Bill Text: IL HB5857 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. With regard to the textbook block grant program, provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must accurately portray the diversity of our society, including the role and contributions of African American individuals, and must be non-discriminatory. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the significant role of African American individuals in society. Specifies instruction requirements. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to monitor a school district's compliance with the curriculum requirements.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB5857 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HB5857-Introduced.html

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100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2017 and 2018 HB5857 Introduced , by Rep. Juliana Stratton SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/2-3.155
105 ILCS 5/27-20.4a new
Amends the School Code. With regard to the textbook block grant program, provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must accurately portray the diversity of our society, including the role and contributions of African American individuals, and must be non-discriminatory. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the significant role of African American individuals in society. Specifies instruction requirements. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to monitor a school district's compliance with the curriculum requirements.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
2-3.155 and by adding Section 27-20.4a as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.155)
Sec. 2-3.155. Textbook block grant program.
(a) The provisions of this Section are in the public
interest, for the public benefit, and serve secular public
purposes.
(b) As used in this Section, "textbook" means any book or
book substitute that a pupil uses as a text or text substitute,
including electronic textbooks. "Textbook" includes books,
reusable workbooks, manuals, whether bound or in loose-leaf
form, instructional computer software, and electronic
textbooks and the technological equipment necessary to gain
access to and use electronic textbooks intended as a principal
source of study material for a given class or group of
students. "Textbook" also includes science curriculum
materials in a kit format that includes pre-packaged consumable
materials if (i) it is shown that the materials serve as a
textbook substitute, (ii) the materials are for use by the
pupils as a principal learning source, (iii) each component of

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the materials is integrally necessary to teach the requirements
of the intended course, (iv) the kit includes teacher guidance
materials, and (v) the purchase of individual consumable
materials is not allowed.
(c) Beginning July 1, 2011, subject to annual appropriation
by the General Assembly, the State Board of Education is
authorized to provide annual funding to public school districts
and State-recognized, non-public schools serving students in
grades kindergarten through 12 for the purchase of selected
textbooks. The textbooks authorized to be purchased under this
Section are limited without exception to textbooks that have
been preapproved and designated by the State Board of Education
for use in any public school and that are secular,
non-religious, and non-sectarian, and non-discriminatory as to
any of the characteristics under paragraph (A) of Section 1-102
of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Textbooks authorized to be
purchased under this Section must also accurately portray the
diversity of our society, including the role and contributions
of African American individuals. The State Board of Education
shall annually publish a list of the textbooks authorized to be
purchased under this Section. Each public school district and
State-recognized, non-public school shall, subject to
appropriations for that purpose, receive a per pupil grant for
the purchase of secular, nondiscriminatory, and accurate
textbooks. The per pupil grant amount must be calculated by the
State Board of Education utilizing the total appropriation made

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for these purposes divided by the most current student
enrollment data available.
(d) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as
necessary for the implementation of this Section and to ensure
the religious neutrality of the textbook block grant program,
as well as provide for the monitoring of all textbooks
authorized in this Section to be purchased directly by
State-recognized, nonpublic schools serving students in grades
kindergarten through 12.
(Source: P.A. 97-570, eff. 8-25-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)
(105 ILCS 5/27-20.4a new)
Sec. 27-20.4a. African American history and awareness.
(a) In addition to the requirements under Sections 27-20.4
and 27-21 of this Code, every public elementary school and high
school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction
studying the significant role of African American individuals
in society. Instruction may be included in those courses that
the school district chooses. This instruction shall be designed
to teach that African American individuals have a rich history
and have made substantial and valuable contributions to
society, including government, arts, sciences, mathematics,
sports, and education, and in the economic, cultural, and
political development of society. The instruction shall teach
about the rich advocacy among the African American community
and the African American community's allies to be treated

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equally. Instruction shall reinforce that all people,
regardless of race, have a right to be treated with civil,
legal, and human rights and as full human beings above all
else. When possible, adults, including African American school
district employees and other African American adults in the
community that the school district may decide to consult with,
should be involved in the development and delivery of this
instruction at the discretion of the African American
individuals.
(b) The State Board of Education may prepare and make
available to all school boards instructional materials that may
be used as guidelines for the development of instruction under
this Section.
(c) Each school board shall determine the minimum amount of
instructional time required under this Section.
(d) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a
school district's compliance with the curriculum requirements
of this Section during his or her annual compliance visit.