Starting in 2026, middle school students in Illinois will have a new opportunity to get ahead in their high school education.
With the recent passage of House Bill 3039, middle schoolers will be able to earn high school credits without leaving their current schools. Previously, students could only take high school credit courses at the high school they planned to attend.
The new law allows students to remain at their middle school while taking these advanced courses, reducing travel time and making scheduling easier for both students and school districts.
“This really gives students and school districts a greater option. Sometimes it’s just logistically impossible to get a seventh or eighth grader out of class in middle school to the high school and then back. This allows for a lot more freedom, a lot more flexibility,” said State Senator Laura Ellman.
Although the law will take effect in 2026, the way it is implemented will vary by school district.