Bill Text: IL HB2527 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Authorizes eligible applicants (defined as a non-profit entity in partnership with a regional superintendent of schools, the chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has the authority to issue a high school diploma, or the Chicago school district) to design a high school diploma program for adult learners. Requires eligible applicants to apply for approval of a program to the State Superintendent of Education. Sets forth other requirements. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2017-09-22 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 100-0514 [HB2527 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HB2527-Introduced.html


100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2527

Introduced , by Rep. Joe Sosnowski

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a new

Amends the School Code. Authorizes eligible applicants (defined as a non-profit entity in partnership with a regional superintendent of schools, the chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has the authority to issue a high school diploma, or the Chicago school district) to design a high school diploma program for adult learners. Requires eligible applicants to apply for approval of a program to the State Superintendent of Education. Sets forth other requirements. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
53-15.12a as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a new)
7 Sec. 3-15.12a. High school diploma for adult learners.
8 (a) In this Section:
9 "Adult learner" means a person ineligible for reenrollment
10under subsection (b) of Section 26-2 of this Code and 34 CFR
11300.102.
12 "Eligible applicant" means a non-profit entity in
13partnership with a regional superintendent of schools; the
14chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has
15the authority, under rules adopted by the State Board, to issue
16a high school diploma; or a school district organized under
17Article 34 of this Code.
18 "High school diploma program for adult learners" means a
19program approved to operate under this Section that provides a
20program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the
21issuance of a high school diploma.
22 "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
23 "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of

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1Education.
2 (b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high
3school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by
4the State Superintendent prior to implementation. An eligible
5applicant shall include, without limitation, all of the
6following in the application for approval under subsection (c)
7of this Section:
8 (1) Evidence of an administrative structure, program
9 activities, program staff, a budget, and a specific
10 curriculum that is consistent with Illinois Learning
11 Standards but may be different from a regular school
12 program in terms of location, length of school day, program
13 sequence, multidisciplinary courses, pace, instructional
14 activities, or any combination of these.
15 (2) Evidence or documentation that the program will
16 issue a high school diploma only if an adult learner meets
17 all minimum requirements under this Code and its
18 implementing rules for receipt of a high school diploma.
19 (3) A description of specific academic, behavioral,
20 and emotional support services to be offered to adult
21 learners enrolled in the program.
22 (4) Evidence that the program will offer career
23 education courses that lead to industry certifications in
24 high growth and in-demand industry sectors or dual college
25 credits from an accredited post-secondary educational
26 entity or community college. The program may include

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1 partnering with a public community college district to
2 provide career and occupational education courses that
3 lead to industry certifications.
4 (5) A description of specific program outcomes and
5 goals and metrics to be used by the program to determine
6 success.
7 (6) An assurance that all instructional staff hold an
8 educator license valid for the high school grades issued
9 under Article 21B of this Code.
10 (7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the State
11 Board.
12 (c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high
13school diploma program for adult learners to the State
14Superintendent on forms prescribed by the State
15Superintendent.
16 (1) Initial approval shall be for a period not to
17 exceed 2 school years.
18 (2) Renewal of approval shall be for a period not to
19 exceed 4 school years and shall be contingent upon at least
20 specific documented outcomes of student progression,
21 graduation rates, and earning of industry-recognized
22 credentials.
23 (3) Program approval may be given only if the State
24 Superintendent determines that the eligible applicant has
25 met the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section and
26 any rules adopted by the State Board.

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1 (4) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the
2 contrary, a non-profit eligible applicant shall provide
3 the following to the State Superintendent:
4 (A) documentation that the non-profit entity will
5 fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) of this
6 Section;
7 (B) evidence that the non-profit entity has the
8 capacity to fulfill the requirements of this Section;
9 (C) a description of the coordination and
10 oversight that the eligible entity will provide in the
11 administration of the program by the non-profit
12 entity;
13 (D) evidence that the non-profit entity has a
14 history of providing services to adults 18 years of age
15 or older whose educational and training opportunities
16 have been limited by educational disadvantages,
17 disabilities, and challenges.
18 Funding for the purposes of this paragraph (4) is
19 subject to appropriation, private funding, or other
20 funding sources the non-profit entity secures.
21 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.
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