(105 ILCS 5/27-23.6)
Sec. 27-23.6.
Anti-bias education.
(a) The General Assembly finds that there is a significant increase in
violence in
the schools and that much of that violence is the result of intergroup
tensions. The
General Assembly further finds that anti-bias education and intergroup conflict
resolution
are effective methods for preventing violence and lessening tensions in the
schools and that these methods are most effective when they are respectful of
individuals and their divergent viewpoints and religious beliefs, which
are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(b) Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, public elementary and
secondary
schools may incorporate activities to address intergroup conflict, with the
objectives of
improving intergroup relations on and beyond the school campus, defusing
intergroup
tensions, and promoting peaceful resolution of conflict.
The activities must be respectful of individuals and their divergent
viewpoints and
religious beliefs, which are protected by the First Amendment
to the Constitution of the United States.
Such activities may
include, but not be limited to,
instruction and teacher training programs.
(c) A school board that adopts a policy to incorporate activities to address
intergroup conflict as authorized under subsection (b) of this Section shall
make information available to the public
that describes the manner in which the board has implemented the
authority granted to it in this Section. The means for disseminating this
information (i) shall include posting the information on the school
district's Internet web site, if any, and making the information available,
upon request, in district offices, and (ii) may include without limitation
incorporating the information in a student handbook and including the
information in a district newsletter.
(Source: P.A. 92-763, eff. 8-6-02.)
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