99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4241

 

Introduced , by Rep. Deborah Conroy

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-22  from Ch. 122, par. 27-22

    If and only if House Bill 4025 of the 99th General Assembly becomes law, amends the School Code to provide that the requirement that at least one semester of a high school student's 2 years of social studies be civics applies beginning with students entering the 9th grade in the 2016-2017 school year. Effective immediately or on the date House Bill 4025 of the 99th General Assembly takes effect, whichever is later.


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A BILL FOR

 

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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. If and only if House Bill 4025 of the 99th
5General Assembly becomes law, the School Code is amended by
6changing Section 27-22 as follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/27-22)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-22)
8    Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.
9    (a) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
10each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 1984-1985 school year
11through the 2004-2005 school year must, in addition to other
12course requirements, successfully complete the following
13courses:
14        (1) three years of language arts;
15        (2) two years of mathematics, one of which may be
16    related to computer technology;
17        (3) one year of science;
18        (4) two years of social studies, of which at least one
19    year must be history of the United States or a combination
20    of history of the United States and American government;
21    and
22        (5) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
23    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American

 

 

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1    Sign Language or (D) vocational education.
2    (b) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
3each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2005-2006 school year
4must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
5complete all of the following courses:
6        (1) Three years of language arts.
7        (2) Three years of mathematics.
8        (3) One year of science.
9        (4) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
10    year must be history of the United States or a combination
11    of history of the United States and American government.
12        (5) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
13    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
14    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
15    (c) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
16each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2006-2007 school year
17must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
18complete all of the following courses:
19        (1) Three years of language arts.
20        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
21    which must be English and the other of which may be English
22    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
23    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
24    graduation requirements.
25        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
26    Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content.

 

 

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1        (4) One year of science.
2        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
3    year must be history of the United States or a combination
4    of history of the United States and American government.
5        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
6    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
7    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
8    (d) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
9each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2007-2008 school year
10must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
11complete all of the following courses:
12        (1) Three years of language arts.
13        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
14    which must be English and the other of which may be English
15    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
16    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
17    graduation requirements.
18        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
19    Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content.
20        (4) Two years of science.
21        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
22    year must be history of the United States or a combination
23    of history of the United States and American government.
24        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
25    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
26    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.

 

 

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1    (e) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
2each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2008-2009 school year
3or a subsequent school year must, in addition to other course
4requirements, successfully complete all of the following
5courses:
6        (1) Four years of language arts.
7        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
8    which must be English and the other of which may be English
9    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
10    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
11    graduation requirements.
12        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
13    Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
14    one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
15    course if the pupil successfully completes Algebra II or an
16    integrated mathematics course with Algebra II content.
17        (4) Two years of science.
18        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
19    year must be history of the United States or a combination
20    of history of the United States and American government
21    and, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the
22    2016-2017 school year, at least one semester must be
23    civics, which shall help young people acquire and learn to
24    use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare
25    them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout
26    their lives. Civics course content shall focus on

 

 

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1    government institutions, the discussion of current and
2    controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of
3    the democratic process. School districts may utilize
4    private funding available for the purposes of offering
5    civics education.
6        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
7    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
8    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
9    (f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform
10school districts of standards for writing-intensive
11coursework.
12    (f-5) If a school district offers an Advanced Placement
13computer science course to high school students, then the
14school board must designate that course as equivalent to a high
15school mathematics course and must denote on the student's
16transcript that the Advanced Placement computer science course
17qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for
18students in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (e)
19of this Section.
20    (g) This amendatory Act of 1983 does not apply to pupils
21entering the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior
22school years or to students with disabilities whose course of
23study is determined by an individualized education program.
24    This amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly does not
25apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school
26year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities

 

 

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1whose course of study is determined by an individualized
2education program.
3    (h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
4provisions of Section 27-22.05.
5(Source: P.A. 98-885, eff. 8-15-14; 09900HB4025enr.)
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
7becoming law or on the date House Bill 4025 of the 99th General
8Assembly takes effect, whichever is later.