Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning kindergartens, provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each school board must establish a kindergarten with full-day attendance (instead of allowing a school board to establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance or with full-day attendance); makes related changes. Repeals another Section concerning kindergartens on July 1, 2023. Effective immediately.
House Floor Amendment No. 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year (instead of the 2023-2024 school year), each school board must establish a kindergarten with full-day attendance. Provides that The full-day kindergarten should be developmentally appropriate and provide opportunities for play-based learning. Provides that an elementary or unit school district that does not offer full-day kindergarten as of October 1, 2022, may, by action of the State Board of Education, apply for an extension of the 2027-2028 school year implementation deadline for 2 additional years if one of the specified criteria are met. Creates the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall conduct a statewide audit to inform the planning and implementation of full-day kindergarten in the State and shall, at a minimum, collect, analyze, and report specified criteria. Provides that the Task Force may recommend for an additional criterion that the State Board of Education may consider in granting a waiver to establish a full-day kindergarten. Sets forth the members of the Task Force and requirements to be a member. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at the call of the State Superintendent of Education or their designee, who shall serve as the chairperson. Provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Provides that members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation. Provides that the Task Force shall issue an interim report by April 15, 2024 and a final report to the General Assembly and Governor's Office no later than November 15, 2024. Provides that upon issuing the final report, the Task Force is dissolved.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2: Corrects various grammatical and typographical errors.
Senate Floor Amendment No. 3: Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, each school board may establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance. Provides that half-day kindergarten should be developmentally appropriate and provide opportunities for play-based learning. In provisions concerning the criteria for an extension, provides that a school district must be funded below 76% (instead of 70%) of adequacy according to the Evidence-Based Funding formula in Fiscal Year 2023 (instead of as of the date of the application).
Senate Floor Amendment No. 4: Provides that the Task Force shall issue an interim report by November 15, 2024 (instead of April 15, 2024) and a final report to the General Assembly and Governor's Office no later than January 31, 2025 (instead of November 15, 2024).

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 105 ILCS 5/10
Engrossed: 105 ILCS 5/10
Enrolled: 105 ILCS 5/10
Public Act: 105 ILCS 5/10