103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4186

 

Introduced 10/25/2023, by Rep. Amy Elik

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-22  from Ch. 122, par. 27-22
110 ILCS 305/8  from Ch. 144, par. 29
110 ILCS 520/8e  from Ch. 144, par. 658e
110 ILCS 660/5-85
110 ILCS 665/10-85
110 ILCS 670/15-85
110 ILCS 675/20-85
110 ILCS 680/25-85
110 ILCS 685/30-85
110 ILCS 690/35-85

    Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In the provisions concerning required high school courses, allows a pupil to take one year of a foreign language course (rather than 2 years), if, upon completing one year of foreign language coursework, the pupil, the pupil's parent or guardian, and the school counselor meet to discuss the pupil's postsecondary education or career goals, and, at that meeting, it is determined (i) that the pupil will take one year of career and technical education coursework, (ii) that a second year of foreign language coursework will limit the pupil's access to career and technical education coursework, and (iii) that the pupil does not need a second year of foreign language coursework to meet the pupil's postsecondary education and career goals. Provides that, following this meeting, the pupil's parent or guardian may opt the pupil out of a second year of foreign language coursework in a form and manner that is prescribed by the State Board of Education. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in this State. Provides that a university may not require a public high school student to have completed 2 years of foreign language coursework while in high school if it was determined in high school that the student was not required to and the student's parent or guardian opted the student out. Provides that if the student completed only one year of foreign language coursework in high school, the university may require the student to take no less than one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the university. Effective immediately.


LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4186LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 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
527-22 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-22)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-22)
7    Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.
8    (a) (Blank).
9    (b) (Blank).
10    (c) (Blank).
11    (d) (Blank).
12    (e) Through the 2023-2024 school year, as a prerequisite
13to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the
149th grade must, in addition to other course requirements,
15successfully complete all of the following courses:
16        (1) Four years of language arts.
17        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
18    which must be English and the other of which may be English
19    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
20    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
21    graduation requirements.
22        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
23    Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and

 

 

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1    one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
2    course. A mathematics course that includes geometry
3    content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
4    interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
5    course that prepares a student for a career readiness
6    path.
7        (3.5) For pupils entering the 9th grade in the
8    2022-2023 school year and 2023-2024 school year, one year
9    of a course that includes intensive instruction in
10    computer literacy, which may be English, social studies,
11    or any other subject and which may be counted toward the
12    fulfillment of other graduation requirements.
13        (4) Two years of science.
14        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
15    year must be history of the United States or a combination
16    of history of the United States and American government
17    and, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the
18    2016-2017 school year and each school year thereafter, at
19    least one semester must be civics, which shall help young
20    people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and
21    attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and
22    responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course
23    content shall focus on government institutions, the
24    discussion of current and controversial issues, service
25    learning, and simulations of the democratic process.
26    School districts may utilize private funding available for

 

 

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1    the purposes of offering civics education. Beginning with
2    pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school
3    year, one semester, or part of one semester, may include a
4    financial literacy course.
5        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
6    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include
7    American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E)
8    forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech
9    course used to satisfy the course requirement under
10    subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course
11    requirement under this subdivision (6).
12    (e-5) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, as a
13prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
14entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course
15requirements, successfully complete all of the following
16courses:
17        (1) Four years of language arts.
18        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
19    which must be English and the other of which may be English
20    or any other subject. If applicable, writing-intensive
21    courses may be counted toward the fulfillment of other
22    graduation requirements.
23        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
24    Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
25    one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
26    course. A mathematics course that includes geometry

 

 

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1    content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
2    interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
3    course that prepares a student for a career readiness
4    path.
5        (3.5) One year of a course that includes intensive
6    instruction in computer literacy, which may be English,
7    social studies, or any other subject and which may be
8    counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation
9    requirements.
10        (4) Two years of laboratory science.
11        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
12    year must be history of the United States or a combination
13    of history of the United States and American government
14    and at least one semester must be civics, which shall help
15    young people acquire and learn to use the skills,
16    knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be
17    competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives.
18    Civics course content shall focus on government
19    institutions, the discussion of current and controversial
20    issues, service learning, and simulations of the
21    democratic process. School districts may utilize private
22    funding available for the purposes of offering civics
23    education. One semester, or part of one semester, may
24    include a financial literacy course.
25        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
26    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include

 

 

