SB1616eng 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1616 Engrossed LRB104 12054 LNS 22149 b

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 2-3.206 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)

Sec. 2-3.206. Scheduling guidance for major school events.

(a) As used in this Section, "major school event" means a school sanctioned or sponsored event that is part of a school or school district's locally created school calendar for the year, including, but not limited to, events or activities that would be difficult for a student to make up.

(b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with stakeholders, shall identify dates during the year of cultural or religious significance to the student population and in which students may have out-of-school commitments or otherwise be unable to participate in a major school event.

By July 1 of each year, the State Board of Education shall prominently post on its website and distribute to each school district a nonexhaustive list of the identified days and dates of cultural, religious, or other observances for, at a minimum, the school year that begins in the next calendar year as a resource for making scheduling decisions for major school events. The list shall include a statement encouraging schools to be mindful of the days and dates of cultural, religious, or other observances that impact student participation as schools plan major school events.

(c) The list of cultural, religious, or other observances under subsection (b) shall additionally include a statement indicating that the list is only for scheduling guidance purposes and does not affect a student's right to be excused from attendance because of the observance of a religious holiday pursuant to Section 26-2b of this Code, regardless of whether the religious holiday appears on the list.

Upon the posting and distribution of the list, the State Board of Education shall also inform school districts that the list is nonexhaustive and that a school district may include additional days and dates on its locally created school calendars based on community feedback or demographics.

The State Board of Education shall additionally distribute the list each year to relevant associations or entities as determined by the State Board of Education.

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