Illinois School Counselor Association

ISBE Rules

Topic	Description	Link	Effective Date
PEL Endorsement	Professional Educator License Endorsed for School Support Personnel	PEL Endorsement
School Counselor Endorsement	Endorsement for School Counselors	SC Endorsement
MFT Endorsement	Endorsement for School Marriage and Family Therapists	MFT Endorsement

Evidence Based School Funding-Illinois

Topic	Description	Link	Effective Date
		Public Act 100-0465 p.411 (f)
FY 2018 EBF Distribution		New Funds being distributed to designated school districts
IL ESSA Plan - Includes school counselor funding.		F) Core guidance counselor investments. Each 16 Organizational Unit shall receive the funding needed to 17 cover one FTE guidance counselor for each 450 combined ASE 18 of pre-kindergarten children with disabilities and all 19 kindergarten through grade 5 students, plus one FTE 20 guidance counselor for each 250 grades 6 through 8 ASE 21 middle school students, plus one FTE guidance counselor for 22 each 250 grades 9 through 12 ASE high school students. PDF

Confidentiality

Topic	Description	Link	Effective Date
School Counselor Confidentiality	Protects privileged or confidential communication with a school counselor and prohibits adverse employment action for keeping confidentiality.	Public Act 96-28	1/01/2010
LCPC/LPC Licensure Law	Covers anyone licensed regardless of work setting. Requires confidentiality. Also requires compliance with Mental Health and Development Disabilities Confidentiality Act.	Licensure Law - Privileged information	07/01/2012
Increases sessions from 5-8	Increases from 5-8 the number of outpatient therapy sessions which may be offered to a minor without parental consent	PDF	8/18/2017
Student Record	Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that a parent's or student's request to inspect and copy records under the Act must be granted no later than 5 business days	SB1483	2018

Clear and Present Danger

Topic	Description	Link	Effective Date
Clear and Present Danger	Mandated reporting for students who are a clear and present danger to themselves or others	IL State Police FAQ
School Administrator Reporting of Mental Health: Clear and Present Danger Determinations Law	Duty of school administrator to report to the Department of State Police when a student is posed as dangerous to himself, herself, or others.	Illinois State Police Reporting Instructions
Clear and Present Danger Definition	Definition in law	Definition

Trainings and Endorsements

Topic	Description	Link	Effective Date
Sexual Abuse Prevention Training	Amended the Health Education Act to include age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness.	Public Act 97-1147	1/24/2013
Erin's Law	Created a Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Assault. Adopts and implements a policy addressing sexual abuse of children that may include age-appropriate curriculum for students in Pre-K through fifth grade.	Public Act 96-1524	2/14/2011
Suicide Warning Signs Training	Training mandated on warning signs of suicidal behavior.	Suicide Training Mandate
Identify Suicide and Mental Illness	Required school personnel who work with pupils in grades 7-12 shall be trained to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior.	Publlic Act 98-0471	1/01/2014
Principal Endorsement for School Counselors	Allows school counselor experience to qualify for a principal endorsement	Principal Endorsement	8/22/2017
Mental Health Staff Training	Requires licensed school personnel and administrators who work with grades K-12 to be trained, once every two years, to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth and be taught appropriate intervention and referral techniques	Public Act 100-0903	1/1/2019

