HB1838sam001 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Willie Preston

Filed: 5/22/2025

10400HB1838sam001 LRB104 08911 LNS 26624 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 1838

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 1838 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections 10-20.88 and 34-18.88 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new)

Sec. 10-20.88. Selective admission schools; standardized testing.

(a) A school board that has a school with selective admission requirements that require standardized testing in order for incoming kindergarten students to attend the school shall require the district, no later than 30 days prior to the first developmentally appropriate screening assessment, to provide resources about the testing process to the families of students who elect to participate in the testing.

The school district shall facilitate at least 3 informational sessions that encompass an overview of the selective-admission standardized-testing process, including information on the testing protocols, policies, and procedures, for families of incoming kindergarten students who are interested in attending the selective admission school. No more than one online informational session may be counted toward the total number of sessions required. Online session recordings and testing process resources shall be posted on the school district's website after they have been created or conducted.

(b) A school board that has a school with selective admission requirements that require standardized testing for admissions shall commission an independent and third-party study for the purpose of determining the most appropriate entry-level grade for the school. This study and the findings of it shall be reported to the General Assembly and school district no later than March 1, 2026. The school district shall respond to the study's findings and report the district's response to the General Assembly no later than March 30, 2026.

Beginning on August 1, 2027, the school district shall prohibit standardized testing or developmentally appropriate screening assessments for those children seeking to enter a kindergarten program.

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new)

Sec. 34-18.88. Selective admission schools; standardized testing.

(a) If the school district has a school with selective admission requirements that require standardized testing in order for incoming kindergarten students to attend the school, the board shall require the district, no later than 30 days prior to the first developmentally appropriate screening assessment, to provide resources about the testing process to the families of students who elect to participate in the testing.

The school district shall facilitate at least 3 informational sessions that encompass an overview of the selective-admission standardized-testing process, including information on the testing protocols, policies, and procedures, for families of incoming kindergarten students who are interested in attending the selective admission school. No more than one online informational session may be counted toward the total number of sessions required. Online session recordings and testing process resources shall be posted on the school district's website after they have been created or conducted.

(b) If the school district has a school with selective admission requirements that require standardized testing for admissions, the board shall commission an independent and third-party study for the purpose of determining the most appropriate entry-level grade for the school. This study and the findings of it shall be reported to the General Assembly and school district no later than March 1, 2026. The school district shall respond to the study's findings and report the district's response to the General Assembly no later than March 30, 2026.

Beginning on August 1, 2027, the school district shall prohibit standardized testing or developmentally appropriate screening assessments for those children seeking to enter a kindergarten program.".