100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB5857

 

Introduced , by Rep. Juliana Stratton

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.155
105 ILCS 5/27-20.4a new

    Amends the School Code. With regard to the textbook block grant program, provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must accurately portray the diversity of our society, including the role and contributions of African American individuals, and must be non-discriminatory. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the significant role of African American individuals in society. Specifies instruction requirements. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to monitor a school district's compliance with the curriculum requirements.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
52-3.155 and by adding Section 27-20.4a as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.155)
7    Sec. 2-3.155. Textbook block grant program.
8    (a) The provisions of this Section are in the public
9interest, for the public benefit, and serve secular public
10purposes.
11    (b) As used in this Section, "textbook" means any book or
12book substitute that a pupil uses as a text or text substitute,
13including electronic textbooks. "Textbook" includes books,
14reusable workbooks, manuals, whether bound or in loose-leaf
15form, instructional computer software, and electronic
16textbooks and the technological equipment necessary to gain
17access to and use electronic textbooks intended as a principal
18source of study material for a given class or group of
19students. "Textbook" also includes science curriculum
20materials in a kit format that includes pre-packaged consumable
21materials if (i) it is shown that the materials serve as a
22textbook substitute, (ii) the materials are for use by the
23pupils as a principal learning source, (iii) each component of

 

 

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1the materials is integrally necessary to teach the requirements
2of the intended course, (iv) the kit includes teacher guidance
3materials, and (v) the purchase of individual consumable
4materials is not allowed.
5    (c) Beginning July 1, 2011, subject to annual appropriation
6by the General Assembly, the State Board of Education is
7authorized to provide annual funding to public school districts
8and State-recognized, non-public schools serving students in
9grades kindergarten through 12 for the purchase of selected
10textbooks. The textbooks authorized to be purchased under this
11Section are limited without exception to textbooks that have
12been preapproved and designated by the State Board of Education
13for use in any public school and that are secular,
14non-religious, and non-sectarian, and non-discriminatory as to
15any of the characteristics under paragraph (A) of Section 1-102
16of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Textbooks authorized to be
17purchased under this Section must also accurately portray the
18diversity of our society, including the role and contributions
19of African American individuals. The State Board of Education
20shall annually publish a list of the textbooks authorized to be
21purchased under this Section. Each public school district and
22State-recognized, non-public school shall, subject to
23appropriations for that purpose, receive a per pupil grant for
24the purchase of secular, nondiscriminatory, and accurate
25textbooks. The per pupil grant amount must be calculated by the
26State Board of Education utilizing the total appropriation made

 

 

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1for these purposes divided by the most current student
2enrollment data available.
3    (d) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as
4necessary for the implementation of this Section and to ensure
5the religious neutrality of the textbook block grant program,
6as well as provide for the monitoring of all textbooks
7authorized in this Section to be purchased directly by
8State-recognized, nonpublic schools serving students in grades
9kindergarten through 12.
10(Source: P.A. 97-570, eff. 8-25-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)
 
11    (105 ILCS 5/27-20.4a new)
12    Sec. 27-20.4a. African American history and awareness.
13    (a) In addition to the requirements under Sections 27-20.4
14and 27-21 of this Code, every public elementary school and high
15school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction
16studying the significant role of African American individuals
17in society. Instruction may be included in those courses that
18the school district chooses. This instruction shall be designed
19to teach that African American individuals have a rich history
20and have made substantial and valuable contributions to
21society, including government, arts, sciences, mathematics,
22sports, and education, and in the economic, cultural, and
23political development of society. The instruction shall teach
24about the rich advocacy among the African American community
25and the African American community's allies to be treated

 

 

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1equally. Instruction shall reinforce that all people,
2regardless of race, have a right to be treated with civil,
3legal, and human rights and as full human beings above all
4else. When possible, adults, including African American school
5district employees and other African American adults in the
6community that the school district may decide to consult with,
7should be involved in the development and delivery of this
8instruction at the discretion of the African American
9individuals.
10    (b) The State Board of Education may prepare and make
11available to all school boards instructional materials that may
12be used as guidelines for the development of instruction under
13this Section.
14    (c) Each school board shall determine the minimum amount of
15instructional time required under this Section.
16    (d) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a
17school district's compliance with the curriculum requirements
18of this Section during his or her annual compliance visit.