IL HB2258

Removes the date restriction "in the 2008-2009 school year or a subsequent school year" from high school diploma prerequisites, making course requirements apply to all pupils entering 9th grade.

Adds speech as an elective option alongside music, art, foreign language (including American Sign Language), and vocational education for the one-year arts/electives requirement.

Requires Advanced Placement computer science courses to be designated as equivalent to high school mathematics courses and noted on student transcripts as qualifying for mathematics-based, quantitative course requirements.

Maintains existing requirements for four years of language arts, two years of writing-intensive courses, three years of mathematics (including Algebra I and geometry content), two years of science, and two years of social studies.

Requires at least one semester of civics beginning with students entering 9th grade in 2016-2017, focusing on government institutions, current issues, service learning, and democratic process simulations.