Illinois General Assembly - Illinois Compiled Statutes

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105 ILCS 5/27-23.17

    (105 ILCS 5/27-23.17)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-598)
    Sec. 27-23.17. Workplace Readiness Week.

(a) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, all public high schools, including charter schools, may designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week". During that week, students shall be provided information on their rights as workers. The topics covered shall include, but are not limited to, local, State, and federal laws regarding each of the following areas and shall include the labor movement's role in winning the protections and benefits described in those areas:

(1) Prohibitions against misclassification of

employees as independent contractors.

        (2) Child labor.
        (3) Wage and hour protections.
        (4) Worker safety.
        (5) Workers' compensation.
        (6) Unemployment insurance.
        (7) Paid sick leave and paid family leave.
        (8) The right to organize a union in the workplace.
        (9) Prohibitions against retaliation by employers

when workers exercise their rights as workers or any other rights guaranteed by law.

During Workplace Readiness Week, students shall also be provided information introducing them to State-approved apprenticeship programs, how to access them, the variety of programs available, and how they can provide an alternative career path for those students who choose not to attend a traditional higher education program.

(b) If a school observes Workplace Readiness Week under this Section, then, for students in grades 11 and 12, the information required to be provided in subsection (a) shall be integrated into the regular school program but may also be provided during special events after regular school hours. Integration into the regular school program is encouraged, but not required, to occur during Workplace Readiness Week.

(Source: P.A. 103-598, eff. 7-1-24.)

    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-764)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
    Sec. 27-23.17. Relaxation activities.

Each school district may provide to students, in addition to and not substituting recess, at least 20 minutes a week of relaxation activities to enhance the mental and physical health of students as part of the school day. Relaxation activities may include, but are not limited to, mindful-based movements, yoga, stretching, meditation, breathing exercises, guided relaxation techniques, quiet time, walking, in-person conversation, and other stress-relieving activities. A school district may partner with public and private community organizations to provide relaxation activities. These activities may take place in a physical education class, social-emotional learning class, or student-support or advisory class or as a part of another similar class, including a new class.

(Source: P.A. 103-764, eff. 1-1-25.)