ROCKFORD, Ill. – Today, the Illinois General Assembly passed SB1446, which prohibits K-12 schools from restricting students from wearing or accessorizing graduation attire that reflects their cultural, ethnic, or religious identity.
“Graduation ceremonies should be a time for students and their families to celebrate their educational journey and their personal identity,” said State Representative Maurice West (D-Rockford), chief House sponsor of the legislation. “This legislation ensures that a student can celebrate their cultural, ethnic, or religious identity in their attire during graduation. It is common sense legislation that celebrates the diversity that makes our state strong.”
This legislation arose from an incident when a student was prohibited from wearing graduation clothing that reflected their Native American heritage during a graduation ceremony at an Evanston, Ill. high school.
The bill passed the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote of 104 to 7 and the Illinois Senate by a vote of 49 to 4. The legislation now goes to Gov. JB Pritzker for his signature before being enacted into law. More information can be found HERE.
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