Bill Text: IL SB1624 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Reinserts the contents of the bill, but changes references from vocational education to career and technical education.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2021-08-17 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 102-0404 [SB1624 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SB1624-Enrolled.html



SB1624 EnrolledLRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
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 University of Illinois Act is amended by
5changing Section 8 as follows:
6 (110 ILCS 305/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
7 Sec. 8. Admissions.
8 (a) (Blank).
9 (b) No In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new
10student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
11any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
12such student also has satisfactorily completed:
13 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
14 the following 5 categories:
15 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
16 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
17 years may be collegiate level instruction;
18 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
19 and government);
20 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
21 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
22 fundamentals of computer programming);
23 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or

SB1624 Enrolled- 2 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 agricultural sciences); and
2 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
3 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
4 Language), music, career and technical education
5 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;
6 (2) except that institutions may admit individual
7 applicants if the institution determines through
8 assessment or through evaluation based on learning
9 outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
10 technical education vocational education courses and
11 courses taken in a charter school established under
12 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
13 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
14 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
15 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
16 Trustees of the University of Illinois shall not
17 discriminate in the University's admissions process
18 against an applicant for admission because of the
19 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
20 under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may
21 also admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity
22 to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
23 high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
24 who are admitted to the formal organized special
25 assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such
26 students, providing that in either case, the institution

SB1624 Enrolled- 3 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
2 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
3 course deficiencies; and
4 (3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
5 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
6 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
7 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
8 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
9 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
10 (c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
11recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
12coursework required by subsection (b).
13 (d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
14scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
15SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
16test as a prerequisite to admission.
17 (e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions
18process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted
19to submit an application for admission to the University as a
20freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the
21veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The
22University may request that the Department of Veterans'
23Affairs confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably
24discharged veteran who was on active duty during the fall
25semester.
26(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)

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1 Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management
2Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
3 (110 ILCS 520/8e) (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
4 Sec. 8e. Admissions.
5 (a) No Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall
6then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the
7departments or colleges of the University unless such student
8also has satisfactorily completed:
9 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
10 the following 5 categories:
11 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
12 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
13 years may be collegiate level instruction;
14 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
15 and government);
16 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
17 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
18 fundamentals of computer programming);
19 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
20 agricultural sciences); and
21 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
22 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
23 Language), music, career and technical education
24 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;

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1 (2) except that institutions may admit individual
2 applicants if the institution determines through
3 assessment or through evaluation based on learning
4 outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
5 technical education vocational education courses and
6 courses taken in a charter school established under
7 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
8 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
9 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
10 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
11 Trustees of Southern Illinois University shall not
12 discriminate in the University's admissions process
13 against an applicant for admission because of the
14 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
15 under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may
16 also admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity
17 to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
18 high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
19 who are admitted to the formal organized special
20 assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such
21 students, providing that in either case, the institution
22 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
23 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
24 course deficiencies; and
25 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
26 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be

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1 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
2 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
3 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
4 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
5 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
6recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
7coursework required by subsection (a).
8 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
9scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
10SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
11test as a prerequisite to admission.
12 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
13which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
14application for admission to the University as a freshman
15student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
16active duty during the fall semester. The University may
17request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
18status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
19was on active duty during the fall semester.
20(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
21 Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
22changing Section 5-85 as follows:
23 (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
24 Sec. 5-85. Admissions.

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1 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
2of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University
3unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
4 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
5 the following 5 categories:
6 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
7 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
8 years may be collegiate level instruction;
9 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
10 and government);
11 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
12 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
13 fundamentals of computer programming);
14 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
15 agricultural sciences); and
16 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
17 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
18 Language), music, career and technical education
19 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;
20 (2) except that Chicago State University may admit
21 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
22 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
23 coursework taken, including career and technical education
24 vocational education courses and courses taken in a
25 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
26 Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills

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1 substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
2 expected to be acquired in the high school courses
3 required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Chicago
4 State University shall not discriminate in the
5 University's admissions process against an applicant for
6 admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
7 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
8 Code. Chicago State University may also admit (i)
9 applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
10 minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
11 (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
12 admitted to the formal organized special assistance
13 programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
14 providing that in either case, the institution
15 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
16 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
17 course deficiencies; and
18 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
19 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
20 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
21 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
22 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
23 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
24 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
25recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
26coursework required by subsection (a).

