103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1623
 
Introduced 2/1/2023, by Rep. Ryan Spain
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
105 ILCS 5/10-31 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.82 new

     Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to adopt a policy to (i) allow the parent or legal guardian of a child to notify the school principal or a designee in writing that the parent or legal guardian objects to the use of specific course material and (ii) allow the child to use alternative course material.  Requires the alternative course material to be provided at the expense of the parent or legal guardian. Requires the content of the alternative course material to be sufficiently equivalent to the specific course material to enable the child to meet State standards in a particular subject area. Effective July 1, 2023.
  


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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY
					
 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
HB1623LRB103 05080 RJT 50094 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by adding Sections 
510-31 and 34-18.82 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-31 new)
7    Sec. 10-31. Parental objection to specific course 
8material.
9    (a) In this Section, "specific course material" includes, 
10but is not limited to, a book or books, workbooks, 
11supplementary materials, computer software, magnetic media, 
12DVDs, CD-ROMs, computer courseware, online services, an 
13electronic medium, or other means of conveying information to 
14a student or otherwise contributing to the learning process 
15through electronic means. 
16    (b) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each school 
17board shall adopt a policy allowing the parent or legal 
18guardian of a child to request that the child be excluded from 
19using  specific course material based on the parent's or legal 
20guardian's finding that the specific course material is 
21objectionable. The policy shall include  provisions that 
22require: 
23        (1) the parent or legal guardian to notify the school 
 
 
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1    principal or a designee in writing of the specific course 
2    material to which the parent or legal guardian objects; 
3    and 
4        (2) the use of alternative course material that is 
5    agreed upon by both the school district and the parent or 
6    legal guardian. 
7    (c) The alternative course material under paragraph (2) of 
8subsection (b) shall be provided for use by the child at the 
9parent's or legal guardian's expense. The content of the 
10alternative course material must be sufficiently equivalent to 
11the specific course material found objectionable by the parent 
12or legal guardian to enable the child to meet State standards 
13for education in the particular subject area covered by the 
14specific course material. 
15    (d) The name of the parent or legal guardian and any of the 
16specific reasons for the parent's or legal guardian's 
17objection to the specific course material under this Section 
18must remain confidential and may not be publicly disclosed. 
 
19    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.82 new)
20    Sec. 34-18.82. Parental objection to specific course 
21material.
22    (a) In this Section, "specific course material" includes, 
23but is not limited to, a book or books, workbooks, 
24supplementary materials, computer software, magnetic media, 
25DVDs, CD-ROMs, computer courseware, online services,  an 
 
 
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1electronic medium, or other means of conveying information to 
2a student or otherwise contributing to the learning process 
3through electronic means. 
4    (b) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the board 
5shall adopt a policy allowing the parent or legal guardian of a 
6child to request that the child be excluded from using 
7specific course material based on the parent's or legal 
8guardian's finding that the specific course material is 
9objectionable. The policy shall include  provisions that 
10require: 
11        (1) the parent or legal guardian to notify the school 
12    principal or a designee in writing of the specific course 
13    material to which the parent or legal guardian objects; 
14    and 
15        (2) the use of alternative course material that is 
16    agreed upon by both the school district and the parent or 
17    legal guardian. 
18    (c) The alternative course material under paragraph (2) of 
19subsection (b) shall be provided for use by the child at the 
20parent's or legal guardian's expense. The content of the 
21alternative course material must be sufficiently equivalent to 
22the specific course material found objectionable by the parent 
23or legal guardian to enable the child to meet State standards 
24for education in the particular subject area covered by the 
25specific course material. 
26    (d) The name of the parent or legal guardian and any of the 
 
 
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1specific reasons for the parent's or legal guardian's 
2objection to the specific course material under this Section 
3must remain confidential and may not be publicly disclosed. 
 
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
52023.