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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 "Board" means the Illinois Community College Board. 
13 "Eligible applicant" means a non-profit entity in 
14partnership with a regional superintendent of schools; the 
15chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has 
16the authority, under rules adopted by the State Board of 
17Education, to issue a high school diploma; or a school district 
18organized under Article 34 of this Code.
19 "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the 
20Illinois Community College Board. 
21 "High school diploma program for adult learners" means a 
22program approved to operate under this Section that provides a 
23program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the 
 
 
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1issuance of a high school diploma.
2 (b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high 
3school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by 
4the Board prior to implementation. An eligible applicant shall 
5include, without limitation, all of the following in the 
6application for approval under subsection (c) of this Section:
7  (1) Evidence of an administrative structure, program 
8 activities, program staff, a budget, and a specific 
9 curriculum that is consistent with Illinois Learning 
10 Standards, as well as Illinois content standards for 
11 adults, but may be different from a regular school program 
12 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 and 
23 technical education courses that lead to industry 
24 certifications in high growth and in-demand industry 
25 sectors or dual credit courses from a regionally accredited 
26 post-secondary educational institution consistent with the 
 
 
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1 Dual Credit Quality Act. The program may include partnering 
2 with a community college district to provide career and 
3 technical education courses that lead to industry 
4 certifications.
5  (5) A description of specific program outcomes and 
6 goals and metrics to be used by the program to determine 
7 success.
8  (6) An assurance that all instructional staff hold an 
9 educator license valid for the high school grades issued 
10 under Article 21B of this Code.
11  (7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the 
12 Board.
13 (c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high 
14school diploma program for adult learners to the Board on forms 
15prescribed by the Board.
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 Executive 
24 Director determines that the eligible applicant has met the 
25 requirements of subsection (b) of this Section and any 
26 rules adopted by the 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 Board:
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) may 
19 include federal pass-through revenues, private funding, or 
20 other funding sources the non-profit entity secures.
21 (d) The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement 
22this Section. 


23 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
24becoming law.