Original article written by Matt Roy for WICS & WRSP on Wednesday, April 14th. A link to the original article may be found HERE . There is also a brief video segment from Fox News embedded in the original article.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — An education bill was unanimously passed by the Illinois House of Representatives Wednesday that would give more religious freedom to kids in schools around the state.
The new legislation would allow students to be excused from physical education courses during a time of religious fasting.
All the parent would need to do is notify the principal in writing and their child will not have to participate in PE for that length of time.
State Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, said this bill will help accommodate religious students, as well as send a signal to all cultures that Illinois respects them and they are welcome here.
“On behalf of someone in the Jewish community, this is very important because we have a lot of students who fast at times, and I think this is a really important issue for our communities,” State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, said.
There are many religious groups that supported this bill and helped it get to this point, like the Northern Illinois American Muslim Alliance and the Jewish United Fund.
The entire House also supported the bill, as it passed unanimously and will now head to the Senate.
If the legislation gets through the Senate and is signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, it will take effect immediately.
