99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1375
 
Introduced 2/18/2015, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
  
105 ILCS 5/27-3  from Ch. 122, par. 27-3
105 ILCS 5/27A-11.10 new

     Amends the School Code. In provisions that prohibit a student from receiving a certificate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination upon the subjects of American patriotism and the principles of representative government and the proper use and display of the American flag, provides that the examination for high school students must include test questions that are identical to the 100 test questions listed in the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and a pupil may not be considered to have satisfactorily passed the examination without correctly answering at least 60 of those 100 questions.  Also requires this testing in charter schools.
  


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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 changing Section 
527-3 and by adding Section 27A-11.10 follows:
 



6    (105 ILCS 5/27-3)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-3)



7    Sec. 27-3. 
Patriotism and principles of representative

8government - Proper use of flag - Method of voting - Pledge of 
9Allegiance.
 American patriotism and the principles of 
10representative government,
as enunciated in the American 
11Declaration of Independence, the
Constitution of the United 
12States of America and the Constitution of the
State of 
13Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag,

14shall be taught in all public schools and other educational 
15institutions
supported or maintained in whole or in part by 
16public funds. No student
shall receive a certificate of 
17graduation without passing a satisfactory
examination upon 
18such subjects. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the 
19examination for high school students must include test 
20questions that are identical to the 100 test questions listed 
21in the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the 
22United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and a pupil 
23may not be considered to have satisfactorily passed the 
 
 
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1examination without correctly answering at least 60 of those 
2100 questions. 

3    Instruction shall be given in all such schools and 
4institutions in
the method of voting at elections by means of 
5the Australian Ballot
system and the method of the counting of 
6votes for candidates.

7    The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited each school day 
8by pupils in
elementary and secondary educational institutions 
9supported or maintained
in whole or
in part by public funds. 

10(Source: P.A. 92-612, eff. 7-3-02.)

 
11    (105 ILCS 5/27A-11.10 new)
12    Sec. 27A-11.10. Civics examination. Beginning with the 
132016-2017 school year, no charter school student may receive a 
14certificate of high school graduation without satisfactorily 
15passing an examination that includes test questions that are 
16identical to the 100 test questions listed in the civics 
17portion of the naturalization test used by the United States 
18Citizenship and Immigration Services.  A pupil may not be 
19considered to have satisfactorily passed the examination 
20without correctly answering at least 60 of those 100 questions.