HB3503 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10368 LNS 20443 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3503

Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Illinois Curriculum Overview and Alignment Act. Requires, beginning January 1, 2026, the State Board of Education to conduct a comprehensive review of all mandated units of study every 5 years. Sets forth what the review shall include. Provides that the review process shall incorporate feedback from educators and administrators, parents and guardians, students, via surveys or focus groups, and subject matter experts and community organizations. Requires the State Board of Education to publish a public report summarizing findings and recommendations from the curriculum overview. Provides that following each curriculum overview, the State Board of Education shall: (1) develop an action plan to address identified gaps or areas for improvement; (2) provide professional development for educators on updates or changes; and (3) monitor the implementation of curriculum updates and assess their impact on student outcomes. Requires the General Assembly to appropriate funds necessary for the State Board of Education to carry out the requirements of the Act. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Curriculum Overview and Alignment Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the State Board of Education to conduct a comprehensive review of mandated units of study every 5 years.

(2) Ensure that mandated curriculum aligns with current societal needs, scientific advancements, and educational best practices.

(3) Identify and address gaps in the curriculum to support student development in critical areas.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Comprehensive curriculum overview" refers to a systematic review and evaluation of the mandated units of study, including stakeholder engagement and analysis of instructional outcomes.

"Mandated units of study" refers to all topics and subjects required by State law to be included in public school curricula.

Section 15. Curriculum overview requirements.

(a) Beginning January 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall conduct a comprehensive review of all mandated units of study every 5 years.

(b) The review shall include:

(1) Alignment of mandated units with State and national educational standards.

(2) Identification of redundancies or overlapping content across grades and subjects.

(3) Evaluation of the inclusivity and cultural relevance of the curriculum.

(4) Assessment of new areas of societal or technological importance that may warrant inclusion, such as digital citizenship, artificial intelligence, and emerging global issues.

(5) A thorough study of all courses offered in State public schools, including elective and core courses, to ensure that they meet the needs of students in comparison to other states.

(6) A specific evaluation of financial education, analyzing why this State may lag behind other states in this area and providing recommendations for improvement.

(7) A review of newly passed laws that mandate additional instructional topics but have not yet been implemented in the units of study. This includes assessing the feasibility, resources required, and potential impact of incorporating these topics into the curriculum.

(c) The State Board of Education shall include in its review a focused section titled "Encompassing National Review," which:

(1) Compares the State's curriculum offerings with those of other top-performing states in the nation.

(2) Identifies best practices in curriculum design and implementation adopted by these states.

(3) Evaluates areas where the State can improve to position itself in the top tier of state education systems.

(4) Highlights gaps in essential skills, such as financial literacy, STEM readiness, global competency, and workforce preparedness.

(d) The review process shall incorporate feedback from educators and administrators, parents and guardians, students, via surveys or focus groups, and subject matter experts and community organizations.

(e) The State Board of Education shall publish a public report summarizing findings and recommendations from the curriculum overview.

The report shall include a comparative analysis of the State's curriculum offerings with those of other states, with an emphasis on financial education and other identified gaps.

The report shall include recommendations for implementing newly mandated instructional topics not yet incorporated into the curriculum.

The report shall be presented to the Governor, General Assembly, and made publicly available on the State Board of Education's website.

Section 20. Implementation and monitoring.

(a) Following each curriculum overview, the State Board of Education shall:

(1) Develop an action plan to address identified gaps or areas for improvement.

(2) Provide professional development for educators on updates or changes.

(3) Monitor the implementation of curriculum updates and assess their impact on student outcomes.

(b) The State Board of Education shall allocate appropriate resources to support the curriculum review process and subsequent updates.

Section 25. Funding. The General Assembly shall appropriate funds necessary for the State Board of Education to carry out the requirements of this Act, including stakeholder engagement activities and research initiatives.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.