Subject Index Schools

School teachers’ resignations after completion of the school year must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the first student attendance day of the following school year

December
2023
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois General Assembly amended the School Code. A teacher who resigns after the conclusion of a school year must do so at least 30 calendar days prior to the commencement of the first student attendance day of the following school year.

Higher education institutions must adopt policies for providing withheld diplomas and transcripts

September
2023
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois General Assembly amended the Student Debt Assistance Act. Institutions of higher education must provide an official transcript to current or former students who owe a debt if the transcript is for a job application; academic transfer; application for state, federal, or institutional financial aid; to join the U.S. Armed Forces or Illinois National Guard; or to pursue other postsecondary opportunities.

New bullying definition and requirements for schools

September
2023
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois General Assembly amended the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Bullying is now recognized on the additional bases of physical appearance, socioeconomic status, academic status, pregnancy, parenting status, and homelessness.

School board members must complete trauma-informed practices training

February
2023
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois General Assembly amended the School Code. Starting in the 2023-24 school year, school board members serving under section 10-10 of the School Code must complete trauma-informed practices training for students and staff during their required professional development leadership training.

School districts serving grades six through 12, public colleges, and public universities must include suicide prevention information on certain materials

November
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Illinois General Assembly amended the School Code, adding requirements for school districts to include suicide prevention information on identification cards.

Website accessibility requirements for school districts

November
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Illinois General Assembly amended the School Code, adding requirements to ensure that school districts’ content on internet websites or web services is accessible to persons with disabilities.

Mental or behavioral health complications included in sick leave for teachers

September
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
This Act amends the School Code to allow full-time teachers and other qualifying individuals to take sick leave for mental or behavioral health complications.

Dismissal of tenured school guidance counselor improper

August
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
On May 20, the Third District of the Illinois Appellate Court reversed a school board’s dismissal of a tenured guidance counselor.

Tenured teachers face new evaluation timeframes

August
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The State Board of Education adopted an amendment to Evaluation of Educator Licensed Employees under the School Code. The amendment implements the School Code’s new evaluation timeframes for teachers.

Secure Choice Savings Program now covers employers with five or more employees

May
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Office of the Treasurer amended the Secure Choice Savings Program. Eligibility for the program is expanded to cover employees who are 18 years or older and work for an employer with at least five employees.

Trauma-informed practice training required for Illinois school board members

April
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Illinois General Assembly amended the School Code to reflect updated leadership training requirements for Illinois school board members. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, trauma-informed practice training for students and staff will be required.

Agricultural education activities included in middle school education and expenses allowed for such activities are increased

March
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The State Board of Education adopted amendments to the Agricultural Education Program. The amendments provide changes to the eligibility and use of the incentive grants for secondary agricultural education.

Free Speech and Public Education

By Christine L. Self
March
2022
Article
, Page 30
The pandemic, social media, and new curricular developments are testing the First Amendment protection of speech in education.

School districts and community colleges shall ensure that students with disabilities have access to dual-credit courses

January
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Dual Credit Quality Act is amended to require each community college district, in partnership with area high schools, to ensure students with disabilities have access to dual-credit courses and relevant supplementary aids if they meet the entry criteria.

Updated education standards include Spanish and computer science in K-12 classrooms

January
2022
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois State Board of Education amended Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision. The amendment modifies an existing computer science framework by introducing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, augmented reality, and robotics, beginning in the 2022-23 school year.

Comparing report cards of two school districts may violate the School Code

December
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
On Sept. 20, 2021, the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that student report cards of two school districts should not be compared in certain circumstances when reviewing a petition for detachment and annexation.

School district policies shall include definitions of prohibited grooming behaviors and boundary violations for school personnel

December
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The School Code is amended to mandate school districts to include in their policies a definition of prohibited grooming behaviors and how to report these behaviors.

Sex education course material and instruction must include an age-appropriate discussion of sexting

December
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The School Code is amended to include in the school curriculum an age-appropriate discussion about sexting.

Social science learning standards for grades K-12 clarified

November
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The State Board of Education updated the social science learning standards for K-12 students. For the 2022-23 school year, the social science learning standards will consist of inquiry standards and disciplinary standards.

Written notification to parent or guardian required when students commit misconduct

November
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The School Code was amended to require schools to provide written notifications to the parent or guardian when their student commits an act of misconduct.

Amendments to the school code to allow sports uniform modifications for cultural reasons

October
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
This Act amends the School Code and various other acts to give the governing boards of school districts the ability to modify sports uniforms.

Students can be restrained only in face-up positions

October
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The State Board of Education adopted amendments to Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision, effective June 24, 2021, concerning the use of restraints in special-needs situations when necessary for the safety of students and staff.

Postsecondary student-athletes eligible for compensation

September
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Illinois General Assembly adopted the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act in response to the U.S. Supreme Court holding that the NCAA cannot restrict student athlete compensation.

New culturally responsive teaching and leading standards enacted for educators

June
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Illinois State Board of Education adopted rules to incorporate culturally responsive teaching and leading (CRTL) standards into Illinois preparation programs.

Qualified interpreters now available at individualized education program meetings

May
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois State Board of Education adopted amendments to the Part titled Special Education. The rulemaking creates a “qualified interpreter” position to assist parents with limited English proficiency during individualized education program (IEP) meetings.

State superintendent may mandate use of remote learning during public health emergencies

May
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois State Board of Education adopted amendments establishing education protocols to be followed whenever the governor declares a disaster due to a public health emergency. Specifically, the rulemaking addresses the implementation of remote-learning days and “blended” remote-learning days, teacher performance evaluations, and certain graduation requirements.

2011 amendment to School Code does not diminish school board’s implied power to suspend teachers

April
2021
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
On Jan. 22, 2021, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the 2011 amendment to section 34-85 of Illinois School Code does not diminish the Chicago Board of Education’s implied power to issue a suspension on a tenured teacher.

Day care centers may only expel children for behavioral reasons as a last resort and after developing a transition plan

December
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Department of Children and Family Services adopted amendments to Licensing Standards for Day Care Homes, Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers, and Licensing Standards for Group Day Care Homes.

It’s Time for Title IX: New Rule, New Regime

By Jackie Gharapour Wernz
September
2020
Article
, Page 28
What should Illinois attorneys know about the controversial new Title IX Rule?

Online learning requirements updated

September
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
Public Act 101-0643 amends the School Code. Grants for preschool education programs have been altered, and grantees may now serve the children of essential workers if the governor declares a disaster due to a public-health emergency.

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