Bill Text: IL HB1485 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Inclusive American History Act. Establishes the Inclusive American History Commission to (i) address the deficiencies and inadequacies in both perspective and content in traditional history course material and instruction and (ii) develop multiperspective, inclusive, and comprehensive standards that a school may use as a guide in replacing or developing its curricula for history education. Sets forth the membership of the Commission. Contains provisions concerning meetings, duties, and reporting. Repeals these provisions on December 31, 2024. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, requires schools to suspend all instruction in history education, with exceptions. Not later than June 30, 2024, requires the State Superintendent of Education to provide to schools instructional guidelines and standards based on the recommendations of the Commission so that schools may develop alternative curricula to replace traditional course material and instruction to ensure that students obtain a multiperspective, inclusive, and comprehensive understanding about history. Provides that beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, schools shall resume instruction in history, which shall require the use of age-appropriate discussion, textbooks, and other course material that reframe the study of history by presenting to students an examination of history through the inclusion of diverse perspectives, contrary interpretations, and the viewpoints of various groups of people whose voices have traditionally been excluded from the conventional teaching of history. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-10 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB1485 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB1485-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB1485 Introduced , by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index
Creates the Inclusive American History Act. Establishes the Inclusive American History Commission to (i) address the deficiencies and inadequacies in both perspective and content in traditional history course material and instruction and (ii) develop multiperspective, inclusive, and comprehensive standards that a school may use as a guide in replacing or developing its curricula for history education. Sets forth the membership of the Commission. Contains provisions concerning meetings, duties, and reporting. Repeals these provisions on December 31, 2024. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, requires schools to suspend all instruction in history education, with exceptions. Not later than June 30, 2024, requires the State Superintendent of Education to provide to schools instructional guidelines and standards based on the recommendations of the Commission so that schools may develop alternative curricula to replace traditional course material and instruction to ensure that students obtain a multiperspective, inclusive, and comprehensive understanding about history. Provides that beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, schools shall resume instruction in history, which shall require the use of age-appropriate discussion, textbooks, and other course material that reframe the study of history by presenting to students an examination of history through the inclusion of diverse perspectives, contrary interpretations, and the viewpoints of various groups of people whose voices have traditionally been excluded from the conventional teaching of history. Effective immediately.
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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
HB1485 LRB103 03533 RJT 48539 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Inclusive American History Act.
Section 5. Statement of findings; Inclusive American
History Commission creation and purpose.
(a) In an effort to create a well-informed, tolerant, and
equitable society, students in grades kindergarten through 12
in this State should receive an unbiased, objective, and
thorough education in history. Traditional course material and
instruction have failed to provide to students a comprehensive
education in history because the historical narrative has
always been presented and interpreted from the perspective of
one rather than from the perspective of many. To the detriment
of our society, this limited narrative in history instruction
and course material rarely teaches our students about the
contributions made by or the marginalization of women, Black
people, indigenous people, Latinx people, and people of color,
faith-based minorities, ethnic minorities, immigrants, members
of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community,
persons with disabilities, and many others. Traditional
teaching materials so often fail to provide for any study

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about slavery, racism, and civil rights that teachers must
often purchase their own supplementary materials in order to
teach their students about these subjects. The objective in
the reframing of history education in this State is not to
exclude, prohibit, or deny the narrative, perspective, or
accomplishments of any cultural group or people, but rather to
recognize and include the narrative, perspective, and
accomplishments of all. The reframing of history education
must present to students a fair and accurate historical
narrative that acknowledges both the triumphs and the failures
of a society. Therefore, the teaching of history to students
in this State must be reformed and reframed in order to provide
our students with a multiperspective, inclusive, and
comprehensive understanding of history. Rather than requiring
each school to be responsible for the research, study, and
investigation necessary to develop alternative or revised
instructional standards for the teaching of history,
instructional guidelines and standards should be provided to
schools statewide so that each school may develop the
alternative curricula it needs to replace traditional course
material and instruction.
(b) The Inclusive American History Commission is created
to (i) address the deficiencies and inadequacies in both
perspective and content in traditional course material and
instruction and (ii) develop multiperspective, inclusive, and
comprehensive standards that a school may use as a guide in

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replacing or developing its curricula for history education.
Section 10. Membership. The Governor shall appoint all of
the following members to the Commission:
(1) Two members who are history scholars.
(2) Two members who represent publishers of history
textbooks.
(3) Two full-time teachers of a public elementary
school in this State.
(4) Two full-time teachers who teach history courses
at a public secondary school in this State.
(5) Two full-time faculty members who teach history
courses at a public institution of higher education in
this State.
(6) Two students who are enrolled in a public
secondary school in this State.
(7) Four parents who have children enrolled in a
public elementary or secondary school in this State.
(8) Additional persons who are members of
not–for–profit organizations that represent women, Black
people, indigenous people, Latinx people, and people of
color, ethnic minorities, faith-based minorities,
immigrants, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community, and persons with disabilities.
(9) One member representing regional offices of
education, recommended by a statewide organization that

