Bill
HB 5298
HB5298 requires detailed, facility-level annual reporting on 18–21-year-olds in correctional education, especially HSDP outcomes and supports.
HB5298 Summary – Illinois, 104th General Assembly (Introduced Feb 10, 2026)
Purpose and intent
- Add transparency requirements to annual reports from the Department of Corrections (DOC) and Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to the Governor and General Assembly.
- Specifically focus on statistics related to young adults aged 18 to under 22 who are in DOC custody or transferred to DJJ facilities to participate in the High School Diploma Program (HSDP).
Key provisions and changes
1) Amendments to the Unified Code of Corrections
- 3-2-2 (Department powers and duties): The bill expands reporting duties (see 3-2-2.5) and directs the DOC to continue its general responsibilities, including administration of facilities, educational programs, and special programs (e.g., pre-release, diversion, human trafficking screening, etc.). It also adds new or adjusted authorities related to juvenile and adult programming, gang tracking, and post-release services.
- 3-2-2.5 (new) – Annual report of the Department of Corrections to the Governor and General Assembly:
- Requires the annual DOC report to include detailed data on:
- The number of 18–21-year-olds enrolled in the High School Diploma Program (HSDP) within DOC facilities, by facility.
- The number of 18–21-year-olds who are enrolled in HSDP and classified as special education students, by facility.
- The number of students aged 18–21 who had individualized education program (IEP) meetings and were enrolled in HSDP, by facility.
- The number of students aged 18–21 who had special education evaluations completed and were enrolled in HSDP, by facility.
- The number of students aged 18–21 who had functional behavior analyses and were enrolled in HSDP, by facility.
- Staffing data for the HSDP (number of employees in the program, titles, credentials).
- DJJ staff in non-teaching HSDP roles (titles, credentials).
- HSDP graduation data by facility (students aged 18–21 who graduated in the preceding school year).
- The daily schedule for HSDP by facility (preceding school year).
- HSDP students receiving speech therapy, social work services, and other IEP-required services, by facility.
- Various contextual data about program accessibility and participation (e.g., opt-outs, capacity constraints, reasons for non-placement, reasons for cancellations, etc.).
- Data on students who did not complete the program prior to graduation, by facility, with subcategories (opt-out reasons, capacity issues, behavioral/medical/mental health restrictions, housing, transfer issues).
- Information on days the HSDP was canceled, by facility and reason.
- Data on students who did not transfer to HSDP or complete the program as applicable.
- Information on opt-out statistics and other participation metrics.
- Additional HSDP-related metrics (e.g., graduation rates, placements, and related services).
2) 3-2-5-61 (DJJ Annual and other reports)
- Maintains existing annual and quarterly reporting requirements for DJJ to Governor/General Assembly, with specified data elements including demographics, facility capacities, program offerings, staff ratios, assaults, and injuries.
- New cross-reference: The DJJ reporting provisions include a provision (3-2-5-61) that enables coordination with DOC for joint reporting on emerging adult participants aged 18–21 who are in DOC custody and transferred to DJJ facilities for emerging adult programs (per subsection (c-1)).
3) Cross-cutting reporting and coordination
- The bill directs enhanced coordination between DOC and DJJ for emerging adult programs, particularly in the 18–21 age cohort, and ensures both agencies’ annual reporting reflects this data.
- It also includes the DOC’s long-standing reporting obligations, with the addition of data elements focused on the HSDP and related services for 18–21-year-olds.
Who is affected
- Primary: Incarcerated or detained individuals aged 18–21 (but under 22) in Illinois Department of Corrections custody or in DJJ facilities participating in the High School Diploma Program.
- Educational staff and administrators within DOC and DJJ who oversee the HSDP and related services.
- DJJ personnel involved in non-teaching HSDP roles.
- State policymakers and legislators who rely on annual and periodic reports to monitor program reach, effectiveness, and needs.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- The bill was introduced February 10, 2026.
- If enacted, the additional reporting requirements would modify the DOC’s annual report to the Governor and General Assembly and align DJJ’s reporting cadence with existing schedules (including quarterly and annual deadlines noted in 3-2-5-61).
- Specific added reporting data elements cover preceding school year metrics, requiring data collection and aggregation by facility and program area.
Notes
- The bill references prior related acts and program structures (e.g., High School Diploma Program, IEPs, and cross-agency information sharing) and builds on existing reporting frameworks to increase transparency around the educational outcomes of young adults in correctional settings.
Overall, HB5298 strengthens accountability by mandating detailed, facility-level reporting on 18–21-year-old students in correctional education programs, with a particular emphasis on the High School Diploma Program and associated supports.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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