104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4855
 
Introduced , by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
405 ILCS 49/20 new
    Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. Requires each school district to ensure that every student in grades K-12 receives direct instruction in social and emotional learning no fewer than 4 times each academic year, approximately once per academic quarter. Requires social and emotional learning instruction to be delivered by a trained professional, provided during a class period, and address age-appropriate competencies as outlined in the Illinois Learning Standards for Social/Emotional Learning. Requires classroom teachers to reinforce social and emotional learning concepts through integrated academic curriculum and classroom practices. Requires each school district to provide professional development to assist educators in aligning instructional practices with social and emotional learning principles. Effective January 1, 2028.


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A BILL FOR
 
HB4855LRB104 16605 KTG 30005 b

1    AN ACT concerning mental health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Children's Mental Health Act is amended by 
5adding Section 20 as follows:
 
6    (405 ILCS 49/20 new)
7    Sec. 20. Delivery and reinforcement of social and 
8emotional learning instruction.
9    (a) Purpose. The General Assembly finds that social and 
10emotional learning is essential to academic achievement and 
11student well-being, and that such instruction is most 
12effective when provided by trained professionals and 
13reinforced throughout the curriculum.
14    (b) Definitions. As used in this Section:
15    "Trained professional" means a licensed school counselor, 
16school psychologist, or school social worker employed by or 
17contracted with the school district.
18    "Class period" means a minimum of 30 minutes or 
19instructional period regularly scheduled for a core or encore 
20subject in the district's daily schedule.
21    "Integrated curriculum" means the intentional 
22reinforcement of social and emotional learning competencies 
23within classroom instruction, consistent with the Illinois 
 
 
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1Social and Emotional Learning Standards adopted by the 
2Illinois State Board of Education.
3    (c) Instructional requirement. Each school district shall 
4ensure that every student in grades K-12 receives direct 
5instruction in social and emotional learning no fewer than 4 
6times each academic year, approximately once per academic 
7quarter. Such instruction shall:
8        (1) be delivered by a trained professional;
9        (2) be provided during a class period; and
10        (3) address age-appropriate competencies as outlined 
11    in the Illinois Learning Standards for Social/Emotional 
12    Learning.
13    (d) Reinforcement and integration. Classroom teachers 
14shall reinforce social and emotional learning concepts through 
15integrated academic curriculum and classroom practices. Each 
16school district shall provide professional development to 
17assist educators in aligning instructional practices with 
18social and emotional learning principles.
 
19    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
201, 2028.