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1    American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E)
2    forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech
3    course used to satisfy the course requirement under
4    subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course
5    requirement under this subdivision (6).
6    (e-10) Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a
7prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
8entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course
9requirements, successfully complete either (i) 2 years of
10foreign language courses, which may include American Sign
11Language, or (ii) one year of a foreign language course, which
12may include American Sign Language, if, upon completing one
13year of foreign language coursework, the pupil, the pupil's
14parent or guardian, and the school counselor meet to discuss
15the pupil's postsecondary education or career goals, and, at
16that meeting, it is determined (I) that the pupil will instead
17take one year of coursework in career and technical education
18as included under the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and
19Technical Education Act of 2006, (II) that a second year of
20foreign language coursework will limit the pupil's access to
21career and technical education coursework that will prepare
22the pupil for a career-readiness path, and (III
) that the
23pupil does not need a second year of foreign language
24coursework to meet the pupil's postsecondary education and
25career goals. Following this meeting, the pupil's parent or
26guardian may opt the pupil out of a second year of foreign

 

 

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1language coursework in a form and manner that is prescribed by
2the State Board of Education. A pupil may choose a third year
3of foreign language to satisfy the requirement under
4subdivision (6) of subsection (e-5).
5    (f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform
6school districts of standards for writing-intensive
7coursework.
8    (f-5) If a school district offers an Advanced Placement
9computer science course to high school students, then the
10school board must designate that course as equivalent to a
11high school mathematics course and must denote on the
12student's transcript that the Advanced Placement computer
13science course qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative
14course for students in accordance with subdivision (3) of
15subsection (e) of this Section.
16    (g) Public Act 83-1082 does not apply to pupils entering
17the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior school years
18or to students with disabilities whose course of study is
19determined by an individualized education program.
20    Public Act 94-676 does not apply to pupils entering the
219th grade in the 2004-2005 school year or a prior school year
22or to students with disabilities whose course of study is
23determined by an individualized education program.
24    Subdivision (3.5) of subsection (e) does not apply to
25pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year or a
26prior school year or to students with disabilities whose

 

 

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1course of study is determined by an individualized education
2program.
3    Subsection (e-5) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th
4grade in the 2023-2024 school year or a prior school year or to
5students with disabilities whose course of study is determined
6by an individualized education program. Subsection (e-10) does
7not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028
8school year or a prior school year or to students with
9disabilities whose course of study is determined by an
10individualized education program.
11    (h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
12provisions of Section 27-22.05 of this Code and the
13Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.
14    (i) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to modify
15the requirements of this Section for any students enrolled in
16grades 9 through 12 if the Governor has declared a disaster due
17to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
18Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
19(Source: P.A. 102-366, eff. 8-13-21; 102-551, eff. 1-1-22;
20102-864, eff. 5-13-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
 
21    Section 10. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
22changing Section 8 as follows:
 
23    (110 ILCS 305/8)  (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
24    Sec. 8. Admissions.

 

 

HB4186- 8 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    (a) (Blank).
2    (b) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
3of the departments or colleges of the University unless such
4student also has satisfactorily completed:
5        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
6    the following 5 categories:
7            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
8        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
9        years may be collegiate level instruction;
10            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
11        and government);
12            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
13        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
14        fundamentals of computer programming);
15            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
16        agricultural sciences); and
17            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
18        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
19        Language), music, career and technical education,
20        agricultural education, or art;
21        (2) except that institutions may admit individual
22    applicants if the institution determines through
23    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
24    outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
25    technical education courses and courses taken in a charter
26    school established under Article 27A of the School Code,

 

 

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1    that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
2    substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
3    expected to be acquired in the high school courses
4    required for admission. The Board of Trustees of the
5    University of Illinois shall not discriminate in the
6    University's admissions process against an applicant for
7    admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
8    charter school established under Article 27A of the School
9    Code. Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did
10    not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college
11    preparatory curriculum in high school, and 2)
12    educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to
13    the formal organized special assistance programs that are
14    tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in
15    either case, the institution incorporates in the
16    applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other
17    academic activities that compensate for course
18    deficiencies; and
19        (3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
20    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
21    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
22    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
23    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
24    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .
25        (4) except that the University may not require a
26    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a

 

 

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1    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
2    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was
3    determined in high school that the student was not
4    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
5    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the
6    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
7    student out of a second year of foreign language
8    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
9    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the
10    University may require the student to take no less than
11    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
12    an undergraduate degree program at the University.
13    (c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
14recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
15coursework required by subsection (b).
16    (d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
17scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
18SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
19test as a prerequisite to admission.
20    (e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions
21process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted
22to submit an application for admission to the University as a
23freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the
24veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The
25University may request that the Department of Veterans'
26Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably

 

 

