Education (Curriculum)

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 is authorized to adopt a policy under which a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 who is enrolled in the unit school district or would be enrolled in the high school district upon completion of elementary school may enroll in a required high school course, provided that the course is offered by the high school that the student would attend and the student participates in the course where the student attends school as long as the course is taught by a teacher who holds a professional educator license and endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course (instead of just as long as the course is taught by a teacher who holds a professional educator license and endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course).

Amends the Reducing the Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children Act. Provides that beginning with the 2026 through 2027 school year, a school district may incorporate in its curriculum a unit in grades kindergarten through 2, 3 through 5, 6 through 8, and 9 through 12 instruction on skin cancer prevention that is provided in an age appropriate manner. Provides that for grades 6 through 12, the curriculum shall include: (1) the basic facts about skin cancer, including, but not limited to, the negative impact of human exposure to ultraviolet radiation obtained through sunburns and indoor tanning; and (2) a comprehensive set of strategies and behaviors to reduce the risk of contracting skin cancer, including, but not limited to, the use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing. Provides that for grades kindergarten through 5, the topics shall include the use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing. Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Repeals provisions regarding disability history and awareness. Provides instead that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying disability history and culture. Requires the State Board of Education to prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, some of which must be used in the unit of instruction and others of which may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction. Provides that the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction is one hour and the minimum required cumulative total instructional time through grades kindergarten through 12 is 10 hours. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during his or her annual compliance visit. Sets forth requirements concerning the unit of instruction. Provides for what the instruction, study, and discussion in grades kindergarten through 5 may include and what the instruction, study, and discussion in grades 6 through 12 shall include. Provides for collaboration.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the maximum amount for the credit for instructional materials and supplies shall be $500 for each semester in the taxable year for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 (currently, $500 per taxable year). Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, school boards to report specified data to the State Board of Education regarding computer science courses in schools maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 8. Requires the State Board to make the data publicly available. In provisions concerning required high school courses, provides that a computer science course (rather than an Advanced Placement computer science course) qualifies under the mathematics requirement. Requires each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2027-2028 school year to successfully complete one year of high school computer science as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, which may be taken in any of grades 7 through 12 and shall count toward the fulfillment of certain other high school graduation requirements. Requires the State Board to create guidelines for school districts. Provides that the computer science course requirement does not apply to a pupil transferring to a high school in this State from another state after the pupil's 11th grade year. Allows a school to enter into a cooperative resource sharing agreement to ensure that its students can enroll in a computer science course. Makes other and conforming changes.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 and offers school facilitated employment, career pathways, or internship experiences shall provide to students participating in the program (rather than may include in its high school curriculum): (1) instruction on workplace preparation that covers legal protections in the workplace; and (2) protection against sexual harassment and racial and other forms of discrimination.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Instead of requiring consumer education to be taught and studied, provides that, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2028-2029 school year, pupils in the public schools in grade 11 or 12 shall be taught and be required to complete a stand-alone, one-semester or equivalent course covering personal finance. Sets forth what topics must be included. Provides that the State Board of Education shall devise or approve the personal finance education standards for the course. Provides that the school board shall oversee implementation of the course for each high school student prior to graduation. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a Financial Literacy Implementation Committee no later than June 30, 2025 to make recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education concerning the implementation of the course for each high school student prior to graduation. Sets forth provisions concerning Committee members, meetings, and support. Provides that the State Board of Education shall present regular and timely reports to the Committee regarding the implementation of the course. Requires a pupil to successfully complete a course on personal finance education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma (rather than allowing a financial literacy course to be included as part of the social studies requirement). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in the State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that may be used as guidelines for the development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit. Provides that a school may meet the requirements through an online program or course. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, school boards to report specified data to the State Board of Education regarding computer science courses in schools maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 8. Requires the State Board to make the data publicly available. In provisions concerning required high school courses, provides that a computer science course (rather than an Advanced Placement computer science course) qualifies under the mathematics requirement. Requires each pupil entering the 9th grade beginning with the 2027-2028 school year to successfully complete one year of high school computer science as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, which may be taken in any of grades 7 through 12 and shall count toward the fulfillment of certain other high school graduation requirements. Requires the State Board to create guidelines for school districts. Provides that the computer science course requirement does not apply to a pupil transferring to a high school in this State from another state after the pupil's 11th grade year. Allows a school to enter into a cooperative resource sharing agreement to ensure that its students can enroll in a computer science course. Makes other and conforming changes.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Requires a school board to offer courses in Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Telugu, and Malayalam as a part of its school foreign language curricula.