105 ILCS 5/ School Code.

(105 ILCS 5/26-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-13)

Sec. 26-13. Absenteeism and truancy policies. School districts shall adopt policies, consistent with rules adopted by the State Board of Education and Section 22-92, which identify the appropriate supportive services and available resources which are provided for truants and chronic truants.

(Source: P.A. 102-157, eff. 7-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(105 ILCS 5/26-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-14)

Sec. 26-14. Truancy programs for dropouts. Any dropout, as defined in Section 26-2a, who is 17 years of age may apply to a school district for status as a truant, and the school district shall permit such person to participate in the district's various programs and resources for truants. At the time of the person's application, the district may request documentation of his dropout status for the previous 6 months.

(Source: P.A. 93-858, eff. 1-1-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/26-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-15)

Sec. 26-15. Truant minors. When a regional superintendent has reason to believe that a pupil is a truant minor as defined in Section 26-2a, the regional superintendent may report such pupil under the provisions of the Juvenile Court Act.

(Source: P.A. 85-1209.)

(105 ILCS 5/26-16)

Sec. 26-16. Graduation incentives program.

(a) The General Assembly finds that it is critical to provide options for children to succeed in school. The purpose of this Section is to provide incentives for and encourage all Illinois students who have experienced or are experiencing difficulty in the traditional education system to enroll in alternative programs.

(b) Any student who is below the age of 20 years is eligible to enroll in a graduation incentives program if he or she:

(1) is considered a dropout pursuant to Section 26-2a of this Code;

(2) has been suspended or expelled pursuant to Section 10-22.6 or 34-19 of this Code;

(3) is pregnant or is a parent;

(4) has been assessed as chemically dependent; or

(5) is enrolled in a bilingual education or LEP program.

(c) The following programs qualify as graduation incentives programs for students meeting the criteria established in this Section:

(1) Any public elementary or secondary education graduation incentives program established by a school district or by a regional office of education.

(2) Any alternative learning opportunities program established pursuant to Article 13B of this Code.

(3) Vocational or job training courses approved by the State Superintendent of Education that are available through the Illinois public community college system. Students may apply for reimbursement of 50% of tuition costs for one course per semester or a maximum of 3 courses per school year. Subject to available funds, students may apply for reimbursement of up to 100% of tuition costs upon a showing of employment within 6 months after completion of a vocational or job training program. The qualifications for reimbursement shall be established by the State Superintendent of Education by rule.

(4) Job and career programs approved by the State Superintendent of Education that are available through Illinois-accredited private business and vocational schools. Subject to available funds, pupils may apply for reimbursement of up to 100% of tuition costs upon a showing of employment within 6 months after completion of a job or career program. The State Superintendent of Education shall establish, by rule, the qualifications for reimbursement, criteria for determining reimbursement amounts, and limits on reimbursement.

(5) Adult education courses that offer preparation for high school equivalency testing.

(d) Graduation incentives programs established by school districts are entitled to claim general State aid and evidence-based funding, subject to Sections 13B-50, 13B-50.5, and 13B-50.10 of this Code. Graduation incentives programs operated by regional offices of education are entitled to receive general State aid and evidence-based funding at the foundation level of support per pupil enrolled. A school district must ensure that its graduation incentives program receives supplemental general State aid, transportation reimbursements, and special education resources, if appropriate, for students enrolled in the program.

(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

(105 ILCS 5/26-17)

Sec. 26-17. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 97-911, eff. 8-8-12. Repealed internally, eff. 11-2-12.)

(105 ILCS 5/26-18)

Sec. 26-18. Chronic absenteeism report and support.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Chronic absence" means absences that total 10% or more of school days of the most recent academic school year, including absences with and without valid cause, as defined in Section 26-2a of this Code, and out-of-school suspensions for an enrolled student.

"Student" means any enrolled student that is subject to compulsory attendance under Section 26-1 of this Code but does not mean a student for whom a documented homebound or hospital record is on file during the student's absence from school.

(b) The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The early years are a critical period in children's learning and development. Every child should be counted present every day. Every day of school matters.

(2) Being absent too many days from school can make it difficult for students to stay on-track academically and maintain the momentum to graduate from high school in order to be college- or career-ready.

(3) Every day of school attendance matters for all students and their families. It is crucial, therefore, that the implications of chronic absence be understood and reviewed regularly.

(c) Beginning July 1, 2018, every school district, charter school, or alternative school or any school receiving public funds shall collect and review its chronic absence data and determine what systems of support and resources are needed to engage chronically absent students and their families to encourage the habit of daily attendance and promote success. The review shall include an analysis of chronic absence data from each attendance center or campus of the school district, charter school, or alternative school or other school receiving public funds.

(d) School districts, charter schools, or alternative schools or any school receiving public funds are encouraged to provide a system of support to students who are at risk of reaching or exceeding chronic absence levels with strategies such as those available through the Illinois Multi-tiered Systems of Support Network. Schools additionally are encouraged to make resources available to families such as those available through the State Board of Education's Family Engagement Framework to support and engage students and their families to encourage heightened school engagement and improved daily school attendance.

(Source: P.A. 100-156, eff. 1-1-18.)

(105 ILCS 5/26-19)

Sec. 26-19. Chronic absenteeism in preschool children.

(a) In this Section, "chronic absence" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 26-18 of this Code.

(b) The General Assembly makes all of the following findings:

(1) The early years are an extremely important period in a child's learning and development.

(2) Missed learning opportunities in the early years make it difficult for a child to enter kindergarten ready for success.

(3) Attendance patterns in the early years serve as predictors of chronic absenteeism and reduced educational outcomes in later school years. Therefore, it is crucial that the implications of chronic absence be understood and reviewed regularly under the Preschool for All Program and Preschool for All Expansion Program under Section 2-3.71 of this Code.

(c) The Preschool for All Program and Preschool for All Expansion Program under Section 2-3.71 of this Code shall collect and review its chronic absence data and determine what support and resources are needed to positively engage chronically absent students and their families to encourage the habit of daily attendance and promote success.

(d) The Preschool for All Program and Preschool for All Expansion Program under Section 2-3.71 of this Code are encouraged to do all of the following:

(1) Provide support to students who are at risk of reaching or exceeding chronic absence levels.

(2) Make resources available to families, such as those available through the State Board of Education's Family Engagement Framework, to support and encourage families to ensure their children's daily program attendance.

(3) Include information about chronic absenteeism as part of their preschool to kindergarten transition resources.

(e) On or before July 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, the Preschool for All Program and Preschool for All Expansion Program shall report all data collected under subsection (c) of this Section to the State Board of Education, which shall make the report publicly available via the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map Internet website and the Preschool for All Program or Preschool for All Expansion Program triennial report.

(Source: P.A. 102-539, eff. 8-20-21.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 26A heading) ARTICLE 26A. CHILDREN AND STUDENTS WHO ARE PARENTS, EXPECTANT PARENTS, OR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE (Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 7-1-25.)