102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3982

 

Introduced 1/21/2022, by Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/10-22.6  from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6

    Amends the School Code. Requires school districts to make reasonable efforts to provide ongoing professional development to teachers, administrators, school board members, school resource officers, and staff on non-exclusionary discipline practices. Effective July 1, 2023.


LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3982LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

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
510-22.6 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6)
7    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-466)
8    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of pupils; school
9searches.
10    (a) To expel pupils guilty of gross disobedience or
11misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct
12perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20)
13of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such
14expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents
15have been requested to appear at a meeting of the board, or
16with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss their
17child's behavior. Such request shall be made by registered or
18certified mail and shall state the time, place and purpose of
19the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer appointed by it,
20at such meeting shall state the reasons for dismissal and the
21date on which the expulsion is to become effective. If a
22hearing officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to
23the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the

 

 

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1meeting and the board may take such action thereon as it finds
2appropriate. If the board acts to expel a pupil, the written
3expulsion decision shall detail the specific reasons why
4removing the pupil from the learning environment is in the
5best interest of the school. The expulsion decision shall also
6include a rationale as to the specific duration of the
7expulsion. An expelled pupil may be immediately transferred to
8an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A
9or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer
10because of the expulsion, except in cases in which such
11transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students
12or staff in the alternative program.
13    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the
14superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
15principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils
16guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend
17pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on the
18school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to subsections
19(b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie
20against them for such suspension. The board may by policy
21authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal,
22assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to
23suspend pupils guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed
2410 school days. If a pupil is suspended due to gross
25disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board may
26suspend the pupil in excess of 10 school days for safety

 

 

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1reasons.
2    Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the
3parents or guardian of a pupil along with a full statement of
4the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to
5a review. The school board must be given a summary of the
6notice, including the reason for the suspension and the
7suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardian,
8the school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall
9review such action of the superintendent or principal,
10assistant principal, or dean of students. At such review, the
11parents or guardian of the pupil may appear and discuss the
12suspension with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing
13officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board
14a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After
15its hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its
16hearing officer, the board may take such action as it finds
17appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this
18subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension
19decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or
20misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The
21suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the
22specific duration of the suspension. A pupil who is suspended
23in excess of 20 school days may be immediately transferred to
24an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A
25or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer
26because of the suspension, except in cases in which such

 

 

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1transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students
2or staff in the alternative program.
3    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions
4and consequences available to school officials, school
5exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions,
6are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number
7and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest
8extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them
9only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that
10students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is
11recommended that school officials consider forms of
12non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school
13suspensions or expulsions.
14    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this
15Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies
16by which school administrators are required to suspend or
17expel students for particular behaviors.
18    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be
19used only if the student's continuing presence in school would
20pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other
21students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this
22subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to
23other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on
24a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee.
25School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve
26such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the

 

 

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1length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
2    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code,
3out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions,
4and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used
5only if other appropriate and available behavioral and
6disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the
7student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose
8a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of
9the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or
10interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of
11this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other
12students, staff, or members of the school community" and
13"substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the
14operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case
15basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection
16(b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and
17available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been
18exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials
19shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats,
20address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student
21exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the
22suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this
23Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a)
24of this Section, it shall be documented whether other
25interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that
26there were no other appropriate and available interventions.

 

 

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1    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer
2than 4 school days shall be provided appropriate and available
3support services during the period of their suspension. For
4purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available
5support services" shall be determined by school authorities.
6Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of
7this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are
8to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no
9such appropriate and available services.
10    A school district may refer students who are expelled to
11appropriate and available support services.
12    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the
13re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school,
14expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting.
15    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which
16suspended pupils, including those pupils suspended from the
17school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school,
18shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent
19academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a pupil's
20parent or guardian to notify school officials that a pupil
21suspended from the school bus does not have alternate
22transportation to school.
23    (c) A school board must invite a representative from a
24local mental health agency to consult with the board at the
25meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be
26the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.

 

 

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1    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to
2provide ongoing professional development to teachers,
3administrators, school board members, school resource
4officers, and staff on the adverse consequences of school
5exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom
6management strategies, non-exclusionary discipline practices,
7culturally responsive discipline, the appropriate and
8available supportive services for the promotion of student
9attendance and engagement, and developmentally appropriate
10disciplinary methods that promote positive and healthy school
11climates.
12    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of
13time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a
14case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have
15brought one of the following objects to school, any
16school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event
17that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be
18expelled for a period of not less than one year:
19        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
20    "firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined
21    by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code,
22    firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners
23    Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section
24    24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period
25    under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the
26    superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may

 

 

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1    be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
2        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
3    regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other
4    object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily
5    harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in
6    subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion
7    requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by
8    the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination
9    may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
10Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner
11consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities
12Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or
13expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a
14transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with
15Article 13A of the School Code.
16    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the
17superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
18principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a
19student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel
20a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2
21calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i)
22that student has been determined to have made an explicit
23threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a
24student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet
25website through which the threat was made is a site that was
26accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or

