Amends the School Code. With respect to prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma, provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, agricultural education, agricultural business, or any other course that relates to agriculture satisfies the vocational education requirement. Effective immediately.
House Floor Amendment No. 2: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may apply for an agriculture education teacher grant to fund an amount not to exceed 50% of the personal services cost for an agriculture education teacher and the teacher shall receive 100% of the compensation for 60 additional days. Provides, in a provision concerning prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma, that each pupil entering the 9th grade must successfully complete one year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C) foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American Sign Language, (D) career and technical education (rather than vocational education), or (E) forensic speech (speech and debate). Effective immediately.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 105 ILCS 5/27
Engrossed: 105 ILCS 5/27
Enrolled: 105 ILCS 5/2, 105 ILCS 5/27