104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1636 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Adriane Johnson SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new 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. LRB104 10856 LNS 20938 b STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1636 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Adriane Johnson SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new 105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new 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. LRB104 10856 LNS 20938 b LRB104 10856 LNS 20938 b STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1636 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Adriane Johnson SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new 105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new
105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22
105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
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.
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LRB104 10856 LNS 20938 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
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 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
5 10-20.88 and 34-18.88 and by changing Section 27-22 as
6 follows:
7 (105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new)
8 Sec. 10-20.88. Computer science course reporting.
9 (a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the school
10 board of a school district that maintains any of grades
11 kindergarten through 8 shall report, for each school
12 maintaining any of grades kindergarten through 5, the
13 following data to the State Board of Education:
14 (1) the computer science content offered in those
15 grades, including the minutes of instruction time
16 dedicated to computer science, descriptions of
17 instructional content, and, if available, which State
18 learning standards for computer science are covered in the
19 instruction; and
20 (2) the students receiving computer science
21 instruction in those grades and the grade level, gender,
22 race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price
23 school meals, disability and individualized education
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1636 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Adriane Johnson SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new 105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new
105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22
105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
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.
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LRB104 10856 LNS 20938 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new
105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22
105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
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1 program or federal Section 504 plan status, and English
2 learner status of those students.
3 (b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the school
4 board of a school district that maintains any of grades
5 kindergarten through 8 shall report, for each school
6 maintaining any of grades 6 through 8, the following data to
7 the State Board of Education:
8 (1) the computer science courses or content offered in
9 those grades, including the course codes, if any,
10 descriptions, and, if available, which State learning
11 standards for computer science are covered in each course;
12 and
13 (2) the students in those grades enrolled in computer
14 science courses and the grade level, gender, race and
15 ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price school
16 meals, disability and individualized education program or
17 federal Section 504 plan status, and English learner
18 status of those students.
19 (c) The State Board of Education shall disaggregate the
20 data collected under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) and
21 paragraph (2) of subsection (b) by grade level, gender, race
22 and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price school
23 meals, disability and individualized education program or
24 federal Section 504 plan status, and English learner status
25 and make the data available publicly, along with the data
26 collected under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and paragraph
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1 (1) of subsection (b).
2 (105 ILCS 5/27-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-22)
3 Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.
4 (a) (Blank).
5 (b) (Blank).
6 (c) (Blank).
7 (d) (Blank).
8 (e) Through the 2023-2024 school year, as a prerequisite
9 to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the
10 9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements,
11 successfully complete all of the following courses:
12 (1) Four years of language arts.
13 (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
14 which must be English and the other of which may be English
15 or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
16 courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
17 graduation requirements.
18 (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
19 Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
20 one of which may be a an Advanced Placement computer
21 science course. A mathematics course that includes
22 geometry content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
23 interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
24 course that prepares a student for a career readiness
25 path.
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1 (3.5) For pupils entering the 9th grade in the
2 2022-2023 school year and 2023-2024 school year, one year
3 of a course that includes intensive instruction in
4 computer literacy, which may be English, social studies,
5 or any other subject and which may be counted toward the
6 fulfillment of other graduation requirements.
7 (4) Two years of science.
8 (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
9 year must be history of the United States or a combination
10 of history of the United States and American government
11 and, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the
12 2016-2017 school year and each school year thereafter, at
13 least one semester must be civics, which shall help young
14 people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and
15 attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and
16 responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course
17 content shall focus on government institutions, the
18 discussion of current and controversial issues, service
19 learning, and simulations of the democratic process.
20 School districts may utilize private funding available for
21 the purposes of offering civics education. Beginning with
22 pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school
23 year, one semester, or part of one semester, may include a
24 financial literacy course.
25 (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
26 foreign language, which shall be deemed to include
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1 American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E)
2 forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech
3 course used to satisfy the course requirement under
4 subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course
5 requirement under this subdivision (6).
6 (e-5) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, as a
7 prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
8 entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course
9 requirements, successfully complete all of the following
10 courses:
11 (1) Four years of language arts.
12 (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
13 which must be English and the other of which may be English
14 or any other subject. If applicable, writing-intensive
15 courses may be counted toward the fulfillment of other
16 graduation requirements.
17 (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
18 Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
19 one of which may be a an Advanced Placement computer
20 science course. A mathematics course that includes
21 geometry content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
22 interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
23 course that prepares a student for a career readiness
24 path.
25 (3.5) One year of a course that includes intensive
26 instruction in computer literacy, which may be English,
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1 social studies, or any other subject and which may be
2 counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation
3 requirements.
4 (4) Two years of laboratory science.
5 (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
6 year must be history of the United States or a combination
7 of history of the United States and American government
8 and at least one semester must be civics, which shall help
9 young people acquire and learn to use the skills,
10 knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be
11 competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives.
12 Civics course content shall focus on government
13 institutions, the discussion of current and controversial
14 issues, service learning, and simulations of the
15 democratic process. School districts may utilize private
16 funding available for the purposes of offering civics
17 education. One semester, or part of one semester, may
18 include a financial literacy course.
19 (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
20 foreign language, which shall be deemed to include
21 American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E)
22 forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech
23 course used to satisfy the course requirement under
24 subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course
25 requirement under this subdivision (6).