Health and Safety

Topic	Description	Link	Effective Date
School Safety Drills	Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that parents or guardians must receive prior notice of a law enforcement drill not less than 5 days prior to the drill. Provides that a law enforcement drill (i) must not include simulations that mimic an actual school shooting incident or active shooter event, (ii) must be announced in advance to all school personnel and students prior to the commencement of the drill, (iii) must include content that is age appropriate and developmentally appropriate	Public Act 102-0395	8/16/2021
Call4Calm text line	Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall permanently establish the Call4Calm text line to support Illinois residents' mental health needs. Provides that an Illinois resident shall be able to utilize the Call4Calm text line if the resident or someone the resident knows is struggling with stress and needs emotional support. Provides that the service shall be free of charge and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week	Public Act 102-0206	7/30/2021
Keeping Youth Safe & Healthy	Beginning no later than July 1, 2023, requires a school district, including a charter school, to provide comprehensive personal health and safety education in kindergarten through the 5th grade and comprehensive sexual health education in the 6th through 12th grades in all public schools. Sets forth the criteria that all classes that teach comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education must satisfy. Contains, among other provisions, provisions concerning guest lecturers or resource persons, participation, the review of instructional materials, learning standards, resource materials, and reporting. Requires a school district, including a charter school, to provide age and developmentally appropriate consent education in the 3rd through 12th gradesPublic Act 102-0522	Public Act 102-0522	07/1/2023
Communicable Disease Disclosure	Amends the Communicable Disease Prevention Act reporting requirements regarding children diagnosed with or testing positive for HIV or AIDS. The act previously required the Department of Public Health or local health departments to notify the principal of the child's school. HB 61 repealed the requirement.	Public Act 098-0353	01/01/2014
Social-Emotional screening	Requires an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate social and emotional screening to be included as part of the examinations	Public Act 99-0927	1/20/2017
Student Optional Disclosure of Mental Health	Provides that all institutions of higher learning shall supply the student with the opportunity to per-authorize in writing the disclosure of certain private medical health information to a designated person.	Public Act 099-0278	1/02/2016
GLSEN - Transgender School Policy	Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network - Model District Policy on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students, which outlines best practices for schools to ensure that all students are safe, included, and respected in school.	GLSEN - Transgender School Policy
ILHSA - Transgender School Policy	Illinois High School Association - Recommended Gender Equity Waiver & Transgender Policy	Links to Waiver & Trans Policy
Child Bereavement Leave Act	Creates the Child Bereavement Leave Act and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that an employee may use specified amounts of bereavement leave to grieve the death of the employee's child, attend services, or make arrangements.	Public Act 099-0703	07/29/2016
Gang Activity	In a school district other than the Chicago School District, a principal will have the responsibility to utilize the resources of law enforcement when the safety and welfare of students and teachers are threatened by illegal use of possession of weapons, or by illegal gang activity. Illegal gang activity is an offense under which the courts or police must report to the principal when a student is detained.	Public Act 098-0059	1/01/2014
Concealed Carry	Prevents those licensed to concealed carry from knowingly carrying a firearm on or into school property.	Public Act 98-0063	07/09/2013
Student Discipline	Eliminates zero tolerance policies and many other changes.	Public Act 099-0456	09/15/2016
Mental Health Youth Protection	Provides that no mental health provider shall engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under the age of 18. Defines "mental health provider".	Public Act 099-0411	01/01/2016
Epinephrine Auto-Injectors (epi-pen)	Any designated personnel may administer an Epinephrine auto-injector.	Public Act 98-0795	08/01/2014
Restraints in Schools	State Board of Education shall adopt rules governing the use of isolated time, time out, and physical restraint in public schools and special education nonpublic facilities.	Public Act 102-0339	08/13/2021
Telemedicine	Amends the Medicaid law so that a healthcare professional need not be in the same room as the patient	PDF	8/18/2017
Parental Notification	Provides that counseling services or psychotherapy on an outpatient basis provided to a minor 12 years of age or older must be provided by, or under the supervision of, a licensed service provider.	Public Act 100-0196	1/1/2018
School Suspension	School suspension program promoting non-violent conflict resolution	Public Act 100-1035	8/22/2018
Suicide Awareness	Makes changes to provisions regarding youth suicide awareness and prevention. Sets forth some of the characteristics of students at an increased risk of suicide.	Public Act 102-0267	7/1/2022
Suicide info on Student ID Cards	Requires school districts to provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and for the Crisis Text Line on the back of each student identification card issued by the school district.	Public Act 102-0134	7/1/2021

Student Resources

Topic	Description	Link	Effective date
Eliminate requirement of SAT / ACT for College Admission	Creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act. Public institution of higher education may not require applicants who are residents of Illinois to submit standardized college admissions test scores to the institution as a part of the admissions process. Provides that the submission of standardized test scores to the institution shall be at the option of the applicant.	Public Act 102-0054	1/1/2022
Mental Health Services for Students	Amends the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003. Provides that the Children's Mental Health Plan shall include recommendations for ensuring all Illinois youth receive mental health education and have access to mental health care in the school setting. Provides that in developing these recommendations, the Children's Mental Health Partnership shall consult with the State Board of Education, education practitioners, health care professionals, disability advocates, and other representatives as needed.	Public Act 102-0116	7/23/2021
5 Mental Heath Days	Provides that absence for cause by illness shall include the mental or behavioral health of a student for up to 5 days for which the child need not provide a medical note, in which case the child shall be given the opportunity to make up any school work missed during the mental or behavioral health absence.	Public Act 102-0321	8/6/2021
2nd Mental Health Day Referral	Provides that the child, after the second mental health day used, may be referred to the appropriate school support personnel.	Public Act 102-0266	8/6/2021
College and Career Readiness Indicators (CCRI)	Starting in 2021, all public schools will report CCRI data for graduating seniors	Information
Database Resources for School Personnel	Provides that the Department of Human Services shall create and maintain an online database and resource page on its website with mental health resources related to crisis services, wellness, sexual health, survivor support, gender-based violence, nutrition, stress reduction, anxiety, depression, violence prevention, suicide prevention, and substance use and encouraging information sharing	Public Act 102-0228	7/30/2021
Social Network Password	Makes it a petty offense for a post-secondary school to request or require a student of parent/guardian to provide a password or other account information in order to gain access to a student's account or profile on a social networking website. Schools must provide notification of this protection by publishing it in the schools handbook and/or disciplinary policy.	Public Act 98-0129	01/01/2014
Class of 2020 Grad Requirements	Suspends the requirement for state assessments 105 ILCS 5/1-1, Constitution exam, PE, Foreign Language requirement, certain courses needed to receive a high school diploma Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27-22(e)	Governor Executive Order 2020 31	4/24/2020
FAFSA/RISE Act	Beginning with the Class of 2021, students must either complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, an Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, or an approved waiver to receive a high school diploma. ISBE FAFSA Non participation Form (English) ISBE FAFSA Non Participation Form (Spanish) Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid	Public Act 101-0180	2020/2021 school year
FERPA	Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act - federal law that affords parents the right to have access to their children's education records, the right to seek to have the records amended, and the right to consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records, except as provided by law. When a student turns 18, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student.	Power Point explaining FERPA
AP Exams	Lowers passing AP score to 3, 4, or 5. Beginning 2016-2017 academic year.	Public Act 099-0358	8/13/2015
Threatening a Public Official	Adds "human service provider" to the list of individuals included in the offense of "threatening a public official"	Public Act 98-0529	01/01/2014
Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act	Creates the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act	Public Act 99-0674	07/29/2016
AP Computer Science Courses	An AP Computer Course can fulfill mathematics graduation requirements.	Public Act 098-0885	08/15/2014
Bring Parent to School Day	Sets the first Monday in October as "Bring Your Parents to School Day".	Public Act 098-0304	01/01/2014
School Counselor Definition	A qualified specialist who holds a School Service Personnel certificate endorsed in school counseling issued pursuant to Section 21-25 of the Illinois School Code. 10-22.24a. 10-22.24b.	105 ILCS School Code	07/10/2003
Student Records Act	Provides request to inspect and copy records must be granted no later than 5 business days (rather than 15 school days)	SB 1483	7/28/2017
Parenting Education	Requires high schools to provide parenting education which include mental and emotional aspects of life.	Public Act 100 1043	8/23/2018
SEL	Curriculum guidelines and best practices on emotional intelligence and social and emotional learning	Public Act 100-1139

Other Resources

Topic	Description	Link
Medicaid Expansion in Illinois	Provides coverage for school based mental health services regardless of IEP or 504 status. Expands school-based service providers eligible for reimbursement.	Medicaid expansion in Illinois
Counselors accepting gifts	Provides that a counselor may not intentionally solicit or accept any gift from any prohibited source or solicit or accept a gift that would be in violation of any federal or State statute or rule, with exceptions; defines terms. Provides that a counselor is not in violation of the prohibition if he or she promptly takes reasonable action to return the gift to the prohibited source or donates the gift or an amount equal to its value to an appropriate charity that is exempt from income taxation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Provides that a counselor or prohibited source who intentionally violates the prohibition is guilty of a business offense and is subject to a fine of at least $1,001 and up to $5,000.	Public Act 102-0327
School Counselor Interns	Proposed Amendments to Part 25 (Educator Licensure)	Illinois Content Area Standards
Student Loan Forgiveness	Public Service Workers	Student Loan Forgiveness
School Service Personnel	Illinois Certification Process	ISBE Certification
ESSCP	Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program: Funding for the development of school counseling programs	U.S. Department of Education
Amended to Title protection for school social workers	Amended to Title protection for school social workers	Social Workers
Funds School Counselors	Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2018, every school district, charter school, or alternative school or any school receiving public funds shall collect and review its chronic absence data and determine what systems of support and resources are needed to engage chronically absent students and their families to encourage the habit of daily attendance and promote success.	SB1947

Legislation

ISBE Rules