the School Code. Requires, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, for a pupil entering grade 9 to complete one semester of a stand-alone financial literacy course as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, to be taken in grade 11 or 12. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a Financial Literacy Implementation Committee no later than June 30, 2027 to make recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education concerning the implementation of a stand-alone financial literacy course. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective immediately.

Creates the Workforce Pipeline Act. Provides that beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, each institution (defined as a public high school, school district, or nonpublic high school recognized by the State Board of Education) shall provide access to at least one Pipeline Program in a high-need occupation. Requires the State Board, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, to develop a model memorandum of understanding for an institution and a local workforce partner. Requires an employer participating in a Pipeline Program to maintain workers' compensation and general liability insurance. Provides that participation in a Pipeline Program does not create civil liability for an employer beyond the employer's statutory duties, as long as the employer acts in good faith and complies with safety requirements. Provides that an institution's chief procurement office shall establish a bid preference, not to exceed 5%, for an employer participating in a Pipeline Program. Allows a student to participate in a Pipeline Program with parental consent if under the age of 18. Provides that an institution and a local workforce partner may establish articulation agreements for credit, credentials, or hours earned. Requires an employer to comply with all safety standards applicable to minors and a mentor or supervisor to comply with an institution's volunteer or contractor background-check procedures. Requires the State Board to submit a one-page summary on Pipeline Programs to the General Assembly. Provides that nothing in the Act may be construed as a mandate requiring an institution to incur additional expenditures or establish new programs. Allows the State Board and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2032. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

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 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 Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2028-2029 school year must successfully complete either 2 years of foreign language courses or at least 2 years of career-focused coursework that has been authorized by the State Board of Education as meeting the requirements for a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (rather than requiring the successful completion of 2 years of foreign language courses). Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that a public university may not require State public high school graduates, as a condition of acceptance, to have completed any years of foreign language courses unless the university permits, as an alternative to completion of a foreign language course, attainment of a College and Career Pathway Endorsement under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Effective immediately.