103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5400
 
Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new
    Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in the State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that may be used as guidelines for the development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit. Provides that a school may meet the requirements through an online program or course. Effective immediately.


LRB103 38895 RJT 69032 b

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY
					
 
 
A BILL FOR
 
HB5400LRB103 38895 RJT 69032 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 adding Section 
527-23.17 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new)
7    Sec. 27-23.17. Arab American History Study.
8    (a) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, every public 
9elementary school and high school shall include in its 
10curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab 
11American history, including the history of Arab Americans in 
12this State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of 
13Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. These events 
14shall include the contributions made by individual Arab 
15Americans in government and the arts, humanities, and 
16sciences, as well as the contributions of Arab American 
17communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political 
18development of the United States. The studying of this 
19material shall constitute an affirmation by students of their 
20commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and 
21to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives 
22and careers. 
23    (b) The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and 
 
 
HB5400- 2 -LRB103 38895 RJT 69032 b

1make available to all school boards instructional materials, 
2including those established by the Public Broadcasting 
3Service, that may be used as guidelines for the development of 
4a unit of instruction under this Section. However, each school 
5board shall itself determine the minimum amount of 
6instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction 
7satisfying the requirements of this Section. 
8    (c) The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a 
9school district's compliance with this Section's curricular 
10requirements during the regional superintendent's annual 
11compliance visit. 
12    (d) A school may meet the requirements of this Section 
13through an online program or course. 
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
15becoming law.