Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB1920

LRB104 10324 LNS 20398 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1920

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Doris Turner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new

Amends the School Code. Provides that, no Later than July 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall create educational materials that shall be posted publicly on its website and distributed to all school districts in the State that serve any grades kindergarten through 8 on the implementation of American Sign Language instruction into a school's curriculum. Includes a list of educational materials. Allows the State Board to receive assistance from outside organizations, State agencies, or individuals with expertise in American Sign Language that the State Board deems appropriate to assist with the creation of the education materials.

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. American Sign Language implementation.

(a) No Later than July 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall create educational materials that shall be posted publicly on its website and distributed to all school districts in the State that serve any grades kindergarten through 8 on the implementation of American Sign Language instruction into a school's curriculum. The educational materials shall include, but need not be limited to:

(1) the importance and benefits of American Sign Language instruction for early ages and the prevalence of American Sign Language in the United States;

(2) information on locating and hiring American Sign Language instructors and how to become certified to teach American Sign Language;

(3) information on ways to implement American Sign Language instruction into kindergarten through grade 8 curriculum;

(4) information on how to properly administer American Sign Language instruction for students in Kindergarten through grade 8; and

(5) information on existing funding sources for American Sign Language instruction.

(b) The State Board of Education may receive assistance from outside organizations, State agencies, or individuals with expertise in American Sign Language that the State Board deems appropriate to assist with the creation of the education materials of this Section.