Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
Filed: 4/8/2025
 
 

 
 

 
10400HB2997ham001LRB104 08469 LNS 25136 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2997 

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2997 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 
527-20.8 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-20.8)
7    Sec. 27-20.8. Asian American and Arab American history 
8study.
9    (a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, every public 
10elementary school and high school shall include in its 
11curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian 
12American history, including the history of Asian Americans in 
13Illinois and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of 
14Asian Americans toward advancing civil rights from the 19th 
15century onward. These events shall include the contributions 
16made by individual Asian Americans in government and the arts, 
 
 
10400HB2997ham001- 2 -LRB104 08469 LNS 25136 a

1humanities, and sciences, as well as the contributions of 
2Asian American communities to the economic, cultural, social, 
3and political development of the United States. The studying 
4of this material shall constitute an affirmation by students 
5of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and 
6peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in 
7their lives and careers.
8    (a-5) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every 
9public elementary school and high school shall include in its 
10curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab 
11American history, including the history of Arab Americans in 
12this State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of 
13Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. These events 
14shall include the contributions made by individual Arab 
15Americans in government and the arts, humanities, and 
16sciences, as well as the contributions of Arab American 
17communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political 
18development of the United States. The studying of this 
19material shall constitute an affirmation by students of their 
20commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and 
21to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives 
22and careers. 
23    (b) The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and 
24make available to all school boards instructional materials, 
25including those established by the Public Broadcasting 
26Service, that may be used as guidelines for development of a 
 
 
10400HB2997ham001- 3 -LRB104 08469 LNS 25136 a

1unit of instruction under this Section. However, each school 
2board shall itself determine the minimum amount of 
3instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction 
4satisfying the requirements of this Section. 
5    (c) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a 
6school district's compliance with this Section's curricular 
7requirements during his or her annual compliance visit. 
8    (d) A school may meet the requirements of this Section 
9through an online program or course. 
10(Source: P.A. 102-44, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
12becoming law.".