Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Changes the name of the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program to the Social Worker and School Counselor Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Allows a school counselor to apply for the Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a grant of up to $8,000 (rather than $6,500) per year for a maximum of 4 years to each qualified applicant. Provides that a grant shall be used for repayment of the recipient's educational loan instead of the Commission encouraging the recipient to use the grant to repay the recipient's educational loan. Makes other and conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026.
Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Chicago State University for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $41,747,900; Other State Funds $3,307,000; Total $45,054,900.
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 Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish the Adult Learner Flexible Education Grant Program to facilitate access to online postsecondary education for adults over the age of 25. Sets forth application requirements and eligibility. Provides that grants are applicable only to tuition and mandatory fees. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are employed as an early childhood teacher or an early childhood assistant during the taxable year and who have a federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year of $75,000 or less. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2026 and beginning before January 1, 2027, the amount of the credit is $1,000. Provides that, for subsequent taxable years, the credit amount shall be adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code. Requires students in the public schools in grades 6 through 12 to receive instruction in career and technical education, which may be satisfied by attending a field trip to a local career and technical education training center. Allows a school board to include the required instruction in the courses of study regularly taught in the public schools, provided that the instruction is given each year to all pupils in grades 6 through 12. Provides that each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time required.
Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning State goals and assessment, provides that a student may not be considered proficient in mathematics or English language arts with a score on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness that is lower than 750/850, nor may a student be considered proficient in science with a score on the Illinois Science Assessment that is lower than 812/850. Provides that for the assessment administered by the State Board of Education for the purpose of student application to or admission consideration by an institution of higher education, a student may not be considered proficient in mathematics with a score that is lower than 22 on the ACT or its recognized equivalent, nor may a student be considered proficient in English language arts with a score that is lower than 42 on the ACT or its recognized equivalent. Effective immediately.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In a provision regarding endorsements on Professional Educator Licenses, provides for a special education endorsement in the area of deaf-hard of hearing with sign proficiency.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Illinois Veteran grant program. Provides that a grant recipient is not required to pay any tuition or mandatory fees while attending a State-controlled university or public community college in this State for a period that is based on the length of his or her active duty service, as verified on his or her U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214, calculated at specified credit hour rates (rather than for a period that is equivalent to 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms). Provides that a grant may be transferred to a qualified dependent beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year. Amends the School Code to make a related change. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the School Code. Provides that when registering or seeking recognition status with the State Board of Education, a nonpublic elementary or secondary school shall include assurances that the school will not prohibit religious hairstyles, hair-related religious practices, or facial hair worn in accordance with a student's or employee's sincerely held religious beliefs, observance, or practice. Provides that a school uniform or dress code policy adopted by a school board or local school council may not include or apply to religious hairstyles, hair-related religious practices, or facial hair worn in accordance with a student's sincerely held religious beliefs, observance, or practice. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
