Effectively Prevent & Address Bullying in Illinois Schools
SUPPORT HB 5290 (House Amendment #3)
House Sponsors: Cassidy - Lang - Yarbrough - Gordon - Chapa LaVia – M. Davis
Current Illinois law requires that school districts have bullying prevention policies but fails to provide the
guidance necessary to ensure that these policies and their implementation successfully combat bullying.
HB 5290 (HA #3) provides this guidance.
What HB 5290 (HA #3) Does: HB 5290 (HA #3) modifies current law by integrating the specific
recommendations of the Illinois School Bullying Prevention Task Force to more effectively prevent and
address bullying and school violence.
Specifically HB 5290 (HA #3):
(1) Adds physical appearance, socioeconomic status, academic status, pregnancy, parenting status
and homelessness to the categories of students against whom bullying is prohibited.
(2) Defines “policy on bullying” to provide schools with the guidance needed to comply with existing
law requiring schools to create and maintain bullying policies. A policy on bullying, developed with the
input of schools stakeholders, includes:
 The definition of bullying as provided in law and a statement that bullying is contrary to State
law and school policy
 Procedures for reporting bullying, including anonymous reporting, investigating and
addressing bullying
 The interventions that can be taken to address bullying
 Procedures for posting and distribution
Why We Need HB 5290 (HA #3):
 Bullying is a serious problem in Illinois schools. It produces alarmingly negative health, social, and
academic outcomes for our youth.
o Half (52%) of Illinois students report that they had been verbally harassed and nearly 1 in 4
students reported that they had been physically harassed or assaulted in school in the past
year.
o Passing rates on standardized exams are up to 6 percent lower in schools where students
report a severe bullying climate.
o Students targeted by bullying behaviors are more likely to consider, attempt and commit
suicide.
 Bullying policies that provide guidance to schools more effectively help them to prevent and address
bullying.
 The existing bullying policies of the majority of Illinois school districts and the administrations of
elementary and secondary non-public, non-sectarian schools already reflect HB 5290. The bill
ensures that all schools include these important components to optimize bullying prevention at no
cost.
For more information about supporting HB 5290 contact:
Khadine Bennett: 312.607.3355 [email protected]; Ramon Gardenhire: 301.379.3024 [email protected];
Sarah Schriber, Prevent School Violence Illinois: 312.804.4824 [email protected]
HB 5290 IS SUPPORTED BY THE PREVENT SCHOOL VIOLENCE ILLINOIS COALITION
AND THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:
ACLU of Illinois
Affinity Community Services
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital
American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois Chapter
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Chicago Lakeshore Hospital
Equality Illinois
Equip for Equality
Federation for Community Schools
Health & Disability Advocates
Health & Medicine Policy Research Group
Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention
Illinois Association of School Social Workers
Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health
Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
Illinois Department of Human Rights
Illinois Human Rights Commission
Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition
Illinois Parent Teacher Association
Illinois Psychiatric Society
Illinois Psychological Association
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
Illinois School Counselors Association
Mental Health America of Illinois
Mental Health Summit
National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter
The Arc of Illinois
The Civil Rights Agenda
For more information about supporting HB 5290 contact:
Khadine Bennett: 312.607.3355 [email protected]; Ramon Gardenhire: 301.379.3024 [email protected];
Sarah Schriber, Prevent School Violence Illinois: 312.804.4824 [email protected]