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SB 2058

"Disabled Veteran and Dependents Patriot Scholarship Program"; establish under IHL Board.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Tate

Illinois public schools must include, from 2026–27, a full unit in social studies on the last 30 years and their causes, with optional state guidance and local time decisions.

Died In Committee
#appropriations #veteransandmilitaryaffairs
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Bill Summary · SB 2058

Summary — SB 2058

Note on documents provided
- The bill header you gave names SB 2058 as the “Disabled Veteran and Dependents Patriot Scholarship Program.” However, the attached bill text and version history correspond to a different measure: an education bill that would add Section 27‑21.5 to the School Code requiring a unit of instruction on “recent history.” This summary focuses on the attached bill text (105 ILCS 5/27‑21.5). Please verify the official legislative record if you need the scholarship proposal.

Main purpose

To require that, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, every public elementary and high school social studies course covering American history include a defined “unit of instruction” that studies events of the previous 30 years and the causes that led to those events.

Key provisions

  • Statutory addition: Adds Section 27‑21.5 to the School Code (105 ILCS 5/27‑21.5).
  • Start dates:
    • Act effective: July 1, 2025.
    • Curriculum requirement begins: 2026–2027 school year.
  • Required content:
    • Each applicable social studies course must include a unit studying events from the previous 30 years and their antecedent causes.
    • The unit must provide a “full, unbiased, objective, and thorough recount” of significant nationwide and global phenomena that occurred either before or during students’ lives.
    • Examples cited for initial years: September 11, 2001; the Iraq War; release of the iPhone (2007); the 2008 financial crisis.
  • Instructional materials & professional development:
    • The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available instructional materials and professional development opportunities as guidelines for districts.
  • Local control over time:
    • Each school board determines the minimum instructional time that qualifies as a “unit of instruction” under this Section.
  • Monitoring and compliance:
    • The regional superintendent of schools shall monitor district compliance during the regional superintendent’s annual compliance visit and may make recommendations for improvement, including professional development.
  • Fiscal/mandate note:
    • The bill text includes a “STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT” heading, indicating potential state-mandated costs to local districts may be implicated.

Who is affected

  • Public elementary and high schools in Illinois (students and teachers of social studies/American history).
  • School boards (responsible for defining unit time and local implementation).
  • State Superintendent (optional role producing materials/PD).
  • Regional superintendents (monitoring/compliance duties).
  • Potential fiscal impact on local districts for implementation/training.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Effective date in statute: July 1, 2025; curricular obligation begins with the 2026–2027 school year.
  • The supplied legislative action history contains conflicting entries (passes, committee reports, and also “Died In Committee” on 2025‑02‑04). The header you provided states the bill “Died In Committee.” Because of these inconsistencies, verify the final status and official text on the Illinois General Assembly website or through the Secretary of the Senate. A companion bill is listed as HB 4071.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Curriculum development and teacher training needs to implement the new unit.
  • Local boards must set the unit’s time allocation; statewide materials are optional.
  • Monitoring by regional superintendents introduces an oversight/assurance step.
  • Possible cost implications for districts (materials, PD), which may trigger state reimbursement questions under the State Mandates Act.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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