Illinois 99th Regular Session Status: Passed House 1 D cosponsors

HB 306 — SCH CD-ST ASSESSMENTS-EXCUSE

Last action — Session Sine Die

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 99th Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Amends the School Code. With respect to the administration of State assessments, provides that a student is not required to take a particular State assessment if that student's parent or guardian requests, in writing, that the student be excused from taking the State assessment. Requires the State Board of Education, by rule, to (i) determine the form of the request, (ii) ensure that no student, teacher, school, or school district is negatively impacted, through grades or evaluations, due to a student being excused from taking a State assessment, and (iii) ensure that students who are excused from taking a State assessment are offered supervised instructional or enrichment opportunities during the time the State assessment is being administered. Effective immediately.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

145 added · 144 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill HB 306 clarifies the rules around students opting out of State assessments. It specifies that no negative consequences, such as poor grades or evaluations, should be imposed on students, schools, or educators when a student is excused from taking these assessments. Additionally, the bill ensures that students opting out will be provided with supervised learning opportunities during the testing time. This change is important because it protects students’ rights to opt out without fear of repercussions and ensures they still receive educational support while their peers are testing.

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*LRB09900235NHT20240b* HB0306 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois and 2016 HB0306 by Rep.
HB0306 Engrossed LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b AN ACT concerning education.
Will Guzzardi SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
ILCS 5/2-3.64a-5 Amends the School Code.
With respect to the administration of State assessments, provides that a student is not required to take a particular State assessment if that student's parent or guardian requests, in writing, that the student be excused from taking the State assessment.
Requires the State Board of Education, by rule, to (i) determine the form of the request, (ii) ensure that no student, teacher, school, or school district is negatively impacted, through grades or evaluations, due to a student being excused from taking a State assessment, and (iii) ensure that supervised instructional or enrichment opportunities during the time the State assessment is being administered.
Effective immediately.
LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR HB0306 LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b AN ACT concerning education.
Those opportunities shall include a HB0306 - 2 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b well-publicized period of public comment and opportunities to file written comments.
Those opportunities shall include a HB0306 Engrossed - 2 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b well-publicized period of public comment and opportunities to file written comments.
Students who are not assessed for college and career ready determinations may not receive a regular high school diploma unless the student is excused from taking a State assessment under subsection (c-5) of this Section or the student is exempted from taking State assessments under subsection (d) of this Section because (i) the student's individualized educational program developed under Article 14 of this Code identifies the State assessment as inappropriate for the HB0306 - 3 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b student, (ii) the student is enrolled in a program of adult and continuing education, as defined in the Adult Education Act, (iii) the school district is not required to assess the individual student for purposes of accountability under federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requirements, (iv) the student has been determined to be an English language learner, referred to in this Code as a student with limited English proficiency, and has been enrolled in schools in the United States for less than 12 months, or (v) the student is otherwise identified by the State Board of Education, through rules, as being exempt from the assessment.
Students who are not assessed for college and career ready determinations may not receive a regular high school diploma unless the student is excused from taking a State assessment under subsection (c-5) of this Section or the student is exempted from taking State assessments under subsection (d) of this Section because (i) the student's individualized educational program developed under Article 14 of this Code identifies the State assessment as inappropriate for the HB0306 Engrossed - 3 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b student, (ii) the student is enrolled in a program of adult and continuing education, as defined in the Adult Education Act, (iii) the school district is not required to assess the individual student for purposes of accountability under federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requirements, (iv) the student has been determined to be an English language learner, referred to in this Code as a student with limited English proficiency, and has been enrolled in schools in the United States for less than 12 months, or (v) the student is otherwise identified by the State Board of Education, through rules, as being exempt from the assessment.
The State Board of Education shall, by rule, (i) determine the form of the request;
The State Board of Education shall, by rule, (i) determine the form of the opt-out request;
(ii) ensure that no student, teacher, school, or school district is negatively impacted, through grades or evaluations, due to a HB0306 - 4 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b student being excused from taking a State assessment;
(ii) ensure that the State Board of Education, regional superintendents of schools, and school boards take no negative HB0306 Engrossed - 4 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b action against a student, school, school district, or district employee, through grades or evaluations, due to a student being excused from taking a State assessment other than sanctions for encouraging or discouraging opting out of State assessments as otherwise prohibited under this subsection (c-5);
Once each school year, before any State assessments are administered, a school district shall communicate with the parents and guardians of students to explain the right to opt out of a particular State assessment under this subsection (c-5) and shall make opt-out forms available.
Neither the school district, nor any teacher or school in the district, may issue additional official correspondence to students or their parents or guardians about the right to opt out under this subsection (c-5).
A school district shall accept any letter expressing a parent's or guardian's intent for his or her child to be excused from taking a particular State assessment in lieu of the opt-out form as long as the letter is signed by the parent or guardian.
A school district and its teachers, principals, and other administrators are prohibited from encouraging or discouraging students or their parents or guardians, either individually or collectively, to opt out of State assessments under this HB0306 Engrossed - 5 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b subsection (c-5).
The State Board of Education shall, by rule, determine appropriate sanctions for a violation of this prohibition.
Such students may be exempted from participation in one annual administration of the HB0306 - 5 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b English language arts assessment.
Such students may be exempted from participation in one annual administration of the English language arts assessment.
Any student determined to be an English language learner, referred to in this Code as a student with limited English proficiency, shall receive appropriate assessment accommodations, including language supports, which shall be established by rule.
Any student determined to be an English language learner, referred to in this Code as a HB0306 Engrossed - 6 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b student with limited English proficiency, shall receive appropriate assessment accommodations, including language supports, which shall be established by rule.
(f) All schools shall administer an academic assessment of English language proficiency in oral language (listening and speaking) and reading and writing skills to all children HB0306 - 6 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b determined to be English language learners, referred to in Section 14C-3 of this Code as children with limited English-speaking ability.
(f) All schools shall administer an academic assessment of English language proficiency in oral language (listening and speaking) and reading and writing skills to all children determined to be English language learners, referred to in Section 14C-3 of this Code as children with limited HB0306 Engrossed - 7 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b English-speaking ability.
The scoring of academically based assessments shall be reliable, valid, and fair and shall meet HB0306 - 7 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b the guidelines for assessment development and use prescribed by the American Psychological Association, the National Council on Measurement in Education, and the American Educational Research Association.
The scoring of academically based assessments shall be reliable, valid, and fair and shall meet the guidelines for assessment development and use prescribed by the American Psychological Association, the National Council HB0306 Engrossed - 8 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b on Measurement in Education, and the American Educational Research Association.
The Committee shall make periodic recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education and HB0306 - 8 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b the General Assembly concerning the assessments.
The Committee shall make periodic recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education and the General Assembly concerning the assessments.
(k) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this Section.
(k) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to HB0306 Engrossed - 9 - LRB099 00235 NHT 20240 b implement this Section.
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Action History

