100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB3417

 

Introduced 2/16/2018, by Sen. Jason A. Barickman

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g  from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g

    Creates the Education Empowerment Act, the purpose of which is to grant school districts greater autonomy to implement practices that improve student academic performance and benefit the whole child by removing obstacles that currently exist in law or rules. Provides that school districts seeking to establish an empowerment area and be designated as such by the State Superintendent of Education must create an empowerment committee to develop a plan; sets forth provisions concerning the committee and plan. Contains provisions concerning statutory and regulatory mandates; plan submission and designation; financial support for planning; empowerment area review, renewal, and revocation; reporting; and rulemaking. 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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Education Empowerment Act.
 
6    Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to grant
7school districts greater autonomy to implement practices that
8improve student academic performance and benefit the whole
9child by removing obstacles that currently exist in law or
10rules.
 
11    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
12    "Empowerment area" means a school district or the specific
13schools within a school district that will be subject to a plan
14developed by an empowerment committee in accordance with this
15Act.
16    "Empowerment committee" means a committee of
17representatives of the school district convened and operating
18in accordance with Section 15 of this Act.
19    "High-achieving district" means a school district that is
20closing achievement gaps and has demonstrated significant
21student growth through parameters established by the State
22Board of Education or a school district whose schools have been

 

 

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1designated as Tier 1: Exemplary Schools through the federal
2Every Student Succeeds Act.
3    "School district" means a public school district in this
4State, excluding vocational schools and special education
5cooperatives.
6    "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of
7Education.
 
8    Section 15. Empowerment committee.
9    (a) School districts seeking to establish an empowerment
10area and be designated as such must create an empowerment
11committee that shall operate pursuant to the provisions of this
12Act. The empowerment committee shall consist of all of the
13following individuals:
14        (1) The school district superintendent or his or her
15    designee.
16        (2) The president of the school district's school board
17    or his or her designee.
18        (3) One principal of a building in the school district,
19    appointed by the school district superintendent.
20        (4) Two teachers employed by the school district,
21    appointed by the exclusive bargaining representative of
22    the school district's teachers. If no exclusive bargaining
23    representative exists, then the school district
24    superintendent shall appoint the 2 teacher
25    representatives.

 

 

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1        (5) One employee of the school district defined as
2    school personnel under subsection (b) of Section 27-23.7 of
3    the School Code, other than the school district
4    superintendent, a principal, or a teacher, appointed by the
5    exclusive bargaining representative of the school
6    personnel. If no exclusive bargaining representative
7    exists, then the school district superintendent shall
8    appoint the school personnel representative.
9        (6) Two individuals not employed by the school district
10    who reside in the geographic boundaries of the school
11    district, appointed by the school district superintendent.
12        (7) Two parents of students enrolled in the school
13    district, appointed by the school district's parent
14    organization or organizations. If no parent organization
15    exists, then the parent representatives shall be appointed
16    by the school district superintendent.
17        (8) One student who is enrolled in the school district,
18    appointed by the school district superintendent.
19        (9) The regional superintendent of schools who holds
20    supervision and control over the school district or his or
21    her designee.
22    (b) The empowerment committee shall develop a public
23participation process for requesting and reviewing proposals
24from members of the broader school community in the school
25district.
26    (c) The empowerment committee may create subcommittees,

 

 

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1which may include non-committee members with specific
2expertise, to work on developing portions of the plan under
3Section 20 of this Act.
 
