Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5609

LRB104 19787 LNS 33237 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5609

Introduced 2/13/2026, by Rep. Travis Weaver

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/10-20.24

from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.24

Amends the School Code. Provides that a request for part-time attendance may (rather than must) be submitted by the nonpublic school parents (rather than the nonpublic school principal) to the public school at any time (rather than before May 1). Provides that the school district that the student attends part-time shall receive State funding for the pupil's participation in the public school course or program. Provides that a part-time student shall not be required to pay fees for the part-time student's enrollment or participation in any public school program or course, except to the extent that a full-time student is required to pay the same fees. Allows the parent or guardian of a child of school age who is enrolled in a nonpublic school to enroll the child in any public school in the child's district of residence on a part-time basis for interscholastic extracurricular activities. Prohibits a local school board from discriminating against a child seeking enrollment in interscholastic extracurricular activities at a public school based on where the child attends school. Provides that a part-time student may participate in any interscholastic extracurricular activity available at the public school, subject to meeting the same eligibility requirements, responsibilities, and standards of behavior and performance as a resident student. Provides that a part-time student who participates in an interscholastic extracurricular activity shall pay any participating or activity fee in an amount equal to the fee charged to a full-time public school participant. Authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the provisions.

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 10-20.24 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.24) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.24)

Sec. 10-20.24. Part-time Attendance.

(a) The parent or guardian of a child of school age who is enrolled in a nonpublic school shall be allowed to enroll the student part-time To accept in part-time attendance in the regular education program of the district pupils enrolled in nonpublic schools if there is sufficient space in the public school desired to be attended. Request for part-time attendance may in the following school year must be submitted by parents the nonpublic school principal to the public school at any time before May 1. Request may be made only to any those public school in the State schools located in the district where the child attending the nonpublic school resides.

A school board shall To accept, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14-6.01, in part-time attendance resident pupils of the types described in Sections 14-1.02 through 14-1.07 who are enrolled in nonpublic schools.

(b) The school district that the student attends part-time shall receive State funding for the pupil's participation in the public school course or program. A part-time student shall not be required to pay fees for the part-time student's enrollment or participation in any public school program or course, except to the extent that a full-time student is required to pay the same fees.

(c) The parent or guardian of a child of school age who is enrolled in a nonpublic school may enroll the child in any public school in the child's district of residence on a part-time basis for interscholastic extracurricular activities. A local school board may not discriminate against a child seeking enrollment in interscholastic extracurricular activities at a public school based on where the child attends school.

(d) A part-time student seeking to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities at a public school the part-time student is enrolled at under this Section may participate in any interscholastic extracurricular activity available at the public school, subject to meeting the same eligibility requirements, responsibilities, and standards of behavior and performance as a resident student. A part-time student eligible under this Section who participates in an interscholastic extracurricular activity under this subsection shall pay any participating or activity fee in an amount equal to the fee charged to a full-time public school participant.

(e) Nothing in this Section shall establish authority of a local school district or the State Board of Education to regulate an at-home private school student's education.

(f) No school district or interscholastic athletic association may adopt or enforce rules contrary to this Section.

(g) The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt rules to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 80-1509.)