Amends the School Code. Requires every public elementary and high school to include in its curriculum the study of the contributions made by Latin Americans to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the requirement during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit and make recommendations for improvement. Provides that the failure by a school district or school to comply with the requirement shall result in a written warning for the first offense, and if the school district or school continues to fail to comply with the requirements, the school district or school shall face disciplinary action at the discretion of the regional superintendent. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials and professional development opportunities that may be used as guidelines for the development of a Latin American unit of study. Effective August 1, 2026.
House Committee Amendment No. 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill, and makes the following changes: Requires the Latine studies requirement to begin with the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may (rather than shall) prepare and make available to all school boards instructional resources (rather than materials). Removes language that provides that the failure by a school district or school to comply with the Latine studies requirement shall result in a written warning for the first offense, and if the school district or school continues to fail to comply with the requirement, the school district or school shall face disciplinary action at the discretion of the regional superintendent of schools. Further amends the School Code to require that the teaching of the history of the United States include a study of the role and contributions of Latin Americans in the history of the country and the State. Effective immediately (rather than August 1, 2026).

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 105 ILCS 5/27