Engage Empower Inspire

The curriculum shall contain instruction on subjects required by state statute or regulation as follows:

1. In kindergarten through grade 8, subjects include: (a) language arts, (b) reading, (c) other communication skills, (d) science, (e) mathematics, (f) social studies, (g) art, and (h) music. A reading opportunity of 60 minutes per day will be promoted for all students in kindergarten through grade 3 whose reading levels are one grade level or more lower than their current grade level. Daily time of at least 30 minutes (with a minimum of at least 15 consecutive minutes if divided) will be provided for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students in kindergarten through grade 5 unless otherwise provided by law. Before the completion of grade 5, students will be offered at least one unit of cursive instruction. In grades 6, 7, or 8, students must receive at least one semester of civics education in accordance with Illinois Learning Standards for social science.
2. In kindergarten through grade 8, drug and alcohol abuse prevention education, including: (a) in each year in grades K though 4, age and developmentally appropriate instruction, study, and discussion of effective methods for the prevention and avoidance of drugs and the dangers of opioid and substance abuse, (b) in grades 5 through 8, age and developmentally appropriate classroom instruction on alcohol and drug use and abuse, (c) in grades 6-8, the dangers of fentanyl, and (d) in grades 7 and 8, anabolic steroid abuse prevention, which must also be taught in interscholastic athletic programs.
3. In the kindergarten through grade 8 curriculum, provided it can be funded by private grants or the federal government, violence prevention and conflict resolution must be stressed, including: (a) causes of conflict, (b) consequences of violent behavior, (c) non-violent resolution, and (d) relationships between drugs, alcohol, and violence.
4. In kindergarten through grade 8, through the 2026-2027 school year, age-appropriate Internet safety must be taught, the scope of which shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee. The curriculum must incorporate Board policy 6:235, Access to Electronic Networks, and, at a minimum, include: (a) education about appropriate online behavior, (b) interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and (c) cyberbullying awareness and response.
5. Beginning in the fall of 2027, in grades 3-8 each year, age and developmentally appropriate instruction on online safety.
6. In kindergarten through grade 8, students must receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain computer literacy skills that are embedded in the curriculum.
7. In kindergarten through grade 8, instruction on behaviors that violate policy 7:180, Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment.
8. In kindergarten through grade 8, citizenship values must be taught, including: (a) American patriotism, (b) principles of representative government (the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois), (c) proper use and display of the American flag, and (d) the Pledge of Allegiance.
9. In kindergarten through grade 8, physical education must be taught including a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances health-related fitness, increases students’ knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle. Unless otherwise exempted, all students are required to engage in a physical education course with such frequency as determined by the Board. For exemptions and substitutions, see policy 7:260, Exemption from Physical Activity.
10. In all schools, health education must be stressed, including: (a) human ecology, health, growth, development, personal health habits, and nutrition, (b) family life, (c) prevention and control of disease, (d) age and developmentally appropriate and evidence-informed sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education in all grades, (e) public health, environmental health, disaster preparedness, and safety education, (f) mental health and illness, (g) dental health, (h) cancer education, and (i) age and developmentally appropriate consent education. The Superintendent shall implement a comprehensive health education program in accordance with state law.
11. In kindergarten through grade 8, abduction education that addresses the danger of and avoidance of abduction.
12. In all schools, career/vocational education must be taught, including: (a) the importance of work, (b) the development of basic skills to enter the world of work and/or continue formal education, (c) good work habits and values, (d) the relationship between learning and work, and (e) if possible, a student work program that provides the student with work experience as an extension of the regular classroom. A career awareness and exploration program must be available at all grade levels. In grades 6-8, students engage in career exploration and career development activities to prepare them to make informed plans and decisions about their future education and career goals
13. In kindergarten through grade 8, environmental education, including instruction on: (a) the current problems and needs in the conservation of natural resources and (b) beginning in the fall of 2026, instruction on climate change.
14. During kindergarten through grade 8 years, instruction as determined by the Superintendent or designee on the United States (U.S.) history must be taught, including: (a) the principles of representative government, (b) the Constitutions of the U.S. and Illinois, (c) the role of the U.S. in world affairs, (d) the role of labor unions, (e) the role and contributions of ethnic groups, including but not limited to, the African Americans, Albanians, Asian Americans, Bohemians, Czechs, French, Germans, Hispanics, (including the events related to the forceful removal and illegal deportation of Mexican-American U.S. citizens during the Great Depression), Hungarians, Irish, Italians, Lithuanians, Polish, Russians, Scots, and Slovakians in the history of this country and state, (f) a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the history of the U.S. and Illinois, (g) Illinois history, and (h) the contributions made to society by Americans of different faith practices, including, but not limited to, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, Christian Americans, Hindu Americans, Sikh Americans, Buddhist Americans, and any other collective community of faith that has shaped America (i) Native American nations' sovereignty and self-determination, both historically and in the present day, with a focus on urban Native Americans, and (j) beginning in the fall of 2024, the events of the Native American experience and Native American history within the Midwest and Illinois since time immemorial in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/27-20.05. In addition, all schools shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on Constitution Day, each September 17, commemorating the September 17, 1787; signing of the Constitution. However, when September 17 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following week.
15. In kindergarten through grade 8, the curriculum includes instruction as determined by the Superintendent or designee on the Holocaust and crimes of genocide, including Nazi atrocities of 1933-1945, the Native American genocide in North America, Armenian Genocide, the Famine-Genocide in Ukraine, and more recent atrocities in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan.
16. During kindergarten through grade 8 years, the curriculum includes instruction as determined by the Superintendent or designee on the history, struggles, and contributions of women.
17. During kindergarten through grade 8 years, the curriculum includes instruction as determined by the Superintendent or designee on Black History, including the history of the pre-enslavement of Black people from 3,000 BCE to AD 1619, the African slave trade, slavery in America, the study of the reasons why Black people came to be enslaved, the vestiges of slavery in this country, the study of the American civil rights renaissance, as well as the struggles and contributions of African-Americans.
18. During kindergarten through grade 8 years, instruction during courses as determined by the Superintendent or designee on disability history, awareness, and the disability rights movement.
19. In all schools, instruction on the events of Asian American history, including the history of Asian Americans in Illinois and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Asian Americans toward advancing civil rights from the 19th century onward which must include the contributions made by individual Asian Americans in government and the arts, humanities, and sciences, as well as the contributions of Asian American communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States.
20. In kindergarten through grade 8, education must be available to students concerning effective methods of preventing and avoiding traffic injuries related to walking and bicycling.

