Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the University of Illinois for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $736,484,400; Other State Funds $10,240,800; Total $746,725,200.
Amends the Transitional Bilingual Education Article of the School Code. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board of Education to establish and implement an English Learner Grant Program to support school districts' English learner programs. Effective immediately.
Amends the Student Confidential Reporting Act to provide that any report or information submitted to a similar independent school helpline to the Safe2Help Illinois program is also confidential, may not be released except as otherwise provided in the Act or in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, and is not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that a person who intentionally discloses information in violation of the added provision commits a Class C misdemeanor. Defines "similar independent school helpline". Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make conforming changes.
Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, a school board or the governing board of a joint agreement shall pay to employees an hourly rate of not less than (i) $20 for the 2027-2028 school year, (ii) $21 for the 2028-2029 school year, and (iii) $22 for the 2029-2030 school year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each school year thereafter shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Provides that "employee" means any employee of a school district or joint agreement who provides educational support services to the district or joint agreement, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, or paraprofessional educators. Provides that an employee's salary shall include any amount paid by the school district or joint agreement on behalf of the employee, as employee contributions, to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a National Board certification-early childhood generalist endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a valid Early Childhood Generalist certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Provides that the endorsement holder is deemed qualified and authorized to provide instruction in early childhood education programs and is deemed to meet or exceed all early childhood instructional competency requirements established by the State Board for pre-kindergarten instruction.
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish an Artificial-Intelligence Use in Education Commission to collect information and submit recommendations relative to best educational practices and policies for smartphone and artificial-intelligence use in schools and compile research and collaborate to learn more on what recommendations are most effective for student-learning outcomes. Sets forth the Commission's membership, meetings, responsibilities, and support and reporting requirements. Repeals the provisions on January 1, 2030. Effective January 1, 2027.
Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Provides that the principal metric a school board shall consider for a charter renewal must be academic achievement. Provides that the school board shall grant a renewal term of no fewer than 5 years if the charter's average annual summative designation over the term of the charter is in the top 3 summative designations on the State report card. Provides that nothing in these provisions limits an authorizer's authority to impose conditions or corrective actions as required by law, but the renewal term for a charter school meeting a school board's academic criteria may not be fewer than 5 years.
Amends the Smart Start Illinois Act. Expands eligibility under the Smart Start Child Care Workforce Compensation Program to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
Amends the School Code. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall establish an outcome-based Adult Workforce High School Diploma Program to allow eligible students to qualify for enrollment in the Program, and, upon successful completion of the Program, to be awarded a high school diploma. Sets forth requirements for approved Program providers and Program funding. Requires each approved Program provider to submit an annual report to the Board regarding the Program. Requires the Board to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding the Program. Repeals the provisions on June 30, 2030.
Amends the School Code. Provides that a request for part-time attendance may (rather than must) be submitted by the nonpublic school parents (rather than the nonpublic school principal) to the public school at any time (rather than before May 1). Provides that the school district that the student attends part-time shall receive State funding for the pupil's participation in the public school course or program. Provides that a part-time student shall not be required to pay fees for the part-time student's enrollment or participation in any public school program or course, except to the extent that a full-time student is required to pay the same fees. Allows the parent or guardian of a child of school age who is enrolled in a nonpublic school to enroll the child in any public school in the child's district of residence on a part-time basis for interscholastic extracurricular activities. Prohibits a local school board from discriminating against a child seeking enrollment in interscholastic extracurricular activities at a public school based on where the child attends school. Provides that a part-time student may participate in any interscholastic extracurricular activity available at the public school, subject to meeting the same eligibility requirements, responsibilities, and standards of behavior and performance as a resident student. Provides that a part-time student who participates in an interscholastic extracurricular activity shall pay any participating or activity fee in an amount equal to the fee charged to a full-time public school participant. Authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the provisions.
