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HB 3039

SCH CD-HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Laura Ellman and 3 co-sponsors

Local districts may allow academically ready 7th–8th graders to earn high school credits and GPA toward graduation for eligible courses.

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0267
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Bill Summary · HB 3039

Summary — HB 3039 (Public Act 104-0267): Course credit for high school diploma

Status: Enacted (Public Act 104-0267) — Governor approved 8/15/2025. Effective date: January 1, 2026.
Primary sponsor: Rep. Janet Yang Rohr. Chief Senate sponsor: Sen. Ram Villivalam.

Purpose

Allow local school boards to permit academically-ready 7th or 8th grade students to take and receive high school credit for courses required for a high school diploma, under specified conditions, and to ensure those credits transfer and count toward graduation and GPA.

Key provisions

  • Amends the School Code (105 ILCS 5/27-22.10).
  • Authorization (not mandate): A school board of a district that maintains any of grades 9–12 may adopt a policy allowing a grade 7 or 8 student (who is enrolled in the relevant unit/high school district or would be enrolled upon completion of elementary school) to enroll in a required high school course if:
    1. The course is offered by the high school the student would attend, and the student participates at the high school location — provided the elementary student's enrollment does not prevent a high school student from enrolling; or
    2. The student takes the course where the student attends school, and passes the high school’s end-of-course examination for that class, demonstrating high-school-level proficiency; or
    3. The course is taught by a teacher holding a professional educator license under Article 21B, endorsed for the grade level and content area.
  • Credit and graduation requirements: If the local board adopts such a policy, it must grant academic credit to the elementary student upon successful completion; that credit satisfies the applicable Section 27-22 (high school graduation requirement).
  • Transfers: A receiving district must award high school credit to a transferring student who completed such a course unless objective evidence shows the course lacked the appropriate rigor or did not address the relevant Illinois Learning Standards at the high-school level for that grade.
  • GPA: A student’s grade for any course completed under this Section must be included in their grade point average according to the school board’s GPA calculation policy.

Who is affected

  • Eligible students: 7th and 8th graders in districts that adopt a policy and who would attend the high school offering the course.
  • School districts and boards: districts maintaining grades 9–12 that choose to adopt (or evaluate) such policies; receiving districts evaluating transfer credits.
  • Teachers: requirement that teachers be professionally licensed and properly endorsed when applicable.
  • High school enrollment and scheduling administrators: potential impacts on course capacity and placement.

Procedural/timeline highlights

  • Introduced: Feb 6/19, 2025; passed both houses (May 2025); sent to Governor 6/20/2025; approved 8/15/2025.
  • Effective: January 1, 2026.
  • House amendments (No. 001, 002) clarified language; core policy authorization retained.

Implementation considerations (practical effects)

  • Enables acceleration/early credit accumulation and may reduce future course load for students who meet proficiency.
  • Requires local board policy decisions; capacity limits (to avoid displacing HS students) and transfer-review standards are included.
  • Use of end-of-course exams and endorsement/licensure requirements create clear fidelity/quality checks for awarding credit.

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

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