Illinois Bill Would Make High Schoolers Attend Government Meetings

There's a new proposal in Springfield that could leave Illinois high school students trading a class period for a seat at a government meeting.

Representative Justin Cochran would require all public school students in Illinois to attend an open meeting of local governing body as part of their civics education under House Bill 5289.  This means they'd attend City Council, district meetings, county board, etc.

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Illinois Bill Would Make High Schoolers Attend Government Meetings

This bill creates a new section of the Illinois School Code that would mandate Illinois high schools to teach a unit specifically focused on civic engagement starting in 2027-2028.  This isn't just textbook learning, though.  It adds a level of hands-on training to students experiencing real-life meetings.

If getting there in person is a problem, the bill allows schools to meet the requirement through virtual attendance.  Technically, students could log in and watch online, if needed.  If passed, this would apply to every public school in Illinois. That means thousands of students would need access to public meetings.  Illinois already requires civics instruction in middle and high school, but the proposal wouldn't replace it.  It would just add an experiential piece designed to get students more directly involved in the process.

Related: Illinois Lawmakers Want to Make This Illegal Starting June 1

Right now, the House Bill 5289 is waiting to be assigned to a committee, so it's still early in the process.  We'll update you with more information when it becomes available.  What are your thoughts on this Bill?