4    Section 20. Empowerment area plan proposal.
5    (a) The empowerment committee established under Section 15
6of this Act shall develop a plan, which shall outline the
7school district's proposal for using new or creative
8alternatives to existing instructional and administrative laws
9and rules that will improve academic performance and learning
10outcomes for students. The plan may identify mandates in
11Chapter 105 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes and applicable
12implementing rules that the empowerment committee considers to
13be obstacles to achieving or maintaining high student
14performance and request to be exempted from those mandates. The
15plan shall be developed with significant input from the broader
16school district community.
17    (b) The plan shall contain elements prescribed in the
18following:
19        (1) The goals or performance outcomes the school
20    district expects to achieve as a result of being designated
21    an empowerment area. The goals shall be ambitious, but
22    achievable, and shall improve performance at or above that
23    expected by State and federal accountability systems. The
24    goals shall be measurable, shall provide a basis for
25    renewing or modifying the plan at the end of the period of

 

 

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1    authorization, and shall address one or more of the
2    following areas:
3            (A) All students in kindergarten are assessed for
4        readiness.
5            (B) Ninety percent or more of third-grade students
6        are reading at or above grade level.
7            (C) Ninety percent or more of fifth-grade students
8        meet or exceed expectations in mathematics.
9            (D) Ninety percent or more of ninth-grade students
10        are on track to graduate with their cohort.
11            (E) Ninety percent or more students graduate from
12        high school ready for college and a career.
13            (F) All students are supported by highly prepared
14        and effective teachers and school leaders.
15            (G) Every school offers a safe and healthy learning
16        environment for all students.
17        (2) A description of the unique operational policies
18    and procedures that will be implemented in the empowerment
19    area and how such policies and procedures will support the
20    annual goals identified in the plan.
21        (3) Specific requests for flexibility regarding
22    specific statutory or regulatory mandates. Such requests
23    shall describe in detail the types of flexibility that will
24    be utilized and why such flexibility is necessary to
25    achieving the goals of the plan.
26        (4) Documentation of the collaborative process in

 

 

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1    which the plan was developed.
2        (5) A budget plan that describes how funds will be used
3    differently in the empowerment area.
4        (6) A statement of commitment from the president of the
5    exclusive bargaining representative of the school
6    district's teachers or a description of a good faith effort
7    to obtain the statement if the school district has an
8    exclusive bargaining representative of teachers.
9        (7) Any other information within the scope of the
10    plan's proposal requested by the regional superintendent
11    of schools or the State Superintendent.
12    (c) A school district may seek autonomy through the plan in
13any of the following areas, but need not be limited to the
14following:
15        (1) Flexibility to demonstrate measurable improvement
16    among subgroups of students, including low-income
17    students, English learners, or students receiving special
18    education services.
19        (2) Flexibility to demonstrate reduction of
20    achievement gaps among different groups of students.
21        (3) Flexibility to meet the graduation requirements
22    set by this State, with an emphasis on using
23    competency-based, performance-based assessments at the
24    local level.
25        (4) Flexibility to structure professional development
26    activities according to the needs of the students, staff,

 

 

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1    and faculty of the school district. This may include any of
2    the following:
3            (A) Modifying or transforming the structure or
4        content of professional development activities to meet
5        the specific needs of the school district's student
6        population, regardless of the school district's
7        professional development activities.
8            (B) Restructuring the daily schedule in order to
9        fully integrate professional development into the
10        daily collaboration of teachers within the school
11        district.
12            (C) Ongoing and high-quality professional
13        development opportunities designed to achieve the
14        goals identified in the plan for all staff members.
15        (5) Flexibility to manage staff members as needed in
16    order to create a healthy school community. This may
17    include, but need not be limited to, any of the following:
18            (A) Establishing staffing patterns and creating
19        job descriptions that best meet the academic, social,
20        and emotional needs of students, with approved
21        exemptions from Article 21B of the School Code.
22            (B) Hiring staff that best fit the needs of the
23        school district.
24            (C) Providing services, including services for
25        gifted and talented students, services for English
26        learners, educational services for students at risk of

 

 

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1        academic failure, expulsion, or dropping out, and
2        support services provided by the Department of Human
3        Services or county social services agencies.
4            (D) Faculty recruitment, preparation and
5        professional development, and compensation, which may
6        include the ability to conduct independent recruitment
7        and hiring processes, the design of professional
8        development, the use of peer-based evaluations, or the
9        implementation of a site-based pay incentive program.
10            (E) Preparation and counseling of students for the
11        transition to higher education or the workforce.
12            (F) Accountability measures, including expanding
13        the use of a variety of accountability measures, such
14        as graduation or exit examinations, student portfolio
15        reviews, competency-based pathways, or student and
16        parent accountability contracts.
17        (6) Flexibility to set longer school days and calendar
18    years for both students and faculty and scheduling that
19    allows for faculty planning time during the summer and
20    school year that may contribute to a more unified school
21    community. This may include increasing planning and
22    professional development time for faculty.
 