 

 

SB3982- 9 -LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

1was available to third parties who worked or studied within
2the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii)
3the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to
4the safety and security of the threatened individual because
5of his or her duties or employment status or status as a
6student inside the school.
7    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school
8authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as
9lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and
10equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as
11personal effects left in those places and areas by students,
12without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a
13search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General
14Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of
15privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects
16left in these places and areas. School authorities may request
17the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of
18conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking
19lots, and other school property and equipment owned or
20controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other
21illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including
22searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
23If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces
24evidence that the student has violated or is violating either
25the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules,
26such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and

 

 

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1disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also
2turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
3    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or
4expulsion from school and all school activities and a
5prohibition from being present on school grounds.
6    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if
7a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any
8public or private school in this or any other state, the
9student must complete the entire term of the suspension or
10expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A
11of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program
12under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the
13school district if there is no threat to the safety of students
14or staff in the alternative program.
15    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage
16students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic
17difficulties.
18    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a
19disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude
20requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen,
21or damaged property.
22    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall
23apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools,
24special charter districts, and school districts organized
25under Article 34 of this Code.
26    (k) The expulsion of children enrolled in programs funded

 

 

SB3982- 11 -LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

1under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements
2under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of
3this Code.
4    (l) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, an in-school
5suspension program provided by a school district for any
6students in kindergarten through grade 12 may focus on
7promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive
8interaction with other students and school personnel. A school
9district may employ a school social worker or a licensed
10mental health professional to oversee an in-school suspension
11program in kindergarten through grade 12.
12(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21.)
 
13    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-466)
14    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of pupils; school
15searches.
16    (a) To expel pupils guilty of gross disobedience or
17misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct
18perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20)
19of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such
20expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents
21or guardians have been requested to appear at a meeting of the
22board, or with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss
23their child's behavior. Such request shall be made by
24registered or certified mail and shall state the time, place
25and purpose of the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer

 

 

SB3982- 12 -LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

1appointed by it, at such meeting shall state the reasons for
2dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to become
3effective. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, he
4shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence
5heard at the meeting and the board may take such action thereon
6as it finds appropriate. If the board acts to expel a pupil,
7the written expulsion decision shall detail the specific
8reasons why removing the pupil from the learning environment
9is in the best interest of the school. The expulsion decision
10shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of
11the expulsion. An expelled pupil may be immediately
12transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided
13in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied
14transfer because of the expulsion, except in cases in which
15such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of
16students or staff in the alternative program.
17    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the
18superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
19principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils
20guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend
21pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on the
22school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to subsections
23(b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie
24against them for such suspension. The board may by policy
25authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal,
26assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to

 

 

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1suspend pupils guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed
210 school days. If a pupil is suspended due to gross
3disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board may
4suspend the pupil in excess of 10 school days for safety
5reasons.
6    Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the
7parents or guardians of a pupil along with a full statement of
8the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to
9a review. The school board must be given a summary of the
10notice, including the reason for the suspension and the
11suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardians,
12the school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall
13review such action of the superintendent or principal,
14assistant principal, or dean of students. At such review, the
15parents or guardians of the pupil may appear and discuss the
16suspension with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing
17officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board
18a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After
19its hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its
20hearing officer, the board may take such action as it finds
21appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this
22subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension
23decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or
24misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The
25suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the
26specific duration of the suspension. A pupil who is suspended

 

 

SB3982- 14 -LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

1in excess of 20 school days may be immediately transferred to
2an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A
3or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer
4because of the suspension, except in cases in which such
5transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students
6or staff in the alternative program.
7    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions
8and consequences available to school officials, school
9exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions,
10are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number
11and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest
12extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them
13only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that
14students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is
15recommended that school officials consider forms of
16non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school
17suspensions or expulsions.
18    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this
19Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies
20by which school administrators are required to suspend or
21expel students for particular behaviors.
22    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be
23used only if the student's continuing presence in school would
24pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other
25students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this
26subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to

 

 

SB3982- 15 -LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

1other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on
2a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee.
3School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve
4such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the
5length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
6    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code,
7out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions,
8and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used
9only if other appropriate and available behavioral and
10disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the
11student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose
12a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of
13the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or
14interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of
15this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other
16students, staff, or members of the school community" and
17"substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the
18operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case
19basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection
20(b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and
21available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been
22exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials
23shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats,
24address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student
25exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the
26suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this

 

 

SB3982- 16 -LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

1Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a)
2of this Section, it shall be documented whether other
3interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that
4there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
5    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer
6than 4 school days shall be provided appropriate and available
7support services during the period of their suspension. For
8purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available
9support services" shall be determined by school authorities.
10Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of
11this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are
12to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no
13such appropriate and available services.
14    A school district may refer students who are expelled to
15appropriate and available support services.
16    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the
17re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school,
18expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting.
19    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which
20suspended pupils, including those pupils suspended from the
21school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school,
22shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent
23academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a pupil's
24parents or guardians to notify school officials that a pupil
25suspended from the school bus does not have alternate
26transportation to school.

