Education

Creates the Student Bill of Rights Act. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall jointly establish, no later than January 1, 2026, a student bill of rights to outline that students in public schools and public institutions of higher education have a right to educational equity and to be free from discrimination based on race, sex, gender, socioeconomic status, and mental or physical ability. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall publish the student bill of rights on their Internet websites and make a handout available. Provides that each public institution of higher education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall have on their Internet websites a link to the student bill of rights published on the Board of Higher Education's Internet website. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall pay one-half of the salary of an employee that is employed by a manufacturing company and working within a school district at a high school as a licensed career and technical education teacher.

Amends the School Code. Provides that in the development of an individual education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan for a twice-exceptional child, if the child's ability or achievement indicates that the student would benefit from advanced academic programs, then those abilities or achievement levels shall be the primary focus of the child's IEP or Section 504 plan and be reflected in the individualized services, goals, and objectives for the child. Defines "twice-exceptional child". Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish and convene the Licensed School Librarian Task Force, which shall meet a minimum of 4 times and submit, no later than 12 months after the first convening of the Task Force, a report to the Governor and the General Assembly containing recommendations, including, but not limited to, recommendations on how to ensure public elementary and secondary schools consider, budget appropriate resources for, and employ licensed school librarians in future school years from available State and local resources. Sets forth provisions concerning the members of the Task Force, support for the Task Force, and other Task Force recommendations. Repeals these provisions on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires a school district, if funds are available, to provide a minimum of 3 hours of instruction for students in any of grades 7 through 12 on (i) legal aspects explaining certain laws and penalties, (ii) responding to a police encounter, and (iii) the aftermath. Allows the State Board of Education to prepare and make available to school boards resource materials that may be used as guidelines for the development of the instruction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Regional Superintendent of Schools Article of the School Code. Allows the State Superintendent of Education to designate a regional office of education or intermediate service center as a learning partner in any iteration of the statewide system of support so that services are provided to schools that are identified for school improvement under (i) the accountability system and (ii) the definition for Targeted, Comprehensive, or Intensive. Provides that the status of learning partner may be revoked at the State Superintendent's sole discretion. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that an institution of higher learning that participates in the Monetary Award Program may not release the personally identifiable information of any of its students for voter registration activities unless the student gives consent in writing.

HB 2467 allows Illinois polling places to host non-binding mock elections for children, aiming to teach them the basics of voting and the electoral process. The bill amends the Election Code to permit this educational activity at polling locations, specifically targeting children as the direct beneficiaries. Key provisions require these mock elections to be voluntary, non-binding, and focused solely on civic education. The bill does not alter voting procedures or affect adult voters. It is currently in committee review after being filed in February 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 and the development of artificial intelligence literacy. Requires the annual school district report to the State Board regarding educational technology capacity and policies to include how students, teachers, and district employees use artificial intelligence. Provides that the Internet safety education curriculum shall include instruction in the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Adds 5 administrative or faculty members of community colleges to the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. For a Professional Educator License: provides that the requirements to successfully complete specified coursework are only required until July 1, 2027 or the date that the revised test for a particular content area is implemented, whichever is later; and exempts persons seeking a school support personnel or chief school business official endorsement from the requirement that a person must successfully complete specified coursework. Requires, by July 1, 2027, the State Superintendent of Education to begin incorporating specified topics into revised examinations for individuals seeking a Professional Educator License endorsed in teaching or administration, excluding a chief school business official endorsement. Exempts, for educator licenses, applicants seeking a school support personnel endorsement who hold an active and valid professional license in the same subject matter as the endorsement sought from being required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. Creates the Teacher Performance Assessment Advisory Committee to aid in operationalizing and creating a pilot, State-developed, teacher performance assessment. Establishes the Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Program to provide an expedited pathway for paraprofessionals to earn a Professional Educator License in a specific content area. Sets forth the Program criteria, the requirements for individuals for entry into the Program, and the adoption of rules by the State Board of Education. Provides that an institution of higher education approved to offer educator preparation programs may enter into a partnership agreement with a community college to offer an approved educator preparation program leading to educator licensure for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree. Makes other changes.