Under the School Visitation Rights Act, an employee who averages half-time employment for at least the last 6 months for an employer with at least 50 employees is entitled to take leave of up to 8 hours during a school year (though no more than 4 hours in a particular day) to attend school conferences or classroom activities related to the employee's child (who is in primary or secondary school in Illinois or a surrounding state) if the conference or classroom activities cannot be scheduled during non-work hours.
There are a few more caveats. By way of just a few examples, before arranging attendance at the conference or activity, the employee must give the employer a written request for leave at least 7 days in advance of the time the employee is required to utilize the visitation right. In emergency situations, no more than 24 hours notice shall be required. The employee must consult with the employer to schedule the leave so as not to disrupt unduly the operations of the employer.
Also, no leave may be taken under the Act 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.
Further, an employee who asserts rights under the Act may choose to make up the time if it reasonable to do so. On the other hand, the employee is not required to make up the time, but if the time is not made up, the employer doesn't need to pay the employee for the time taken.
After attending school visit under the Act, a school administrator must provide the parent or guardian documentation of the school visitation. The parent or guardian shall submit such verification to the employer.