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| Public Act 095-0198 |
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section | ||||
27-23.7 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/27-23.7) | ||||
Sec. 27-23.7. Bullying prevention education; gang | ||||
resistance education and training. | ||||
(a) The General Assembly finds that bullying has a negative | ||||
effect on the social environment of schools, creates a climate | ||||
of fear among students, inhibits their ability to learn, and | ||||
leads to other antisocial behavior. Bullying behavior has been | ||||
linked to other forms of antisocial behavior, such as | ||||
vandalism, shoplifting, skipping and dropping out of school, | ||||
fighting, using drugs and alcohol, sexual harassment, and | ||||
sexual violence. | ||||
The General Assembly further finds that the instance of | ||||
youth delinquent gangs continues to rise on a statewide basis. | ||||
Given the higher rates of criminal offending among gang | ||||
members, as well as the availability of increasingly lethal | ||||
weapons, the level of criminal activity by gang members has | ||||
taken on new importance for law enforcement agencies, schools, | ||||
the community, and prevention efforts.
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(b) In this Section: ,
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"Bullying
bullying prevention" means and includes | ||
instruction in all of the following: | ||
(1) Intimidation. | ||
(2) Student victimization. | ||
(3) Sexual harassment. | ||
(4) Sexual violence. | ||
(5) Strategies for student-centered problem solving | ||
regarding bullying. | ||
"Gang resistance education and training" means and | ||
includes instruction in, without limitation, each of the | ||
following subject matters when accompanied by a stated | ||
objective of reducing gang activity and educating children in | ||
grades K through 12 about the consequences of gang involvement: | ||
(1) Conflict resolution. | ||
(2) Cultural sensitivity. | ||
(3) Personal goal setting. | ||
(4) Resisting peer pressure.
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(c) Each school district may make suitable provisions for | ||
instruction in bullying prevention and gang resistance | ||
education and training in all grades and include such | ||
instruction in the courses of study regularly taught therein. A | ||
school board may collaborate with a community-based agency | ||
providing specialized curricula in bullying prevention whose | ||
ultimate outcome is to prevent sexual violence. For the | ||
purposes of gang resistance education and training, a school | ||
board must collaborate with State and local law enforcement | ||
agencies. The State Board of Education may assist in the | ||
development of instructional materials and teacher training in | ||
relation to bullying prevention and gang resistance education | ||
and training.
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(Source: P.A. 94-937, eff. 6-26-06.)
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