Bill Text: IL HB3526 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2016-2017 school year or a subsequent school year must successfully complete 4 years of language arts aligned with the content of the Illinois Learning Standards for English Language Arts (rather than just 4 years of language arts). Requires students to complete a course in English language arts during their senior year. Requires 3 years of mathematics that align with the content of the Illinois Learning Standards for Mathematics (rather than 3 years of mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science course). Provides that all students must complete the required 3 years of mathematics while enrolled in high school and shall complete a mathematics course during their final year of high school. Repeals a Section concerning course credit for a high school diploma.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-27 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB3526 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB3526-Introduced.html

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99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 HB3526 Introduced , by Rep. Mike Fortner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22
105 ILCS 5/22-10 rep.
Amends the School Code. Provides that as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2016-2017 school year or a subsequent school year must successfully complete 4 years of language arts aligned with the content of the Illinois Learning Standards for English Language Arts (rather than just 4 years of language arts). Requires students to complete a course in English language arts during their senior year. Requires 3 years of mathematics that align with the content of the Illinois Learning Standards for Mathematics (rather than 3 years of mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science course). Provides that all students must complete the required 3 years of mathematics while enrolled in high school and shall complete a mathematics course during their final year of high school. Repeals a Section concerning course credit for a high school diploma.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
A BILL FOR
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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
27-22 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/27-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-22)
Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.
(a) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 1984-1985 school year
through the 2004-2005 school year must, in addition to other
course requirements, successfully complete the following
courses:
(1) three years of language arts;
(2) two years of mathematics, one of which may be
related to computer technology;
(3) one year of science;
(4) two years of social studies, of which at least one
year must be history of the United States or a combination
of history of the United States and American government;
and
(5) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
Sign Language or (D) vocational education.

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(b) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2005-2006 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
(1) Three years of language arts.
(2) Three years of mathematics.
(3) One year of science.
(4) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
year must be history of the United States or a combination
of history of the United States and American government.
(5) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
(c) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2006-2007 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
(1) Three years of language arts.
(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
which must be English and the other of which may be English
or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
graduation requirements.
(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content.
(4) One year of science.

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(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
year must be history of the United States or a combination
of history of the United States and American government.
(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
(d) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2007-2008 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
(1) Three years of language arts.
(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
which must be English and the other of which may be English
or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
graduation requirements.
(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content.
(4) Two years of science.
(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
year must be history of the United States or a combination
of history of the United States and American government.
(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
(e) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,

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each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2008-2009 school year
through the 2015-2016 or a subsequent school year must, in
addition to other course requirements, successfully complete
all of the following courses:
(1) Four years of language arts.
(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
which must be English and the other of which may be English
or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
graduation requirements.
(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
course if the pupil successfully completes Algebra II or an
integrated mathematics course with Algebra II content.
(4) Two years of science.
(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
year must be history of the United States or a combination
of history of the United States and American government.
(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
(f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform
school districts of standards for writing-intensive
coursework.
(e-5) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,

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each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2016-2017 school year
or a subsequent school year must, in addition to other course
requirements, successfully complete all of the following
courses:
(1) Four years of language arts aligned with the
content of the Illinois Learning Standards for English
Language Arts. All students must complete a course in
English language arts during their senior year.
(2) Two years of writing-intensive courses, one of
which must be English and the other of which may be English
or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
graduation requirements.
(3) Three years of mathematics that align with the
content of the Illinois Learning Standards for
Mathematics. All students must complete the required 3
years of mathematics while enrolled in high school and
shall complete a mathematics course during their final year
of high school. Where applicable, non-traditional
mathematics courses may be counted towards the fulfillment
of the 3-year mathematics requirement if the courses are
approved by the school board.
(4) Two years of science.
(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
year must be history of the United States or a combination
of history of the United States and American government.

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(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
(f-5) If a school district offers an Advanced Placement
computer science course to high school students, then the
school board must designate that course as equivalent to a high
school mathematics course and must denote on the student's
transcript that the Advanced Placement computer science course
qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for
students in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (e)
of this Section.
(g) This amendatory Act of 1983 does not apply to pupils
entering the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior
school years or to students with disabilities whose course of
study is determined by an individualized education program.
This amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly does not
apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school
year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities
whose course of study is determined by an individualized
education program.
This amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly does not
apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2015-2016 school
year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities
whose course of study is determined by an individualized
education program.
(h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the

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provisions of Section 27-22.05.
(Source: P.A. 98-885, eff. 8-15-14.)
(105 ILCS 5/22-10 rep.)
Section 10. The School Code is amended by repealing Section
22-10.