summary
Introduced
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
In Committee
05/07/2025
05/07/2025
Crossed Over
04/09/2025
04/09/2025
Passed
08/15/2025
08/15/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
08/15/2025
08/15/2025
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may apply for an agriculture education teacher grant to fund an amount not to exceed 50% of the personal services cost for an agriculture education teacher and the teacher shall receive 100% of the compensation for 60 additional days. Provides, in a provision concerning prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma, that each pupil entering the 9th grade must successfully complete one year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C) foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American Sign Language, (D) career and technical education (rather than vocational education), or (E) forensic speech (speech and debate). Effective immediately.
AI Summary
This bill makes two primary changes to the Illinois School Code. First, it modifies the agriculture education teacher grant program by allowing school districts to apply for grants that cover up to 50% of a teacher's personal services cost, with the teacher receiving full compensation for 60 additional days outside their regular teaching duties. These additional 400 hours can include any activities deemed beneficial to agriculture education by the State Board of Education. Second, the bill updates high school graduation requirements, specifically changing the language in section 27-22 from "vocational education" to "career and technical education" as one of the options students can choose to fulfill a one-year course requirement. This change provides students more flexibility in meeting their high school diploma prerequisites, allowing them to select from music, art, foreign language (including American Sign Language), career and technical education, or forensic speech (speech and debate). The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law and applies to students entering 9th grade in future school years.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (24)
Mary Gill (D)*,
Jay Hoffman (D)*,
Doris Turner (D)*,
Chris Balkema (R),
Jason Bunting (R),
Amy Elik (R),
Marcus Evans (D),
Brad Fritts (R),
Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D),
Adriane Johnson (D),
Jeff Keicher (R),
Michael Kelly (D),
Kimberly Lightford (D),
Charlie Meier (R),
Jason Plummer (R),
Steve Reick (R),
Wayne Rosenthal (R),
Rick Ryan (D),
Sue Scherer (D),
Patrick Sheehan (R),
Katie Stuart (D),
Dan Swanson (R),
Sally Turner (R),
Dave Vella (D),
Last Action
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0387 (on 08/15/2025)
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