An Illinois Education Reform Bill, P.A. 101-0654, was signed by Governor Pritzker which makes significant changes to several educational areas. Some of the more significant reform measures enacted by this bill include:
- The addition of two years of a laboratory science to high school graduation requirements (enacted by 2024-2025 school year);
- The addition of one year of “intensive instruction” in computer literacy to high school graduation requirement;
- A requirement for instruction in computer literacy beginning in elementary school;
- The addition of two years of foreign language to high school graduation requirement;
- Revisions to learning standards for computer and social sciences;
- A requirement for a unit of instruction on black history;
In addition, the state will create task forces/councils in several areas to conduct research, including:
- Inclusive American History Commission;
- Whole Child Task force;
- Behavioral Health Services diagnostic assessment system;
- P-20 Council to research short- and long-term learning recovery actions for public school students in wake of COVID-19
The bill will also require the following:
- The Illinois State Board of Education (“ISBE”) to create a common assessment tool for all students entering kindergarten;
- School districts to amend their accelerated placement policy to allow for automatic enrollment of a student into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework if the student meets/exceeds state standards in English/language arts, math or science;
- The establishment of a six-week summer school program run by Freedom Schools, to motivate active civic engagement and empower disenfranchised communities;
- Increase funding for Minority Teacher Scholarships and programmatic and fiscal changes to the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program; and
- Removal of the requirement of applications for an Alternative Teacher License to achieve at least a 3.0 GPA.