SB2354 EngrossedLRB103 28361 RJT 54741 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 adding Section
52-3.196 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.196 new)
7    Sec. 2-3.196. Science in Elementary Schools Working Group.
8    (a) The State Board of Education shall create the Science
9in Elementary Schools Working Group. The State Board of
10Education shall appoint science and health education
11specialists, educators or former educators who teach or have
12taught the subject of science or health, medical doctors,
13doctors of osteopathy or osteopathic medicine, parents,
14registered nurses, chiropractors, exercise physiologists, and
15physical therapists to the Working Group.
16    The members of the Working Group shall serve without
17compensation.
18    (b) The State Board of Education shall provide
19administrative support to the Working Group.
20    (c) By June 1, 2024, the Working Group shall create a
21crosswalk and alignment of the current Illinois Learning
22Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards adopted by
23the State Board of Education and the Illinois Learning

 

 

SB2354 Engrossed- 2 -LRB103 28361 RJT 54741 b

1Standards for Science, with links to available resources so
2elementary teachers have access to high quality,
3age-appropriate, and free educational materials that are
4centered on anatomy, physiology and nutrition to empower
5students with the knowledge of their own bodies and to care for
6their own health and well-being throughout their lives.
7    (d) The Working Group shall focus its recommendations on
8how to empower students with the knowledge to adequately
9understand their own bodies and care for their own health and
10well-being throughout their lives, with the idea that science
11education is more human-centered. The Working Group shall
12additionally focus on connecting this human-centered science
13education with other sciences as students advance to other
14areas of their science education, such as chemistry, biology,
15and physics, taught at later grade levels.
16    (e) The Working Group shall make recommendations to the
17State Board of Education on updating its science standards by
18December 31, 2025. By December 31, 2030, the State Board of
19Education shall review and provide updates as appropriate to
20the crosswalk and alignment documents and elementary
21storylines. The State Board of Education shall conduct these
22reviews and provide these updates, at a minimum, of every 5
23years thereafter.
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25becoming law.