Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4855

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4855

Introduced , by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

405 ILCS 49/20 new

Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. Requires each school district to ensure that every student in grades K-12 receives direct instruction in social and emotional learning no fewer than 4 times each academic year, approximately once per academic quarter. Requires social and emotional learning instruction to be delivered by a trained professional, provided during a class period, and address age-appropriate competencies as outlined in the Illinois Learning Standards for Social/Emotional Learning. Requires classroom teachers to reinforce social and emotional learning concepts through integrated academic curriculum and classroom practices. Requires each school district to provide professional development to assist educators in aligning instructional practices with social and emotional learning principles. Effective January 1, 2028.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning mental health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Children's Mental Health Act is amended by adding Section 20 as follows:

(405 ILCS 49/20 new)

Sec. 20. Delivery and reinforcement of social and emotional learning instruction.

(a) Purpose. The General Assembly finds that social and emotional learning is essential to academic achievement and student well-being, and that such instruction is most effective when provided by trained professionals and reinforced throughout the curriculum.

(b) Definitions. As used in this Section:

"Trained professional" means a licensed school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker employed by or contracted with the school district.

"Class period" means a minimum of 30 minutes or instructional period regularly scheduled for a core or encore subject in the district's daily schedule.

"Integrated curriculum" means the intentional reinforcement of social and emotional learning competencies within classroom instruction, consistent with the Illinois Social and Emotional Learning Standards adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education.

(c) Instructional requirement. Each school district shall ensure that every student in grades K-12 receives direct instruction in social and emotional learning no fewer than 4 times each academic year, approximately once per academic quarter. Such instruction shall:

(1) be delivered by a trained professional;

(2) be provided during a class period; and

(3) address age-appropriate competencies as outlined in the Illinois Learning Standards for Social/Emotional Learning.

(d) Reinforcement and integration. Classroom teachers shall reinforce social and emotional learning concepts through integrated academic curriculum and classroom practices. Each school district shall provide professional development to assist educators in aligning instructional practices with social and emotional learning principles.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2028.