SPRINGFIELD – Students with unpaid school balances will have full access to their grades, transcripts or diplomas, under a new law championed by State Senator Adriane Johnson.

“Students are so much more than a set of credits,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “They are scholars and future contributors to our society, and we should do all we can to further their academic careers and not contribute to unnecessary burdens.”

Under previous law, grades, transcripts or diplomas could be held from students as a punishment for unpaid balances at the school.

The new law prohibits public high schools from withholding a student’s grades, transcripts or diploma for 3 years. It also requires school districts to report the total amount of unpaid accounts due to ending of the practice of withholding grades, transcripts, or diplomas to the Illinois State Board of Education.

“This is an equity issue, and this practice hurts low-income students,” Johnson said. 

“Withholding a student’s transcript doesn’t encourage parents to pay outstanding bills and truly only hurts the student.”

The law, previously House Bill 4243, takes immediate effect.