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Racism-Free Schools Model Training
COMING EARLY 2025: Racism-Free Schools Model Training
The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) will soon release the Racism-Free Schools model training for teachers and administrators on how to prevent discrimination and harassment based on race, color, and national origin in elementary and secondary education. The training is developed in partnership with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Education.
Teachers, administrators, and school officials may access the training on the Ed Leaders Network (ELN), provided in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Public school educators in the State of Illinois receive free ELN access through a partnership with ISBE and the Illinois Principals Association (IPA).
School districts or educators without ELN access will be able to access the training via the IDHR website at no cost, following the release of this new training curriculum.
The IDHR model training must be delivered to all elementary and secondary education representatives at least once every two years. School districts may choose to develop or use another training program that equals or exceeds the minimum training standards outlined in Section 5A-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA). IDHR will provide additional guidance on training requirements and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Racism-Free Schools Training
- 1. Who is required to complete the training?
- 2. Who is responsible for providing the training to employees of elementary and secondary schools?
- 3. When is the training deadline?
- 4. How long is the training and what are its components?
- 5. How will my school provide the training?
- 6. How do I document or verify my completion of the training?
- 7. How can I receive professional development (PD) hours for completing the training?
- 8. My school already provides a training on related or similar content. As an education leader, how do I assess whether the existing training meets requirements?
All new and existing employees of public and private (including private religious) elementary and secondary schools - including teachers, staff, and administrators - are required to complete the IDHR Model Training or its equivalent.
It is the responsibility of public and private elementary and secondary schools to provide their employees access to the IDHR Model Training or an equivalent training that equals or exceeds the minimum standards set forth in Section 5A-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Effective August 1, 2024, public and private elementary and secondary schools must train their existing employees at least once every two years. Initial training must be completed by July 31, 2026.
New employees must receive the Training as a component of their new employee training program, and then every two years thereafter.
The IDHR Model Training is self-paced and typically takes around an hour for most learners. The Training covers laws that prohibit harassment and discrimination based on race, color, and national origin, and retaliation. Interactive in its delivery, the training also features video interviews with Illinois educators and knowledge tests to apply learning.
Your institution of elementary or secondary education (school) will instruct you on how and where you may access the IDHR Model Training or its equivalent. The IDHR Model Training will be available on the Ed Leaders Network (ELN), an on-demand professional learning platform developed by the Illinois Principals Association (IPA). Public school educators in the State of Illinois receive free ELN access through a partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education and IPA.
Elementary and secondary schools without ELN access may access the Training via the IDHR website at no cost.
Training compliance will be verified by Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) at the school district level. Each school district will be responsible for documenting and verifying training compliance with ROEs. All educational representatives who complete the IDHR model training on ELN will receive and can save a certificate of completion. Teachers, staff, and administrators should follow school district guidance on documentation needs for training completion.
Individuals who complete the Training on the Ed Leaders Network (ELN) are eligible to receive PD hours for training completion provided they 1) receive an 80 percent passing score on knowledge checks; 2) complete an implementation plan; and 3) complete the post-training evaluation on ELN. Individuals must list the Illinois Principals Association as the approved provider when entering the PD hours into the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).