In this PowerPoint, Dr. Shawn Healy outlines how the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and others have made civics education legislation alive through a three-year implementation process.

In 2015, HB 4025 (Public Act 99-0434 - www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=099-0434) was signed into law, requiring that Illinois high school students complete a stand-alone, semester-long civics course. The law goes on to say that civics "shall help young people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course content must include instruction on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of democratic processes. School districts may utilize private funding available for the purposes of offering civics education."

A separate law (Public Act 099-0485 - http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=099-0485) was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Governor Rauner provides further clarity on HB 4025's effective date. The course mandate takes effect on July 1, 2016, and applies to incoming freshmen for the 2016-17 school year.

IllinoisCivics.org is a Civics Education Resource Site. For additional information on the new law, please see the Illinois State Board of Education's updated (February 2016) Guidance Document for State Graduation Requirements (https://www.isbe.net/Documents/grad_require.pdf).