Education

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.

Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act of the School Code. Requires the program to include instruction on gambling and gambling disorders. Provides that instruction on gambling and gambling disorders shall include classroom instruction in grades 5 through 12, and include, at a minimum: the nature and addictive potential of gambling; the risks associated with digital gaming mechanics; the identification of gaming disorders and their impact on mental and physical health; and information on how and where to find specialized treatment and resources in the State for gambling disorders. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in cooperation with the Department of Revenue, shall conduct an education funding reform study, with a goal of adopting a system that controls costs while creating a more equitable funding system. Provides that the State Board of Education shall study the feasibility of creating a statewide shared funding system. Effective immediately.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Western Illinois University for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $59,116,600; Other State Funds $10,000; Total $59,126,600.

Creates the Servicemember Education Rights Veneration Act. Requires institutions of higher education (institution) to accommodate service member student's academic military leave and grant prompt readmission when the service member student has not exceeded a cumulative academic military leave period beyond 5 years, provides advance notice of academic military leave to the institution, and provides notice of intent to return to the institution. Requires the institution to readmit a service member student on academic military leave into the next class, classes, or academic year division following the receipt of the notice of intent to return in accordance with the terms of the accommodation. Contains provisions on exemptions to readmission and related reporting requirements on service member students; investigations by the Attorney General's appointed ISERRA Advocate on whether a readmission exemption exists; and other matters. Requires service member students to provide advance notice of pending military service and prohibits institutions from imposing conditions for academic military leave not otherwise imposed under the Act. Contains provisions on military accommodation; academic obligations of service member students; reimbursement for school expenses; academic withdrawal due to military service; rejection of accommodation and the institution's burden of proof; a 5-year military service limitation; records documentation; advance notice requirements on service member students; notice of intent to return; anti-discrimination protections; academic leave for the spouses of servicemembers; Attorney General enforcement authority; remedies; rulemaking authority; and other matters.

Amends the College and Career Success for All Students Act. Requires an International Baccalaureate teacher to obtain appropriate training, subject to appropriation. Provides that International Baccalaureate training to teachers in Illinois high schools must provide teachers of International Baccalaureate courses with the necessary content knowledge and instructional skills to prepare students for success in International Baccalaureate courses and examinations and provide administrators, including principals and counselors, with professional development that will enable them to create strong and effective International Baccalaureate programs in their schools. Provides that the AP exam fee reduction program also applies to fees charged for an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme subject.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and administer a program to award property tax relief grants to school districts in this State. Provides that, in exchange for receiving a grant, a school district's maximum aggregate property tax extension for the taxable year may not exceed its adjusted maximum aggregate property tax extension for that taxable year. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Education Property Tax Relief Fund.