Full Text of HB2651

LRB104 08424 LNS 18476 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2651

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to identify days during the year when there may be a portion of the student body absent or unable to participate in a major school event due to cultural, religious, or other observances and, by February 1 of each year, to prominently post on its website and distribute to school districts a nonexhaustive list of the corresponding days and dates of potential cultural, religious, or other observances in the upcoming school year. Allows a school district to include additional days and dates based on community feedback or demographics. Requires the State Board to distribute the list by February 1 each year to regional offices of education, the Department of Early Childhood, the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois High School Association, and other relevant associations or entities as determined by the State Board. Effective immediately.

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 adding Section 2-3.206 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)

Sec. 2-3.206. Major school-event-scheduling guidance. As used in this Section, "major school event" includes, but is not limited to, tests, special projects, special events, special activities, schoolwide events, or extracurricular activities that would be difficult to make up.

The State Board of Education, through consultation with stakeholders, shall identify days during the year when there may be a portion of the student body absent or unable to participate in a major school event due to cultural, religious, or other observances.

By February 1 of each year, the State Board of Education shall prominently post on its website and distribute to each school district a nonexhaustive list of the corresponding days and dates of potential cultural, religious, or other observances for, at a minimum, the upcoming school year as a resource for making major school-event-scheduling decisions, encouraging school districts not to schedule a major school event on those days.

The list shall include a statement indicating that the list is only for scheduling purposes and does not affect a student's right to be excused from attendance because of the observance of a religious holiday pursuant to Section 26-2b of this Code, regardless of whether the religious holiday appears on the list.

Upon the distribution of the list, the State Board of Education shall also inform school districts that a school district may include additional days and dates based on community feedback or demographics.

The State Board of Education shall additionally distribute the list by February 1 each year to regional offices of education, the Department of Early Childhood, the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois High School Association, and other relevant associations or entities as determined by the State Board of Education.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.