26 (e-10) Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a
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1 prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
2 entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course
3 requirements, successfully complete 2 years of foreign
4 language courses, which may include American Sign Language. A
5 pupil may choose a third year of foreign language to satisfy
6 the requirement under subdivision (6) of subsection (e-5).
7 (e-15) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, as a
8 prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
9 entering the 9th grade must successfully complete one year of
10 high school computer science, which may be taken in any of
11 grades 7 through 12 and shall count toward the fulfillment of
12 either (i) one year of the foreign language requirement under
13 subsection (e-10), (ii) the third year of mathematics
14 requirement under subdivision (3) of subsection (e-5), or
15 (iii) the requirement under subdivision (6) of subsection
16 (e-5). A computer science course counted toward the
17 fulfillment of a requirement under item (i), (ii), or (iii) of
18 this subsection (e-15) may also be used to fulfill the
19 computer literacy requirement under subdivision (3.5) of
20 subsection (e-5).
21 (1) The State Board of Education shall create
22 guidelines for school districts regarding which computer
23 science courses can fulfill a requirement under item (i)
24 or (ii) of this subsection (e-15) that maximizes
25 flexibility for students.
26 (2) If a student uses a computer science course to
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1 fulfill the foreign language requirement under item (i) of
2 this subsection (e-15), then the school board must
3 designate that computer science course as equivalent to a
4 high school foreign language course and must denote on the
5 student's transcript that the computer science course
6 qualifies as a foreign language course for students under
7 item (i) of this subsection (e-15) for the purpose of
8 admission to an institution of higher education in this
9 State.
10 (3) If a student uses a computer science course to
11 fulfill the mathematics requirement under item (ii) of
12 this subsection (e-15), then the school board must
13 designate that computer science course as equivalent to a
14 high school mathematics course and must denote on the
15 student's transcript that the computer science course
16 qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for
17 students in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection
18 (e-5).
19 (4) By June 30, 2026, the State Board of Education
20 shall update its existing list of course titles
21 recommended for computer science under Section 2-3.185
22 with a list of courses that can be used to satisfy the
23 requirements of this subsection (e-15); however, each
24 school district shall ensure that such courses align with
25 the State learning standards for computer science and the
26 State Board shall include on the list only courses that
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1 meet the definition of computer science under Section
2 10-17a. The State Board shall update its list of
3 qualifying courses as needed to reflect changing State and
4 regional economic and educational needs.
5 (5) The requirements of this subsection (e-15) do not
6 apply to a pupil transferring to a high school in this
7 State from another state after the pupil's 11th grade
8 year.
9 (6) A school may enter into a cooperative resource
10 sharing agreement to ensure that its students can enroll
11 in a computer science course under this subsection (e-15).
12 (f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform
13 school districts of standards for writing-intensive
14 coursework.
15 (f-5) If a school district offers a an Advanced Placement
16 computer science course to high school students, then the
17 school board must designate that course as equivalent to a
18 high school mathematics course and must denote on the
19 student's transcript that the Advanced Placement computer
20 science course qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative
21 course for students in accordance with subdivision (3) of
22 subsection (e) of this Section.
23 (g) Public Act 83-1082 does not apply to pupils entering
24 the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior school years
25 or to students with disabilities whose course of study is
26 determined by an individualized education program.
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1 Public Act 94-676 does not apply to pupils entering the
2 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year or a prior school year
3 or to students with disabilities whose course of study is
4 determined by an individualized education program.
5 Subdivision (3.5) of subsection (e) does not apply to
6 pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year or a
7 prior school year or to students with disabilities whose
8 course of study is determined by an individualized education
9 program.
10 Subsection (e-5) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th
11 grade in the 2023-2024 school year or a prior school year or to
12 students with disabilities whose course of study is determined
13 by an individualized education program. Subsection (e-10) does
14 not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028
15 school year or a prior school year or to students with
16 disabilities whose course of study is determined by an
17 individualized education program. Subsection (e-15) does not
18 apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2026-2027 school
19 year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities
20 whose course of study is determined by an individualized
21 education program.
22 (h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
23 provisions of Sections 14A-32 and 27-22.05 of this Code and
24 the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.
25 (i) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to modify
26 the requirements of this Section for any students enrolled in
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1 grades 9 through 12 if the Governor has declared a disaster due
2 to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
3 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
4 (Source: P.A. 102-366, eff. 8-13-21; 102-551, eff. 1-1-22;
5 102-864, eff. 5-13-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-743, eff.
6 8-2-24.)
7 (105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new)
8 Sec. 34-18.88. Computer science course reporting.
9 (a) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the board
10 shall report, for each school maintaining any of grades
11 kindergarten through 5, the following data to the State Board
12 of Education:
13 (1) the computer science content offered in those
14 grades, including the minutes of instruction time
15 dedicated to computer science, descriptions of
16 instructional content, and, if available, which State
17 learning standards for computer science are covered in the
18 instruction; and
19 (2) the students receiving computer science
20 instruction in those grades and the grade level, gender,
21 race and ethnicity, eligibility for free or reduced-price
22 school meals, disability and individualized education
23 program or federal Section 504 plan status, and English
24 learner status of those students.
25 (b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the board
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