Section 105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 - (Text of Section from P.A. 103-598) Workplace Readiness Week(a) Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, all public high schools, including charter schools, may designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week". During that week, students shall be provided information on their rights as workers. The topics covered shall include, but are not limited to, local, State, and federal laws regarding each of the following areas and shall include the labor movement's role in winning the protections and benefits described in those areas: (1) Prohibitions against misclassification of employees as independent contractors.(3) Wage and hour protections.(5) Workers' compensation.(6) Unemployment insurance.(7) Paid sick leave and paid family leave.(8) The right to organize a union in the workplace.(9) Prohibitions against retaliation by employers when workers exercise their rights as workers or any other rights guaranteed by law. During Workplace Readiness Week, students shall also be provided information introducing them to State-approved apprenticeship programs, how to access them, the variety of programs available, and how they can provide an alternative career path for those students who choose not to attend a traditional higher education program.
(b) If a school observes Workplace Readiness Week under this Section, then, for students in grades 11 and 12, the information required to be provided in subsection (a) shall be integrated into the regular school program but may also be provided during special events after regular school hours. Integration into the regular school program is encouraged, but not required, to occur during Workplace Readiness Week.Added by P.A. 103-0598,§ 5, eff. 7/1/2024.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.