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1 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
2scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
3SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
4test as a prerequisite to admission.
5 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
6which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
7application for admission to the University as a freshman
8student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
9active duty during the fall semester. The University may
10request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
11status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
12was on active duty during the fall semester.
13(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
14 Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
15by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
16 (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
17 Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
18 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
19of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
20University unless such student also has satisfactorily
21completed:
22 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
23 the following 5 categories:
24 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and

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1 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
2 years may be collegiate level instruction;
3 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
4 and government);
5 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
6 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
7 fundamentals of computer programming);
8 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
9 agricultural sciences); and
10 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
11 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
12 Language), music, career and technical education
13 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;
14 (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
15 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
16 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
17 coursework taken, including career and technical education
18 vocational education courses and courses taken in a
19 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
20 Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
21 substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
22 expected to be acquired in the high school courses
23 required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Eastern
24 Illinois University shall not discriminate in the
25 University's admissions process against an applicant for
26 admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a

SB1624 Enrolled- 11 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
2 Code. Eastern Illinois University may also admit (i)
3 applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
4 minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
5 (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
6 admitted to the formal organized special assistance
7 programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
8 providing that in either case, the institution
9 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
10 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
11 course deficiencies; and
12 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
13 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
14 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
15 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
16 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
17 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
18 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
19recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
20coursework required by subsection (a).
21 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
22scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
23SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
24test as a prerequisite to admission.
25 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
26which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an

SB1624 Enrolled- 12 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1application for admission to the University as a freshman
2student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
3active duty during the fall semester. The University may
4request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
5status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
6was on active duty during the fall semester.
7(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
8 Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended
9by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
10 (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
11 Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
12 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
13of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
14University unless such student also has satisfactorily
15completed:
16 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
17 the following 5 categories:
18 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
19 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
20 years may be collegiate level instruction;
21 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
22 and government);
23 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
24 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or

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1 fundamentals of computer programming);
2 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
3 agricultural sciences); and
4 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
5 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
6 Language), music, career and technical education
7 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;
8 (2) except that Governors State University may admit
9 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
10 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
11 coursework taken, including career and technical education
12 vocational education courses and courses taken in a
13 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
14 Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
15 substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
16 expected to be acquired in the high school courses
17 required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Governors
18 State University shall not discriminate in the
19 University's admissions process against an applicant for
20 admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
21 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
22 Code. Governors State University may also admit (i)
23 applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
24 minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
25 (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
26 admitted to the formal organized special assistance

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1 programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
2 providing that in either case, the institution
3 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
4 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
5 course deficiencies; and
6 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
7 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
8 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
9 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
10 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
11 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
12 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
13recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
14coursework required by subsection (a).
15 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
16scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
17SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
18test as a prerequisite to admission.
19 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
20which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
21application for admission to the University as a freshman
22student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
23active duty during the fall semester. The University may
24request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
25status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
26was on active duty during the fall semester.

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1(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
2 Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended
3by changing Section 20-85 as follows:
4 (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
5 Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
6 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
7of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State
8University unless such student also has satisfactorily
9completed:
10 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
11 the following 5 categories:
12 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
13 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
14 years may be collegiate level instruction;
15 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
16 and government);
17 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
18 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
19 fundamentals of computer programming);
20 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
21 agricultural sciences); and
22 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
23 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
24 Language), music, career and technical education

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1 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;
2 (2) except that Illinois State University may admit
3 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
4 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
5 coursework taken, including career and technical education
6 vocational education courses and courses taken in a
7 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
8 Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
9 substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
10 expected to be acquired in the high school courses
11 required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Illinois
12 State University shall not discriminate in the
13 University's admissions process against an applicant for
14 admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
15 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
16 Code. Illinois State University may also admit (i)
17 applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
18 minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
19 (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
20 admitted to the formal organized special assistance
21 programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
22 providing that in either case, the institution
23 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
24 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
25 course deficiencies; and
26 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework

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1 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
2 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
3 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
4 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
6 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
7recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
8coursework required by subsection (a).
9 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
10scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
11SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
12test as a prerequisite to admission.
13 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
14which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
15application for admission to the University as a freshman
16student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
17active duty during the fall semester. The University may
18request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
19status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
20was on active duty during the fall semester.
21(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
22 Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
23amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
24 (110 ILCS 680/25-85)

