Bill Text: IL SB1983 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Removes language providing that a local program for the education of gifted and talented children may be approved for funding by the State Board of Education if funds for that purpose are available and if the local program submits an application for funds that includes a comprehensive plan. Removes language providing that the State Board of Education staff person in charge of educational programs for gifted and talented children shall be responsible for developing an approval process for educational programs for gifted and talented children. With respect to the evidence-based funding provisions, provides that in the adequacy target calculation, each organizational unit shall receive $40 per kindergarten through grade 12 for advanced academic programs (rather than for gifted investments). Makes related changes.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Passed) 2025-08-01 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0129 [SB1983 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB1983-Enrolled.html

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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 Sections
14A-15, 14A-30, and 14A-35 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/14A-15)
Sec. 14A-15. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to
provide encouragement, assistance, and guidance to school
districts in the development and improvement of educational
programs for gifted and talented children and children
eligible for accelerated placement as defined in Sections
14A-20 and 14A-17 of this Code. School districts shall
continue to have the authority and flexibility to design
education programs for gifted and talented children in
response to community needs, but these programs must comply
with the requirements established in Section 14A-30 of this
Code by no later than September 1, 2006 in order to merit
approval by the State Board of Education in order to qualify
for State funding for the education of gifted and talented
children, should such funding become available.
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-30)

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Sec. 14A-30. Local Funding of local gifted education
programs. A local program for the education of gifted and
talented children may include, but need not be limited to, be
approved for funding by the State Board of Education, pursuant
to a request for proposals process, if funds for that purpose
are available and, beginning with the beginning of the
2010-2011 academic year, if the local program submits an
application for funds that includes a comprehensive plan (i)
showing that the applicant is capable of meeting a portion of
the following requirements, (ii) showing the program elements
currently in place and a timeline for implementation of other
elements, and (iii) demonstrating to the satisfaction of the
State Board of Education that the applicant is capable of
implementing a program of gifted education consistent with
this Article:
(1) The use of assessment instruments, such as
nonverbal ability tests and tests in students' native
languages, and a selection process that is equitable to
and inclusive of underrepresented groups, including
low-income students, minority students, students with
disabilities, twice-exceptional students, and English
learners.
(2) (Blank). A priority emphasis on language arts and
mathematics.
(3) The use of multiple valid assessments that assess
both demonstrated achievement and potential for

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achievement, including cognitive ability tests and general
or subject specific achievement tests, applied universally
to all students, and appropriate for the content focus of
the gifted services that will be provided. School
districts and schools may add other local, valid
assessments, such as portfolios. Assessments and selection
processes must ensure multiple pathways into the program.
(4) The use of score ranges on assessments that are
appropriate for the school or district population,
including the use of local norms for achievement to
identify high potential students.
(5) A process of identification of gifted and talented
children that is of equal rigor in each area of aptitude
addressed by the program.
(6) The use of identification procedures that
appropriately correspond with the planned programs,
curricula, and services.
(7) A fair and equitable decision-making process.
(8) The availability of a fair and impartial appeal
process within the school, school district, or cooperative
of school districts operating a program for parents or
guardians whose children are aggrieved by a decision of
the school, school district, or cooperative of school
districts regarding eligibility for participation in a
program.
(9) Procedures for annually informing the community

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at-large, including parents, about the program and the
methods used for the identification of gifted and talented
children.
(10) Procedures for notifying parents or guardians of
a child of a decision affecting that child's participation
in a program.
(11) A description of how gifted and talented children
will be grouped and instructed in order to maximize the
educational benefits the children derive from
participation in the program, including curriculum
modifications and options that accelerate and add depth
and complexity to the curriculum content.
(12) An explanation of how the program emphasizes
higher-level skills attainment, including
problem-solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, and
research skills, as embedded within relevant content
areas.
(13) A methodology for measuring academic growth for
gifted and talented children and a procedure for
communicating a child's progress to his or her parents or
guardian, including, but not limited to, a report card.
(14) The collection of data on growth in learning for
children in a program for gifted and talented children and
the reporting of the data to the State Board of Education.
(15) The designation of a supervisor responsible for
overseeing the educational program for gifted and talented

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children.
(16) A showing that the certified teachers who are
assigned to teach gifted and talented children understand
the characteristics and educational needs of children and
are able to differentiate the curriculum and apply
instructional methods to meet the needs of the children.
(17) Plans for the continuation of professional
development for staff assigned to the program serving
gifted and talented children.
(Source: P.A. 99-706, eff. 7-29-16.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-35)
Sec. 14A-35. Administrative functions of the State Board
of Education for gifted and talented children programs.
(a) The State Board of Education must designate a staff
person who shall be in charge of educational programs for
gifted and talented children. This staff person shall, at a
minimum, (i) be responsible for developing an approval process
for educational programs for gifted and talented children by
no later than September 1, 2006, (ii) receive and maintain the
written descriptions of all programs for gifted and talented
children in the State, (iii) collect and maintain the annual
growth in learning data submitted by a school, school
district, or cooperative of school districts, (iv) identify
potential funding sources for the education of gifted and
talented children, and (v) serve as the main contact person at

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the State Board of Education for program supervisors and other
school officials, parents, and other stakeholders regarding
the education of gifted and talented children.
(b) Subject to the availability of funds for these
purposes, the State Board of Education may perform a variety
of additional administrative functions with respect to the
education of gifted and talented children, including, but not
limited to, supervision, quality assurance, compliance
monitoring, and oversight of local programs, analysis of
performance outcome data submitted by local educational
agencies, the establishment of personnel standards, and a
program of personnel development for teachers and
administrative personnel in the education of gifted and
talented children.
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)