23    Section 25. Statutory and regulatory mandates. School
24districts shall not be relieved from any of the following
25statutory or regulatory mandates:

 

 

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1        (1) The Illinois Learning Standards established by the
2    State Board of Education.
3        (2) Accountability measures pursuant to Section
4    2-3.25a of the School Code.
5        (3) Student achievement on the annual State
6    assessments as required by Section 2-3.64a-5 of the School
7    Code.
8        (4) Provisions of the federal Every Student Succeeds
9    Act.
10        (5) Mandates required to maintain federal grant
11    awards.
12        (6) Provisions outside of Chapter 105 of the Illinois
13    Compiled Statutes or their implementing rules.
14        (7) Non-curricular health and safety requirements.
15        (8) Mandates related to civil rights and student access
16    to district educational and non-educational programs.
17        (9) Mandates contained in Article 24 or 24A of the
18    School Code or their implementing rules.
 
19    Section 30. Plan submission and designation.
20    (a) A school district seeking designation as an empowerment
21area must develop a plan in accordance with this Act.
22    (b) A school board shall post the plan approved by the
23empowerment committee and eligible employees on the school
24district's public Internet website for 30 days prior to a final
25vote on the plan. A majority vote of the school board is

 

 

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1required at a regularly scheduled school board meeting to
2approve the plan.
3    (c) Once a school board has approved a plan, the plan shall
4be submitted for review to the regional superintendent of
5schools that holds supervision and control over the district.
6Any plan for a school district organized under Article 34 of
7the School Code shall be submitted directly to the State
8Superintendent.
9    (d) The regional superintendent of schools shall certify
10that, at a minimum, the following provisions have been
11addressed:
12        (1) the overall vision for the school district,
13    including improving school performance and student
14    achievement related to the measurable goals prescribed in
15    Section 20 of this Act;
16        (2) the specific needs or challenges the plan will be
17    designed to address;
18        (3) the number of students the plan is anticipated to
19    serve and the number of staff expected to be employed
20    within the empowerment area;
21        (4) an assessment of the autonomy and flexibility that
22    the school district is seeking;
23        (5) why the flexibility is desirable to carry out the
24    objectives of the school district;
25        (6) a description of the process that was used to
26    involve appropriate stakeholders in the development of the

 

 

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1    plan; and
2        (7) a proposed timetable for development and
3    establishment of the empowerment area.
4    (e) The regional superintendent of schools shall certify
5that a school district's plan contains the specifications and
6satisfies the requirements of this Act and, if so, shall submit
7the plan to the State Superintendent within 30 calendar days
8after receipt of the plan.
9    (f) The State Superintendent may approve or deny a school
10district's plan within 45 days after receipt. If the State
11Superintendent fails to act within 45 days, the plan shall be
12deemed approved by the State Superintendent. The State
13Superintendent shall notify the school district of his or her
14decision to deny the school district's plan and the reason for
15denial within 15 days after the decision. The school district
16may amend, through its empowerment committee, and resubmit a
17plan under this Section.
18    (g) Empowerment areas are exempt from the School Code
19waiver process under Section 2-3.25g of the School Code and
20applicable rules. This exemption applies only to those items
21approved in the plan.
22    (h) A school district designated as an empowerment area
23shall have its plan approved for a 2-year period, renewable for
24subsequent 2-year periods, as determined by the State
25Superintendent and based on reviews conducted by the applicable
26regional superintendent of schools, in accordance with Section

 

 

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140 of this Act. A school district designated as a
2high-achieving district and awarded a designation as an
3empowerment area shall have its plan approved for a 4-year
4period, renewable for subsequent 4-year periods.
 