  1. Session Sine Die

  2. Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

  3. Postponed - Education

  4. Re-referred to Education

  5. Assigned to Executive

  6. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Patricia Van Pelt

  7. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

  8. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins

  9. Referred to Assignments

  10. First Reading

  11. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael Noland

  12. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Iris Y. Martinez

  13. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Chris Nybo

  14. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. William Delgado

  15. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

  16. Arrive in Senate

  17. Motion to Reconsider Vote - Tabled

  18. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Litesa E. Wallace

  19. Motion Filed to Reconsider Vote Rep. Will Guzzardi

  20. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 064-047-001

  21. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

  22. Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 22, 2015

  23. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Luis Arroyo

  24. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Land Conveyance Appraisal Note Filed as Amended

  25. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Home Rule Note Filed as Amended

  26. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  27. Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 15, 2015

  28. Approved for Consideration Rules Committee; 003-000-000

  29. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

  30. House Floor Amendment No. 2 State Mandates Fiscal Note Filed as Amended

  31. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Housing Affordability Impact Note Filed as Amended

  32. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Fiscal Note Filed as Amended

  33. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Balanced Budget Note Filed as Amended

  34. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Judicial Note Filed as Amended

  35. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Pension Note Filed as Amended

  36. House Floor Amendment No. 2 State Debt Impact Note Filed as Amended

  37. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Correctional Note Filed as Amended

  38. House Floor Amendment No. 2 State Debt Impact Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  39. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Pension Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  40. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Land Conveyance Appraisal Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  41. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Judicial Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  42. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Housing Affordability Impact Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  43. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Home Rule Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  44. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Correctional Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  45. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

  46. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted

  47. Second Reading - Short Debate

  48. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Balanced Budget Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Ed Sullivan

  49. House Floor Amendment No. 2 State Mandates Fiscal Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Ed Sullivan

  50. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Fiscal Note Requested as Amended by Rep. Ed Sullivan

  51. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing Oversight; 004-001-000

  52. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing Oversight

  53. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

  54. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  55. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Arthur Turner

  56. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted - Lost Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing Oversight; 002-003-000

  57. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing Oversight

  58. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

  59. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Ron Sandack

  60. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mike Smiddy

  61. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sara Feigenholtz

  62. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Monique D. Davis

  63. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandon W. Phelps

  64. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Wheeler

  65. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

  66. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Will Guzzardi

  67. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lou Lang

  68. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregory Harris

  69. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

  70. Home Rule Note Filed

  71. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Silvana Tabares

  72. Correctional Note Filed

  73. Judicial Note Filed

  74. State Debt Impact Note Filed

  75. Housing Affordability Impact Note Filed

  76. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note Filed

  77. Balanced Budget Note Filed

  78. Judicial Note Requested by Rep. Ed Sullivan

  79. Pension Note Filed

  80. Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Dwight Kay

  81. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dwight Kay

  82. Pension Note Requested by Rep. Ed Sullivan

  83. Fiscal Note Filed

  84. State Mandates Fiscal Note Filed

  85. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. John C. D'Amico

  86. Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

  87. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

  88. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert Martwick

  89. State Mandates Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Ed Sullivan

  90. Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Ed Sullivan

  91. Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

  92. Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Wheeler

  93. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

  94. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  95. Do Pass / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing Oversight; 003-002-000

  96. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Wheeler

  97. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thomas Morrison

  98. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Fine

  99. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robyn Gabel

  100. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

  101. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kenneth Dunkin

  102. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams

  103. Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing Oversight

  104. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers

  105. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.

