102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4064

 

Introduced 4/13/2021, by Rep. Thomas Morrison

 

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

    Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. With respect to the social studies prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, provides that the civics requirement applies only to pupils entering the 9th grade through the 2020-2021 school year. Provides that for pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year and each school year thereafter, the social studies prerequisite shall include instruction on citizenship. Provides that as part of this instruction, a pupil shall be required to complete the civics test component of the Naturalization Interview and Test administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Allows school districts to utilize private funding available for the purposes of offering citizenship education. Effective July 1, 2021.


LRB102 17953 CMG 24667 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4064LRB102 17953 CMG 24667 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 changing Section
527-22 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-22)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-22)
7    Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.
8    (a) (Blank).
9    (b) (Blank).
10    (c) (Blank).
11    (d) (Blank).
12    (e) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
13each pupil entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other
14course requirements, successfully complete all of the
15following courses:
16        (1) Four years of language arts.
17        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
18    which must be English and the other of which may be English
19    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
20    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
21    graduation requirements.
22        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
23    Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and

 

 

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1    one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
2    course. A mathematics course that includes geometry
3    content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
4    interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
5    course that prepares a student for a career readiness
6    path.
7        (4) Two years of science.
8        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
9    year must be history of the United States or a combination
10    of history of the United States and American government
11    and, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the
12    2016-2017 school year through the 2020-2021 school year
13    and each school year thereafter, at least one semester
14    must be civics, which shall help young people acquire and
15    learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that
16    will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens
17    throughout their lives. Civics course content shall focus
18    on government institutions, the discussion of current and
19    controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of
20    the democratic process. For pupils entering the 9th grade
21    in the 2021-2022 school year and each school year
22    thereafter, social studies under this paragraph (5) shall
23    include instruction on citizenship. As part of this
24    instruction, a pupil shall be required to complete the
25    civics test component of the Naturalization Interview and
26    Test administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration

 

 

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

 

 

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1    (h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
2provisions of Section 27-22.05 of this Code and the
3Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.
4    (i) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to modify
5the requirements of this Section for any students enrolled in
6grades 9 through 12 if the Governor has declared a disaster due
7to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
8Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
9(Source: P.A. 100-443, eff. 8-25-17; 101-464, eff. 1-1-20;
10101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
122021.