SB 407 — EDUCATION-TECH

SB0407 EngrossedEnrolled LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b AN ACT concerning education.

The Chronic Absence Task Force.

(a) The Chronic Absence Task Force is created within the State Board of Education to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on chronic absenceabsenteeism and to support the development of a State strategy to address the ongoing challenges presented by chronic absenteeism for students in early childhood education and care programs and students in grades kindergarten through 12.

(1) the DirectorState Superintendent of ChildrenEducation and Family Services or histhe orState herSuperintendent's designee;

(2) the ChairpersonSecretary of theEarly StateChildhood Board of Education or histhe orSecretary's her designee;

(3) the Chairpersonfollowing ofpersons, theeach Boardappointed ofby Higherthe EducationState orSuperintendent hisof orEducation: her designee;

(4) the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee;

SB0407 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b (5) the Secretary of Early Childhood or his or her designee;

(6) the Director of Public Health or his or her designee;

(7) the Chairperson of the Illinois Community College Board or his or her designee;

and (8) the following persons, each appointed by the State Superintendent of Education:

(B) 3one educatorsmember who (i)represents area eithernonprofit teachersSB0407 orEnrolled school- support2 personnel- andLRB104 (ii)06645 areLNS currently16681 employedb inorganization athat publicadvocates schoolfor orstudents early learning center in thistemporary State;living situations;

(C) one member who represents aschool non-profitsocial organizationworkers; that advocates for students in temporary living situations;

(D) one member who represents a non-profitstatewide organizationprofessional thatteachers' advocatesorganization forwho theis well-beinga ofcurrently allemployed childrenteacher; and families in this State;

(E) one member who represents a Statedifferent non-profitstatewide organizationprofessional thatteachers' conductsorganization communitywho organizingis arounda familycurrently issues;employed teacher;

(F) 2one membersmember who eachrepresents representa separate statewide professional teachers' organizations;organization in a city having a population exceeding 500,000 who is a currently employed teacher;

(G) one member who represents aan professionalassociation SB0407for Engrossedschool -administrators; 3 - LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b teachers' organization in a city having a population exceeding 500,000;

(H) one member who represents an association for school administrators;board members;

(I) one member who represents an association for school boardprincipals; members;

(J) one3 membermembers who representsrepresent an association for schoolregional principals;superintendents of schools from different parts of the State;

(K) one member who represents an association for regionalhigh superintendentsschool ofdistricts; schools;

(L) one member who represents an association for parents;large unit school districts;

SB0407 Enrolled - 3 - LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b (M) one member who represents ana associationschool fordistrict highin schoola districts;western suburb of the City of Chicago;

(N) one member who represents ana associationnonprofit organization that advocates for largechildren unitin districts;foster care;

(O) one member who represents an organization that advocates for healthiercharter schoolschools environments in this State;

and (P) one member whorepresenting represents an organizationearly thatchildhood advocatesadvocacy fororganization. the health and safety of youth and families in this State by providing capacity-building services;

(Q)(c) oneTask memberForce whomembers representsshall aserve statewidewithout associationcompensation. of local philanthropic organizations that advocates for effective educational, health, and human SB0407 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b service policies to improve this State's communities;

(R) one member who represents a statewide organization that advocates for partnerships among schools, families, and the community and that, using a school as a hub, provides access to support and removes barriers to learning and development;

(S) one member who represents an organization for charter schools in this State;

and (T) one member who represents an organization for statewide programs actively involved in truancy intervention.

(c) Task Force members shall serve without compensation and shall, subject to the rules of the appropriate travel control board, be reimbursed for any travel expenses from appropriations to the State Board of Education available for that purpose.

The membersState shallSuperintendent elector athe chairpersonState atSuperintendent's thedesignee initialshall meetingserve as chairperson of the Task Force.

(f) The Task Force shallmay holdallow hearings on a periodic basis to receive testimony from the public regarding the chronic absence of students.

SB0407 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b (g) The Task Force shall identify strategies, mechanisms, and approaches to help families, educators, principals, superintendents, and the State Board of Education address and mitigate the impacthigh rates of the COVID-19 pandemic on the chronic absence of students in earlyState-funded childhoodearly-childhood education and care programs and public-school students in grades kindergarten through 12 and shall recommend SB0407 Enrolled - 4 - LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b the following to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education:

(3) recommendationschanges related to current State Board of Education policies regarding chronic absence,absences, truancy, and attendance;attendance that are consistent with federal law and the State Board of Education's approved plan under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

(4) State policies or initiatives to be established in order to mitigate theand impactprevent of COVID-19 on chronic absenteeism;

and (5) evidence-based practices for using attendance and chronic absenteeism data to create a multi-tieredmultitiered system of support that promotes ongoing professional development and equips school-based and community-based personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to reduce contributing factors to chronic absenteeism in earlyState-funded childhoodearly-childhood education and care programs and public elementary and secondary schools, which will result in students being ready for SB0407 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b college and a career.

(h) The Task Force shall submit ana annual report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than December 1515, of2027. each year.

(i) The Task Force is dissolved and this Section is SB0407 Enrolled - 5 - LRB104 06645 LNS 16681 b repealed on DecemberJanuary 16,31, 2027.2028.

This Act takes effect uponSeptember becoming1, law.2025.