§ 26A-10 — Definitions

In this Article: "Confidential" means information or facts expected and intended to be kept private or protected by an existing privilege in the Code of Civil Procedure. Confidential information may be disclosed by a school or school district if such disclosure is required by State or federal law or is necessary to complete proceedings relevant to this Article. Designation of student information as confidential applies to the school and school district and does not limit a student's right to speak about the student's experiences. "Consent" includes, at a minimum, a recognition that (i) consent is a freely given agreement to sexual activity, (ii) an individual's lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission resulting from the use of threat of force does not constitute consent, (iii) an individual's manner of dress does not constitute consent, (iv) an individual's consent to past sexual activity does not constitute consent to future sexual activity, (v) an individual's consent to engage in one type of sexual activity with one person does not constitute consent to engage in any other type of sexual activity or sexual activity with another person, (vi) an individual can withdraw consent at any time, and (vii) an individual cannot consent to sexual activity if that individual is unable to understand the nature of the activity or give knowing consent due to the circumstances that include, but are not limited to, all the following: (1) The individual is incapacitated due to the use or influence of alcohol or drugs. (2) The individual is asleep or unconscious. (3) The individual is under the age of consent. (4) The individual is incapacitated due to a mental disability. "Domestic or sexual violence" means domestic violence, gender-based harassment, sexual activity without consent, sexual assault, sexual violence, or stalking. Domestic or sexual violence may occur through electronic communication. Domestic or sexual violence exists regardless of when or where the violence occurred, whether or not the violence is the subject of a criminal investigation or the perpetrator has been criminally charged or convicted of a crime, whether or not an order of protection or a no-contact order is pending before or has been issued by a court, or whether or not any domestic or sexual violence took place on school grounds, during regular school hours, or during a school-sponsored event. "Domestic or sexual violence organization" means a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides assistance to victims of domestic or sexual violence or advocates for those victims, including an organization carrying out a domestic or sexual violence program, an organization operating a shelter or a rape crisis center or providing counseling services, an accredited children's advocacy center, an organization that provides services to or advocates on behalf of children and students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or gender nonconforming, an organization that provides services to or advocates on behalf of children and students who are parents or expectant parents, or an organization seeking to eliminate domestic or sexual violence or to address the consequences of that violence for its victims through legislative advocacy or policy change, public education, or service collaboration. "Domestic violence" means abuse, as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, by family or household members, as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. "Electronic communication" includes communications via telephone, mobile phone, computer, email, video recorder, fax machine, telex, pager, apps or applications, or any other electronic communication or cyberstalking under Section 12-7.5 of the Criminal Code of 2012. "Expectant parent" means a student who (i) is pregnant and (ii) has not yet received a diploma for completion of a secondary education, as defined in Section 22-22. "Gender-based harassment" means any harassment or discrimination on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived sex or gender, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, or unwelcome conduct, including verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct that is not sexual in nature but is related to a student's status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence. "Harassment" means any unwelcome conduct on the basis of a student's actual or perceived race, gender, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, or citizenship status that has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the individual's academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning environment. "Perpetrator" means an individual who commits or is alleged to have committed any act of domestic or sexual violence. The term "perpetrator" must be used with caution when applied to children, particularly young children. "Poor academic performance" means a student who has (i) scored in the 50th percentile or below on a school district-administered standardized test, (ii) received a score on a State assessment that does not meet standards in one or more of the fundamental learning areas under Section 27-1, as applicable for the student's grade level, or (iii) not met grade-level expectations on a school district-designated assessment. "Representative" means an adult who is authorized to act on behalf of a student during a proceeding, including an attorney, parent, or guardian. "School" means a school district or school governed by this Code, including a school operating under Article 13, 13A, 13B, 27A, 32, 33, or 34, other than the Department of Juvenile Justice School District. "School" includes any other entity responsible for administering public schools, such as cooperatives, joint agreements, charter schools, special charter districts, regional offices of education, local agencies, or the Department of Human Services, and nonpublic schools recognized by the State Board of Education. "Sexual activity" means any knowingly touching or fondling by one person, either directly or through clothing, of the sex organs, anus, mouth, or breast of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal. "Sexual assault" or "sexual violence" means any conduct of an adult or minor child proscribed in Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 2012, except for Sections 11-35, 11-40, and 11-45 of the Criminal Code of 2012, including conduct committed by a perpetrator who is a stranger to the victim and conduct by a perpetrator who is known or related by blood or marriage to the victim. "Stalking" means any conduct proscribed in Section 12-7.3, 12-7.4, or 12-7.5 of the Criminal Code of 2012, including stalking committed by a perpetrator who is a stranger to the victim and stalking committed by a perpetrator who is known or related by blood or marriage to the victim. "Student" or "pupil" means any child who has not yet received a diploma for completion of a secondary education. "Student" includes, but is not limited to, an unaccompanied minor not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. "Student at risk of academic failure" means a student who is at risk of failing to meet the Illinois Learning Standards or failing to graduate from elementary or high school and who demonstrates a need for educational support or social services beyond those provided by the regular school program. "Student parent" means a student who is a custodial or noncustodial parent taking an active role in the care and supervision of a child and who has not yet received a diploma for completion of a secondary education. "Support person" means any person whom the victim has chosen to include in proceedings for emotional support or safety. A support person does not participate in proceedings but is permitted to observe and support the victim with parent or guardian approval. "Support person" may include, but is not limited to, an advocate, clergy, a counselor, and a parent or guardian. If a student is age 18 years or older, the student has the right to choose a support person without parent or guardian approval. "Survivor-centered" means a systematic focus on the needs and concerns of a survivor of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking that (i) ensures the compassionate and sensitive delivery of services in a nonjudgmental manner, (ii) ensures an understanding of how trauma affects survivor behavior, (iii) maintains survivor safety, privacy, and, if possible, confidentiality, and (iv) recognizes that a survivor is not responsible for the sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. "Trauma-informed response" means a response involving an understanding of the complexities of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking through training centered on the neurobiological impact of trauma, the influence of societal myths and stereotypes surrounding sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, and understanding the behavior of perpetrators. "Victim" means an individual who has been subjected to one or more acts of domestic or sexual violence.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 7-1-25 .)