New Illinois Law To Allow Students Five Mental Health Absences Beginning In January 2022

As of January 1, 2022, Illinois public school students are allowed to take off five days off per school year for mental or behavioral health reasons, without requiring a medical note. Senate Bill 1577 (an act concerning education) proposed the law, which was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker on August 8, 2021. Under the new law, mental or behavioral health absences have been added as a "valid cause" for school absences.

Following any mental or behavioral health absence, the student will be given the opportunity to make up any schoolwork missed during the absence. To account for . . .