HB2527 EnrolledLRB100 10670 MLM 20894 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 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. Alternate route to high school diploma for
8adult learners.
9    (a) The purpose of this amendatory Act of the 100th General
10Assembly is to provide eligible applicants that have been or
11are unable to establish agreements with a secondary or unit
12school district in the area in which the applicant is located
13with a process for attaining the authority to award high school
14diplomas to adult learners.
15    (a-5) In this Section:
16    "Adult learner" means a person ineligible for reenrollment
17under subsection (b) of Section 26-2 of this Code and 34 CFR
18300.102.
19    "Board" means the Illinois Community College Board.
20    "Eligible applicant" means a community college established
21and operating under the authority of the Public Community
22College Act; a non-profit entity in partnership with a regional
23superintendent of schools; the chief administrator of an

 

 

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1intermediate service center that has the authority, under rules
2adopted by the State Board of Education, to issue a high school
3diploma; or a school district organized under Article 34 of
4this Code. In order to be an eligible applicant, an entity
5under this definition, other than a school district organized
6under Article 34 of this Code, must provide evidence or other
7documentation that it is or has been unable to establish an
8agreement with a secondary or unit school district in which the
9eligible applicant is located to provide a program in which
10students who successfully complete the program can receive a
11high school diploma from their school district of residence.
12    "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the
13Illinois Community College Board.
14    "High school diploma program for adult learners" means a
15program approved to operate under this Section that provides a
16program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the
17issuance of a high school diploma.
18    (b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high
19school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by
20the Board prior to implementation. A non-profit eligible
21applicant shall operate this program only within the
22jurisdictional authority of the regional superintendent of
23schools, the chief administrator of an intermediate service
24center, or a school district organized Article 34 of this Code
25with whom the non-profit eligible applicant has entered into a
26partnership. An approved program shall include, without

 

 

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1limitation, all of the following:
2        (1) An administrative structure, program activities,
3    program staff, a budget, and a specific curriculum that is
4    consistent with Illinois Learning Standards, as well as
5    Illinois content standards for adults, but may be different
6    from a regular school program in terms of location, length
7    of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary
8    courses, pace, instructional activities, or any
9    combination of these.
10        (2) Issuance of a high school diploma only if an adult
11    learner meets all minimum requirements under this Code and
12    its implementing rules for receipt of a high school
13    diploma.
14        (3) Specific academic, behavioral, and emotional
15    support services to be offered to adult learners enrolled
16    in the program.
17        (4) Career and technical education courses that lead to
18    industry certifications in high growth and in-demand
19    industry sectors or dual credit courses from a regionally
20    accredited post-secondary educational institution
21    consistent with the Dual Credit Quality Act. The program
22    may include partnering with a community college district to
23    provide career and technical education courses that lead to
24    industry certifications.
25        (5) Specific program outcomes and goals and metrics to
26    be used by the program to determine success.

 

 

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1        (6) The requirement that all instructional staff must
2    hold an educator license valid for the high school grades
3    issued under Article 21B of this Code.
4        (7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the
5    Board.
6    (c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high
7school diploma program for adult learners to the Board on forms
8prescribed by the Board.
9        (1) Initial approval shall be for a period not to
10    exceed 2 school years.
11        (2) Renewal of approval shall be for a period not to
12    exceed 4 school years and shall be contingent upon at least
13    specific documented outcomes of student progression,
14    graduation rates, and earning of industry-recognized
15    credentials.
16        (3) Program approval may be given only if the Executive
17    Director determines that the eligible applicant has
18    provided assurance through evidence of other documentation
19    that it will meet the requirements of subsection (b) of
20    this Section and any rules adopted by the Board. The Board
21    shall make public any evaluation criteria it uses in making
22    a determination of program approval or denial.
23        (4) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the
24    contrary, a non-profit eligible applicant shall provide
25    the following to the Board:
26            (A) documentation that the non-profit entity will

 

 

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1        fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) of this
2        Section;
3            (B) evidence that the non-profit entity has the
4        capacity to fulfill the requirements of this Section;
5            (C) a description of the coordination and
6        oversight that the eligible entity will provide in the
7        administration of the program by the non-profit
8        entity;
9            (D) evidence that the non-profit entity has a
10        history of providing services to adults 18 years of age
11        or older whose educational and training opportunities
12        have been limited by educational disadvantages,
13        disabilities, and challenges.
14        (5) If an eligible applicant that has been approved
15    fails to meet any of the requirements of subsection (b) of
16    this Section and any rules adopted by the Board, the
17    Executive Director shall immediately initiate a process to
18    revoke the eligible applicant's approval to provide the
19    program, pursuant to rules adopted by the Board.
20    (d) The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement
21this Section.
 
22    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
23becoming law.