104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1920
 
Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Doris Turner
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new
    Amends the School Code. Provides that, no Later than July 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall create educational materials that shall be posted publicly on its website and distributed to all school districts in the State that serve any grades kindergarten through 8 on the implementation of American Sign Language instruction into a school's curriculum. Includes a list of educational materials. Allows the State Board to receive assistance from outside organizations, State agencies, or individuals with expertise in American Sign Language that the State Board deems appropriate to assist with the creation of the education materials.


LRB104 10324 LNS 20398 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
SB1920LRB104 10324 LNS 20398 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 
52-3.206 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)
7    Sec. 2-3.206. American Sign Language implementation. 
8    (a) No Later than July 1, 2026, the State Board of 
9Education shall create educational materials that shall be 
10posted publicly on its website and distributed to all school 
11districts in the State that serve any grades kindergarten 
12through 8 on the implementation of American Sign Language 
13instruction into a school's curriculum. The educational 
14materials shall include, but need not be limited to:
15        (1) the importance and benefits of American Sign 
16    Language instruction for early ages and the prevalence of 
17    American Sign Language in the United States;
18        (2) information on locating and hiring American Sign 
19    Language instructors and how to become certified to teach 
20    American Sign Language;
21        (3) information on ways to implement American Sign 
22    Language instruction into kindergarten through grade 8 
23    curriculum;
 
 
SB1920- 2 -LRB104 10324 LNS 20398 b

1        (4) information on how to properly administer American 
2    Sign Language instruction for students in Kindergarten 
3    through grade 8; and
4        (5) information on existing funding sources for 
5    American Sign Language instruction.
6    (b) The State Board of Education may receive assistance 
7from outside organizations, State agencies, or individuals 
8with expertise in American Sign Language that the State Board 
9deems appropriate to assist with the creation of the education 
10materials of this Section.