Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Establishes the Chronic Absence Task Force within the State Board of Education to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on chronic absence and to support the development of a State strategy to address the ongoing challenges presented by chronic absenteeism for students in early childhood education and care programs and students in grades kindergarten through 12. Requires the Task Force to hold hearings on a periodic basis to receive testimony from the public regarding the chronic absence of students. Provides that the Task Force shall identify strategies, mechanisms, and approaches to help families, educators, principals, superintendents, and the State Board of Education address and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the chronic absence of students in early childhood education and care programs and students in grades kindergarten through 12 and make specified recommendations to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education. Requires the Task Force to submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than December 15 of each year. Sets forth provisions concerning the membership of the Task Force; reimbursement for travel expenses; and administrative support. Dissolves the Task Force and repeals the provisions on December 16, 2027. Effective immediately.
House Committee Amendment No. 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Creates the Chronic Absence Task Force within the State Board of Education to study chronic absenteeism and to support the development of a State strategy to address the ongoing challenges presented by chronic absenteeism for students in early childhood education and care programs and students in grades kindergarten through 12. Sets forth provisions concerning membership, compensation, meetings, administrative support, and public testimony. Requires the Task Force to identify strategies, mechanisms, and approaches to help families, educators, principals, superintendents, and the State Board of Education address and mitigate the high rates of chronic absence of students in State-funded early-childhood programs and public-school students in grades kindergarten through 12. Requires the Task Force to submit a report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than December 15, 2027. Dissolves the Task Force and repeals these provisions on January 31, 2028. Effective September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 105 ILCS 5/1
Engrossed: 105 ILCS 5/26
Enrolled: 105 ILCS 5/26