  106. Referred to Rules Committee

  107. First Reading

  108. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Will Guzzardi

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 180 not signed on · 11 voted No

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (180)

180 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 180 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Third Reading

Passed 64 Yea · 47 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 413607
Democrat 22600
Republican 1500
Total 644707
% of votes cast 54%40%0%6%
How each member voted (118)
Member Party Vote
Sandack — Yea
Sommer — Yea
Acevedo — Yea
Andersson — Nay
Anthony — Nay
Arroyo — Yea
Batinick — Nay
Beiser — Yea
Bellock — Nay
Bourne — Yea
Breen — Not Voting
Brown — Not Voting
Butler — Nay
McAsey — Nay
Jackson — Yea
Jesiel — Yea
Nekritz — Nay
Lang — Yea
McSweeney — Yea
Phelps — Yea
Harris, David — Yea
Harris, Greg — Yea
Bradley — Yea
Brady — Yea
Hernandez — Yea
Smiddy — Yea
Soto — Yea
Tabares — Yea
Turner — Yea
Burke, Daniel — Yea
Burke, Kelly — Yea
Verschoore — Yea
Wallace — Yea
Davis, Monique — Yea
Wheeler, Barbara — Yea
Williams — Yea
Conroy — Yea
D'Amico — Yea
Flowers — Yea
Franks — Yea
Golar — Yea
Hurley — Yea
Ives — Yea
Yingling — Yea
Zalewski — Yea
Leitch — Nay
Madigan — Yea
Mautino — Not Voting
McAuliffe — Nay
McDermed — Nay
Moffitt — Nay
Bennett — Nay
Phillips — Nay
Sente — Nay
Jones — Nay
Sullivan — Nay
Stewart — Nay
Thapedi — Not Voting
Tryon — Nay
Unes — Nay
Wehrli — Not Voting
Willis — Nay
Wheeler, Keith — Nay
Winger — Nay
Mitchell, Christian — Nay
Mitchell, Bill — Not Voting
Cavaletto — Nay
Cloonen — Nay
Costello — Nay
Currie — Nay
Demmer — Nay
Drury — Nay
Dunkin — Nay
Durkin — Nay
Fortner — Nay
Frese — Nay
Hays — Nay
Kay — Yea
Poe — Nay
Pritchard — Nay
Reaves-Harris — Yea
Reis — Not Voting
Riley — Yea
Chapa LaVia — Yea
Anna Moeller Democrat Yea
Anthony DeLuca Democrat Yea
Camille Y. Lilly Democrat Yea
Carol Ammons Democrat Yea
Elgie R. Sims, Jr. Democrat Yea
Emanuel "Chris" Welch Democrat Yea
Fred Crespo Democrat Nay
Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. Democrat Yea
Jay Hoffman Democrat Yea
Jehan Gordon-Booth Democrat Nay
Julie A. Morrison Democrat Yea
Kelly M. Cassidy Democrat Yea
La Shawn K. Ford Democrat Yea
Laura Fine Democrat Yea
Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. Democrat Yea
Marcus C. Evans, Jr. Democrat Nay
Martin J. Moylan Democrat Yea
Michelle Mussman Democrat Yea
Natalie A. Manley Democrat Yea
Rita Mayfield Democrat Yea
Robert "Bob" Rita Democrat Nay
Robert F. Martwick Democrat Yea
Robyn Gabel Democrat Yea
Sara Feigenholtz Democrat Yea
Stephanie A. Kifowit Democrat Nay
Sue Scherer Democrat Yea
Will Guzzardi Democrat Yea
William "Will" Davis Democrat Nay
Charles Meier Republican Nay
Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer Republican Nay
Joe C. Sosnowski Republican Nay
John M. Cabello Republican Nay
Norine K. Hammond Republican Nay
Terri Bryant Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 306 do?
Amends the School Code. With respect to the administration of State assessments, provides that a student is not required to take a particular State assessment if that student's parent or guardian requests, in writing, that the student be excused from taking the State assessment. Requires the State Board of Education, by rule, to (i) determine the form of the request, (ii) ensure that no student, teacher, school, or school district is negatively impacted, through grades or evaluations, due to a student being excused from taking a State assessment, and (iii) ensure that students who are excused from taking a State assessment are offered supervised instructional or enrichment opportunities during the time the State assessment is being administered. Effective immediately.
Who sponsors HB 306?
HB 306 is sponsored by Will Guzzardi (Democrat), Michael Noland, and Van Pelt.
What is the current status of HB 306?
This bill died with 99th Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 306?
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