HB1402 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 06189 NHT 26248 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB1402

Introduced , by Rep. Thaddeus Jones

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-20.4	from Ch. 122, par. 27-20.4
110 ILCS 805/3-29.11 new

Amends the School Code and the Public Community College Act. With respect to the requirement that the events of Black History be taught in every public elementary school and high school, provides that a student may not complete the 8th grade or graduate from high school without studying this material and that a school may meet this requirement through an online program or course. Requires every community college to offer and all students to take a course studying the events of Black History. Allows a community college to meet the requirement by offering an online course.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 27-20.4 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-20.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-20.4)

Sec. 27-20.4. Black History Study. Every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Black History, including the history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include not only the contributions made by individual African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities and sciences to the economic, cultural and political development of the United States and Africa, but also the socio-economic struggle which African-Americans experienced collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment under the laws of this nation. The studying of this material shall constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers. In no event may a student complete the 8th grade or graduate from high school without studying this material.

The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Amistad Commission, which may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction under this Section; provided, however, that each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instruction time which shall qualify as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section.

A school may meet the requirements of this Section through an online program or course.

(Source: P.A. 94-285, eff. 7-21-05.)

Section 10. The Public Community College Act is amended by adding Section 3-29.11 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/3-29.11 new)

Sec. 3-29.11. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of the Board of Higher Education Act, every community college shall offer a course studying the events of Black History, including the history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include not only the contributions made by individual African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities, and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political development of the United States and Africa, but also the socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall be required of all students and shall constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.

A community college may meet the requirements of this Section by offering an online course.