Bill Text: IL HB2187 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, allows public schools to include in their curriculum, for students in grades 3 through 12, a course in the history and literature of the Old Testament era and a course in the history and literature of the New Testament era. Provides that the purpose of such courses shall be to teach and study the Old and New Testaments and to familiarize students with the contents of the Old and New Testaments, the history recorded by the Old and New Testaments, the literary style and structure of the Old and New Testaments, the customs and cultures of the peoples and societies recorded in the Old and New Testaments, and the influence of the Old and New Testaments upon law, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt a curriculum for each course. Sets forth provisions concerning course requirements, personnel, and monitoring. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-02-07 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB2187 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB2187-Introduced.html

---

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2187 Introduced , by Rep. Mary E. Flowers SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new
Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, allows public schools to include in their curriculum, for students in grades 3 through 12, a course in the history and literature of the Old Testament era and a course in the history and literature of the New Testament era. Provides that the purpose of such courses shall be to teach and study the Old and New Testaments and to familiarize students with the contents of the Old and New Testaments, the history recorded by the Old and New Testaments, the literary style and structure of the Old and New Testaments, the customs and cultures of the peoples and societies recorded in the Old and New Testaments, and the influence of the Old and New Testaments upon law, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt a curriculum for each course. Sets forth provisions concerning course requirements, personnel, and monitoring. Effective immediately.
LRB103 00162 RJT 45167 b
A BILL FOR
HB2187 LRB103 00162 RJT 45167 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Findings and policy. The General Assembly finds
the following:
(1) The Bible has been of great influence in the
history of the world and of the United States in the arts,
music, literature, and laws, on civilization, and as part
of the story of man's struggles throughout history.
(2) The United States Supreme Court, in Stone v.
Graham, 449 U.S. 39 (1980), noted in its decision that
"the Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate
study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative
religion, or the like".
(3) In a landmark case of prayer in the public
schools, the United States Supreme Court decision of
Abington Township School District v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203
(1963), written for the majority by Justice Tom Clark,
noted, "Nothing we have said here indicates that such
study of the Bible or of religion, when presented
objectively as a part of a secular program of education,
may not be effected consistently with the First
Amendment.".
(4) Justice Clark also stated, "In addition, it might

HB2187 - 2 - LRB103 00162 RJT 45167 b
well be said that one's education is not complete without
a study of comparative religion or the history of religion
and its relationship to the advancement of civilization.
It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study
for its literary and historic qualities.".
(5) Public school courses involving the study of the
Bible have spread to at least 43 states, and at least 7
state legislatures (Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona,
Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas) have approved laws
encouraging some form of Bible study.
It is, therefore, the policy of the State of Illinois
that, in seeking to provide the best education for this
State's students, a course in the Bible for purposes of
learning of its influence on the arts, music, civilizations,
the Founding Fathers, presidents, ethics, history, and the
laws of our federal and State governments would be of good
educational benefit to our students.
Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
27-23.17 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new)
Sec. 27-23.17. Courses in history and literature of the
Old and New Testament eras.
(a) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, public
schools may include in their curriculum, for students in

HB2187 - 3 - LRB103 00162 RJT 45167 b
grades 3 through 12, a course in the history and literature of
the Old Testament era and a course in the history and
literature of the New Testament era. The purpose of such
courses shall be to teach and study the Old and New Testaments
and to familiarize students with the contents of the Old and
New Testaments, the history recorded by the Old and New
Testaments, the literary style and structure of the Old and
New Testaments, the customs and cultures of the peoples and
societies recorded in the Old and New Testaments, and the
influence of the Old and New Testaments upon law, history,
government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values,
and culture.
(b) No later than May 1, 2023, the State Board of Education
shall adopt a curriculum for each course under this Section,
including objectives, reading materials, and lesson plans,
which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of
this subsection (b).
The book or collection of books commonly known as the Old
Testament shall be the basic text for the course in the history
and literature of the Old Testament era, and the book or
collection of books commonly known as the New Testament shall
be the basic text for the course in the history and literature
of the New Testament era. In addition, students may be
assigned a range of reading materials for the courses,
including selections from secular historical and cultural
works and selections from other religious and cultural

HB2187 - 4 - LRB103 00162 RJT 45167 b
traditions. The courses shall familiarize students with the
customs and cultures of the times and places referred to in the
Old and New Testaments. The courses shall familiarize the
students with the methods and tools of writing at the times the
Old and New Testament books were written, the means by which
they were preserved, the languages in which they were written
and into which they were translated, and the historical and
cultural events that led to the translation of the Old and New
Testaments into the English language. School districts may
recommend which version of the Old or New Testament is to be
used in the course, provided that the teacher of the course
must not be required to adopt that recommendation but may use
the recommended version or another version. No student may be
required to use one version as the sole text of the Old or New
Testament. If a student desires to use as the basic text a
different version of the Old or New Testament from that chosen
by the school district or teacher, the student must be
permitted to do so.
The courses provided for in this Section shall:
(1) be taught in an objective and non-devotional
manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students as to
either the truth or falsity of the biblical materials or
texts from other religious or cultural traditions;
(2) not include the teaching of religious doctrine or
sectarian interpretation of the Bible or of texts from
other religious or cultural traditions;

HB2187 - 5 - LRB103 00162 RJT 45167 b
(3) not disparage or encourage a commitment to a set
of religious beliefs; and
(4) not disparage or criticize the content within the
Old and New Testaments.
(c) The provisions of this Code relating to personnel
employed by a school district, including, without limitation,
licensure requirements, employment, and supervision, shall
apply to persons who teach the courses provided for in this
Section. In addition, no person may be assigned to teach such
courses based in whole or in part on any religious test,
profession of faith or lack thereof, prior or present
religious affiliation or lack of affiliation, or criteria
involving particular beliefs or lack thereof about the Bible.
Except as specified in this subsection (c), the qualifications
and training of teachers shall be determined by the school
board.
(d) A school board may make such arrangements for
monitoring the content and teaching of the course in the
history and literature of the Old Testament era and the course
in the history and literature of the New Testament era as it
deems appropriate.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.