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1discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall
2semester.
3(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
4    Section 15. The Southern Illinois University Management
5Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 520/8e)  (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
7    Sec. 8e. Admissions.
8    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
9of the departments or colleges of the University unless such
10student also has satisfactorily completed:
11        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
12    the following 5 categories:
13            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
14        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
15        years may be collegiate level instruction;
16            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
17        and government);
18            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
19        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
20        fundamentals of computer programming);
21            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
22        agricultural sciences); and
23            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
24        (which may be deemed to include American Sign

 

 

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1        Language), music, career and technical education,
2        agricultural education, or art;
3        (2) except that institutions may admit individual
4    applicants if the institution determines through
5    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
6    outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
7    technical education courses and courses taken in a charter
8    school established under Article 27A of the School Code,
9    that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
10    substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
11    expected to be acquired in the high school courses
12    required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Southern
13    Illinois University shall not discriminate in the
14    University's admissions process against an applicant for
15    admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
16    charter school established under Article 27A of the School
17    Code. Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did
18    not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college
19    preparatory curriculum in high school, and 2)
20    educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to
21    the formal organized special assistance programs that are
22    tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in
23    either case, the institution incorporates in the
24    applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other
25    academic activities that compensate for course
26    deficiencies; and

 

 

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1        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
2    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
3    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
4    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
5    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
6    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .
7        (4) except that the University may not require a
8    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a
9    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
10    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was
11    determined in high school that the student was not
12    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
13    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the
14    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
15    student out of a second year of foreign language
16    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
17    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the
18    University may require the student to take no less than
19    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
20    an undergraduate degree program at the University.
21    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
22recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
23coursework required by subsection (a).
24    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
25scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
26SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency

 

 

HB4186- 14 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1test as a prerequisite to admission.
2    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
3which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
4application for admission to the University as a freshman
5student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
6active duty during the fall semester. The University may
7request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
8status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
9was on active duty during the fall semester.
10(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
11    Section 20. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
12changing Section 5-85 as follows:
 
13    (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
14    Sec. 5-85. Admissions.
15    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
16of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University
17unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
18        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
19    the following 5 categories:
20            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
21        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
22        years may be collegiate level instruction;
23            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
24        and government);

 

 

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1            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
2        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
3        fundamentals of computer programming);
4            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
5        agricultural sciences); and
6            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
7        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
8        Language), music, career and technical education,
9        agricultural education, or art;
10        (2) except that Chicago State University may admit
11    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
12    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
13    coursework taken, including career and technical education
14    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
15    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
16    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
17    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
18    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
19    Trustees of Chicago State University shall not
20    discriminate in the University's admissions process
21    against an applicant for admission because of the
22    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
23    under Article 27A of the School Code. Chicago State
24    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
25    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
26    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally

 

 

HB4186- 16 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
2    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
3    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
4    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
5    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
6    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
7        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
8    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
9    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
10    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
11    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
12    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .
13        (4) except that the University may not require a
14    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a
15    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
16    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was
17    determined in high school that the student was not
18    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
19    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the
20    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
21    student out of a second year of foreign language
22    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
23    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the
24    University may require the student to take no less than
25    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
26    an undergraduate degree program at the University.

 

 

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1    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
2recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
3coursework required by subsection (a).
4    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
5scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
6SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
7test as a prerequisite to admission.
8    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
9which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
10application for admission to the University as a freshman
11student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
12active duty during the fall semester. The University may
13request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
14status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
15was on active duty during the fall semester.
16(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
17    Section 25. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
18by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
 
19    (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
20    Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
21    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
22of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
23University unless such student also has satisfactorily
24completed:

 

 

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1        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
2    the following 5 categories:
3            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
4        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
5        years may be collegiate level instruction;
6            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
7        and government);
8            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
9        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
10        fundamentals of computer programming);
11            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
12        agricultural sciences); and
13            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
14        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
15        Language), music, career and technical education,
16        agricultural education, or art;
17        (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
18    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
19    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
20    coursework taken, including career and technical education
21    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
22    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
23    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
24    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
25    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
26    Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not

 

 

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1    discriminate in the University's admissions process
2    against an applicant for admission because of the
3    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
4    under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
5    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
6    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
7    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
8    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
9    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
10    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
11    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
12    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
13    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
14        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
15    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
16    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
17    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
18    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
19    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .
20        (4) except that the University may not require a
21    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a
22    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
23    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was
24    determined in high school that the student was not
25    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
26    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the

 

 

