Education

Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows a school district to place a student in a nonpublic day facility or residential special education facility providing educational services but not approved by the State Board of Education (rather than a nonpublic residential special education facility providing educational services but not approved by the State Board of Education) if the State Board of Education provides an emergency and student-specific approval for residential or day placement. Makes changes to provisions concerning the circumstances under which the State Board of Education will grant such an approval. Grants jurisdiction to the State Board's impartial due process hearing officer to resolve disputes involving the need for placement in a non-approved, student-specific, emergency placement, the selection of the facility, and whether an approved facility is an appropriate alternative to a non-approved facility. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that on the effective date of the amendatory Act,any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is responsible for collections shall be released from the remaining financial repayment obligations under that program. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program and in the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of a recipient to fulfill the recipient's obligations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that a child who is excused for a temporary absence because of a physical illness for up to 5 days does not need to provide a medical note.

Appropriates $4,500,000 to the State Board of Education for grants to school districts to contract with organizations that directly provide students and school-based staff with mental telehealth services that are billed to Medicaid and commercial insurance plans. Effective July 1, 2025.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Western Illinois University for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $58,531,300; Other State Funds $10,000; Total $58,541,300.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that certain homestead property that is owned by a person who will be 67 years of age or older during the taxable year is exempt from property taxes levied by a school district. Effective immediately.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Employment Security, to develop a career and education guide for postsecondary students with disabilities. Sets forth the included information in the career and education guide. Requires the guide to be publicly available on the websites of the Board, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Department of Employment Security. Allows the Board to publish physical copies and charge a reasonable fee for such copies. Requires the first guide to be published by August 1, 2026, and every August 1 thereafter. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Library System Act. In provisions concerning State grants, provides that the grants shall include, among other things, planning and construction grants to library systems and public libraries that are members of a library system (rather than planning and construction grants to public libraries and library systems) and grants to improve or enhance security of libraries.

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 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.