Delivered via email: March 7, 2025
One of the more contentious bills this week was HB1358, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington), which seeks to impose new restrictions on school district waivers. Specifically, Physical Education waivers would be limited to a nonrenewable, single three-year period. The Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (IAHPERD) brought a group of PE teachers to the capital to advocate for physical education and voice their support for the proposed changes. IASB issued a Call to Action on Tuesday afternoon, urging opposition to the bill. Over 350 witness slips were filed against it from across the state. Despite this strong opposition from school districts, the committee passed the bill along partisan lines. While the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provided drafting assistance on the bill, it did stay neutral on the bill.
As this bill moves to the House Floor for a vote, IASB urges you to contact your local legislators to vote “no” on HB1358, Amendment 1, for the following reasons:
SB1616 (Sen. Ram Villivalam) requires ISBE to post on its website and to provide to each school district a list of cultural or religious events to assist schools with planning school calendars. SB1616 passed the Senate Education Committee as amended 14-0-0.
SB2057 (Sen. Michael Hastings) requires ISBE to provide school districts with guidance for threat assessment procedures, rapid entry response plans, and cardiac emergency response plans. SB2057 passed the Senate Education Committee 14-0-0.
SJR2 (Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel) directs the Professional Review Panel and ISBE to conduct the analysis and financial modeling required to evaluate the implications of implementing the recommended maximum caseloads for special education resource teachers. SJR2 passed out of the Senate Education Committee 13-0-0.
HB79 (Rep. Jackie Haas) allows a retired sheriff’s employee to return to work for up to 999 hours as a school security guard without affecting their pension benefits. Passed Committee 9-0-0
HB1368 (Rep. Laura Favor Dias) ensures professional development activities align with evidence-based strategies as outlined in the state’s comprehensive literacy plan. Passed Committee 9-0-0
HB1375 (Rep. Barbara Hernandez) requires the Illinois Board of Higher Education to distribute a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for student teachers. While subject to appropriation, the estimate for the new stipend program could cost $68 million. Passed Committee 10-1-0
HB1411 (Rep. Christopher “C.D” Davidsmeyer) provides that if a school district distributes materials on bullying to students, the materials must be age and developmentally appropriate. Passed Committee 12-0-0
HB1787 (Rep. Maura Hirschauer) requires substitute teachers to undergo safety drill training. IASB opposed this bill due to concerns about its implementation given substitutes often work in multiple schools and districts. The bill’s sponsor has agreed to hold the legislation while further discussions take place to find a suitable resolution. Passed Committee 8-4-0
HB1869 (Rep. Michelle Mussman) allows the State Superintendent to designate ROEs/ISCs as learning partners. Passed Committee 9-0-0
HB1926 (Rep. Camille Y. Lilly) incorporates work ethic instruction into the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. The sponsor committed to continued conversation with school management to address concerns to find a suitable resolution. Passed Committee 12-0-0
IASB will continue to monitor these legislative developments and advocate for policies that best serve Illinois school districts.
To register to become an Advocacy Ambassador, visit the Advocacy Tab on the IASB website. If you are already registered as an Advocacy Ambassador, you will be able to register to attend the March webinar by visiting the IASB Events Calendar.
In an effort to ensure that IASB members can monitor all bills the Governmental Relations team is tracking, legislation has been broken down into ten different topics: IASB will continue to monitor all bills and keep you informed as bills start to move through the legislative process.
This Week at the Capitol
This week in Springfield, both the House Education Policy Committee and House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools Committee, as well at the Senate Education Committee, convened to discuss various legislative matters. Lawmakers considered a broad range of bills impacting education, including threat assessment guidance related to student safety, third-party contracting for noninstructional services, and limitations on school district waiver requests. With the legislative session in full swing and a March 21 deadline in both the Senate and House to move bills out of committees, the next two weeks will be busy.House Education Policy Committee
The House Education Policy Committee held a subject matter hearing focused on high school start times, HB2951. During the hearing, three students advocated for delaying high school start times to 8:45 a.m., citing research on student well-being and academic performance. While there was support for the idea, concerns were raised regarding the logistical challenges for many districts in implementing such a change. Issues such as bus scheduling, parental work schedules, after-school sports schedules, and teacher considerations highlighted the complexities of a uniform policy across districts. The discussion reinforced that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be feasible.One of the more contentious bills this week was HB1358, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington), which seeks to impose new restrictions on school district waivers. Specifically, Physical Education waivers would be limited to a nonrenewable, single three-year period. The Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (IAHPERD) brought a group of PE teachers to the capital to advocate for physical education and voice their support for the proposed changes. IASB issued a Call to Action on Tuesday afternoon, urging opposition to the bill. Over 350 witness slips were filed against it from across the state. Despite this strong opposition from school districts, the committee passed the bill along partisan lines. While the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provided drafting assistance on the bill, it did stay neutral on the bill.
As this bill moves to the House Floor for a vote, IASB urges you to contact your local legislators to vote “no” on HB1358, Amendment 1, for the following reasons:
- It limits PE waivers to a single, non-renewable three-year period, a restriction not applied to any other waiver type.
- It reduces the renewal periods for all other waivers, thereby limiting long-term planning flexibility for districts.
- It negatively impacts students by reducing the time available for essential courses and electives such as driver’s education, music, art, and career and technical education (CTE).
- Many districts rely on these waivers to effectively schedule courses, accommodate graduation requirements, and manage facility limitations.
- As enrollment, mandated curricula, and performance expectations increase, a rigid approach to PE waivers fails to support the best interests of students or local communities.
Senate Education Committee
This week in the Senate Education Committee, IASB and other management stakeholders opposed SB1799 (Sen. Ram Villivalam ) which restricts a school district’s ability to contract with a third-party contractor for more than three months during emergency situations. Currently districts can enter into three-month contracts which can be extended if the emergency situation persists. IASB’s concerns with this bill include the narrowing of the definition of “emergency situations” and limiting the use of third-party contractors in emergency circumstances unless there is mutual agreement with the collective bargaining unit. When emergency situations arise, school districts need to be able to respond appropriately to ensure the health and safety of students and staff. The sponsor agreed to have further discussions with school management organizations and IEA to try and find a compromise solution. SB1799 passed the Senate Education committee as amended 13-1-0.Additional Bills passed out of Senate and House Committees
SCA1 to SB1584 (Sen. Sara Feigenholtz) permits ISBE to make rules allowing for extensions to short-term approval licenses. SB1584 passed the Senate Education Committee as amended 13-0-0.SB1616 (Sen. Ram Villivalam) requires ISBE to post on its website and to provide to each school district a list of cultural or religious events to assist schools with planning school calendars. SB1616 passed the Senate Education Committee as amended 14-0-0.
SB2057 (Sen. Michael Hastings) requires ISBE to provide school districts with guidance for threat assessment procedures, rapid entry response plans, and cardiac emergency response plans. SB2057 passed the Senate Education Committee 14-0-0.
SJR2 (Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel) directs the Professional Review Panel and ISBE to conduct the analysis and financial modeling required to evaluate the implications of implementing the recommended maximum caseloads for special education resource teachers. SJR2 passed out of the Senate Education Committee 13-0-0.
HB79 (Rep. Jackie Haas) allows a retired sheriff’s employee to return to work for up to 999 hours as a school security guard without affecting their pension benefits. Passed Committee 9-0-0
HB1368 (Rep. Laura Favor Dias) ensures professional development activities align with evidence-based strategies as outlined in the state’s comprehensive literacy plan. Passed Committee 9-0-0
HB1375 (Rep. Barbara Hernandez) requires the Illinois Board of Higher Education to distribute a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for student teachers. While subject to appropriation, the estimate for the new stipend program could cost $68 million. Passed Committee 10-1-0
HB1411 (Rep. Christopher “C.D” Davidsmeyer) provides that if a school district distributes materials on bullying to students, the materials must be age and developmentally appropriate. Passed Committee 12-0-0
HB1787 (Rep. Maura Hirschauer) requires substitute teachers to undergo safety drill training. IASB opposed this bill due to concerns about its implementation given substitutes often work in multiple schools and districts. The bill’s sponsor has agreed to hold the legislation while further discussions take place to find a suitable resolution. Passed Committee 8-4-0
HB1869 (Rep. Michelle Mussman) allows the State Superintendent to designate ROEs/ISCs as learning partners. Passed Committee 9-0-0
HB1926 (Rep. Camille Y. Lilly) incorporates work ethic instruction into the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. The sponsor committed to continued conversation with school management to address concerns to find a suitable resolution. Passed Committee 12-0-0
IASB will continue to monitor these legislative developments and advocate for policies that best serve Illinois school districts.
Advocacy Ambassadors
The IASB Governmental Relations team would like to invite registered Advocacy Ambassadors to join us virtually on March 14 from noon until 1 p.m. for the Advocacy Ambassador March webinar. The meeting will provide an opportunity to learn more about what is happening at the State Capitol and bills that are being monitored, and an opportunity for members to ask questions and provide feedback to the IASB Governmental Relations team.To register to become an Advocacy Ambassador, visit the Advocacy Tab on the IASB website. If you are already registered as an Advocacy Ambassador, you will be able to register to attend the March webinar by visiting the IASB Events Calendar.
Legislative Tracking Lists
The IASB Governmental Relations team tracks all legislation that may impact K-12 public education and makes regular updates to those lists. As a reminder, although a bill may be filed, many factors influence whether it makes its way through the legislative process. Some of those factors include whether the bill gets assigned by leadership to a committee, the extent of any opposition, and the priorities of the sponsor.In an effort to ensure that IASB members can monitor all bills the Governmental Relations team is tracking, legislation has been broken down into ten different topics: IASB will continue to monitor all bills and keep you informed as bills start to move through the legislative process.