5    Section 35. Financial support for planning. Each school
6district and school board is authorized and encouraged to seek
7and accept public and private gifts, grants, and donations to
8offset the costs of developing and implementing plans and
9creating empowerment areas.
 
10    Section 40. Empowerment area review, renewal, and
11revocation.
12    (a) Regional superintendents of schools that hold
13supervision and control over one or more empowerment areas
14shall evaluate empowerment areas every 2 years or, in the case
15of a high-achieving district, every 4 years. The evaluation is
16to determine progress on goals articulated in the school
17district's plan and to assess implementation. The regional
18superintendent of schools shall transmit the evaluation to the
19empowerment area and the State Superintendent.
20    The review shall assess progress on specific goals related
21to the following:
22        (1) All students in kindergarten are assessed for
23    readiness.
24        (2) Ninety percent or more third-grade students are

 

 

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1    reading at or above grade level.
2        (3) Ninety percent or more fifth-grade students meet or
3    exceed expectations in mathematics.
4        (4) Ninety percent or more of ninth-grade students are
5    on track to graduate with their cohort.
6        (5) Ninety percent or more students graduate from high
7    school ready for college and a career.
8        (6) All students are supported by highly prepared and
9    effective teachers and school leaders.
10        (7) Every school offers a safe and healthy learning
11    environment for all students.
12    Reviews may include feedback collected from focus groups of
13staff, students, and families, as well as community partners,
14and a review of student work and exhibitions.
15    (b) Empowerment areas may seek renewal at the end of the
16initial 2-year approval period or 4-year approval period in the
17case of high-achieving districts. A request for renewal shall
18be made to the regional superintendent of schools who holds
19supervision and control over the empowerment area at the time
20of the 2-year or 4-year review. The regional superintendent of
21schools shall include the renewal request in the evaluation
22transmitted to the empowerment area and the State
23Superintendent.
24    The State Superintendent may grant renewal of an
25empowerment area designation if sufficient progress has been
26made in achieving the goals as prescribed in the plan.

 

 

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1    An empowerment area may submit amendments or revisions to
2an existing plan considered for renewal to the regional
3superintendent of schools for certification and transmittal to
4the State Superintendent for approval. If the proposed changes
5make substantive changes to the plan, the initial approval
6process outlined in Section 20 of this Act must be followed.
7    (c) The State Superintendent may revoke the empowerment
8area designation if an empowerment area fails to substantially
9fulfill the plan, meet goals and performance targets, or comply
10with applicable laws or rules.
11    The State Superintendent shall notify an empowerment area
12of a decision to revoke the school district's empowerment area
13designation within 15 days after such decision. The State
14Superintendent shall communicate the reasons for the
15revocation to the school district. The school district may
16amend, through its empowerment committee, and resubmit the plan
17to begin the process described in Section 30 of this Act.
 
18    Section 80. Reporting. The State Board of Education shall
19submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly regarding
20the participation and outcomes of this Act on or before
21December 15, 2020 and annually on or before December 15
22thereafter. A comprehensive report that includes measurements
23of demonstrated student achievement and college and career
24readiness in empowerment areas shall be submitted to the
25Governor and General Assembly on or before December 15, 2025.

 

 

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1    Empowerment areas must provide any and all data requested
2by the State Board of Education to generate reports under this
3Section.
 
