Bill Text: IL HB5858 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district shall offer an extended course of study for students in grades 9 through 12 that includes instruction in: (1) the elections process for this State, for other states, and for the federal government, including instruction on the mechanisms in place to implement fair and honest elections for public offices; (2) distinguishing between ethical candidates and campaign practices and dirty, attack-style campaign practices; (3) the limitations of the regulation of truth in political advertising and political speech by the Federal Communications Commission and other governmental bodies; (4) identifying and understanding the role of funding sources and dark money in campaigns; (5) fostering critical thinking skills when reviewing electoral communications, researching candidates, and deciding whom to support; (6) seeing the importance of fairness and integrity in political campaigns, engaging with people with opposing viewpoints respectfully, and participating in elections as a part of an informed electorate; (7) evaluating the opportunities and limitations of participation in elections, voting, and the electoral process and the impact disenfranchisement has on elections, voting, and the electoral process; and (8) analyzing constitutions, laws, and agreements to determine the degree to which they achieve justice, equality, and liberty and the common good.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-01-04 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB5858 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB5858-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB5858 Introduced , by Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new
Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district shall offer an extended course of study for students in grades 9 through 12 that includes instruction in: (1) the elections process for this State, for other states, and for the federal government, including instruction on the mechanisms in place to implement fair and honest elections for public offices; (2) distinguishing between ethical candidates and campaign practices and dirty, attack-style campaign practices; (3) the limitations of the regulation of truth in political advertising and political speech by the Federal Communications Commission and other governmental bodies; (4) identifying and understanding the role of funding sources and dark money in campaigns; (5) fostering critical thinking skills when reviewing electoral communications, researching candidates, and deciding whom to support; (6) seeing the importance of fairness and integrity in political campaigns, engaging with people with opposing viewpoints respectfully, and participating in elections as a part of an informed electorate; (7) evaluating the opportunities and limitations of participation in elections, voting, and the electoral process and the impact disenfranchisement has on elections, voting, and the electoral process; and (8) analyzing constitutions, laws, and agreements to determine the degree to which they achieve justice, equality, and liberty and the common good.
LRB102 29640 RJT 41667 b
A BILL FOR
HB5858 LRB102 29640 RJT 41667 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
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. Extended high school civics and an
elections education.
(a) In addition to the instruction required to be provided
under Sections 27-3 and 27-22, a school district maintaining
any of grades 9 through 12 shall offer an extended course of
study for students in these grades that includes instruction
in:
(1) the elections process for this State, for other
states, and for the federal government, including
instruction on the mechanisms in place to implement fair
and honest elections for public offices;
(2) distinguishing between ethical candidates and
campaign practices and dirty, attack-style campaign
practices;
(3) the limitations of the regulation of truth in
political advertising and political speech by the Federal
Communications Commission and other governmental bodies;

HB5858 - 2 - LRB102 29640 RJT 41667 b
(4) identifying and understanding the role of funding
sources and dark money in campaigns;
(5) fostering critical thinking skills when reviewing
electoral communications, researching candidates, and
deciding whom to support;
(6) seeing the importance of fairness and integrity in
political campaigns, engaging with people with opposing
viewpoints respectfully, and participating in elections as
a part of an informed electorate;
(7) evaluating the opportunities and limitations of
participation in elections, voting, and the electoral
process and the impact disenfranchisement has on
elections, voting, and the electoral process; and
(8) analyzing constitutions, laws, and agreements to
determine the degree to which they achieve justice,
equality, and liberty and the common good.
This course of study may also include a practical
component, such as a mock election.