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District 208 reviews student handbook updates covering homeschool IHSA eligibility, civic excused absence and AI guidance
Summary
At first read, administrators proposed handbook additions: clarify IHSA eligibility for homeschool students, add a one‑day excused absence for civic events, codify participation rules for students missing more than 50% of the school day (including mental health days), and add procedural language guiding teachers on student use of AI tools.
District administrators presented a first read of proposed changes to the 2024–25 student handbook, highlighting five main items meant to improve transparency and align district procedures with state or instructional practice.
1) Homeschool and IHSA eligibility: The revised language clarifies IHSA rules applicable to students who are homeschooled but live inside District 208 boundaries. Administration said homeschool students are eligible to participate in IHSA‑sponsored athletics and activities provided they are enrolled in five RBHS‑approved classes the semester before and during the season (or an approved program equivalent), and they pay associated activity fees.
2) Attendance and extracurricular participation: The handbook will specify that students who miss more than 50% of a school day—including for a mental health day—are ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities or athletic contests on that same day, codifying an existing procedural practice.
3) Civic event excused absence: Proposed language would allow one excused absence per school year for students to attend a qualifying civic event (defined as an event sponsored by a nonprofit or governmental entity that is open to the public and supports the mission of the sponsor). Administration noted the statutory definition is somewhat broad and staff will need to review documentation when approving requests.
4) Early release procedure: The handbook would add a designated early‑release email address and direct phone line (earlyrelease@rbhs208.net; 708‑442‑990) to speed early‑release processing.
5) Artificial intelligence guidance: Administrators proposed procedural language guiding teacher use of AI tools and detectors. The draft states that students may not use AI (including AI‑generated images or voice generators) to violate school rules or district policies and that teachers may use approved AI detectors and exercise instructor approval to ensure academic integrity. The administration emphasized this is a classroom procedure under teacher discretion rather than a standalone board policy at this stage.
The handbook changes were presented for first read; board members asked clarifying questions about approval thresholds and implementation and will return the draft for further discussion and action at a future meeting.