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1 Sec. 25-85. Admissions.
2 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
3of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
4University unless such student also has satisfactorily
5completed:
6 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
7 the following 5 categories:
8 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
9 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
10 years may be collegiate level instruction;
11 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
12 and government);
13 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
14 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
15 fundamentals of computer programming);
16 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
17 agricultural sciences); and
18 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
19 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
20 Language), music, career and technical education
21 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;
22 (2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may
23 admit individual applicants if it determines through
24 assessment or through evaluation based on learning
25 outcomes of the coursework taken, including career and
26 technical education vocational education courses and

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1 courses taken in a charter school established under
2 Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
3 demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
4 to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
5 high school courses required for admission. The Board of
6 Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University shall not
7 discriminate in the University's admissions process
8 against an applicant for admission because of the
9 applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
10 under Article 27A of the School Code. Northeastern
11 Illinois University may also admit (i) applicants who did
12 not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college
13 preparatory curriculum in high school, and (ii)
14 educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to
15 the formal organized special assistance programs that are
16 tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in
17 either case, the institution incorporates in the
18 applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other
19 academic activities that compensate for course
20 deficiencies; and
21 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
22 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
23 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
24 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
25 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
26 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

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1 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
2recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
3coursework required by subsection (a).
4 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
5scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
6SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
7test as a prerequisite to admission.
8 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
9which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
10application for admission to the University as a freshman
11student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
12active duty during the fall semester. The University may
13request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
14status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
15was on active duty during the fall semester.
16(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
17 Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is
18amended by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
19 (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
20 Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
21 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
22of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
23University unless such student also has satisfactorily
24completed:

SB1624 Enrolled- 21 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
2 the following 5 categories:
3 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
4 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
5 years may be collegiate level instruction;
6 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
7 and government);
8 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
9 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
10 fundamentals of computer programming);
11 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
12 agricultural sciences); and
13 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
14 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
15 Language), music, career and technical education
16 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;
17 (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
18 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
19 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
20 coursework taken, including career and technical education
21 vocational education courses and courses taken in a
22 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
23 Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
24 substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
25 expected to be acquired in the high school courses
26 required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Northern

SB1624 Enrolled- 22 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 Illinois University shall not discriminate in the
2 University's admissions process against an applicant for
3 admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
4 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
5 Code. Northern Illinois University may also admit (i)
6 applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the
7 minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
8 (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
9 admitted to the formal organized special assistance
10 programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
11 providing that in either case, the institution
12 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
13 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
14 course deficiencies; and
15 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
16 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
17 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
18 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
19 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
20 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
21 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
22recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
23coursework required by subsection (a).
24 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
25scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
26SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency

SB1624 Enrolled- 23 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1test as a prerequisite to admission.
2 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
3which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
4application for admission to the University as a freshman
5student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
6active duty during the fall semester. The University may
7request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
8status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
9was on active duty during the fall semester.
10(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
11 Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
12by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
13 (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
14 Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
15 (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
16of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
17University unless such student also has satisfactorily
18completed:
19 (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
20 the following 5 categories:
21 (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
22 oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
23 years may be collegiate level instruction;
24 (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history

SB1624 Enrolled- 24 -LRB102 10391 CMG 15718 b
1 and government);
2 (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
3 advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
4 fundamentals of computer programming);
5 (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
6 agricultural sciences); and
7 (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language
8 (which may be deemed to include American Sign
9 Language), music, career and technical education
10 vocational education , agricultural education, or art;
11 (2) except that Western Illinois University may admit
12 individual applicants if it determines through assessment
13 or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
14 coursework taken, including career and technical education
15 vocational education courses and courses taken in a
16 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
17 Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
18 substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills
19 expected to be acquired in the high school courses
20 required for admission. The Board of Trustees of Western
21 Illinois University shall not discriminate in the
22 University's admissions process against an applicant for
23 admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a
24 charter school established under Article 27A of the School
25 Code. Western Illinois University may also admit (i)
26 applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the

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1 minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and
2 (ii) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are
3 admitted to the formal organized special assistance
4 programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
5 providing that in either case, the institution
6 incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
7 courses or other academic activities that compensate for
8 course deficiencies; and
9 (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
10 required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
11 distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
12 the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
13 and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
14 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
15 (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
16recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
17coursework required by subsection (a).
18 (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
19scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or
20SAT shall not be required to take a high school equivalency
21test as a prerequisite to admission.
22 (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
23which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
24application for admission to the University as a freshman
25student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
26active duty during the fall semester. The University may

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1request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
2status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
3was on active duty during the fall semester.
4(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
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