6:60 - Curriculum Content

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, (h) music, and (i) drug and substance abuse prevention including the dangers of opioid and substance abuse. 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 grades 7 and 8, as well as in interscholastic athletic programs, steroid abuse prevention must be taught.
  3. In the kindergarten through grade 8 curriculum, violence prevention and conflict resolution will be taught.
  4. The curriculum contains a unit on Internet safety, the scope of which shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee.
  5. In kindergarten through grade 8, students must receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain computer literacy skills that are embedded in the curriculum.
  6. In kindergarten through grade 8, character education must be taught including respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, trustworthiness, and citizenship in order to raise students’ honesty, kindness, justice, discipline, respect for others, and moral courage. Instruction in all grades will include examples of behaviors that violate policy 7:180, Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment.
  7. 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, (d) the Pledge of Allegiance, and (e) the voting process.
  8. 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 policies 6:310, High School Credit for Non-District Experiences; Course Substitutions; Re-Entering Students and see policy 7:260, Exemption from Physical Activity.
  9. In all schools, health education must be stressed, including: (a) proper nutrition, (b) physical fitness, (c) components necessary to develop a sound mind in a healthy body, (d) dangers and avoidance of abduction and (e) age-appropriate and evidence-informed sexual abuse and grooming behavior awareness and prevention in all grades. The Superintendent shall implement a comprehensive health education program in accordance with state law.
  10. 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.
  11. In the kindergarten through grade 8 curriculum, conservation of natural resources must be taught, including, but not limited to: (a) air pollution, (b) water pollution, (c) waste reduction and recycling, (d) the effect of excessive use of pesticides, (e) preservation of wilderness areas, (f) forest management, (g) protection of wildlife, and (h) humane care of domestic animals.
  12. 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.
  13. In grade 7 students shall view a Congressional Medal of Honor film made by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.
  14. In the kindergarten through grade 8 years, the curriculum shall include a unit of instruction as determined by the Superintendent or designee on the events of the Nazi atrocities of 1933-1945 and other acts of genocide. The unit shall include, but not be limited to, the Armenian Genocide, the Famine-Genocide in Ukraine, and more recent atrocities in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. Beginning in the fall of 2022, 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.
  19. 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
Reviewed: June 12, 2023

Legal Reference:
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, 5/10-23.13, 5/27-3, 5/27-3.5, 5/27-5, 5/27-6, 5/27-6.5, 5/27-7, 5/27-12, 5/27-12.1, 5/27-13.1, 5/27-13.2, 5/27-20.05, 5/27-20.08, 5/27-20.3, 5/27-20.4, 5/27-20.5, 5/27-20.7, 5/27-20.8, 5/27-21, 5/27-22, 5/27-23.3, 5/27-23.4, 5/27-23.7, 5/27-23.8, 5/27-23.10, 5/27-23.11, 5/27-23.15, 5/27-23.16, 5/27-24.1, and 5/27-24.2.
105 ILCS 110/3, Comprehensive Health Education Program.
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.