Pritzker approves plan allowing workplace readiness week for high school students

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois public and charter high schools now have the option to annually observe a week for students to learn about workers' rights.

A new state law allows high schools to teach young people about local, state and federal laws and how the labor movement played a role in winning protections and benefits for workers.

Sponsors said the "Workplace Readiness Week" will give students the ability to learn about wage and hour protections, worker safety, unemployment insurance and paid leave among other topics.

"This bill just sets a minimum requirement for curriculum," said Sen. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island). "Any school, as long as they have this included in the curriculum, can add on whatever other information that they want to add when it comes to workforce training or business development in the local community."

Republican lawmakers said the legislation may promote biased views or topics about labor. However, Democrats stressed that the law is designed to generally inform students about laws on the books and should not include any biased content.

House Bill 4417 passed out of the Senate on a partisan 40-19 vote on May 16. The legislation passed out of the House on a 88-22 vote on April 16.