4    Section 85. Rules. The State Board of Education may adopt
5rules as necessary to implement this Act.
 
6    Section 90. The School Code is amended by changing Section
72-3.25g as follows:
 
8    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)
9    Sec. 2-3.25g. Waiver or modification of mandates within the
10School Code and administrative rules and regulations.
11    (a) In this Section:
12        "Board" means a school board or the governing board or
13    administrative district, as the case may be, for a joint
14    agreement.
15        "Eligible applicant" means a school district, joint
16    agreement made up of school districts, or regional
17    superintendent of schools on behalf of schools and programs
18    operated by the regional office of education.
19        "Implementation date" has the meaning set forth in
20    Section 24A-2.5 of this Code.
21        "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
22    (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School
23Code or any other law of this State to the contrary, eligible

 

 

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1applicants may petition the State Board of Education for the
2waiver or modification of the mandates of this School Code or
3of the administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the
4State Board of Education. Waivers or modifications of
5administrative rules and regulations and modifications of
6mandates of this School Code may be requested when an eligible
7applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the
8rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical
9manner or when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve
10student performance. Waivers of mandates of the School Code may
11be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate
12innovation or improve student performance or when the applicant
13demonstrates that it can address the intent of the mandate of
14the School Code in a more effective, efficient, or economical
15manner. Waivers may not be requested from laws, rules, and
16regulations pertaining to special education, teacher educator
17licensure, teacher tenure and seniority, or Section 5-2.1 of
18this Code or from compliance with the Every Student Succeeds
19Act (Public Law 114-95). Eligible applicants may not seek a
20waiver or seek a modification of a mandate regarding the
21requirements for (i) student performance data to be a
22significant factor in teacher or principal evaluations or (ii)
23teachers and principals to be rated using the 4 categories of
24"excellent", "proficient", "needs improvement", or
25"unsatisfactory". On September 1, 2014, any previously
26authorized waiver or modification from such requirements shall

 

 

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1terminate.
2    (c) Eligible applicants, as a matter of inherent managerial
3policy, and any Independent Authority established under
4Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code may submit an application for a
5waiver or modification authorized under this Section. Each
6application must include a written request by the eligible
7applicant or Independent Authority and must demonstrate that
8the intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more effective,
9efficient, or economical manner or be based upon a specific
10plan for improved student performance and school improvement.
11Any eligible applicant requesting a waiver or modification for
12the reason that intent of the mandate can be addressed in a
13more economical manner shall include in the application a
14fiscal analysis showing current expenditures on the mandate and
15projected savings resulting from the waiver or modification.
16Applications and plans developed by eligible applicants must be
17approved by the board or regional superintendent of schools
18applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the
19regional office of education following a public hearing on the
20application and plan and the opportunity for the board or
21regional superintendent to hear testimony from staff directly
22involved in its implementation, parents, and students. The time
23period for such testimony shall be separate from the time
24period established by the eligible applicant for public comment
25on other matters.
26    (c-5) If the applicant is a school district, then the

 

 

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1district shall post information that sets forth the time, date,
2place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its
3Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the
4district is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver
5education authorized pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code,
6the website information shall include the proposed amount of
7the fee the district will request. All school districts must
8publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to
9the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the
10school district that sets forth the time, date, place, and
11general subject matter of the hearing. Districts requesting to
12increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in
13the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the
14district will request. If the applicant is a joint agreement or
15regional superintendent, then the joint agreement or regional
16superintendent shall post information that sets forth the time,
17date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing
18on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing.
19If the joint agreement or regional superintendent is requesting
20to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized
21pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code, the website
22information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the
23applicant will request. All joint agreements and regional
24superintendents must publish a notice of the public hearing at
25least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general
26circulation in each school district that is a member of the

 

 

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1joint agreement or that is served by the educational service
2region that sets forth the time, date, place, and general
3subject matter of the hearing, provided that a notice appearing
4in a newspaper generally circulated in more than one school
5district shall be deemed to fulfill this requirement with
6respect to all of the affected districts. Joint agreements or
7regional superintendents requesting to increase the fee
8charged for driver education shall include in the published
9notice the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will
10request. The eligible applicant must notify in writing the
11affected exclusive collective bargaining agent and those State
12legislators representing the eligible applicant's territory of
13its intent to seek approval of a waiver or modification and of
14the hearing to be held to take testimony from staff. The
15affected exclusive collective bargaining agents shall be
16notified of such public hearing at least 7 days prior to the
17date of the hearing and shall be allowed to attend such public
18hearing. The eligible applicant shall attest to compliance with
19all of the notification and procedural requirements set forth
20in this Section.
21    (d) A request for a waiver or modification of
22administrative rules and regulations or for a modification of
23mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to
24the State Board of Education within 15 days after approval by
25the board or regional superintendent of schools. The
26application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall

