Guns, knives, and weapons are generally prohibited on school grounds, as provided by school policies and state and federal laws.

Although children in grades 1-12 are generally not eligible for a concealed carry weapon permit, older students on college campuses may be eligible for a concealed carry permit (CCP) in some states—also known as a concealed handgun license (CHL), license to carry (LTC), concealed carry license (CCL), or concealed carry weapon (CCW).

A student’s right to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds may be governed by state and federal laws, as well as school policies.

In Illinois, the possession of guns, knives, and other weapons on school grounds is strictly regulated by both state and federal laws, as well as individual school policies. Under the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/10-20.5b), it is generally illegal to knowingly carry or possess a weapon on or within 1,000 feet of school grounds. This applies to public, private, and parochial schools from preschool through 12th grade. The Illinois Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) prohibits the carrying of concealed firearms on the property of any school, unless specifically authorized by law. While Illinois does issue concealed carry permits to eligible individuals, these permits do not allow holders to carry concealed weapons on K-12 school properties. However, for college campuses, the decision to allow concealed carry is more nuanced and may depend on the policies set by the individual institution, although the general prohibition on carrying in buildings and classrooms typically applies. It's important to note that federal law, specifically the Gun-Free School Zones Act (18 U.S.C. § 922(q)), also prohibits the unauthorized possession of firearms in school zones, with certain exceptions. Therefore, students, even those with a concealed carry permit, must adhere to these regulations and are generally not allowed to carry concealed weapons on school grounds in Illinois.