A series of recent Illinois legislative changes enhance protections for immigrant students, establish guidelines for AI in classrooms, and expand parental rights and student support services, signalling a focus on safeguarding and innovation in education.
Several new Illinois laws taking effect this month reshape how schools treat immigrant students, govern the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms and expand parental rights and services for students with disabilities, state officials and legislative texts show.[1][3][2]
An amendment to the Illinois School Code explicitly bars public schools from denying a child access to a free education on the basis of the child’s or an associated person’s actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status, and prohibits excluding noncitizen children from programs or activities for that reason, according to the enacted bill and reporting by the Chicago Tribune and state legal summaries. The law also restricts disclosure of a student’s immigration status to outside parties unless required by federal law, and requires districts to adopt procedures for handling law-enforcement requests on campus.
Advocates framed the change as a response to heightened federal immigration enforcement in Chicago late last year. “In the face of federal threats to our schools and students, our communities came together and organized to demand that our state leaders stand up for education for all Illinois children,” Lawrence Benito, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said when the legislation was passed in May. Reporting notes the move follows a 64-day crackdown in the Chicago area known as Operation Midway Blitz, which left schools feeling particularly vulnerable.
Separate but related measures in the Public Higher Education Act extend similar confidentiality protections to colleges and universities, barring disclosure of the actual or perceived immigration status of employees, students or associated persons to external agencies unless compelled by federal law, and requiring institutions to adopt processes for reviewing requests by law-enforcement agents to enter campus.
Illinois is also moving to govern artificial intelligence in education. The State Board of Education must now produce guidance for K-12 districts on what AI is, how it works, the privacy implications of AI systems for student data, and best practices for teaching responsible and ethical AI use, according to the school code amendment and reporting. The newly created State Instructional Technology Advisory Board will support standards on safety, transparency, data privacy and educational quality for education technologies, including AI.
Legislators additionally restricted the role of generative AI in teaching at community colleges, stipulating courses cannot be taught solely by AI or generative AI programs in place of instructors and that courses must be taught by qualified faculty, reflecting concerns about instructional quality and student safeguards. Supporters said these measures aim to balance innovation with protections for personal privacy and public safety.
The new laws broaden parents’ rights in special education: schools must provide written notice that parents or guardians may have an advocate present at any meeting concerning an individualised education programme and may request an IEP facilitator. House Bill 2994 also gives parents additional access to mental-health records for children receiving special education services, according to reporting.
Students will see expanded academic and career opportunities. Seventh- and eighth-grade pupils who complete qualifying courses can earn high-school credit that will transfer to the high school they later attend. A statewide catalogue of internships, externships and volunteer opportunities for high-school students will be published annually on the State Board of Education’s website and distributed to districts, and work-based learning, including 4-H and Future Farmers of America, may count toward the school day once approved by a licensed educator. Programmatic flexibility for gifted and talented services is also increased.
Higher-education transparency and mental-health provisions were strengthened: public and private institutions must post cost-of-attendance figures online, and public colleges and universities are required to provide at least three on-site mental-health professionals, according to legislative text and news coverage. Early-literacy assessments for K-3 students must be screened and reported to the State Board of Education, and the board will collect and publish data on funding reserved by districts to serve homeless students. Illinois school districts must also create and post educational materials on the benefits of American Sign Language for K-8.
Taken together, the package reflects lawmakers’ effort to respond to immediate political pressures over immigration enforcement, to set guardrails around fast-evolving education technology and to expand supports and transparency for students and families, even as national policy debates on AI and immigration continue to evolve. Federal policies encouraging broad AI adoption stand in contrast to Illinois’ regulatory approach, underscoring a state-level emphasis on safeguards and student protections.
đź“Ś Reference Map:
##Reference Map:
- [1] (Chicago Tribune) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 7, Paragraph 8, Paragraph 9
- [2] (Illinois Legal Aid) – Paragraph 2, Paragraph 6
- [3] (Illinois General Assembly SB2065) – Paragraph 2
- [4] (WTTW) – Paragraph 4, Paragraph 9
- [5] (WGIL) – Paragraph 5
- [6] (Illinois General Assembly SB2732) – Paragraph 3
- [7] (Illinois General Assembly SB1556) – Paragraph 4
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release from the Chicago Tribune, dated January 10, 2026, reporting on new Illinois education laws taking effect this month. The content is original and timely, with no evidence of recycled news. The inclusion of updated data and references to recent legislative actions supports a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Lawrence Benito, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and other sources are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Chicago Tribune, a reputable news organisation known for its comprehensive coverage of local and state news. The inclusion of references to official legislative texts and statements from recognised organisations further enhances the reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims regarding new Illinois education laws are corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including the Illinois General Assembly and the Illinois Legal Aid Online. The narrative provides specific details about the laws, their provisions, and the timeline for implementation, all of which align with the information available from these sources.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is original, timely, and supported by reliable sources. It provides accurate and detailed information about new Illinois education laws taking effect in 2026, with no evidence of disinformation or recycled content.