SCH CD-STEAM ABSENCE EXEMPTION
HB2802 amends the Illinois School Code’s rules for counting daily pupil attendance. The bill expands the list of activities that can be counted toward clock hours of school work and attendance, with a particular focus on career- and work-based learning opportunities. In addition to existing provisions for regular classroom instruction, e-learning, homebound/hospitalized instruction, kindergarten, testing days, and remote education, the bill adds or clarifies attendance credit for dual-credit college courses, supervised career development experiences, work-based learning experiences, youth apprenticeships, and blended learning programs approved by a school district.
The bill also updates how school districts must handle these activities administratively. District attendance policies must be revised, included in student handbooks, and publicly posted by the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year. Those policies must include an approval process for students to participate in allowable activities and a method for making up missed coursework that does not penalize the student. The measure further clarifies that students and parents or guardians are responsible for obtaining missed coursework when students participate in these activities.
In practical terms, the bill affects how districts calculate attendance for state reporting and funding purposes, since attendance days and clock hours are tied to compliance with minimum school calendar requirements. It broadens the circumstances under which students can be considered present while participating in career and technical education, agricultural experiences, youth organizations, apprenticeships, and blended learning. It also preserves existing flexibility for remote learning and public health emergency conditions.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable and noncontroversial. The House passed it 115-0, and the Senate motion passed 57-0, indicating unanimous support in both chambers. The bill’s caption and text suggest it is intended to support STEAM and career-pathway opportunities by reducing attendance penalties for students engaged in approved off-campus or alternative learning activities.
There is little evidence of substantive opposition in the available record. Any potential points of contention would likely center on implementation details, such as district administrative burden, approval standards for qualifying activities, and how missed coursework is handled without penalizing students. However, the unanimous votes suggest those concerns did not generate meaningful legislative resistance.
HB2802 amends Section 10-19.05 of the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/10-19.05), which governs daily pupil attendance calculations. It expands the statutory list of activities that may count toward attendance and clock-hour requirements, including dual-credit college coursework, supervised career development experiences, work-based learning, youth apprenticeships, and blended learning. It also requires school districts to update attendance policies, student handbooks, and public postings to reflect these changes by the 2026-2027 school year, and to establish approval and make-up coursework procedures.
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little to no opposition in the available record. It passed the Illinois House 115-0 and a Senate motion 57-0, suggesting consensus that the measure is beneficial. The general tone of the legislation is supportive of expanded educational flexibility, career readiness, and recognition of nontraditional learning experiences as valid attendance.
No committee transcript or recorded debate is available, and the roll calls show unanimous approval, so there is no clear documented controversy. The most likely areas of concern, based on the text, would be how districts implement the new attendance-credit categories, how they verify approved activities, and whether the new handbook and posting requirements create administrative work. Another possible issue is ensuring that students do not lose academic credit or face penalties when participating in approved off-campus or blended learning activities, but the bill explicitly directs districts to provide nonpunitive make-up coursework procedures.