Bill Text: IL HB5173 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district from withholding a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-23 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB5173 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB5173-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB5173 Introduced , by Rep. Joyce Mason SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/10-20.9a from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.9a
Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district from withholding a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account. Effective immediately.
LRB101 17255 CMG 66659 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
A BILL FOR
HB5173 LRB101 17255 CMG 66659 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
10-20.9a as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/10-20.9a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.9a)
Sec. 10-20.9a. Final grade; promotion.
(a) Teachers shall administer the approved marking system
or other approved means of evaluating pupil progress. The
teacher shall maintain the responsibility and right to
determine grades and other evaluations of students within the
grading policies of the district based upon his or her
professional judgment of available criteria pertinent to any
given subject area or activity for which he or she is
responsible. District policy shall provide the procedure and
reasons by and for which a grade may be changed; provided that
no grade or evaluation shall be changed without notification to
the teacher concerning the nature and reasons for such change.
If such a change is made, the person making the change shall
assume such responsibility for determining the grade or
evaluation, and shall initial such change.
(b) School districts shall not promote students to the next
higher grade level based upon age or any other social reasons

HB5173 - 2 - LRB101 17255 CMG 66659 b
not related to the academic performance of the students. On or
before September 1, 1998, school boards shall adopt and enforce
a policy on promotion as they deem necessary to ensure that
students meet local goals and objectives and can perform at the
expected grade level prior to promotion. Decisions to promote
or retain students in any classes shall be based on successful
completion of the curriculum, attendance, performance based on
the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code,
the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or other testing or any other
criteria established by the school board. Students determined
by the local district to not qualify for promotion to the next
higher grade shall be provided remedial assistance, which may
include, but shall not be limited to, a summer bridge program
of no less than 90 hours, tutorial sessions, increased or
concentrated instructional time, modifications to
instructional materials, and retention in grade.
(c) No school district shall withhold a student's grades,
transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the
student's school account.
(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.