SB1616 EngrossedLRB104 12054 LNS 22149 b SB1616 Engrossed LRB104 12054 LNS 22149 b
SB1616 Engrossed LRB104 12054 LNS 22149 b
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 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
5 2-3.206 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)
7 Sec. 2-3.206. Scheduling guidance for major school events.
8 (a) As used in this Section, "major school event" means a
9 school sanctioned or sponsored event that is part of a school
10 or school district's locally created school calendar for the
11 year, including, but not limited to, events or activities that
12 would be difficult for a student to make up.
13 (b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with
14 stakeholders, shall identify dates during the year of cultural
15 or religious significance to the student population and in
16 which students may have out-of-school commitments or otherwise
17 be unable to participate in a major school event.
18 By July 1 of each year, the State Board of Education shall
19 prominently post on its website and distribute to each school
20 district a nonexhaustive list of the identified days and dates
21 of cultural, religious, or other observances for, at a
22 minimum, the school year that begins in the next calendar year
23 as a resource for making scheduling decisions for major school
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1 events. The list shall include a statement encouraging schools
2 to be mindful of the days and dates of cultural, religious, or
3 other observances that impact student participation as schools
4 plan major school events.
5 (c) The list of cultural, religious, or other observances
6 under subsection (b) shall additionally include a statement
7 indicating that the list is only for scheduling guidance
8 purposes and does not affect a student's right to be excused
9 from attendance because of the observance of a religious
10 holiday pursuant to Section 26-2b of this Code, regardless of
11 whether the religious holiday appears on the list.
12 Upon the posting and distribution of the list, the State
13 Board of Education shall also inform school districts that the
14 list is nonexhaustive and that a school district may include
15 additional days and dates on its locally created school
16 calendars based on community feedback or demographics.
17 The State Board of Education shall additionally distribute
18 the list each year to relevant associations or entities as
19 determined by the State Board of Education.
20 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21 becoming law.
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