HB4186- 20 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
2    student out of a second year of foreign language
3    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
4    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the
5    University may require the student to take no less than
6    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
7    an undergraduate degree program at the University.
8    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
9recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
10coursework required by subsection (a).
11    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
12scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
13SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
14test as a prerequisite to admission.
15    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
16which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
17application for admission to the University as a freshman
18student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
19active duty during the fall semester. The University may
20request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
21status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
22was on active duty during the fall semester.
23(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
24    Section 30. The Governors State University Law is amended
25by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
 

 

 

HB4186- 21 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
2    Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
3    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
4of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
5University unless such student also has satisfactorily
6completed:
7        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
8    the following 5 categories:
9            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
10        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
11        years may be collegiate level instruction;
12            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
13        and government);
14            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
15        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
16        fundamentals of computer programming);
17            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
18        agricultural sciences); and
19            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
20        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
21        Language), music, career and technical education,
22        agricultural education, or art;
23        (2) except that Governors State University may admit
24    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
25    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the

 

 

HB4186- 22 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    coursework taken, including career and technical education
2    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
3    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
4    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
5    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
6    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
7    Trustees of Governors State University shall not
8    discriminate in the University's admissions process
9    against an applicant for admission because of the
10    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
11    under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State
12    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
13    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
14    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
15    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
16    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
17    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
18    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
19    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
20    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
21        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
22    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
23    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
24    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
25    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
26    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .

 

 

HB4186- 23 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1        (4) except that the University may not require a
2    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a
3    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
4    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was
5    determined in high school that the student was not
6    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
7    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the
8    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
9    student out of a second year of foreign language
10    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
11    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the
12    University may require the student to take no less than
13    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
14    an undergraduate degree program at the University.
15    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
16recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
17coursework required by subsection (a).
18    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
19scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
20SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
21test as a prerequisite to admission.
22    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
23which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
24application for admission to the University as a freshman
25student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
26active duty during the fall semester. The University may

 

 

HB4186- 24 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
2status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
3was on active duty during the fall semester.
4(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
5    Section 35. The Illinois State University Law is amended
6by changing Section 20-85 as follows:
 
7    (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
8    Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
9    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
10of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State
11University unless such student also has satisfactorily
12completed:
13        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
14    the following 5 categories:
15            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
16        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
17        years may be collegiate level instruction;
18            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
19        and government);
20            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
21        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
22        fundamentals of computer programming);
23            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
24        agricultural sciences); and

 

 

HB4186- 25 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
2        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
3        Language), music, career and technical education,
4        agricultural education, or art;
5        (2) except that Illinois State University may admit
6    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
7    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
8    coursework taken, including career and technical education
9    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
10    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
11    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
12    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
13    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
14    Trustees of Illinois State University shall not
15    discriminate in the University's admissions process
16    against an applicant for admission because of the
17    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
18    under Article 27A of the School Code. Illinois State
19    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
20    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
21    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
22    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
23    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
24    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
25    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
26    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic

 

 

HB4186- 26 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
2        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
3    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
4    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
5    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
6    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
7    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .
8        (4) except that the University may not require a
9    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a
10    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
11    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was
12    determined in high school that the student was not
13    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
14    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the
15    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
16    student out of a second year of foreign language
17    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
18    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the
19    University may require the student to take no less than
20    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
21    an undergraduate degree program at the University.
22    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
23recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
24coursework required by subsection (a).
25    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
26scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or

 

 

HB4186- 27 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
2test as a prerequisite to admission.
3    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
4which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
5application for admission to the University as a freshman
6student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
7active duty during the fall semester. The University may
8request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
9status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
10was on active duty during the fall semester.
11(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
12    Section 40. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
13amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
 
14    (110 ILCS 680/25-85)
15    Sec. 25-85. Admissions.
16    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
17of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
18University unless such student also has satisfactorily
19completed:
20        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
21    the following 5 categories:
22            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
23        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
24        years may be collegiate level instruction;

 

 

HB4186- 28 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
2        and government);
3            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
4        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
5        fundamentals of computer programming);
6            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
7        agricultural sciences); and
8            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
9        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
10        Language), music, career and technical education,
11        agricultural education, or art;
12        (2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may
13    admit individual applicants if it determines through
14    assessment or through evaluation based on learning
15    outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
16    technical education courses and courses taken in a charter
17    school established under Article 27A of the School Code,
18    that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
19    substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
20    expected to be acquired in the high school courses
21    required for admission. The Board of Trustees of
22    Northeastern Illinois University shall not discriminate in
23    the University's admissions process against an applicant
24    for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
25    charter school established under Article 27A of the School
26    Code. Northeastern Illinois University may also admit (i)

 

 

