104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB2827 Introduced , by Rep. Terra Costa Howard SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index Creates the Homeschool Act. Requires the State Board of Education to create a Homeschool Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program to the principal of the public school or to the school district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend. Provides that a student enrolled in a homeschool program in which the homeschool administrator has not notified the public school or school district with the Homeschool Declaration Form is considered truant, with penalties applying. Provides that if a child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public school or participate in any public school activities taking place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool administrator must submit proof that the child has received all required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption. Sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements. Makes conforming and other changes in the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act, including requiring (rather than allowing) nonpublic schools to register with the State Board of Education. LRB104 10155 LNS 20227 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB2827 Introduced , by Rep. Terra Costa Howard SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index Creates the Homeschool Act. Requires the State Board of Education to create a Homeschool Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program to the principal of the public school or to the school district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend. Provides that a student enrolled in a homeschool program in which the homeschool administrator has not notified the public school or school district with the Homeschool Declaration Form is considered truant, with penalties applying. Provides that if a child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public school or participate in any public school activities taking place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool administrator must submit proof that the child has received all required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption. Sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements. Makes conforming and other changes in the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act, including requiring (rather than allowing) nonpublic schools to register with the State Board of Education. LRB104 10155 LNS 20227 b LRB104 10155 LNS 20227 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB2827 Introduced , by Rep. Terra Costa Howard SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index See Index
See Index
Creates the Homeschool Act. Requires the State Board of Education to create a Homeschool Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program to the principal of the public school or to the school district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend. Provides that a student enrolled in a homeschool program in which the homeschool administrator has not notified the public school or school district with the Homeschool Declaration Form is considered truant, with penalties applying. Provides that if a child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public school or participate in any public school activities taking place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool administrator must submit proof that the child has received all required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption. Sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements. Makes conforming and other changes in the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act, including requiring (rather than allowing) nonpublic schools to register with the State Board of Education.
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A BILL FOR
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1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Homeschool Act.
6 Section 5. Application. Nothing in this Act applies to
7 non-home-based, nonpublic schools, including, but not limited
8 to, those that are registered or recognized under Section
9 2-3.25o of the School Code.
10 Section 10. Findings. The General Assembly makes all of
11 the following findings:
12 (1) There are a number of children participating in
13 homeschool programs in this State, and homeschooling is
14 currently the fastest growing form of education in the
15 United States. The true number of homeschooled children is
16 likely to remain unknown without adequate notification and
17 oversight.
18 (2) The laws of this State do not adequately protect
19 homeschooled children in situations when notification of
20 the type of schooling of the child would help reduce
21 vulnerabilities to abuse and neglect.
22 (3) The notification of and requirements for
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB2827 Introduced , by Rep. Terra Costa Howard SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index See Index
See Index
Creates the Homeschool Act. Requires the State Board of Education to create a Homeschool Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program to the principal of the public school or to the school district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend. Provides that a student enrolled in a homeschool program in which the homeschool administrator has not notified the public school or school district with the Homeschool Declaration Form is considered truant, with penalties applying. Provides that if a child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public school or participate in any public school activities taking place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool administrator must submit proof that the child has received all required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption. Sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements. Makes conforming and other changes in the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act, including requiring (rather than allowing) nonpublic schools to register with the State Board of Education.
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A BILL FOR
See Index
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1 homeschooling are in the best interests of children to
2 receive a safe and sufficient education.
3 (4) Public schools are encouraged to the best of their
4 ability to offer their programming to homeschooled
5 students and families and to have open communication with
6 homeschool families.
7 Section 15. Definitions. As used in this Act:
8 "Educational portfolio" means a set of records and
9 materials that document a child's educational progress during
10 the preceding school year and includes, but is not limited to:
11 (1) a log, which designates by title the curricular
12 materials used;
13 (2) samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or
14 creative materials used or developed by the child; and
15 (3) the homeschool administrator's individualized
16 assessment of the child's academic progress in each
17 subject area of instruction.
18 "Homeschool administrator" means the parent or guardian of
19 a child, another member of the household of a child, or anyone
20 who may exercise legal custody over a child, as defined in
21 Section 10-20.12b of the School Code, who is responsible for
22 the provision of a homeschool program.
23 "Homeschool Declaration Form" means a template form
24 created by the State Board of Education to be used by a
25 homeschool administrator to verify that the child is enrolled
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1 in a homeschool program.
2 "Homeschool program" means a nonpublic school consisting
3 of the children of not more than one household, where a
4 homeschool administrator is responsible for providing a course
5 of instruction sufficient to satisfy the education
6 requirements set forth in Section 26-1 of the School Code.
7 Section 20. Homeschool Declaration Form; homeschool
8 administrators.
9 (a) The State Board of Education shall create a Homeschool
10 Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to
11 submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a
12 homeschool program to the principal of the public school that
13 the homeschooled child would otherwise attend or to the school
14 district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend.
15 The public school or the school district shall transmit the
16 Homeschool Declaration Form to the school district's regional
17 office of education or intermediate service center or, in the
18 case of a school district organized under Article 34 of the
19 School Code, the general superintendent. The regional office
20 of education or intermediate service center or, in the case of
21 a school district organized under Article 34 of the School
22 Code, the general superintendent shall store the information
23 for children enrolled in a homeschool program in its area.
24 The Homeschool Declaration Form shall include, but not be
25 limited to: the name, birth date, grade level, and home
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1 address of the child; the name, birth date, contact
2 information, and home address of the homeschool administrator;
3 and assurance that the homeschool administrator has received a
4 high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
5 The State Board of Education shall create the template of
6 the Homeschool Declaration Form no later than June 1, 2026.
7 The template of the Homeschool Declaration Form must be
8 publicly displayed and accessible on the State Board of
9 Education's website no later than July 1, 2026.
10 (b) Beginning August 1, 2026, a homeschool administrator
11 must submit a Homeschool Declaration Form to the principal of
12 the public school that the homeschooled child would otherwise
13 attend or to the school district that the homeschooled child
14 would otherwise attend. The Homeschool Declaration Form shall
15 be resubmitted by August 1 of each year that the homeschool
16 administrator intends to provide a homeschool program. The
17 principal or school district must transmit all received
18 Homeschool Declaration Forms to the school district's regional
19 office of education or intermediate service center or, in the
20 case of a school district organized under Article 34 of the
21 School Code, the general superintendent by September 1 of each
22 year. All received Homeschool Declaration Forms shall be
23 stored by the regional office of education or intermediate
24 service center or, in the case of a school district organized
25 under Article 34 of the School Code, the general
26 superintendent. The regional office of education or
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1 intermediate service center or, in the case of a school
2 district organized under Article 34 of the School Code, the
3 general superintendent shall store the information for
4 children enrolled in a homeschool program in its area. A
5 Homeschool Declaration Form shall be submitted by a homeschool
6 administrator:
7 (1) by August 1 of each school year a child will
8 receive instruction through a homeschool program, starting
9 for the school year in which the child will turn age 6;
10 (2) within 10 business days after a parent or guardian
11 withdraws a child from public school after age 6 to enroll
12 the child in a homeschool program; or
13 (3) within 10 business days after moving within the
14 boundaries of a new school district.
15 If a Homeschool Declaration Form is submitted to the
16 incorrect principal or school district, based on the home
17 address provided on the form, the principal or school district
18 shall inform the homeschool administrator of the principal or
19 school district to which the Homeschool Declaration Form must
20 be submitted. It is then the homeschool administrator's
21 responsibility to submit the form to that principal or school
22 district.
23 (c) A school district, regional office of education, or
24 intermediate service center may receive the required
25 information under this Section through an electronic or
26 web-based format, but must not require the electronic or
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1 web-based submission of information under this Section from
2 the homeschool administrator under this subsection (c).
3 A school district, other than a school district organized
4 under Article 34 of the School Code, is not required to
5 maintain a record of the required information under this
6 Section after it has been transmitted to the school district's
7 regional office of education or intermediate service center
8 but may choose to retain this information in order to offer
9 homeschooled children in the school district access to school
10 programming, including, but not limited to, dental, vision,
11 and hearing screenings, school newsletters, parent education
12 programs, and field trips. A regional office of education or
13 intermediate service center or a school district organized
14 under Article 34 of the School Code shall maintain a record of
15 the required information under this Section for no less than 5
16 years.
17 (d) Any personally identifying information of a child,
18 parent, guardian, or educator on a Homeschool Declaration Form
19 is confidential and exempt from the Freedom of Information Act
20 and the Illinois School Student Records Act. Homeschool
21 Declaration Forms submitted under this Section are not subject
22 to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
23 (e) The State Board of Education shall maintain resources
24 for all homeschool administrators. The resources shall
25 include, but shall not be limited to, instructions on how to
26 fill out the Homeschool Declaration Form, how to submit the
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1 Homeschool Declaration Form to a principal or to a school
2 district, and how to locate and contact a regional office of
3 education or intermediate service center. The resources shall
4 be publicly displayed on the State Board of Education's
5 website no later than July 1, 2026.
6 (f) A copy of a homeschool administrator's proof of high
7 school graduation or its recognized equivalent shall be made
8 available upon request by a regional office of education or
9 intermediate service center or, in the case of a school
10 district organized under Article 34 of the School Code, the
11 general superintendent of schools based on questions of
12 truancy or whether an adequate education is occurring.
13 Section 25. Failure to submit; truancy; educational
14 portfolio.
15 (a) If the homeschool administrator for a child enrolled
16 in a homeschool program has not submitted to the principal of
17 the applicable public school or to the applicable school
18 district a Homeschool Declaration Form pursuant to Section 20,
19 the child shall be considered truant under Section 26-1 of the
20 School Code and the homeschool administrator for the child
21 shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Sections 26-10
22 and 26-11 of the School Code.
23 (b) A truant officer, regional office of education, or
24 intermediate service center must send the notice required
25 under Section 26-7 of the School Code to a homeschool
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1 administrator if the truant officer, regional office of
2 education, or intermediate service center has knowledge that
3 the homeschool administrator is operating a homeschool program
4 and has not notified a public school through the submission of
5 a Homeschool Declaration Form. This notice must include
6 instructions on how the homeschool administrator can fill out
7 the Homeschool Declaration Form for the homeschool
8 administrator's homeschool program.
9 A regional office of education or intermediate service
10 center is empowered to conduct truancy hearings and
11 proceedings under Section 26-8 of the School Code for any
12 homeschool administrator who fails to complete and submit the
13 Homeschool Declaration Form for the homeschool administrator's
14 homeschool program after being provided 3 required notices
15 within 10 business days.
16 For each contact made with a homeschool administrator
17 under this subsection (b), a copy of the Homeschool
18 Declaration Form and instructions on how to submit it must be
19 provided.
20 (c) A regional office of education or intermediate service
21 center or school district organized under Article 34 of the
22 School Code may request that a homeschool administrator
23 provide an educational portfolio as evidence that the
24 homeschool administrator's homeschool program provides a
25 course of instruction that is sufficient to satisfy the
26 education requirements set forth in Sections 26-1 and 27-1 of
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1 the School Code and that is at least commensurate with the
2 standards prescribed for public schools.
