Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 71: IEMA-SCHOOL SAFETY

Amends the Illinois Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Provides that Local Emergency Planning Committees and the State Emergency Response Commission shall partner with schools and school districts regarding safety threats posed by storage and transport of hazardous substances near schools. Provides requirements for a comprehensive emergency response plan to go into effect. Details duties of the State Emergency Response Commission, working in consultation with Local Emergency Planning Committees and schools, with respect to planning and preparedness. Provides for rulemaking by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. Directs the Illinois Emergency Response Commission and Local Emergency Response Committees to create a timeline for compliance with the requirements of the amendatory Act not to exceed 2 years. Defines terms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates emergency planning partnerships with schools to address hazardous substance threats, ensuring school safety as a foundational element of the educational environment.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 2802: SCH CD-STEAM ABSENCE EXEMPTION

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that a female student in any of grades 6 through 12 who is participating in an educational program in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, subject to guidelines established by the State Board of Education, shall be permitted by a school board to have one school-day-long, excused absence per school year to participate in an externship or volunteer opportunity with an Illinois organization in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Provides that the school board may require that the student provide reasonable advance notice of the intended absence to the appropriate school administrator and require that the student provide documentation of the participation in an externship or volunteer opportunity to the appropriate school administrator.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows excused absences for STEAM externships, expanding student access to educational programs in science/tech fields per school code amendment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 1583: SCH CD-SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDesignates regional offices as learning partners to provide support services to schools identified for improvement under accountability systems, strengthening school support infrastructure.92% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Illinois · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 2057: SCH SAFE DRILL-RULES

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Requires the State Board of Education and the Office of the Fire Marshal to develop clear and definitive guidelines to school districts, private schools, and first responders as to how to develop threat assessment procedures, rapid entry response plans, and cardiac emergency response plans. Requires the State Board of Education and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to cooperate to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the amendatory Act. Grants emergency rulemaking powers to the State Board of Education and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to implement the provisions of the amendatory Act for a period not to exceed 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the State Board of Education to provide school districts with standards outlining what steps or consideration shall be included within the school district's threat assessment procedure. Makes a corresponding change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates safety protocol guidelines for schools, enhancing student protection within educational environment per school safety focus.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 2572: VETS' DEPENDENTS SCH GRANTS

Amends the School Code and the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant Act. In provisions concerning the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents scholarship and the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant program, provides that the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall determine, by rule, the eligibility of the persons who apply for the scholarship or grant (rather than the Department shall determine the eligibility of the persons who apply For the scholarship or grant).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends veterans' educational grant program to clarify eligibility determination, maintaining funding access for dependents' higher education. Directly supports educational access via existing grant program.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAmends veterans' dependents' education grant program to have VA determine eligibility, ensuring smoother access to benefits for dependents of deceased/disabled/MIA/POW veterans.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 1368: SCH CD-PROF ED LICENSE RENEW

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires an approved provider of professional development activities for the renewal of a Professional Educator License to ensure that professional development related to English language arts is aligned with the comprehensive literacy plan for the State developed by the State Board of Education. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires literacy-aligned professional development for educator license renewal, strengthening curriculum standards per state literacy plan.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 1231: SCH ED-SPECIAL ED FACILITIES

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows the school district to initiate an impartial due process hearing within 14 (rather than 5) days of any written parent request for an independent educational evaluation to show that its evaluation is appropriate. Requires an independent educational evaluation at public expense to be completed within 60 school days (rather than 30 days) of a parent's written request unless the school district initiates an impartial due process hearing or the parent or school district offers reasonable grounds to show that such time period should be extended. Provides that if the due process hearing decision indicates that the parent is entitled to an independent educational evaluation, it must be completed within 60 school days (rather than 30 days) of the decision unless the parent or the school district offers reasonable grounds to show that such period should be extended.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends timelines for special education evaluations (60 to 30 days) and due process hearings (14 to 5 days), ensuring thorough assessments and protecting student access to appropriate educational services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 3446: EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER REQS

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that coursework related to psychology shall count toward the semester hours that an early childhood teacher must obtain to be qualified as an early childhood teacher. Provides that, before July 1, 2026, the Department of Children and Family Services shall publish and maintain on its website a full and complete list of courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications for a child care teacher. Provides that, on and after July 1, 2026, the Department of Early Childhood shall publish and maintain on its website a full and complete list of courses that qualify toward the attainment of the required qualifications for a child care teacher.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows psychology coursework toward teacher qualifications, easing requirements to support early childhood educator development and access.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · House Aug 15, 2025

HB 3528: SCH CD-STUDENT TEACHERS-SALARY

Amends the School Code. Provides that no institution of higher education shall establish or maintain any policy which requires student teaching for preservice teachers to be unpaid. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires paid student teaching for preservice teachers, directly supporting educator compensation and reducing financial barriers in teacher training.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Illinois · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 1605: SCH CD-REQ HIGH SCHOOL COURSE

Amends the School Code. With respect to prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma, provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, agricultural education, agricultural business, or any other course that relates to agriculture satisfies the vocational education requirement. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands curriculum options by allowing agricultural courses to satisfy vocational requirements, strengthening educational pathways for students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent