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intermediate service center that has the authority, under rules |
adopted by the State Board of Education, to issue a high school |
diploma; or a school district organized under Article 34 of |
this Code. In order to be an eligible applicant, an entity |
under this definition, other than a school district organized |
under Article 34 of this Code, must provide evidence or other |
documentation that it is or has been unable to establish an |
agreement with a secondary or unit school district in which the |
eligible applicant is located to provide a program in which |
students who successfully complete the program can receive a |
high school diploma from their school district of residence. |
"Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the |
Illinois Community College Board. |
"High school diploma program for adult learners" means a |
program approved to operate under this Section that provides a |
program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the |
issuance of a high school diploma. |
(b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high |
school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by |
the Board prior to implementation. A non-profit eligible |
applicant shall operate this program only within the |
jurisdictional authority of the regional superintendent of |
schools, the chief administrator of an intermediate service |
center, or a school district organized Article 34 of this Code |
with whom the non-profit eligible applicant has entered into a |
partnership. An approved program shall include, without |
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limitation, all of the following: |
(1) An administrative structure, program activities, |
program staff, a budget, and a specific curriculum that is |
consistent with Illinois Learning Standards, as well as |
Illinois content standards for adults, but may be different |
from a regular school program in terms of location, length |
of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary |
courses, pace, instructional activities, or any |
combination of these. |
(2) Issuance of a high school diploma only if an adult |
learner meets all minimum requirements under this Code and |
its implementing rules for receipt of a high school |
diploma. |
(3) Specific academic, behavioral, and emotional |
support services to be offered to adult learners enrolled |
in the program. |
(4) Career and technical education courses that lead to |
industry certifications in high growth and in-demand |
industry sectors or dual credit courses from a regionally |
accredited post-secondary educational institution |
consistent with the Dual Credit Quality Act. The program |
may include partnering with a community college district to |
provide career and technical education courses that lead to |
industry certifications. |
(5) Specific program outcomes and goals and metrics to |
be used by the program to determine success. |
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(6) The requirement that all instructional staff must |
hold an educator license valid for the high school grades |
issued under Article 21B of this Code. |
(7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the |
Board. |
(c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high |
school diploma program for adult learners to the Board on forms |
prescribed by the Board. |
(1) Initial approval shall be for a period not to |
exceed 2 school years. |
(2) Renewal of approval shall be for a period not to |
exceed 4 school years and shall be contingent upon at least |
specific documented outcomes of student progression, |
graduation rates, and earning of industry-recognized |
credentials. |
(3) Program approval may be given only if the Executive |
Director determines that the eligible applicant has |
provided assurance through evidence of other documentation |
that it will meet the requirements of subsection (b) of |
this Section and any rules adopted by the Board. The Board |
shall make public any evaluation criteria it uses in making |
a determination of program approval or denial. |
(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the |
contrary, a non-profit eligible applicant shall provide |
the following to the Board: |
(A) documentation that the non-profit entity will |
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fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) of this |
Section; |
(B) evidence that the non-profit entity has the |
capacity to fulfill the requirements of this Section; |
(C) a description of the coordination and |
oversight that the eligible entity will provide in the |
administration of the program by the non-profit |
entity; |
(D) evidence that the non-profit entity has a |
history of providing services to adults 18 years of age |
or older whose educational and training opportunities |
have been limited by educational disadvantages, |
disabilities, and challenges. |
(5) If an eligible applicant that has been approved |
fails to meet any of the requirements of subsection (b) of |
this Section and any rules adopted by the Board, the |
Executive Director shall immediately initiate a process to |
revoke the eligible applicant's approval to provide the |
program, pursuant to rules adopted by the Board. |
(d) The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement |
this Section.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon |
becoming law.
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