100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB1425

 

Introduced 2/9/2017, by Sen. Dan McConchie

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.25p new

    Amends the School Code. Provides that high achieving districts are exempt from mandates imposed under the Code and applicable implementing rules and allows districts to develop a mandate relief plan to identify mandates in the Code from which the district is requesting relief. Allows improving districts to also develop a mandate relief plan. Sets forth benchmarks necessary to be considered a high achieving district. Sets forth a process for approving and, if necessary, revoking mandate relief plans. Exempts certain mandates from being exempted. Requires the State Board of Education to submit an annual report concerning the provisions. Allows the State Board to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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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
52-3.25p as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25p new)
7    Sec. 2-3.25p. School district mandate relief.
8    (a) As used in this Section:
9    "High achieving district" means a school district that
10meets the following benchmarks, excluding vocational schools
11and special education cooperatives, as applicable to the grade
12levels served by the district:
13        (1) All students in kindergarten are assessed for
14    readiness.
15        (2) Ninety percent or more of third-grade students are
16    reading at or above grade level.
17        (3) Ninety percent or more of fifth-grade students meet
18    or exceed expectations in mathematics.
19        (4) Ninety percent or more of ninth-graders are on
20    track to graduate with their cohort.
21        (5) Ninety percent or more of students graduate from
22    high school ready for college and career.
23        (6) All students are supported by highly prepared and

 

 

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1    effective teachers and school leaders.
2        (7) Every school offers a safe and healthy learning
3    environment for all students.
4    "Improving district" means a school district, excluding
5vocational schools and special education cooperatives, that,
6with respect to benchmarks (2), (3), (4), and (5) of the
7definition of "high achieving district", is achieving
8measurable improvement toward these benchmarks as applicable
9to the grade levels served by the district.
10    "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of
11Education.
12    (b) The purpose of this Section is to grant high achieving
13and improving school districts greater autonomy to implement
14innovative practices that improve student academic performance
15and benefit the whole child by removing obstacles that
16currently exist in law or rules.
17    (c) High achieving districts are exempt from mandates
18imposed under this Code and applicable implementing rules and
19may develop a mandate relief plan to identify mandates in this
20Code from which the district is requesting relief, with the
21exception of those mandates listed in subsection (e) of this
22Section.
23    The school board of the high achieving district shall post
24the mandate relief plan on the school district's public website
25for at least 30 days prior to voting on the plan. A majority
26vote of the school board is required at a regularly scheduled

 

 

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1school board meeting to approve the plan. Once approved by the
2school board, the high achieving district shall submit the
3mandate relief plan to the State Superintendent for approval.
4    Within 45 days after receipt of a plan, the State
5Superintendent shall review the plan submitted in accordance
6with this Section and determine whether the plan complies with
7this Section. If the State Superintendent determines the plan
8complies with this Section, it shall be approved. If the State
9Superintendent determines the plan does not comply with this
10Section, the plan shall be denied. Following such a denial, a
11district may resubmit a plan in accordance with this Section.
12    A high achieving district does not need to submit a new
13mandate relief plan annually. Upon approval of a district plan,
14that district is considered a high achieving district unless
15there is a decline in the district's measured growth to below
16the benchmarks in the definition of "high achieving district"
17in subsection (a) of this Section. If there is a decline in the
18district's growth to below the benchmarks, the district's
19mandate relief plan is subject to review by the State
20Superintendent. The State Superintendent shall have the
21discretion to revoke the mandate relief plan of a district who
22shows a decline in growth to below the benchmarks.
23    (d) Improving districts may develop a mandate relief plan
24in accordance with this Section. The plan must identify
25mandates in this Code and applicable implementing rules from
26which the district is requesting relief, with the exception of

 

 

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1those mandates listed in subsection (e) of this Section.
2    The school board of the improving district shall post the
3mandate relief plan on the school district's public website for
4at least 30 days prior to voting on the plan. A majority vote
5of the school board is required at a regularly scheduled school
6board meeting to approve the plan. Once approved by the school
7board, the improving district shall submit the mandate relief
8plan to the State Superintendent for approval.
9    Within 45 days after receipt of a plan, the State
10Superintendent shall review the plan submitted in accordance
11with this Section and determine whether the plan complies with
12this Section. If the State Superintendent determines the plan
13complies with this Section, it may be approved. If the State
14Superintendent determines the plan does not comply with this
15Section, the plan may be denied. Following such a denial, a
16district may resubmit a plan in accordance with this Act.
17    An improving district does not need to submit a new mandate
18relief plan annually. Upon approval of a district's plan, that
19district is considered an improving district unless there is a
20decline in the district's measured growth with respect to the
21benchmarks in the definition of "high achieving district" in
22subsection (a) of this Section. If there is a decline in the
23district's growth, the district's mandate relief plan is
24subject to review by the State Superintendent and possible
25revocation. The State Superintendent shall have the discretion
26to revoke the mandate relief plan of a district who shows a

 

 

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1decline in growth.
2    High achieving districts and improving districts with
3approved mandate relief plans are exempt from the School Code
4waiver process pursuant to Section 2-3.25g of this Code and
5applicable rules. This exemption only applies to those items
6approved in the mandate relief plan.
7    (e) School districts shall not be relieved from any of the
8following statutory or regulatory mandates:
9        (1) The Illinois Learning Standards established by the
10    State Board of Education.
11        (2) Accountability measures pursuant to Section
12    2-3.25a of this Code.
13        (3) Student achievement on the annual State
14    assessments as required by Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code.
15        (4) Provisions of the federal Every Student Succeeds
16    Act.
17        (5) Mandates required to maintain federal grant
18    awards.
19        (6) Provisions outside of this Code or its implementing
20    rules.
21        (7) Non-curricular health and safety requirements.
22        (8) Mandates related to civil rights and student access
23    to district educational and non-educational programs.
24        (9) Mandates contained in Articles 24 or 24A of this
25    Code or their implementing rules.
26    (f) The State Board of Education shall submit a report to

 

 

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1the Governor and General Assembly regarding the participation
2and outcomes of this Act by December 15, 2018 and annually on
3or before December 15 thereafter.
4    High achieving districts and improving districts with
5approved mandate relief plans must provide any and all data
6requested by the State Board of Education to generate reports
7under this subsection (f).
8    (g) The State Board of Education may adopt rules necessary
9to implement this Section.
 
10    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
11becoming law.