98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5941
 
Introduced , by Rep. Dwight Kay
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
105 ILCS 5/22-80 new

     Amends the School Code. Provides that each parent or guardian of a student in a public educational institution has the right to review learning materials and activities in advance. Provides that each parent or guardian who makes an objection to any learning material or activity on the basis that the material or activity is harmful may withdraw that student from the activity or from the class or program in which the material is used and  request an alternative assignment. Authorizes a charter school, under certain circumstances, to require parents and guardians of students to waive these rights as a condition of enrollment. Requires a public educational institution to obtain signed, written consent from a student's parent or guardian before using video, audio, or electronic materials that may be inappropriate for the age of the student. Effective July 1, 2014.
  


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
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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 adding Section 
522-80 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/22-80 new)
7    Sec. 22-80. Rights of parents. 
8    (a) For the purposes of this Section:
9        "Objection to any learning material or activity on the 
10    basis that the material or activity is harmful" means an 
11    objection to material or activity because of sexual 
12    content, violent content, or profane or vulgar language.
13        "Public educational institution" means any of the 
14    following:
15            (1) A public school.
16            (2) The Illinois School for the Deaf. 
17            (3) The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. 
18    (b) A parent or guardian of a student in a public 
19educational institution has the right to review learning 
20materials and activities in advance. A parent or guardian who 
21makes an objection to any learning material or activity on the 
22basis that the material or activity is harmful may request to 
23withdraw that student from the activity or from the class or 
 
 
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1program in which the material is used and request an 
2alternative assignment.
3    (c) A charter school may require parents and guardians to 
4waive the right to object to learning materials or activities 
5under subsection (b) of this Section, as a condition of 
6enrollment, if the charter school provides a complete list of 
7books and materials to be used each school year before the 
8student enrolls. If the charter school introduces books or 
9materials that were not disclosed prior to enrollment, then the 
10parent or guardian retains the right to object to those 
11materials under subsection (b) of this Section.
12    A charter school may require that any request to review 
13learning materials or activities or to withdraw the student 
14from learning materials or activities under subsection (b) of 
15this Section be made in writing.
16    (d) A public educational institution shall obtain signed, 
17written consent from a student's parent or guardian before 
18using video, audio, or electronic materials that may be 
19inappropriate for the age of the student.
  
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
212014.