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represents regional superintendents of schools.
(10) One member representing school boards,
recommended by a statewide organization that represents
school boards.
(11) One member representing school principals,
recommended by a statewide organization that represents
school principals.
(12) One member representing school administrators,
recommended by a statewide organization that represents
school administrators.
(13) One member representing teachers, recommended by
a statewide organization that represents teachers.
(14) One member representing teachers, recommended by
a different statewide organization that represents
teachers.
(15) One member representing teachers, recommended by
an organization representing teachers of a school
district.
(16) One member representing a school district
organized under Article 34 of the School Code.
(17) One member representing large unit school
districts.
(18) One member representing suburban Chicago school
districts.
(19) One member representing south suburban Chicago
school districts.

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(20) Two members representing school districts located
in the central region of this State.
(21) Two members representing school districts located
in the southern region of this State.
Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointments.
Section 15. Meetings; chairperson; support; expenses.
(a) The Commission shall meet initially at the call of the
Governor within 30 days after the effective date of this Act,
shall select one member as chairperson at its initial meeting,
and shall thereafter meet at least monthly or more often as the
chairperson of the Commission deems necessary at the times and
places in this State that the chairperson designates.
(b) The State Board of Education shall provide
administrative and other support to the Commission.
(c) Members of the Commission shall serve without
compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
necessary expenses from funds appropriated to the State Board
of Education for that purpose, including travel, subject to
the rules of the appropriate travel control board.
Section 20. Duties. The duties of the Commission shall
include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) To evaluate history textbooks and other course
material for breadth and accuracy of content.

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(2) To research, study, and determine the content and
material to present to students in the teaching of
history.
(3) To propose revisions to course standards and
instructional guidelines so that students may receive a
multiperspective, inclusive, and comprehensive
instruction in history.
(4) To provide opportunities for the public,
educators, students, parents, and other interested parties
to comment on proposed changes in history course standards
and instruction.
(5) To develop guidelines for age-appropriate
instructional standards, textbooks, and other course
material an elementary or secondary school may use in
replacing or developing its curricula for history
education.
Section 25. Reporting.
(a) The Commission shall file a report on its findings,
research, proposals, and guidelines with the Governor, the
General Assembly, and the State Board of Education on or
before December 31, 2023. Upon filing its report, the
Commission is dissolved.
(b) The State Board of Education shall make available to
the State Superintendent of Education the report filed by the
Commission under subsection (a). The State Superintendent

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shall incorporate the recommendations made by the Commission
into the instructional guidelines and standards provided to
schools for the development of alternative curricula under
Section 27-23.17 of the School Code.
Section 50. Repealer. This Act is repealed on December 31,
2024.
Section 90. The School Code is amended by changing
Sections 27-3.5, 27-20.4, 27-20.5, 27-21, and 27-22 and by
adding Section 27-23.17 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/27-3.5)
Sec. 27-3.5. Congressional Medal of Honor film. Subject to
Section 27-23.17, each Each school district shall require that
all students in grade 7 and all high school students enrolled
in a course concerning history of the United States or a
combination of history of the United States and American
government view a Congressional Medal of Honor film made by
the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. This requirement
does not apply if the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
charges the school district a fee for a film.
(Source: P.A. 96-99, eff. 7-27-09.)
(105 ILCS 5/27-20.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-20.4)
Sec. 27-20.4. Black History study. Subject to Section

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27-23.17, every Every public elementary school and high school
shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying
the events of Black History, including the history of the
pre-enslavement of Black people from 3,000 BCE to AD 1619, the
African slave trade, slavery in America, the study of the
reasons why Black people came to be enslaved, the vestiges of
slavery in this country, and the study of the American civil
rights renaissance. These events shall include not only the
contributions made by individual African-Americans in
government and in the arts, humanities and sciences to the
economic, cultural and political development of the United
States and Africa, but also the socio-economic struggle which
African-Americans experienced collectively in striving to
achieve fair and equal treatment under the laws of this
nation. The studying of this material shall constitute an
affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the
dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every
form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
Subject to Section 27-23.17, the The State Superintendent
of Education may prepare and make available to all school
boards instructional materials, including those established by
the Amistad Commission, which may be used as guidelines for
development of a unit of instruction under this Section;
provided, however, that each school board shall itself
determine the minimum amount of instruction time which shall
qualify as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements

