SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed several pieces of education-related legislation Thursday, including one that recognizes boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
Among the bills signed into law was SB 564. In addition to requiring history courses in schools to “include the study of the contributions made 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 community of faith that has shaped America,” accrding to a press release, it also marks Ali’s birthday of January 17th as a “commemorative school holiday.” Such a holiday recognizes people in history on regular school days.
“I am pleased to sign these three pieces of legislation that will make our schools more inclusive and safer,” said Governor JB Pritzker, in a news release. “These pieces of legislation will not only expand protections for all our students, they will ensure that schools across Illinois recognize the contributions of Americans of different faiths. Students of all religious backgrounds deserve our full support in our classrooms and these bills will help make that a reality.”
Among other education-related measures signed by Pritzker:
- HB 160 requires school districts to excuse students from engaging in a physical education course during a period of religious fasting. The student’s parent or guardian must notify the school principal in writing that the pupil is participating in a religious fast.
- HB 169 allows a student to be absent from public school due to religious reasons, including the observance of a religious holiday or participation in religious instruction, and allows schools to require the parent or guardian of the student to give notice of the absence to school officials. (Source: State of Illinois)
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