The 2023-2024 school year is here, and along with new experiences and lessons, new educational laws will also be impacting Chicago students and families in and out of the classroom. Here are some of the new laws and what they mean:
📚 Book bans
Illinois is the first state to outlaw book bans. Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law in June that says public libraries can lose funding if a book is removed from shelves for political or religious reasons. The law will take effect in 2024.
📢 Reporting bullying
In the past, schools had to inform parents and guardians about bullying “promptly.” But a new law replaces that vague language with a requirement to inform families of students involved in alleged bullying within 24 hours of school administrators learning of incidents. The law also expands on what constitutes bullying.
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Mental health
A new law took effect in July requiring schools to include contact information for the Safe2Help Illinois helpline on student IDs. Students can share personal safety issues on the 24/7 hotline via a free app, through text, phone, or on their website.
⚕️ Opioid overdose resources
Gov. Pritzker is expected to sign a bill requiring all public and private schools to keep emergency medicine to prevent opioid overdoses.
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Tutoring services
To tackle learning loss during the pandemic, many school districts are participating in high-dosage tutoring. This state-funded program provides students with consistent one-on-one or small-group tutors.
➕ Those are just a few laws you can expect in the next school year. Check out the Sun-Times for more details.