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of this Section.
A school may meet the requirements of this Section through
an online program or course.
(Source: P.A. 100-634, eff. 1-1-19; 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/27-20.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-20.5)
Sec. 27-20.5. Study of the History of Women. Every public
elementary school and high school shall include in its
curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the
history of women in America, subject to Section 27-23.17.
These events shall include not only the contributions made by
individual women in government, the arts, sciences, education,
and in the economic, cultural, and political development of
Illinois and of the United States, but shall also include a
study of women's struggles to gain the right to vote and to be
treated equally as they strive to earn and occupy positions of
merit in our society.
Subject to Section 27-23.17, the The State Superintendent
of Education may prepare and make available to all school
boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines
for development of a unit of instruction under this Section.
Each school board shall determine the minimum amount of
instructional time that shall qualify as a unit of instruction
satisfying the requirements of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 86-1256.)

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(105 ILCS 5/27-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-21)
Sec. 27-21. History of United States. History of the
United States shall be taught in all public schools and in all
other educational institutions in this State supported or
maintained, in whole or in part, by public funds, subject to
Section 27-23.17. The teaching of history shall have as one of
its objectives the imparting to pupils of a comprehensive idea
of our democratic form of government and the principles for
which our government stands as regards other nations,
including the studying of the place of our government in
world-wide movements and the leaders thereof, with particular
stress upon the basic principles and ideals of our
representative form of government. The teaching of history
shall include a study of the role and contributions of African
Americans and other ethnic groups, including, but not
restricted to, Polish, Lithuanian, German, Hungarian, Irish,
Bohemian, Russian, Albanian, Italian, Czech, Slovak, French,
Scots, Hispanics, Asian Americans, etc., in the history of
this country and this State. To reinforce the study of the role
and contributions of Hispanics, such curriculum shall include
the study of the events related to the forceful removal and
illegal deportation of Mexican-American U.S. citizens during
the Great Depression. In public schools only, the teaching of
history shall include a study of the roles and contributions
of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the
history of this country and this State. The teaching of

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history also shall include a study of the role of labor unions
and their interaction with government in achieving the goals
of a mixed free enterprise system. Beginning with the
2020-2021 school year, the teaching of history must also
include instruction on the history of Illinois, subject to
Section 27-23.17. The teaching of history shall include the
contributions made to society by Americans of different faith
practices, including, but not limited to, Muslim Americans,
Jewish Americans, Christian Americans, Hindu Americans, Sikh
Americans, Buddhist Americans, and any other collective
community of faith that has shaped America. Subject to Section
27-23.17, no No pupils shall be graduated from the eighth
grade of any public school unless he or she has received such
instruction in the history of the United States and gives
evidence of having a comprehensive knowledge thereof, which
may be administered remotely.
(Source: P.A. 101-227, eff. 7-1-20; 101-341, eff. 1-1-20;
101-643, eff. 6-18-20; 102-411, eff. 1-1-22.)
(105 ILCS 5/27-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-22)
Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.
(a) (Blank).
(b) (Blank).
(c) (Blank).
(d) (Blank).
(e) Through the 2023-2024 school year, as a prerequisite

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to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the
9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements,
successfully complete all of the following courses:
(1) Four years of language arts.
(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
which must be English and the other of which may be English
or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
graduation requirements.
(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
course. A mathematics course that includes geometry
content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
course that prepares a student for a career readiness
path.
(3.5) For pupils entering the 9th grade in the
2022-2023 school year and 2023-2024 school year, one year
of a course that includes intensive instruction in
computer literacy, which may be English, social studies,
or any other subject and which may be counted toward the
fulfillment of other graduation requirements.
(4) Two years of science.
(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
year must be history of the United States or a combination

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of history of the United States and American government,
subject to Section 27-23.17, and, beginning with pupils
entering the 9th grade in the 2016-2017 school year and
each school year thereafter, at least one semester must be
civics, which shall help young people acquire and learn to
use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare
them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout
their lives. Civics course content shall focus on
government institutions, the discussion of current and
controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of
the democratic process. School districts may utilize
private funding available for the purposes of offering
civics education. Beginning with pupils entering the 9th
grade in the 2021-2022 school year, one semester, or part
of one semester, may include a financial literacy course.
(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
foreign language, which shall be deemed to include
American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E)
forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech
course used to satisfy the course requirement under
subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course
requirement under this subdivision (6).
(e-5) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, as a
prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course
requirements, successfully complete all of the following