3 (d) A child enrolled in a homeschool program for whom an
4 annual Homeschool Declaration Form has been submitted by the
5 homeschool administrator and, if requested, an educational
6 portfolio has been provided as evidence of an adequate
7 education under subsection (c) is not considered truant and is
8 exempt from attending public school under paragraph 9 of
9 Section 26-1 of the School Code.
10 Section 30. Health examination and immunization reporting.
11 Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, if a child in a
12 homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public
13 school or participate in any public school activities taking
14 place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool
15 administrator must submit proof to the school district where
16 the homeschool program is located that the child has received
17 all immunizations and health examinations required under
18 Section 27-8.1 of the School Code and the rules adopted by the
19 Department of Public Health under Section 27.8-1 of the School
20 Code or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption under
21 Section 27-8.1 of the School Code.
22 Only if a child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll
23 part time in a public school or participate in any public
24 school activities taking place on or off school grounds shall
25 the parent or guardian of the child submit proof of the child's
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1 immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate
2 of Religious Exemption to the principal of the public school
3 that the child would otherwise attend by October 15 of the
4 current school year or by an earlier date during the current
5 school year established by the school district.
6 Section 35. Requirements for homeschool programs.
7 (a) A homeschool administrator must have a high school
8 diploma or its recognized equivalent. If a regional office of
9 education or intermediate service center or a school district
10 organized under Article 34 of the School Code has concerns
11 about truancy or whether the homeschool administrator is
12 providing an adequate education, the designated truancy
13 officer may request proof of the homeschool administrator's
14 high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. If there is
15 a truancy hearing under Section 26-8 of the School Code, the
16 homeschool administrator shall provide proof of the homeschool
17 administrator's high school diploma or its recognized
18 equivalent.
19 (b) A child enrolled in a homeschool program shall receive
20 instruction in language arts, mathematics, biological,
21 physical, and social sciences, fine arts, and physical
22 development and health as provided in Section 27-1 of the
23 School Code.
24 (c) No individual may administer a child's homeschool
25 program or provide direct instruction to a child in a
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1 homeschool program if the individual has been convicted of any
2 offense under Section 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, or
3 11-1.60 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
4 Section 40. Department of Children and Family Services;
5 investigation. The Department of Children and Family Services
6 shall alert the relevant regional office of education or
7 intermediate service center or a school district organized
8 under Article 34 of this Code if a child whom the Department
9 has had contact with is being homeschooled. The Department
10 shall provide the child's name, home address, and contact
11 information to the regional office of education, intermediate
12 service center, or school district. The regional office of
13 education, intermediate service center, or school district has
14 the power to conduct an investigation to see if a Homeschool
15 Declaration Form under Section 20 has been submitted for the
16 child and any other investigations as needed.
17 Section 900. Reports.
18 (a) On or before June 30, 2027 and on or before June 30 of
19 every year thereafter, every regional office of education and
20 intermediate service center and a school district organized
21 under Article 34 of the School Code must make an annual report
22 to the State Superintendent of Education containing data on
23 homeschooling. The report shall include the aggregate number
24 of children receiving homeschooling that reside within a
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1 school district's boundaries for that regional office of
2 education, intermediate service center, or school district.
3 The report shall also break down by grade level and gender
4 identity the number of children receiving homeschooling that
5 reside within a school district's boundaries for that regional
6 office of education, intermediate service center, or school
7 district.
8 (b) On or before July 31, 2027 and on or before July 31 of
9 every year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall
10 create a report consisting of the data reported under
11 subsection (a) and submit the report to the General Assembly.
12 The report shall also outline the aggregate number of children
13 receiving homeschooling in each school district.
14 (c) This Section is repealed 10 years after the first
15 report under subsection (b) is submitted.
16 Section 905. Rules. The State Board of Education may adopt
17 any rules necessary to implement and administer this Act.
18 Section 910. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by
19 changing Section 7.5 as follows:
20 (5 ILCS 140/7.5)
21 Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for
22 by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be
23 exempt from inspection and copying:
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1 (a) All information determined to be confidential
2 under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and
3 Development Act.
4 (b) Library circulation and order records identifying
5 library users with specific materials under the Library
6 Records Confidentiality Act.
7 (c) Applications, related documents, and medical
8 records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
9 Procedures Board and any and all documents or other
10 records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
11 Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it
12 has received.
13 (d) Information and records held by the Department of
14 Public Health and its authorized representatives relating
15 to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted
16 infection or any information the disclosure of which is
17 restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmitted
18 Infection Control Act.
19 (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
20 under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.
21 (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of
22 the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying
23 Qualifications Based Selection Act.
24 (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
25 and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid
26 Tuition Act.
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1 (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
2 under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and
3 records of any lawfully created State or local inspector
4 general's office that would be exempt if created or
5 obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under
6 that Act.
7 (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy
8 plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a
9 local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted
10 under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
11 (j) Information and data concerning the distribution
12 of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers
13 under the Emergency Telephone System Act.
14 (k) Law enforcement officer identification information
15 or driver identification information compiled by a law
16 enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation
17 under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
18 (l) Records and information provided to a residential
19 health care facility resident sexual assault and death
20 review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse
21 Prevention Review Team Act.
22 (m) Information provided to the predatory lending
23 database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential
24 Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent
25 authorized under that Article.
26 (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of
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1 compensation and expenses for court appointed trial
2 counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the
3 Capital Crimes Litigation Act (repealed). This subsection
4 (n) shall apply until the conclusion of the trial of the
5 case, even if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the
6 death penalty prior to trial or sentencing.
7 (o) Information that is prohibited from being
8 disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and
9 Hazardous Substances Registry Act.
10 (p) Security portions of system safety program plans,
11 investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or
12 information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the
13 Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and
14 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the
15 Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Regional
16 Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the
17 Regional Transportation Authority Act, or the St. Clair
18 County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety
19 Act (repealed).
20 (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
21 Personnel Record Review Act.
22 (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
23 Illinois School Student Records Act.
24 (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
25 under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
26 (t) (Blank).
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1 (u) Records and information provided to an independent
2 team of experts under the Developmental Disability and
3 Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).
4 (v) Names and information of people who have applied
5 for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under
6 the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for
7 or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm
8 Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the
9 Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the
10 Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed
11 Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed
12 Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the
13 Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
14 (v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification
15 Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under
16 Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
17 (w) Personally identifiable information which is
18 exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section
19 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.
20 (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure
21 under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section
22 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
23 (y) Confidential information under the Adult
24 Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling
25 statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including
26 information about the identity and administrative finding
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1 against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated
2 decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of
3 an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established
4 under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.
5 (z) Records and information provided to a fatality
6 review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory
7 Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services
8 Act.
9 (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure
10 under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.
11 (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from
12 disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
13 (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement
14 Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent
15 authorized under that Act.
16 (dd) Information that is prohibited from being
17 disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common
18 Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.
19 (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure
20 under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.
21 (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure
22 under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
23 (gg) Information that is prohibited from being
24 disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle
25 Code.
26 (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
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1 Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.
2 (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure
3 under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of
4 the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
5 (jj) Information and reports that are required to be
6 submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day
7 and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from
8 disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day
9 and Temporary Labor Services Act.
10 (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the
11 Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.
12 (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
13 and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public
14 Aid Code.
15 (mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
16 Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
17 (nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
18 Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.
19 (oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports
20 arising out of a peer support counseling session
21 prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders
22 Suicide Prevention Act.
23 (pp) Names and all identifying information relating to
24 an employee of an emergency services provider or law
25 enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide
26 Prevention Act.
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1 (qq) Information and records held by the Department of
2 Public Health and its authorized representatives collected
3 under the Reproductive Health Act.
4 (rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
5 the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
6 (ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of
7 Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois
8 Human Rights Act.
9 (tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy
10 Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that
11 Act.
12 (uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
13 Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.
14 (vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
15 subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois
16 Public Aid Code.
17 (ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
18 Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act.
19 (xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or
20 information that shall not be made public under the
21 Illinois Insurance Code.
22 (yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
23 the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.
24 (zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
25 the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
26 (aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed
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1 under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code.
2 (bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure
3 by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State
4 Police Act.
5 (ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section
6 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil
7 Administrative Code of Illinois.
8 (ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed
9 under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for
10 Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human
11 Trafficking, or Stalking Act.
12 (eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed
13 under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic
14 Violence Fatality Review Act.
15 (fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera
16 Act. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after
17 July 1, 2025.
18 (ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under
19 paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse
20 Agency Licensing Act.
21 (hhh) Information submitted to the Illinois State
22 Police in an affidavit or application for an assault
23 weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement,
24 .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge
25 endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card
26 Act.
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1 (iii) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of
2 the School Safety Drill Act.
3 (jjj) Information exempt from disclosure under Section
4 30 of the Insurance Data Security Law.
5 (kkk) Confidential business information prohibited
6 from disclosure under Section 45 of the Paint Stewardship
7 Act.
8 (lll) Data exempt from disclosure under Section
9 2-3.196 of the School Code.
10 (mmm) Information prohibited from being disclosed
11 under subsection (e) of Section 1-129 of the Illinois
12 Power Agency Act.
13 (nnn) Materials received by the Department of Commerce
14 and Economic Opportunity that are confidential under the
15 Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act.
16 (ooo) (nnn) Data or information provided pursuant to
17 Section 20 of the Statewide Recycling Needs and Assessment
18 Act.
19 (ppp) (nnn) Information that is exempt from disclosure
20 under Section 28-11 of the Lawful Health Care Activity
21 Act.
22 (qqq) (nnn) Information that is exempt from disclosure
23 under Section 7-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
24 (rrr) (mmm) Information prohibited from being
25 disclosed under Section 4-2 of the Uniform Money
26 Transmission Modernization Act.
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1 (sss) (nnn) Information exempt from disclosure under
2 Section 40 of the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act.
3 (ttt) Information and records held by the State Board
4 of Education, a regional office of education, an
5 intermediate service center, or a school district
6 organized under Article 34 of the School Code containing
7 confidential information about a student, parent, or
8 guardian under the Homeschool Act.
9 (uuu) Information and records held by the State Board
10 of Education containing confidential information about a
11 student, parent, or guardian under Section 2-3.25o of the
12 School Code.
13 (Source: P.A. 102-36, eff. 6-25-21; 102-237, eff. 1-1-22;
14 102-292, eff. 1-1-22; 102-520, eff. 8-20-21; 102-559, eff.
15 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-946, eff. 7-1-22;
16 102-1042, eff. 6-3-22; 102-1116, eff. 1-10-23; 103-8, eff.
17 6-7-23; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; 103-142, eff. 1-1-24; 103-372,
18 eff. 1-1-24; 103-472, eff. 8-1-24; 103-508, eff. 8-4-23;
19 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; 103-592, eff. 6-7-24; 103-605, eff.
20 7-1-24; 103-636, eff. 7-1-24; 103-724, eff. 1-1-25; 103-786,
21 eff. 8-7-24; 103-859, eff. 8-9-24; 103-991, eff. 8-9-24;
22 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24; revised 11-26-24.)
23 Section 915. The School Code is amended by changing
24 Sections 2-3.25o, 26-1, 26-3a, 26-7, and 26-16 as follows:
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1 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o)
2 Sec. 2-3.25o. Registration and recognition of non-public
3 elementary and secondary schools.
4 (a) Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares (i)
5 that the Constitution of the State of Illinois provides that a
6 "fundamental goal of the People of the State is the
7 educational development of all persons to the limits of their
8 capacities" and (ii) that the educational development of every
9 school student serves the public purposes of the State. In
10 order to ensure that all Illinois students and teachers have
11 the opportunity to enroll and work in State-approved
12 educational institutions and programs, the State Board of
13 Education shall provide for the voluntary registration and
14 recognition of non-public elementary and secondary schools.
15 (b) Registration. All non-public elementary and secondary
16 schools in the State of Illinois may voluntarily register with
17 the State Board of Education on an annual basis. However,
18 beginning on August 1, 2026, all non-public elementary and
19 secondary schools in the State of Illinois shall register with
20 the State Board of Education on an annual basis. Registration
21 shall be completed in conformance with procedures prescribed
22 by the State Board of Education. Information required for
23 registration shall include assurances of compliance (i) with
24 federal and State laws regarding health examination and
25 immunization, attendance, length of term, and
26 nondiscrimination, including assurances that the school will
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1 not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race,
2 ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to,
3 protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists, and
4 (ii) with applicable fire and health safety requirements,
5 (iii) with the requirement that all individuals in the school
6 assigned to a teaching or administrative position hold, at a
7 minimum, a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent,
8 and (iv) with the requirement to maintain in its own records a
9 list of every attending student's name, date of birth, grade
10 level, and home address and the name and home address of at
11 least one parent or guardian of each attending student. A
12 non-public elementary or secondary school shall provide this
13 information to the State Board of Education and the regional
14 office of education or intermediate service center for the
15 school district where the non-public school is located, if
16 applicable, or to the school board if the non-public school is
17 located in a school district organized under Article 34 of
18 this Code, upon request. Any personally identifying
19 information of a student, parent, or guardian that any school
20 or school district sends to the State Board of Education is
21 confidential and exempt from disclosure according to the
22 Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois School Student
23 Records Act.
24 (c) Recognition. All non-public elementary and secondary
25 schools in the State of Illinois may voluntarily seek the
26 status of "Non-public School Recognition" from the State Board
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1 of Education. This status may be obtained by compliance with
2 administrative guidelines and review procedures as prescribed
3 by the State Board of Education. The guidelines and procedures
4 must recognize that some of the aims and the financial bases of
5 non-public schools are different from public schools and will
6 not be identical to those for public schools, nor will they be
7 more burdensome. The guidelines and procedures must also
8 recognize the diversity of non-public schools and shall not
9 impinge upon the noneducational relationships between those
10 schools and their clientele.
11 (c-5) Prohibition against recognition. A non-public
12 elementary or secondary school may not obtain "Non-public
13 School Recognition" status unless the school requires all
14 certified and non-certified applicants for employment with the
15 school, after July 1, 2007, to authorize a fingerprint-based
16 criminal history records check as a condition of employment to
17 determine if such applicants have been convicted of any of the
18 enumerated criminal or drug offenses set forth in Section
19 21B-80 of this Code or have been convicted, within 7 years of
20 the application for employment, of any other felony under the
21 laws of this State or of any offense committed or attempted in
22 any other state or against the laws of the United States that,
23 if committed or attempted in this State, would have been
24 punishable as a felony under the laws of this State.
25 Authorization for the check shall be furnished by the
26 applicant to the school, except that if the applicant is a
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1 substitute teacher seeking employment in more than one
2 non-public school, a teacher seeking concurrent part-time
3 employment positions with more than one non-public school (as
4 a reading specialist, special education teacher, or
5 otherwise), or an educational support personnel employee
6 seeking employment positions with more than one non-public
7 school, then only one of the non-public schools employing the
8 individual shall request the authorization. Upon receipt of
9 this authorization, the non-public school shall submit the
10 applicant's name, sex, race, date of birth, social security
11 number, fingerprint images, and other identifiers, as
12 prescribed by the Illinois State Police, to the Illinois State
13 Police.
14 The Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of
15 Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based
16 criminal history records check, records of convictions,
17 forever and hereafter, until expunged, to the president or
18 principal of the non-public school that requested the check.
19 The Illinois State Police shall charge that school a fee for
20 conducting such check, which fee must be deposited into the
21 State Police Services Fund and must not exceed the cost of the
22 inquiry. Subject to appropriations for these purposes, the
23 State Superintendent of Education shall reimburse non-public
24 schools for fees paid to obtain criminal history records
25 checks under this Section.
26 A non-public school may not obtain recognition status
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1 unless the school also performs a check of the Statewide Sex
2 Offender Database, as authorized by the Sex Offender Community
3 Notification Law, and the Statewide Murderer and Violent
4 Offender Against Youth Database, as authorized by the Murderer
5 and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, for each
6 applicant for employment, after July 1, 2007, to determine
7 whether the applicant has been adjudicated of a sex offense or
8 of a murder or other violent crime against youth. The checks of
9 the Statewide Sex Offender Database and the Statewide Murderer
10 and Violent Offender Against Youth Database must be conducted
11 by the non-public school once for every 5 years that an
12 applicant remains employed by the non-public school.
13 Any information concerning the record of convictions
14 obtained by a non-public school's president or principal under
15 this Section is confidential and may be disseminated only to
16 the governing body of the non-public school or any other
17 person necessary to the decision of hiring the applicant for
18 employment. A copy of the record of convictions obtained from
19 the Illinois State Police shall be provided to the applicant
20 for employment. Upon a check of the Statewide Sex Offender
21 Database, the non-public school shall notify the applicant as
22 to whether or not the applicant has been identified in the Sex
23 Offender Database as a sex offender. Any information
24 concerning the records of conviction obtained by the
25 non-public school's president or principal under this Section
26 for a substitute teacher seeking employment in more than one
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1 non-public school, a teacher seeking concurrent part-time
2 employment positions with more than one non-public school (as
3 a reading specialist, special education teacher, or
4 otherwise), or an educational support personnel employee
5 seeking employment positions with more than one non-public
6 school may be shared with another non-public school's
7 principal or president to which the applicant seeks
8 employment. Any unauthorized release of confidential
9 information may be a violation of Section 7 of the Criminal
10 Identification Act.
11 No non-public school may obtain recognition status that
12 knowingly employs a person, hired after July 1, 2007, for whom
13 an Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation
14 fingerprint-based criminal history records check and a
15 Statewide Sex Offender Database check has not been initiated
16 or who has been convicted of any offense enumerated in Section
17 21B-80 of this Code or any offense committed or attempted in
18 any other state or against the laws of the United States that,
19 if committed or attempted in this State, would have been
20 punishable as one or more of those offenses. No non-public
21 school may obtain recognition status under this Section that
22 knowingly employs a person who has been found to be the
23 perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of a minor under 18
24 years of age pursuant to proceedings under Article II of the
25 Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
26 In order to obtain recognition status under this Section,
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1 a non-public school must require compliance with the
2 provisions of this subsection (c-5) from all employees of
3 persons or firms holding contracts with the school, including,
4 but not limited to, food service workers, school bus drivers,
5 and other transportation employees, who have direct, daily
6 contact with pupils. Any information concerning the records of
7 conviction or identification as a sex offender of any such
8 employee obtained by the non-public school principal or
9 president must be promptly reported to the school's governing
10 body.
11 Prior to the commencement of any student teaching
12 experience or required internship (which is referred to as
13 student teaching in this Section) in any non-public elementary
14 or secondary school that has obtained or seeks to obtain
15 recognition status under this Section, a student teacher is
16 required to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history
17 records check. Authorization for and payment of the costs of
18 the check must be furnished by the student teacher to the chief
19 administrative officer of the non-public school where the
20 student teaching is to be completed. Upon receipt of this
21 authorization and payment, the chief administrative officer of
22 the non-public school shall submit the student teacher's name,
23 sex, race, date of birth, social security number, fingerprint
24 images, and other identifiers, as prescribed by the Illinois
25 State Police, to the Illinois State Police. The Illinois State
26 Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall furnish,
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1 pursuant to a fingerprint-based criminal history records
2 check, records of convictions, forever and hereinafter, until
3 expunged, to the chief administrative officer of the
4 non-public school that requested the check. The Illinois State
5 Police shall charge the school a fee for conducting the check,
6 which fee must be passed on to the student teacher, must not
7 exceed the cost of the inquiry, and must be deposited into the
8 State Police Services Fund. The school shall further perform a
9 check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database, as authorized by
10 the Sex Offender Community Notification Law, and of the
11 Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth
12 Database, as authorized by the Murderer and Violent Offender
13 Against Youth Registration Act, for each student teacher. No
14 school that has obtained or seeks to obtain recognition status
15 under this Section may knowingly allow a person to student
16 teach for whom a criminal history records check, a Statewide
17 Sex Offender Database check, and a Statewide Murderer and
18 Violent Offender Against Youth Database check have not been
19 completed and reviewed by the chief administrative officer of
20 the non-public school.
21 A copy of the record of convictions obtained from the
22 Illinois State Police must be provided to the student teacher.
23 Any information concerning the record of convictions obtained
24 by the chief administrative officer of the non-public school
25 is confidential and may be transmitted only to the chief
26 administrative officer of the non-public school or his or her
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1 designee, the State Superintendent of Education, the State
2 Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, or, for
3 clarification purposes, the Illinois State Police or the
4 Statewide Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and
5 Violent Offender Against Youth Database. Any unauthorized
6 release of confidential information may be a violation of
7 Section 7 of the Criminal Identification Act.
8 No school that has obtained or seeks to obtain recognition
9 status under this Section may knowingly allow a person to
10 student teach who has been convicted of any offense that would
11 subject him or her to license suspension or revocation
12 pursuant to Section 21B-80 of this Code or who has been found
13 to be the perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of a minor
14 under 18 years of age pursuant to proceedings under Article II
15 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
16 Any school that has obtained or seeks to obtain
17 recognition status under this Section may not prohibit
18 hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or
19 hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective
20 hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists.
21 (d) Public purposes. The provisions of this Section are in
22 the public interest, for the public benefit, and serve secular
23 public purposes.
24 (e) Definition. For purposes of this Section, a non-public
25 school means (i) any non-profit, non-home-based, and
26 non-public elementary or secondary school that is in
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1 compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
2 attendance at which satisfies the requirements of Section 26-1
3 of this Code or (ii) any non-public elementary or secondary
4 school that does not meet the definition of a homeschool
5 program under the Homeschool Act.
6 (Source: P.A. 102-360, eff. 1-1-22; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21;
7 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-605, eff.
8 7-1-24.)
9 (105 ILCS 5/26-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-1)
10 Sec. 26-1. Compulsory school age; exemptions. Whoever has
11 custody or control of any child (i) between the ages of 7 and
12 17 years (unless the child has already graduated from high
13 school) for school years before the 2014-2015 school year or
14 (ii) between the ages of 6 (on or before September 1) and 17
15 years (unless the child has already graduated from high
16 school) beginning with the 2014-2015 school year shall cause
17 such child to attend some public school in the district
18 wherein the child resides the entire time it is in session
19 during the regular school term, except as provided in Section
20 10-19.1, and during a required summer school program
21 established under Section 10-22.33B; provided, that the
22 following children shall not be required to attend the public
23 schools:
24 1. Any child attending a private or a parochial school
25 where children are taught the branches of education taught
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1 to children of corresponding age and grade in the public
2 schools, and where the instruction of the child in the
3 branches of education is in the English language;
4 2. Any child who is physically or mentally unable to
5 attend school, such disability being certified to the
6 county or district truant officer by a competent physician
7 licensed in Illinois to practice medicine and surgery in
8 all its branches, a chiropractic physician licensed under
9 the Medical Practice Act of 1987, a licensed advanced
10 practice registered nurse, a licensed physician assistant,
11 or a Christian Science practitioner residing in this State
12 and listed in the Christian Science Journal; or who is
13 excused for temporary absence for cause by the principal
14 or teacher of the school which the child attends, with
15 absence for cause by illness being required to include the
16 mental or behavioral health of the child for up to 5 days
17 for which the child need not provide a medical note, in
18 which case the child shall be given the opportunity to
19 make up any school work missed during the mental or
20 behavioral health absence and, after the second mental
21 health day used, may be referred to the appropriate school
22 support personnel; the exemptions in this paragraph (2) do
23 not apply to any female who is pregnant or the mother of
24 one or more children, except where a female is unable to
25 attend school due to a complication arising from her
26 pregnancy and the existence of such complication is
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1 certified to the county or district truant officer by a
2 competent physician;
3 3. Any child necessarily and lawfully employed
4 according to the provisions of the Child Labor Law of 2024
5 may be excused from attendance at school by the county
6 superintendent of schools or the superintendent of the
7 public school which the child should be attending, on
8 certification of the facts by and the recommendation of
9 the school board of the public school district in which
10 the child resides. In districts having part-time
11 continuation schools, children so excused shall attend
12 such schools at least 8 hours each week;
13 4. Any child over 12 and under 14 years of age while in
14 attendance at confirmation classes;
15 5. Any child absent from a public school on a
16 particular day or days or at a particular time of day for
17 the reason that he is unable to attend classes or to
18 participate in any examination, study, or work
19 requirements on a particular day or days or at a
20 particular time of day because of religious reasons,
21 including the observance of a religious holiday or
22 participation in religious instruction, or because the
23 tenets of his religion forbid secular activity on a
24 particular day or days or at a particular time of day. A
25 school board may require the parent or guardian of a child
26 who is to be excused from attending school because of
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1 religious reasons to give notice, not exceeding 5 days, of
2 the child's absence to the school principal or other
3 school personnel. Any child excused from attending school
4 under this paragraph 5 shall not be required to submit a
5 written excuse for such absence after returning to school.