 

 

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1include a description of the public hearing. Following receipt
2of the waiver or modification request, the State Board shall
3have 45 days to review the application and request. If the
4State Board fails to disapprove the application within that 45
5day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted.
6The State Board may disapprove any request if it is not based
7upon sound educational practices, endangers the health or
8safety of students or staff, compromises equal opportunities
9for learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the
10rule or mandate can be addressed in a more effective,
11efficient, or economical manner or have improved student
12performance as a primary goal. Any request disapproved by the
13State Board may be appealed to the General Assembly by the
14eligible applicant as outlined in this Section.
15    A request for a waiver from mandates contained in this
16School Code shall be submitted to the State Board within 15
17days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of
18schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of
19Education shall include a description of the public hearing.
20The description shall include, but need not be limited to, the
21means of notice, the number of people in attendance, the number
22of people who spoke as proponents or opponents of the waiver, a
23brief description of their comments, and whether there were any
24written statements submitted. The State Board shall review the
25applications and requests for completeness and shall compile
26the requests in reports to be filed with the General Assembly.

 

 

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1The State Board shall file reports outlining the waivers
2requested by eligible applicants and appeals by eligible
3applicants of requests disapproved by the State Board with the
4Senate and the House of Representatives before each March 1 and
5October 1.
6    The report shall be reviewed by a panel of 4 members
7consisting of:
8        (1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
9        (2) the Minority Leader of the House of
10    Representatives;
11        (3) the President of the Senate; and
12        (4) the Minority Leader of the Senate.
13The State Board of Education may provide the panel
14recommendations on waiver requests. The members of the panel
15shall review the report submitted by the State Board of
16Education and submit to the State Board of Education any notice
17of further consideration to any waiver request within 14 days
18after the member receives the report. If 3 or more of the panel
19members submit a notice of further consideration to any waiver
20request contained within the report, the State Board of
21Education shall submit the waiver request to the General
22Assembly for consideration. If less than 3 panel members submit
23a notice of further consideration to a waiver request, the
24waiver may be approved, denied, or modified by the State Board.
25If the State Board does not act on a waiver request within 10
26days, then the waiver request is approved. If the waiver

 

 

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1request is denied by the State Board, it shall submit the
2waiver request to the General Assembly for consideration.
3    The General Assembly may disapprove any waiver request
4submitted to the General Assembly pursuant to this subsection
5(d) in whole or in part within 60 calendar days after each
6house of the General Assembly next convenes after the waiver
7request is submitted by adoption of a resolution by a record
8vote of the majority of members elected in each house. If the
9General Assembly fails to disapprove any waiver request or
10appealed request within such 60 day period, the waiver or
11modification shall be deemed granted. Any resolution adopted by
12the General Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board
13in whole or in part shall be binding on the State Board.
14    (e) An approved waiver or modification may remain in effect
15for a period not to exceed 5 school years and may be renewed
16upon application by the eligible applicant. However, such
17waiver or modification may be changed within that 5-year period
18by a board or regional superintendent of schools applying on
19behalf of schools or programs operated by the regional office
20of education following the procedure as set forth in this
21Section for the initial waiver or modification request. If
22neither the State Board of Education nor the General Assembly
23disapproves, the change is deemed granted.
24    (f) (Blank).
25    (g) An empowerment area, as defined in the Education
26Empowerment Act, is exempt from the waiver process under this

 

 

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1Section to the extent provided in subsection (g) of Section 30
2of the Education Empowerment Act.
3(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
5becoming law.