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courses:
(1) Four years of language arts.
(2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
which must be English and the other of which may be English
or any other subject. If applicable, writing-intensive
courses may be counted toward the fulfillment of other
graduation requirements.
(3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
course. A mathematics course that includes geometry
content may be offered as an integrated, applied,
interdisciplinary, or career and technical education
course that prepares a student for a career readiness
path.
(3.5) One year of a course that includes intensive
instruction in computer literacy, which may be English,
social studies, or any other subject and which may be
counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation
requirements.
(4) Two years of laboratory science.
(5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
year must be history of the United States or a combination
of history of the United States and American government
and at least one semester must be civics, which shall help
young people acquire and learn to use the skills,

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knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be
competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives.
Civics course content shall focus on government
institutions, the discussion of current and controversial
issues, service learning, and simulations of the
democratic process. School districts may utilize private
funding available for the purposes of offering civics
education. One semester, or part of one semester, may
include a financial literacy course.
(6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
foreign language, which shall be deemed to include
American Sign Language, (D) vocational education, or (E)
forensic speech (speech and debate). A forensic speech
course used to satisfy the course requirement under
subdivision (1) may not be used to satisfy the course
requirement under this subdivision (6).
(e-10) Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a
prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil
entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course
requirements, successfully complete 2 years of foreign
language courses, which may include American Sign Language. A
pupil may choose a third year of foreign language to satisfy
the requirement under subdivision paragraph (6) of subsection
(e-5).
(f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform
school districts of standards for writing-intensive

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coursework.
(f-5) If a school district offers an Advanced Placement
computer science course to high school students, then the
school board must designate that course as equivalent to a
high school mathematics course and must denote on the
student's transcript that the Advanced Placement computer
science course qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative
course for students in accordance with subdivision (3) of
subsection (e) of this Section.
(g) Public Act 83-1082 This amendatory Act of 1983 does
not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school
year and prior school years or to students with disabilities
whose course of study is determined by an individualized
education program.
Public Act 94-676 This amendatory Act of the 94th General
Assembly does not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the
2004-2005 school year or a prior school year or to students
with disabilities whose course of study is determined by an
individualized education program.
Subdivision (3.5) of subsection (e) does not apply to
pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2021-2022 school year or a
prior school year or to students with disabilities whose
course of study is determined by an individualized education
program.
Subsection (e-5) does not apply to pupils entering the 9th
grade in the 2023-2024 school year or a prior school year or to

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students with disabilities whose course of study is determined
by an individualized education program. Subsection (e-10) does
not apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028
school year or a prior school year or to students with
disabilities whose course of study is determined by an
individualized education program.
(h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
provisions of Section 27-22.05 of this Code and the
Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.
(i) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to modify
the requirements of this Section for any students enrolled in
grades 9 through 12 if the Governor has declared a disaster due
to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
(Source: P.A. 101-464, eff. 1-1-20; 101-643, eff. 6-18-20;
101-654, Article 50, Section 50-5, eff. 3-8-21; 101-654,
Article 60, Section 60-5, eff. 3-8-21; 102-366, eff. 8-13-21;
102-551, eff. 1-1-22; 102-864, eff. 5-13-22; revised 9-2-22.)
(105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new)
Sec. 27-23.17. Instruction in history. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Article to the contrary, beginning
with the 2023-2024 school year, schools must suspend all
instruction in history education. This suspension does not
apply to instruction during the 2023-2024 school year to
students entering their final year of elementary or secondary

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school during the 2023-2024 school year who must receive
history instruction in order to satisfy graduation, college
admission, scholarship, or other academic requirements or to
instruction under Section 27-3 or 27-3.10. Notwithstanding
Section 27-21, instruction in civics education shall be taught
in place of instruction in the history of the United States
during the 2023-2024 school year. Not later than June 30,
2023, the State Superintendent of Education must prepare and
make available to schools instructional guidelines for these
courses in civics education. Not later than June 30, 2024, the
State Superintendent of Education must provide to schools
instructional guidelines and standards based on the
recommendations of the Inclusive American History Commission
that are contained in the report filed under Section 25 of the
Inclusive American History Act so that schools may develop
alternative curricula to replace traditional course material
and instruction to ensure that students obtain a
multiperspective, inclusive, and comprehensive understanding
about history. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year,
schools shall resume instruction in history under this
Section, which shall require the use of age-appropriate
discussion, textbooks, and other course material that reframe
the study of history by presenting to students an examination
of history through the inclusion of diverse perspectives,
contrary interpretations, and the viewpoints of various groups
of people, such as women, Black people, indigenous people,

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Latinx people, and people of color, ethnic minorities,
faith-based minorities, immigrants, members of the lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender community, persons with
disabilities, and the poor and working class, whose voices
have traditionally been excluded from the conventional
teaching of history.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
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INDEX
Statutes amended in order of appearance