Bill Text: IL SB0263 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Amends the University of Illinois Act. Lowers the age at which a student may be admitted to the University from 15 to 14 years. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2009-08-10 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 96-0203 [SB0263 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-SB0263-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
changing Section 8 as follows:
(110 ILCS 305/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
Sec. 8. Admissions.
(a) (Blank). No student shall be admitted to instruction in
any of the departments of the University who shall not have
attained to the age of fifteen (15) years, and who shall not
previously undergo a satisfactory examination in each of the
branches ordinarily taught in the common schools of the state.
(b) In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new
student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
such student also has satisfactorily completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);

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(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language,
music, vocational education or art;
(2) except that institutions may admit individual
applicants if the institution determines through
assessment or through evaluation based on learning
outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
education courses and courses taken in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall
not discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also
admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to
complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
providing that in either case, the institution

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incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
courses or other academic activities that compensate for
course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (b).
(d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take the high school level General
Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
admission.
(Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.