SB1375 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 07812 NHT 27947 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1375

Introduced 2/18/2015, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-3	from Ch. 122, par. 27-3
105 ILCS 5/27A-11.10 new

Amends the School Code. In provisions that prohibit a student from receiving a certificate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination upon the subjects of American patriotism and the principles of representative government and the proper use and display of the American flag, provides that the examination for high school students must include test questions that are identical to the 100 test questions listed in the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and a pupil may not be considered to have satisfactorily passed the examination without correctly answering at least 60 of those 100 questions. Also requires this testing in charter schools.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

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 changing Section 27-3 and by adding Section 27A-11.10 follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-3)

Sec. 27-3. Patriotism and principles of representative government - Proper use of flag - Method of voting - Pledge of Allegiance. American patriotism and the principles of representative government, as enunciated in the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag, shall be taught in all public schools and other educational institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds. No student shall receive a certificate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination upon such subjects. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the examination for high school students must include test questions that are identical to the 100 test questions listed in the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and a pupil may not be considered to have satisfactorily passed the examination without correctly answering at least 60 of those 100 questions.

Instruction shall be given in all such schools and institutions in the method of voting at elections by means of the Australian Ballot system and the method of the counting of votes for candidates.

The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited each school day by pupils in elementary and secondary educational institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds.

(Source: P.A. 92-612, eff. 7-3-02.)

(105 ILCS 5/27A-11.10 new)

Sec. 27A-11.10. Civics examination. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, no charter school student may receive a certificate of high school graduation without satisfactorily passing an examination that includes test questions that are identical to the 100 test questions listed in the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. A pupil may not be considered to have satisfactorily passed the examination without correctly answering at least 60 of those 100 questions.