Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning State Global Scholar Certification, provides that 6 units of credit shall be required to achieve State Global Scholar Certification (instead of not specifying how many units of credit are required). Provides for global collaboration or (instead of and) dialogue. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to provide students attending schools that do not currently offer State Global Scholar Certification the opportunity to earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Sets forth what those rules shall include and other requirements. Provides that a student enrolled in a school district or nonpublic school that awarded State Global Scholar Certification prior to the 2026-2027 school year and offered a course to complete the capstone project requirement prior to the 2026-2027 school year may not earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely.
House Floor Amendment No. 1: Deletes references to "units of credit". Provides that the rules that the State Board of Education is required to adopt shall include a list of all school courses and course codes derived from the State Board of Education's Illinois State Course Catalog and Illinois Virtual Course Catalog (instead of just the Illinois State Course Catalog) that are designated as and qualify as globally focused coursework. Removes the requirement that the adopted rules include a mechanism to complete the capstone project requirement as part of an online course taught by a licensed teacher. Provides for the provider (instead of a provider) of the online course determining and demonstrating that a student meets all of the criteria required to earn State Global Scholar Certification.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 105 ILCS 5/2
Engrossed: 105 ILCS 5/2
Enrolled: 105 ILCS 5/2
Public Act: 105 ILCS 5/2