Final answer:
The factory law passed in Illinois in 1893 required child workers to attend school, reflecting the efforts of Progressive reformers to improve the lives and education of children working in factories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Illinois passed a factory law in 1893 with the intention of protecting child workers. This law mandated that child workers attend school. Instead of increasing their working hours or requiring special permits, the Progressive reformers aimed to improve the conditions and future prospects of the youth by decreasing the number of hours they worked in factories and increasing their access to education. Despite some reformers' efforts, opposition remained, and as such, certain laws were not always strictly enforced. Nonetheless, these laws were crucial in the longer-term shift towards compulsory education, which helped to decrease child labor and ultimately to improve literacy rates among children.