97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1406

 

Introduced , by Rep. Bill Mitchell

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-3  from Ch. 122, par. 27-3

    Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, students in grade 6 must successfully complete at least one semester of a civics education course that includes the roles and responsibilities of federal, State, and local governments; the structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; and the meaning and significance of historic documents, such as the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. Requires the State Board of Education to develop a statewide, standardized, end-of-course assessment in civics education for 6th grade students enrolled in a civics education course. Provides that (i) during the 2012-2013 school year, the end-of-course assessment in civics education must be administered as a field test; (ii) during the 2013-2014 school year, each student's performance on the end-of-course assessment in civics education shall constitute 30% of the student's final course grade; and (iii) beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, a student must earn a passing score on the end-of-course assessment in civics education in order to pass the course and receive course credit and in order to be promoted to the next higher grade level.


LRB097 05613 NHT 45675 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1406LRB097 05613 NHT 45675 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527-3 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-3)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-3)
7    Sec. 27-3. Civics; Patriotism and principles of
8representative government - Proper use of flag - Method of
9voting - Pledge of Allegiance.
10    (a) American patriotism and the principles of
11representative government, as enunciated in the American
12Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United
13States of America and the Constitution of the State of
14Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag,
15shall be taught in all public schools and other educational
16institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by
17public funds. No student shall receive a certificate of
18graduation without passing a satisfactory examination upon
19such subjects.
20    Instruction shall be given in all such schools and
21institutions in the method of voting at elections by means of
22the Australian Ballot system and the method of the counting of
23votes for candidates.

 

 

HB1406- 2 -LRB097 05613 NHT 45675 b

1    (b) Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, students in
2grade 6 must successfully complete at least one semester of a
3civics education course that includes the roles and
4responsibilities of federal, State, and local governments; the
5structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and
6judicial branches of government; and the meaning and
7significance of historic documents, such as the Articles of
8Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the
9Constitution of the United States.
10    The State Board of Education shall develop a statewide,
11standardized, end-of-course assessment in civics education for
126th grade students enrolled in a civics education course.
13During the 2012-2013 school year, the end-of-course assessment
14in civics education must be administered as a field test.
15During the 2013-2014 school year, each student's performance on
16the end-of-course assessment in civics education shall
17constitute 30% of the student's final course grade. Beginning
18with the 2014-2015 school year, a student must earn a passing
19score on the end-of-course assessment in civics education in
20order to pass the course and receive course credit and in order
21to be promoted to the next higher grade level.
22    (c) The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited each school
23day by pupils in elementary and secondary educational
24institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by
25public funds.
26(Source: P.A. 92-612, eff. 7-3-02.)