New Illinois Laws 2019: Schools and Education

Temporary Appointments (HB 03185) - Expands the State Universities Civil Services Act, which establishes rules and procedures governing the employment of professional technical and support staff at Illinois public universities.

Class Size Reporting (HB 05463) - Requires all school districts to report various class size data to ISBE each year and requires ISBE to publish the data on its website no later than Dec. 1 each year. Sets class size goals for the 2020 school year.

Schools Concussion Protocol (HB 04226) - Requires the Illinois Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation, to publish and disseminate a brochure to educate the public on the effects of concussions in children and discuss how to look for concussion warning signs in children.

High School Dental Exams (HB 04908) - Requires all children entering the ninth grade of any public, private or parochial school to have a dental examination. Currently, this is only required of students entering kindergarten, second grade and sixth grades.

Black History Month (HB 04346) - Requires each community college and public institution of higher education in Illinois to offer a course studying Black History.

Mental Health Awareness (HB 04658) - Expands existing training for teachers in the identification of warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior.

School Board Member Oath (HB 04768) - Adds 6 new statements to the oath of office that all school board members in the State of Illinois are required to take.

Industry Development Assistance (HB 04858) - A local school district or community college may apply for DCEO grants for the acquisition of land, construction of facilities, and purchase of equipment, dedicated solely to the instruction of occupations in manufacturing.

CPS Teacher Evaluations (HB 04927) - Requires Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to provide copies of teacher evaluations to the Chicago Teachers’ Union (CTU) within 7 days after issuing the evaluations.

Teacher Evaluation Plan (HB 05136) - Require joint committees, which review teacher evaluation plans, to meet at least once annually.

School Principal Endorsement (HB 05754) - Allows four years' teaching experience in a school under the supervision of the Illinois Department of Corrections to count as experience toward qualification for a Principal Endorsement.

School Mandate Waiver Notice (SB 00650) - Allows school districts and regional offices of education to file mandate waiver requests electronically.

Procurement Code (SB 02362) - Amends the Procurement Code to exempt the University of Illinois at Chicago from the current 10-year cap on leases if certain requirements are met.

Vehicle Code-School Bus Transport (SB 02482) - Allows yellow school buses equipped with flashing lights and stop arms to transport children under the age of 18 to any activity.

Adult Learner Diploma (SB 02527) - School boards cannot limit the number of dual credit courses a student may enroll in or the number of credits a student may receive from dual credit courses. Cannot limit student enrollment in online courses.

Education Loan Info (SB 02559) - Requires the Board of Higher Education to develop a three-year education loan information pilot program for students at each public university and community college.

School Influenza Vaccine Information (SB 02654) - Requires school boards to include information about influenza and flu vaccinations to parents and students when giving information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications or other health issues.

Third Party Substitute Teacher Recruitment (SB 02838) - The Illinois State Board of Education will implement a program and adopt rules allowing school districts to recruit substitute teachers in elementary and secondary schools using a third party recruiting firm.

School Board Vacancy Residency (SB 02900) - Provides that if a school board fills a vacancy due to a lack of candidates for election, the district's voters can elect a board member without restriction by area of residence in the district at the next general election.

Community College Act (SB 02905) - Makes a series of technical and statutorily-conforming changes to the Public Community College Act that affect the authority of the Illinois Community College Board and local boards of trustees.

Math and Science Academy Tuition (SB 02939) - Allows out-of-state students and students who have completed the eighth grade to enroll in the Illinois Math and Science Academy. Charges out-of-state students tuition.

School Asthma Medication (SB 03015) - Allows school nurses to keep asthma medication prescribed in the school's name.

School Attendance Engagement Training (SB 03466) - Adds as a valid cause to not attend school a circumstance when a person who has custody of a child withholds the child from school due to a bona fide dispute over special education services or placement.

Pre-K School Chronic Absence (SB 03536) - Early childhood education programs must collect and review chronic absence data and recommend fixes.