HB3600 Summary

• Amends Section 10-22.6 of the School Code regarding suspension and expulsion procedures, effective July 1, 2025.

• Requires school districts to document and provide written notice to parents when students are removed from school for non-disciplinary reasons (shortened school day, in-school suspension, sent home) that do not constitute gross disobedience or misconduct.

• Establishes new in-school suspension procedures including student right to respond to charges, opportunity to complete coursework for credit, and written parental notice with full statement of reasons.

• Adds protections for suspension and expulsion hearings including: student right to have a representative or support person present, disclosure of mitigating factors (parent/expectant parent status, domestic or sexual violence victim status), and prohibition on direct questioning of alleged sexual violence victims by the accused student or representative.

• Requires school districts to consider mitigating factors when adopting policies regarding students suspended or expelled from other schools before readmission.