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Overview of Illinois’ Inclusive Curriculum Law
Resources to support the implementation of Illinois’ Inclusive Curriculum Law
History
On August 9, 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 246 (Public Act 101-0227) into law. This made Illinois the fifth state in the nation to require public schools to include instruction and adopt instructional materials that accurately portray the political, economic, and social contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The law took effect July 1, 2020, with the intent of implementation at the start of the 2020 – 2021 school year.
The Inclusive Curriculum Law offers public school students a more accurate, complete, and equitable picture of American society and provides LGBTQ+ students the opportunity to see themselves represented in history.
In 2017, Equality Illinois, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance – a program of Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago – and the Legacy Project banded together to build a coalition of supporters and advocates for passing the law. Once passed, the three organizations formed the Inclusive Curriculum Advisory Council of Illinois (ICACI) with the intent of supporting schools and communities in implementing the law by creating materials and collating tools and resources to support instruction. ICACI works in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, and other stakeholders. This collaboration has helped create the foundation to transform classrooms in Illinois into those that are reflective and protective of the experience of the LGBTQ+ community.
The ICACI understands and recognizes that LGBTQ+ identities intersect with those of race, class, ability, socioeconomic status, and other social considerations, as well as other inclusive curriculum initiatives, including but not limited to women’s history and Black History. ICACI is committed to working alongside other curricular leads to ensure the history and contributions of marginalized populations continue to be uplifted and included in educational settings.
