Early high school creditSeventh- and eighth-grade students soon will be able to take high school-level coursework and receive high school credit. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. The new law takes effect immediately. The bill takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. The law takes effect July 1, 2027.news@capitolnewsillinois.comCapitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide.