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SB 1983

SCH CD-GIFTED & TALENTED

104th Regular Session Introduced by Dan Didech and 1 co-sponsor

SB 1983 removes the State Board's mandatory funding/approval pathway for local gifted programs, while retaining core program standards and district responsibilities.

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0129
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Bill Summary · SB 1983

Summary — SB 1983 (Public Act 104-0129)

Title: SCH CD — GIFTED & TALENTED
Bill Number: SB 1983 (104th General Assembly) — Public Act 104-0129
Sponsor: Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (primary); Rep. Daniel Didech (primary in Senate synopsis)
Introduced: March 6, 2025. Governor approved: August 1, 2025. Effective date: January 1, 2026.

Purpose

SB 1983 makes targeted amendments to the School Code provisions that govern local educational programs for gifted and talented students (Sections 14A-15, 14A-30, and 14A-35). The bill removes certain statutory language that tied State Board approval and explicit State funding application/approval processes to local gifted program plans, and removes a statutory duty for a State Board staff person to develop a program approval process. It leaves intact the substantive program standards and program elements for local gifted programming.

Key provisions and changes

  • Removes language in Section 14A-30 that had allowed a local gifted program to be approved for State funding by the State Board of Education through an RFP/application process “if funds for that purpose are available” and subject to submission of a comprehensive plan. (Effect: eliminates the statutory authorization for that specific State funding/application-approval pathway.)
  • Removes language in Section 14A-35 that previously required the State Board of Education to designate a staff person who would be responsible for developing an approval process for gifted programs by September 1, 2006. Other listed administrative functions for the Board remain in the statutory text.
  • Retains detailed program standards and requirements in Section 14A-30 for local gifted and talented programs, including expectations around:
    • equitable identification and assessment practices (multiple valid assessments, nonverbal/native-language testing options, multiple pathways into programs, attention to underrepresented groups);
    • program design elements (grouping, curriculum acceleration/depth, emphasis on higher-order skills);
    • data collection and reporting on student growth;
    • designation of a program supervisor, teacher qualifications, and ongoing professional development.
  • A previously proposed change to the evidence-based funding calculation (Section 18-8.15) described in early versions of the bill — adding $40 per K–12 student for “advanced academic programs” — was removed by amendment and is not part of the enacted Public Act.

Who is affected

  • School districts, schools, and cooperatives that operate or plan gifted and talented programs — they continue to be expected to meet the programmatic standards retained in statute but will not operate under the specific State approval/funding application pathway that was removed.
  • State Board of Education — remains responsible for oversight-related functions described in statute (data collection, identifying funding sources, acting as contact point), but no longer has the statutory duty to develop the removed approval process.
  • Students who are gifted and talented (including underrepresented populations such as low-income students, minority students, students with disabilities, twice-exceptional students, and English learners), parents/guardians, and program staff (teachers, supervisors) — program standards remain largely unchanged, preserving identification, instruction, and reporting expectations.

Procedural timeline and legislative action

  • Introduced: 2/6/2025 (Senate); referred to committees; amended (Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 filed 3/14/2025 and adopted 3/18/2025).
  • Passed both houses (Senate and House unanimous recorded votes in floor actions cited in file).
  • Sent to Governor: June 20, 2025. Governor approved August 1, 2025.
  • Effective: January 1, 2026.
  • Enacted as Public Act 104-0129. Companion bill: HB 3176.

Notes / Potential implications

  • The law preserves substantive expectations for local gifted programming (identification practices, curricular rigor, data reporting), but removes a statutory State-level approval/funding mechanism — which may change how districts seek or receive any future State funding and may limit a formal State approval pathway. Administrative practice at the State Board may be adjusted to reflect the removal of the statutory duty to develop an approval process. Districts should monitor State Board guidance for any non-statutory procedures or funding opportunities.

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

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