HB4186- 29 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
2    minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
3    (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
4    admitted to the formal organized special assistance
5    programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
6    providing that in either case, the institution
7    incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
8    courses or other academic activities that compensate for
9    course deficiencies; and
10        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
11    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
12    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
13    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
14    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
15    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .
16        (4) except that the University may not require a
17    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a
18    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
19    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was
20    determined in high school that the student was not
21    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
22    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the
23    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
24    student out of a second year of foreign language
25    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
26    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the

 

 

HB4186- 30 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    University may require the student to take no less than
2    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
3    an undergraduate degree program at the University.
4    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
5recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
6coursework required by subsection (a).
7    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
8scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
9SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
10test as a prerequisite to admission.
11    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
12which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
13application for admission to the University as a freshman
14student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
15active duty during the fall semester. The University may
16request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
17status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
18was on active duty during the fall semester.
19(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
20    Section 45. The Northern Illinois University Law is
21amended by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
 
22    (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
23    Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
24    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any

 

 

HB4186- 31 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
2University unless such student also has satisfactorily
3completed:
4        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
5    the following 5 categories:
6            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
7        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
8        years may be collegiate level instruction;
9            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
10        and government);
11            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
12        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
13        fundamentals of computer programming);
14            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
15        agricultural sciences); and
16            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
17        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
18        Language), music, career and technical education,
19        agricultural education, or art;
20        (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
21    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
22    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
23    coursework taken, including career and technical education
24    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
25    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
26    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent

 

 

HB4186- 32 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
2    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
3    Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not
4    discriminate in the University's admissions process
5    against an applicant for admission because of the
6    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
7    under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois
8    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
9    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
10    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
11    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
12    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
13    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
14    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
15    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
16    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
17        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
18    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
19    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
20    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
21    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
22    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .
23        (4) except that the University may not require a
24    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a
25    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
26    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was

 

 

HB4186- 33 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    determined in high school that the student was not
2    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
3    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the
4    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
5    student out of a second year of foreign language
6    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
7    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the
8    University may require the student to take no less than
9    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
10    an undergraduate degree program at the University.
11    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
12recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
13coursework required by subsection (a).
14    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
15scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
16SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
17test as a prerequisite to admission.
18    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
19which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
20application for admission to the University as a freshman
21student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
22active duty during the fall semester. The University may
23request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
24status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
25was on active duty during the fall semester.
26(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 

 

 

HB4186- 34 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    Section 50. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
2by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
 
3    (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
4    Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
5    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
6of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
7University unless such student also has satisfactorily
8completed:
9        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
10    the following 5 categories:
11            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
12        oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
13        years may be collegiate level instruction;
14            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
15        and government);
16            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
17        advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
18        fundamentals of computer programming);
19            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
20        agricultural sciences); and
21            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
22        (which may be deemed to include American Sign
23        Language), music, career and technical education,
24        agricultural education, or art;

 

 

HB4186- 35 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1        (2) except that Western Illinois University may admit
2    individual applicants if it determines through assessment
3    or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
4    coursework taken, including career and technical education
5    courses and courses taken in a charter school established
6    under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
7    demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
8    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
9    high school courses required for admission. The Board of
10    Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not
11    discriminate in the University's admissions process
12    against an applicant for admission because of the
13    applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
14    under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois
15    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
16    an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
17    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
18    disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
19    organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
20    the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
21    the institution incorporates in the applicant's
22    baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
23    activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
24        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
25    required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
26    distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from

 

 

HB4186- 36 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1    the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
2    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
3    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1); and .
4        (4) except that the University may not require a
5    graduate of a public high school in this State, as a
6    condition of admission, to have completed 2 years of
7    foreign language coursework while in high school if it was
8    determined in high school that the student was not
9    required to complete 2 years of foreign language
10    coursework under subsection (e-10) of Section 27-22 of the
11    School Code and the student's parent or guardian opted the
12    student out of a second year of foreign language
13    coursework; however, if the student completed only one
14    year of foreign language coursework in high school, the
15    University may require the student to take no less than
16    one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in
17    an undergraduate degree program at the University.
18    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
19recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
20coursework required by subsection (a).
21    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
22scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
23SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
24test as a prerequisite to admission.
25    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
26which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an

 

 

HB4186- 37 -LRB103 34576 RJT 64414 b

1application for admission to the University as a freshman
2student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
3active duty during the fall semester. The University may
4request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
5status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
6was on active duty during the fall semester.
7(Source: P.A. 102-403, eff. 1-1-22; 102-404, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
8    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
9becoming law.