Illinois School Activities 820 ILCS 147

Covered Employers: "Employer" means a State agency, officer, or department, a unit of local government, a school district, an individual, a corporation, partnership, association, or nonprofit organization with at least 50 or more employees in Illinois

Employee Eligibility: At least 6 consecutive months of service immediately preceding a request for leave; average number of hours per week equal to at least one-half the full-time equivalent position in the employer's job classification during those 6 months.

Entitlement: Up to 8 hours may be used within the school year, no more than 4 hours of which can be requested within any given day, to attend school conferences, behavioral meetings, or academic meetings related to the employee's child if the conference or meeting cannot be scheduled during non-work hours.

Obligation to Provide Certifications or Documents Supporting Need for Leave: Employee shall provide to the employer verification documentation of the school visitation activity as provided by the school administrator. Failure of a parent or guardian to submit the verification statement from the school to his or her employer within 2 working days of the school visitation subjects the employee to the standard disciplinary procedures imposed by the employer for unexcused absences from work.

Notice: Before attending a school conference or activity, the employee must provide an employer with a written request for leave at least seven days in advance. In emergency situations, no more than 24 hours notice is required. The employee must consult with the employer to schedule the leave so as not to disrupt unduly the operations of the employer.

Paid: Unpaid. However, an employee who utilizes or seeks to utilize the rights afforded by this Act may choose the opportunity to make up the time so taken as guaranteed by this Act on a different day or shift as directed by the employer. A reasonable opportunity to make up the time taken does not include the scheduling of make-up time in a manner that would require the payment of wages on an overtime basis.

Benefits: Continue

Reinstatement: Employee must be reinstated to his or her position

Other Important Definitions/Requirements: No school visitation leave may be taken by an employee unless the employee has exhausted all accrued vacation leave, personal leave, compensatory leave and any other leave that may be granted to the employee except sick leave and disability leave. "School" means any public or private primary or secondary school or educational facility located in this State or a state which shares a common boundary with Illinois.

Relationship with Other Leave: N/A

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