HB4337 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17078 LNS 30495 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4337

Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/34-21.11 new

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that the Chicago Board of Education shall designate a traceable communication system to be the exclusive means for a district employee or volunteer to communicate electronically with students. Requires the principal of each public school to provide parents written or electronic notification within the first 10 days of the school year of each electronic school notification and communication program designated within the traceable communication system. Prohibits, with exceptions, a district employee or volunteer from communicating electronically with a student: (1) outside of the traceable communication system designated by the Board; or (2) through an unauthorized electronic communication program or application. Sets forth disciplinary actions that may be taken for violating the provisions. Allows a parent to submit written consent to authorize a designated district employee or volunteer who is not a family member to communicate electronically with his or her child outside of the traceable communication system. Includes an exception for family members who are district employees or volunteers. Sets forth reporting requirements. Requires the State Board of Education to develop a complaint form for parents to submit to the Board, the district, or the State Board of Education if a district employee or volunteer violates the provisions. Makes other changes.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 34-21.11 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/34-21.11 new)

Sec. 34-21.11. Electronic communication between district employees and students.

(a) As used in this Section:

"District employee or volunteer" means a school administrator, classified or licensed employee of the district, school volunteer, nonfaculty coach or assistant coach, student teacher, or sponsor of an extracurricular program or activity.

"Family member" means a parent, brother, sister, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, or grandparent.

"Parent" means a parent, legal guardian, or other person or agency responsible for a student.

"Traceable communication system" means one or more electronic school notification and communication programs or applications that:

(1) are designated by the board;

(2) trace all communications sent to or by a student; and

(3) provide parents an opportunity to access and review those communications.

"Unauthorized electronic communication" means an electronic communication with a student by a district employee or volunteer who is not the student's family member that occurs outside of a designated traceable communication system and without prior written parental consent and includes any personal email account, text messaging, social media, or other electronic notification and communication programs outside of the traceable communication system.

(b) The board shall designate a traceable communication system to be the exclusive means for a district employee or volunteer to communicate electronically with students. The principal of each public school shall provide parents written or electronic notification within the first 10 days of the school year of each electronic school notification and communication program designated within the traceable communication system. The notification shall include instructions for parents to access and review communications sent through each electronic school notification and communication program.

Every district employee or volunteer shall sign an acknowledgment of the board's policy regarding the traceable communication system designated under this subsection.

(c) Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f), a district employee or volunteer may not communicate electronically with a student:

(1) outside of the traceable communication system designated by the board; or

(2) through an unauthorized electronic communication program or application.

(d) A district employee who violates subsection (c) is subject to disciplinary action as follows:

(1) For licensed employees, the district may note the incident in their personnel file, issue a warning, or, if appropriate, terminate employment or the State Board of Education may revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew a license, impose probationary or supervisory conditions upon a license, issue a written reprimand or admonishment, or perform any combination of those actions regarding a license.

(2) For nonlicensed employees, the district may note the incident in their personnel file, issue a warning, or, if appropriate, terminate employment.

A school volunteer who violates subsection (c) shall be prohibited from participating in future school volunteer opportunities.

(e) A parent may submit written consent to authorize a designated district employee or volunteer who is not a family member to communicate electronically with his or her child outside of the traceable communication system. The written consent:

(1) shall be filed in the administrative office of the student's school prior to any electronic communication being sent from a district employee or volunteer to a student outside of the traceable communication system;

(2) shall designate a single, specific district employee or volunteer, per each written consent, who may communicate with the student outside of the traceable communication system, which designation may not be transferred to any other district employee or volunteer;

(3) may be revoked by a parent at any time;

(4) may establish terms limiting electronic communication with a student, including a term requiring that a parent be included as a direct party to all electronic communications sent to the student outside of the traceable communication system or establishing an expiration for the term of the consent; and

(5) may not authorize a district employee or volunteer to engage in inappropriate or sexual electronic communication with a student or be used as the basis of a defense for a district employee or volunteer who engages in inappropriate or sexual electronic communication. Any electronic communication with a student outside of the traceable communication system shall comply with all terms of the written consent under paragraph (4).

(f) Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c), this Section does not restrict any electronic communications between a student and his or her family member who is a district employee or volunteer.

(g) A district employee or volunteer who receives a report alleging that another district employee or volunteer participated in an unauthorized electronic communication shall immediately notify the supervising principal. If the subject of the report is the principal, the district employee or volunteer shall immediately notify the general superintendent of schools. If the subject of the report is the general superintendent of schools, the district employee or volunteer shall immediately notify the State Superintendent of Education and the chairperson of the board.

A district employee who violates this subsection is subject to disciplinary action as follows:

(1) For licensed employees, the district may note the incident in their personnel file, issue a warning, or, if appropriate, terminate employment or the State Board of Education may revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew a license, impose probationary or supervisory conditions upon a license, issue a written reprimand or admonishment, or perform any combination of those actions regarding a license.

(2) For nonlicensed employees, the district may note the incident in the personnel file, issue a warning, or, if appropriate, terminate employment.

(h) Upon receipt of a report alleging that a district employee or volunteer participated in an unauthorized electronic communication, the State Superintendent of Education, a principal, or the general superintendent of schools shall immediately:

(1) notify the parent of each student who is an alleged party to the unauthorized electronic communication;

(2) if the individual who is the subject of the report is a licensed employee:

(A) notify the State Board of Education, who shall promptly investigate all allegations received under this subsection and proceed with appropriate disciplinary actions, including noting the incident in the individual's personnel file, revoking, suspending, or refusing to issue or renew a license, imposing probationary or supervisory conditions upon a license, issuing a written reprimand or admonishment, or performing any combination of those actions regarding a license; and

(B) investigate the underlying allegations and proceed with appropriate disciplinary actions, including noting the incident in the individual's personnel file, issuing a warning, or terminating employment;

(3) if the individual who is the subject of the report is a nonlicensed employee, investigate the underlying allegations and proceed with appropriate disciplinary actions, including noting the incident in the individual's personnel file, issuing a warning, or terminating employment; and

(4) if the individual who is the subject of the report is a school volunteer, investigate the underlying allegations and, if substantiated, prohibit the volunteer from participating in future school volunteer opportunities.

If a principal or the general superintendent of schools violates this subsection, he or she is subject to disciplinary action, including the revocation or suspension of or refusal to issue or renew a license, the imposition of probationary or supervisory conditions upon a license, the issuance of a written reprimand or admonishment, any combination of those actions regarding a license, or termination of employment.

(i) The State Board of Education shall develop a complaint form for parents to submit to the board, the district, or the State Board of Education if a district employee or volunteer violates this Section.

If a complaint alleges an unauthorized electronic communication, sexual contact, or other sexual misconduct, the identity of a complainant who is not the general superintendent of schools and any identifying information of a minor involved in the complaint shall remain confidential.

If a complaint alleges an unauthorized electronic communication, sexual contact, or other sexual misconduct, the board, the district, or the State Board of Education shall have 120 days after the complaint is filed to conduct an initial review.