6 A district superintendent shall develop and distribute to
7 schools appropriate procedures regarding a student's
8 absence for religious reasons, how schools are notified of
9 a student's impending absence for religious reasons, and
10 the requirements of Section 26-2b of this Code;
11 6. Any child 16 years of age or older who (i) submits
12 to a school district evidence of necessary and lawful
13 employment pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Section and
14 (ii) is enrolled in a graduation incentives program
15 pursuant to Section 26-16 of this Code or an alternative
16 learning opportunities program established pursuant to
17 Article 13B of this Code;
18 7. A child in any of grades 6 through 12 absent from a
19 public school on a particular day or days or at a
20 particular time of day for the purpose of sounding "Taps"
21 at a military honors funeral held in this State for a
22 deceased veteran. In order to be excused under this
23 paragraph 7, the student shall notify the school's
24 administration at least 2 days prior to the date of the
25 absence and shall provide the school's administration with
26 the date, time, and location of the military honors
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1 funeral. The school's administration may waive this 2-day
2 notification requirement if the student did not receive at
3 least 2 days advance notice, but the student shall notify
4 the school's administration as soon as possible of the
5 absence. A student whose absence is excused under this
6 paragraph 7 shall be counted as if the student attended
7 school for purposes of calculating the average daily
8 attendance of students in the school district. A student
9 whose absence is excused under this paragraph 7 must be
10 allowed a reasonable time to make up school work missed
11 during the absence. If the student satisfactorily
12 completes the school work, the day of absence shall be
13 counted as a day of compulsory attendance and he or she may
14 not be penalized for that absence; and
15 8. Any child absent from a public school on a
16 particular day or days or at a particular time of day for
17 the reason that his or her parent or legal guardian is an
18 active duty member of the uniformed services and has been
19 called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately
20 returned from deployment to a combat zone or
21 combat-support postings. Such a student shall be granted 5
22 days of excused absences in any school year and, at the
23 discretion of the school board, additional excused
24 absences to visit the student's parent or legal guardian
25 relative to such leave or deployment of the parent or
26 legal guardian. In the case of excused absences pursuant
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1 to this paragraph 8, the student and parent or legal
2 guardian shall be responsible for obtaining assignments
3 from the student's teacher prior to any period of excused
4 absence and for ensuring that such assignments are
5 completed by the student prior to his or her return to
6 school from such period of excused absence; and .
7 9. Any child attending a homeschool program as defined
8 in the Homeschool Act, provided that the homeschool
9 administrator, as defined in the Homeschool Act, meets the
10 requirements of the Homeschool Act.
11 Any child from a public middle school or high school,
12 subject to guidelines established by the State Board of
13 Education, shall be permitted by a school board one school
14 day-long excused absence per school year for the child who is
15 absent from school to engage in a civic event. The school board
16 may require that the student provide reasonable advance notice
17 of the intended absence to the appropriate school
18 administrator and require that the student provide
19 documentation of participation in a civic event to the
20 appropriate school administrator.
21 (Source: P.A. 102-266, eff. 1-1-22; 102-321, eff. 1-1-22;
22 102-406, eff. 8-19-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-981, eff.
23 1-1-23; 103-721, eff. 1-1-25.)
24 (105 ILCS 5/26-3a) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-3a)
25 Sec. 26-3a. Report of pupils no longer enrolled in school.
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1 The clerk or secretary of the school board of all school
2 districts shall furnish quarterly on the first school day of
3 October, January, April and July to the regional
4 superintendent and to the Secretary of State a list of pupils,
5 excluding transferees, who have been expelled or have
6 withdrawn or who have left school and have been removed from
7 the regular attendance rolls during the period of time school
8 was in regular session from the time of the previous quarterly
9 report. Such list shall include the names and addresses of
10 pupils formerly in attendance, the names and addresses of
11 persons having custody or control of such pupils, the reason,
12 if known, such pupils are no longer in attendance and the date
13 of removal from the attendance rolls. The list shall also
14 include the names of: pupils whose withdrawal is due to
15 extraordinary circumstances, including but not limited to
16 economic or medical necessity or family hardship, as
17 determined by the criteria established by the school district;
18 pupils who have re-enrolled in school since their names were
19 removed from the attendance rolls; any pupil certified to be a
20 chronic or habitual truant, as defined in Section 26-2a; and
21 pupils previously certified as chronic or habitual truants who
22 have resumed regular school attendance. The regional
23 superintendent shall inform the county or district truant
24 officer who shall investigate to see that such pupils are in
25 compliance with the requirements of this Article.
26 Each local school district shall establish, in writing, a
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1 set of criteria for use by the local superintendent of schools
2 in determining whether a pupil's failure to attend school is
3 the result of extraordinary circumstances, including but not
4 limited to economic or medical necessity or family hardship.