 

 

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1    (b-35) In all suspension review hearings conducted under
2subsection (b) or expulsion hearings conducted under
3subsection (a), a student may disclose any factor to be
4considered in mitigation, including his or her status as a
5parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual
6violence, as defined in Article 26A. A representative of the
7parent's or guardian's choice, or of the student's choice if
8emancipated, must be permitted to represent the student
9throughout the proceedings and to address the school board or
10its appointed hearing officer. With the approval of the
11student's parent or guardian, or of the student if
12emancipated, a support person must be permitted to accompany
13the student to any disciplinary hearings or proceedings. The
14representative or support person must comply with any rules of
15the school district's hearing process. If the representative
16or support person violates the rules or engages in behavior or
17advocacy that harasses, abuses, or intimidates either party, a
18witness, or anyone else in attendance at the hearing, the
19representative or support person may be prohibited from
20further participation in the hearing or proceeding. A
21suspension or expulsion proceeding under this subsection
22(b-35) must be conducted independently from any ongoing
23criminal investigation or proceeding, and an absence of
24pending or possible criminal charges, criminal investigations,
25or proceedings may not be a factor in school disciplinary
26decisions.

 

 

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1    (b-40) During a suspension review hearing conducted under
2subsection (b) or an expulsion hearing conducted under
3subsection (a) that involves allegations of sexual violence by
4the student who is subject to discipline, neither the student
5nor his or her representative shall directly question nor have
6direct contact with the alleged victim. The student who is
7subject to discipline or his or her representative may, at the
8discretion and direction of the school board or its appointed
9hearing officer, suggest questions to be posed by the school
10board or its appointed hearing officer to the alleged victim.
11    (c) A school board must invite a representative from a
12local mental health agency to consult with the board at the
13meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be
14the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
15    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to
16provide ongoing professional development to teachers,
17administrators, school board members, school resource
18officers, and staff on the adverse consequences of school
19exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom
20management strategies, non-exclusionary discipline practices,
21culturally responsive discipline, the appropriate and
22available supportive services for the promotion of student
23attendance and engagement, and developmentally appropriate
24disciplinary methods that promote positive and healthy school
25climates.
26    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of

 

 

SB3982- 19 -LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

1time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a
2case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have
3brought one of the following objects to school, any
4school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event
5that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be
6expelled for a period of not less than one year:
7        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
8    "firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined
9    by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code,
10    firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners
11    Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section
12    24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period
13    under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the
14    superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may
15    be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
16        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
17    regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other
18    object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily
19    harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in
20    subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion
21    requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by
22    the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination
23    may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
24Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner
25consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities
26Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or

 

 

SB3982- 20 -LRB102 23240 CMG 32404 b

1expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a
2transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with
3Article 13A of the School Code.
4    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the
5superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
6principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a
7student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel
8a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2
9calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i)
10that student has been determined to have made an explicit
11threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a
12student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet
13website through which the threat was made is a site that was
14accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or
15was available to third parties who worked or studied within
16the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii)
17the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to
18the safety and security of the threatened individual because
19of his or her duties or employment status or status as a
20student inside the school.
21    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school
22authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as
23lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and
24equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as
25personal effects left in those places and areas by students,
26without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a

 

 

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1search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General
2Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of
3privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects
4left in these places and areas. School authorities may request
5the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of
6conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking
7lots, and other school property and equipment owned or
8controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other
9illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including
10searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
11If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces
12evidence that the student has violated or is violating either
13the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules,
14such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and
15disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also
16turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
17    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or
18expulsion from school and all school activities and a
19prohibition from being present on school grounds.
20    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if
21a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any
22public or private school in this or any other state, the
23student must complete the entire term of the suspension or
24expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A
25of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program
26under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the

 

 

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1school district if there is no threat to the safety of students
2or staff in the alternative program. A school district that
3adopts a policy under this subsection (g) must include a
4provision allowing for consideration of any mitigating
5factors, including, but not limited to, a student's status as
6a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual
7violence, as defined in Article 26A.
8    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage
9students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic
10difficulties.
11    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a
12disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude
13requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen,
14or damaged property.
15    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall
16apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools,
17special charter districts, and school districts organized
18under Article 34 of this Code.
19    (k) The expulsion of children enrolled in programs funded
20under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements
21under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of
22this Code.
23    (l) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, an in-school
24suspension program provided by a school district for any
25students in kindergarten through grade 12 may focus on
26promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive

 

 

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1interaction with other students and school personnel. A school
2district may employ a school social worker or a licensed
3mental health professional to oversee an in-school suspension
4program in kindergarten through grade 12.
5(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-466, eff. 7-1-25;
6102-539, eff. 8-20-21; revised 9-23-21.)
 
7    Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
8changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
9that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
10represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
11not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
12made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
13Public Act.
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
152023.