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
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
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1 | AN ACT concerning education.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 3-15.12a as follows:
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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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | under subsection (b) of Section 26-2 of this Code and 34 CFR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 300.102. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | "Eligible applicant" means a non-profit entity in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | partnership with a regional superintendent of schools; the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | the authority, under rules adopted by the State Board, to issue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | a high school diploma; or a school district organized under | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | Article 34 of this Code. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | "High school diploma program for adult learners" means a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | program approved to operate under this Section that provides a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | issuance 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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1 | Education. | ||||||
2 | (b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high | ||||||
3 | school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by | ||||||
4 | the State Superintendent prior to implementation. An eligible | ||||||
5 | applicant shall include, without limitation, all of the | ||||||
6 | following in the application for approval under subsection (c) | ||||||
7 | of 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 | ||||||
13 | school diploma program for adult learners to the State | ||||||
14 | Superintendent on forms prescribed by the State | ||||||
15 | Superintendent. | ||||||
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.
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21 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
22 | becoming law.
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