Education

Amends the School Code. Provides that if the provider of the micro-credential or digital badge determines and can demonstrate that a student meets all of the criteria required to earn State Global Scholar Certification, then the school district or nonpublic school shall designate that the student has earned State Global Scholar Certification on the student's diploma and transcript.

Appropriates $209,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for costs associated with the Healthy School Meals for All Program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Appropriates $1,306,000,000 to the State Board of Education for disabled student transportation reimbursements, disabled student tuition and private tuition, and regular and vocational common school transportation reimbursements. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Establishes findings. Requires teachers, administrators, and school support personnel to complete training to develop cultural competency, including understanding and reducing unconscious bias and stigmatizing assumptions about persons with disabilities. Sets forth the requirements of the training. Effective July 1, 2025.

Creates the Adaptive Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Program Act. Provides that, no later than July 1, 2026, the Secretary of State shall establish and oversee an Adaptive Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Program to provide preschool children with access to educational technology programs that use family engagement to improve kindergarten readiness. Provides that, during the 2026-2027 academic year, the Pilot Program shall provide a cohort of eligible children with access to an educational technology program that satisfies specified goals concerning kindergarten readiness. Sets forth provisions concerning the selection of a provider for the Pilot Program; provider duties; and reporting requirements. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2028. Effective July 1, 2025.

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. Requires the annual school district report to the State Board regarding educational technology capacity and policies to include student, teacher, and district use of artificial intelligence. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a school board's suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that a student who is determined to have committed sexual violence, sexual assault, or sexual activity with an individual without the individual's consent at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the State Finance Act. Provides for a sales tax holiday on school supplies during the first 7 days of August of each calendar year. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Authorizes the State Board of Education to administer the Illinois Classroom Supply Assistance Program. Requires the State Board to create a list of preapproved items which may be purchased using funds loaded onto a Classroom Supply Assistance Card (CSAC). Provides that at the beginning of each school quarter starting during the 2027-2028 school year, the State Board shall distribute funds from the Illinois Classroom Supply Assistance Program Fund to teachers throughout the State. Provides that funds for the Program shall be distributed according to a needs-based formula taking into account school district funding, district poverty rates and Title 1 status, per-pupil spending disparities, student performance metrics, and teacher-to-student ratios. Provides that purchases made with a CSAC shall be tracked electronically and monitored to ensure compliance with the list of approved supplies. Provides that teachers shall have access to an online portal to manage funds, review balances, and track purchases. Provides that annual audits shall be conducted to maintain transparency and prevent misuse. Requires the State Board to launch a pilot program in high-needs districts for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years to test the funding model and distribution process. Requires the State Board to annually report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the status of the Program and any problems that arose with its implementation in the preceding calendar year. Creates the Illinois Classroom Supply Assistance Fund. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are the custodians of one or more children who attend an eligible preschool program in the State during the taxable year. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be 100% of the eligible expenses incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year in sending the child to the eligible preschool program, but not to exceed $1,500 per child. Effective immediately.