5 If a pupil re-enrolls in school after his or her name was
6 removed from the attendance rolls or resumes regular
7 attendance after being certified a chronic or habitual truant,
8 the pupil must obtain and forward to the Secretary of State, on
9 a form designated by the Secretary of State, verification of
10 his or her re-enrollment. The verification may be in the form
11 of a signature or seal or in any other form determined by the
12 school board.
13 The State Board of Education shall, if possible, make
14 available to any person, upon request, a comparison of drop
15 out rates before and after the effective date of this
16 amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.
17 (Source: P.A. 94-916, eff. 7-1-07; 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)
18 (105 ILCS 5/26-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-7)
19 Sec. 26-7. Notice to custodian-Notice of non-compliance.
20 If any person fails to send any child under his custody or
21 control to some lawful school, the truant officer or, in a
22 school district that does not have a truant officer, the
23 regional superintendent of schools or his or her designee
24 shall, as soon as practicable after he is notified thereof,
25 give notice in person or by mail to such person that such child
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1 shall be present at the proper public school on the day
2 following the receipt of such notice. The notice shall state
3 the date that attendance at school must begin and that such
4 attendance must be continuous and consecutive in the district
5 during the remainder of the school year. The truant officer
6 or, in a school district that does not have a truant officer,
7 the regional superintendent of schools or his or her designee
8 shall at the same time that such notice is given notify the
9 teacher or superintendent of the proper public school thereof
10 and the teacher or superintendent shall notify the truant
11 officer or regional superintendent of schools of any
12 non-compliance therewith.
13 Beginning August 1, 2026, "lawful school", as used in this
14 Section, means a registered school under Section 2-3.25o of
15 this Code and includes a homeschool program if the State Board
16 of Education has been notified under the Homeschool Act.
17 (Source: P.A. 93-858, eff. 1-1-05.)
18 (105 ILCS 5/26-16)
19 Sec. 26-16. Graduation incentives program.
20 (a) The General Assembly finds that it is critical to
21 provide options for children to succeed in school. The purpose
22 of this Section is to provide incentives for and encourage all
23 Illinois students who have experienced or are experiencing
24 difficulty in the traditional education system to enroll in
25 alternative programs.
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1 (b) Any student who is below the age of 20 years is
2 eligible to enroll in a graduation incentives program if he or
3 she:
4 (1) is considered a dropout pursuant to Section 26-2a
5 of this Code;
6 (2) has been suspended or expelled pursuant to Section
7 10-22.6 or 34-19 of this Code;
8 (3) is pregnant or is a parent;
9 (4) has been assessed as chemically dependent; or
10 (5) is enrolled in a bilingual education or LEP
11 program; or .
12 (6) was formerly enrolled in a homeschool program with
13 less academic rigor than such graduate incentives program.
14 (c) The following programs qualify as graduation
15 incentives programs for students meeting the criteria
16 established in this Section:
17 (1) Any public elementary or secondary education
18 graduation incentives program established by a school
19 district or by a regional office of education.
20 (2) Any alternative learning opportunities program
21 established pursuant to Article 13B of this Code.
22 (3) Vocational or job training courses approved by the
23 State Superintendent of Education that are available
24 through the Illinois public community college system.
25 Students may apply for reimbursement of 50% of tuition
26 costs for one course per semester or a maximum of 3 courses
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1 per school year. Subject to available funds, students may
2 apply for reimbursement of up to 100% of tuition costs
3 upon a showing of employment within 6 months after
4 completion of a vocational or job training program. The
5 qualifications for reimbursement shall be established by
6 the State Superintendent of Education by rule.
7 (4) Job and career programs approved by the State
8 Superintendent of Education that are available through
9 Illinois-accredited private business and vocational
10 schools. Subject to available funds, pupils may apply for
11 reimbursement of up to 100% of tuition costs upon a
12 showing of employment within 6 months after completion of
13 a job or career program. The State Superintendent of
14 Education shall establish, by rule, the qualifications for
15 reimbursement, criteria for determining reimbursement
16 amounts, and limits on reimbursement.
17 (5) Adult education courses that offer preparation for
18 high school equivalency testing.
19 (d) Graduation incentives programs established by school
20 districts are entitled to claim general State aid and
21 evidence-based funding, subject to Sections 13B-50, 13B-50.5,
22 and 13B-50.10 of this Code. Graduation incentives programs
23 operated by regional offices of education are entitled to
24 receive general State aid and evidence-based funding at the
25 foundation level of support per pupil enrolled. A school
26 district must ensure that its graduation incentives program
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1 receives supplemental general State aid, transportation
2 reimbursements, and special education resources, if
3 appropriate, for students enrolled in the program.
4 (Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)
5 Section 920. The Illinois School Student Records Act is
6 amended by changing Section 3 as follows:
7 (105 ILCS 10/3) (from Ch. 122, par. 50-3)
8 Sec. 3. (a) The State Board shall issue regulations to
9 govern the contents of school student records, to implement
10 and assure compliance with the provisions of this Act and to
11 prescribe appropriate procedures and forms for all
12 administrative proceedings, notices and consents required or
13 permitted under this Act. All such regulations and any rules
14 and regulations adopted by any school relating to the
15 maintenance of, access to, dissemination of or challenge to
16 school student records shall be available to the general
17 public. Any information exempt from this Act under subsection
18 (d) of Section 20 of the Homeschool Act is prohibited from
19 being included in school student records.
20 (b) The State Board, each local school board or other
21 governing body and each school shall take reasonable measures
22 to assure that all persons accorded rights or obligations
23 under this Act are informed of such rights and obligations.
24 (c) The principal of each school or the person with like
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1 responsibilities or his or her designate shall take all action
2 necessary to assure that school personnel are informed of the
3 provisions of this Act.
4 (Source: P.A. 79-1108.)
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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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