Adopted: November 10, 1997
Revised: January 23, 2012; October 23, 2017; April 25, 2022; February 26, 2024; September 23, 2024; February 23, 2026
Reviewed: June 12, 2023

Legal References:

• Pub. L. No. 108-447, Section 111 of Division J, Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005.
• Pub. L. No. 110-385, Title II, 122 stat. 4096 (2008), Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.
• 47 C.F.R. §54.520.
• 5 ILCS 465/3 and 465/3a.
• 20 ILCS 2605/2605-480.
• 105 ILCS 5/2-3.80(e) and (f), 5/10-20.79, 5/10-20.84, 5/10-23.13, 5/22-110, 5/27-110, 5/27-115, 5/27-210, 5/27-215, 5/27-245, 5/27-250, 5/27-255, 5/27-260, 5/27-305, 5/27-310, 5/27-315, 5/27-405, 5/27-410 (scheduled for repeal on 7-1-27), 5/27-415 (scheduled for repeal on 7-1-27), 5/27-505, 5/27-510, 5/27-515, 5/27-520, 5/27-525, 5/27-530, 5/27-535, 5/27-540, 5/27-545, 5/27-605, 5/27-705, 5/27-710, 5/27-715, 5/27-720, 5/27-725, 5/27-810, 5/27-815, and 5/27-1050.
• 105 ILCS 435/, Vocational Education Act.
• 625 ILCS 5/6-408.5, Ill. Vehicle Code.
• 23 Ill.Admin.Code §§1.420, 1.425, 1.430, and 1.440.