104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB0123

 

Introduced 1/17/2025, by Sen. Linda Holmes

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g-5 new

    Amends the School Code. Creates the Waiver Process Task Force. Sets forth provisions concerning membership, meetings, and support services. Provides that the purposes of the Task Force are to examine the current waiver response process and make recommendations on a more equitable and fair waiver response at the elementary and secondary school levels in this State; develop and use metrics to access the viability of waiver requests and the impact of such requests on students in kindergarten through grade 12; promote training and professional development on creating waiver requests that include accountability measures for teachers and other community stakeholders across this State; identify and seek local, State, and national resources to support an equitable and fair waiver process; and complete such other strategies as may be identified by the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on how waivers should be requested, how waivers should be reviewed for approval, and how to demonstrate the ability to fulfill accountability measures proposed in requested waivers. Requires the Task Force to file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2025. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB0123LRB104 06330 LNS 16365 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
52-3.25g-5 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g-5 new)
7    Sec. 2-3.25g-5. Waiver Process Task Force.
8    (a) The Waiver Process Task Force is created. The Task
9Force shall consist of the following voting members:
10        (1) a member of the General Assembly, appointed by the
11    Speaker of the House of Representatives;
12        (2) a member of the General Assembly, appointed by the
13    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
14        (3) a member of the General Assembly, appointed by the
15    President of the Senate;
16        (4) a member of the General Assembly, appointed by the
17    Minority Leader of the Senate;
18        (5) the Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee;
19        (6) the State Superintendent of Education or his or
20    her designee, who shall serve as a co-chairperson of the
21    Task Force;
22        (7) the Director of Public Health or his or her
23    designee, who shall serve as a co-chairperson of the Task

 

 

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1    Force;
2        (8) the Chief Executive Officer of City of Chicago
3    School District 299, appointed by the Chicago Board of
4    Education;
5        (9) 2 representatives from a statewide organization
6    representing health, physical education, recreation, and
7    dance, appointed by the head of that organization, of
8    which one representative is a current teacher and one is a
9    retired teacher;
10        (10) a representative of City of Chicago School
11    District 299, appointed by the Chicago Board of Education;
12        (11) 2 representatives of a statewide professional
13    teachers' organization, appointed by the head of that
14    organization;
15        (12) 2 representatives of a statewide professional
16    teachers' organization other than the statewide
17    professional teachers' organization in paragraph (11),
18    appointed by the head of that organization;
19        (13) a representative of an organization representing
20    professional teachers in a city having a population of
21    more than 500,000, appointed by the head of that
22    organization;
23        (14) a representative of a statewide organization
24    representing principals, appointed by the head of that
25    organization;
26        (15) a representative of a statewide organization

 

 

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1    representing school administrators, appointed by the head
2    of that organization;
3        (16) a representative of a statewide organization
4    representing school boards, appointed by the head of that
5    organization;
6        (17) a representative of a statewide organization
7    representing school business officials, appointed by the
8    head of that organization;
9        (18) a representative of a statewide organization
10    representing parents, appointed by the head of that
11    organization;
12        (19) a representative of a national research and
13    advocacy organization focused on cardiovascular health and
14    wellness, appointed by the head of that organization;
15        (20) a representative of an organization that
16    advocates for healthy school environments, appointed by
17    the head of that organization;
18        (21) a representative of a not-for-profit organization
19    serving children and youth, appointed by the head of that
20    organization;
21        (22) a representative of a not-for-profit organization
22    that partners to promote prevention and improve public
23    health systems that maximize the health and quality of
24    life of the people of this State, appointed by the head of
25    that organization;
26        (23) a representative of a statewide organization

 

 

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1    representing driver education and safety, appointed by the
2    head of that organization;
3        (24) a representative of a statewide organization
4    representing adapted physical education, appointed by the
5    head of that organization;
6        (25) a representative of a statewide organization
7    representing health education, appointed by the head of
8    that organization; and
9        (26) a representative from a regional office of
10    education, appointed by the State Superintendent of
11    Education.
12    Additional members may be appointed to the Task Force with
13the approval of the co-chairpersons. All members of the Task
14Force shall serve without compensation.
15    (b) The Task Force shall meet at the call of the
16co-chairpersons, with the initial meeting of the Task Force
17being held as soon as possible after the effective date of this
18amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.
19    (c) The State Board of Education and the Department of
20Public Health shall provide assistance and necessary staff
21support services to the Task Force.
22    (d) The purposes of the Task Force are to:
23        (1) examine the current waiver response process and
24    make recommendations on a more equitable and fair waiver
25    response at the elementary and secondary school levels in
26    this State, including educating and promoting leadership

 

 

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1    on the waiver response process among school districts and
2    school officials;
3        (2) develop and use metrics to access the viability of
4    waiver requests and the impact of such requests on
5    students in kindergarten through grade 12;
6        (3) promote training and professional development on
7    creating waiver requests that include accountability
8    measures for teachers and other community stakeholders
9    across this State;
10        (4) identify and seek local, State, and national
11    resources to support an equitable and fair waiver process;
12    and
13        (5) complete such other strategies as may be
14    identified by the Task Force.
15    (e) The Task Force shall make recommendations to the
16Governor and the General Assembly on how waivers should be
17requested, how waivers should be reviewed for approval, and
18how to demonstrate the ability to fulfill accountability
19measures proposed in requested waivers. The Task Force shall
20focus on updating the waiver request process, the waiver
21acceptance or denial process, and ways to hold waiver
22applicants accountable for meeting the stated goals of
23waivers.
24    (f) On or before December 31, 2025, the Task Force must
25report its recommendations by filing copies of its report with
26the Governor and the General Assembly. Upon filing its report,

 

 

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1the Task Force is dissolved.
2    (g) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2027.
 
3    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
4becoming law.