95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB1787

 

Introduced 2/23/2007, by Rep. Michael K. Smith

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.51a

    Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program.


LRB095 10141 NHT 30355 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1787 LRB095 10141 NHT 30355 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
5 2-3.51a as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/2-3.51a)
7     Sec. 2-3.51a. Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant
8 Program. To improve the the reading and study skills of
9 children from seventh through twelfth grade in school
10 districts. The State Board of Education is authorized to
11 administer a Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant
12 Program. As used in this Section, "school district" includes
13 those schools designated as laboratory schools.
14     (a) Funds for the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant
15 Program shall be distributed to school districts on the
16 following basis: 70% of moneys shall be awarded on the prior
17 year's best 3 months average daily attendance and 30% shall be
18 distributed on the number of economically disadvantaged
19 (E.C.I.A. Chapter I) pupils in the district, provided that the
20 State Board may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the
21 moneys appropriated for the Continued Reading Improvement
22 Block Grant Program for the purpose of providing teacher
23 training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Program

 

 

HB1787 - 2 - LRB095 10141 NHT 30355 b

1 funds shall be distributed to school districts in 2 semi-annual
2 installments, one payment on or before October 30 and one
3 payment prior to April 30 of each year. The State Board shall
4 adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this
5 program.
6     (b) Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program
7 funds shall be used by school districts in the following manner
8 to support students in grades 7 through 12 who are reading
9 significantly below grade level:
10         (1) to continue direct reading instruction for grades 7
11     through 12, focusing on the application of reading skills
12     for understanding informational text;
13         (2) to focus on and to commit time and resources to the
14     reading of rich literature;
15         (3) to conduct intense vocabulary, spelling, and
16     related writing programs that promote better understanding
17     of language and words;
18         (4) to provide professional development based on
19     scientifically based research and best practices and
20     delivered by providers approved by the State Board of
21     Education; and
22         (5) to increase the availability of reading
23     specialists and teacher aides trained in research-based
24     reading intervention or improvement practices or both.
25     (c) Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program
26 funds shall be made available to each eligible school district

 

 

HB1787 - 3 - LRB095 10141 NHT 30355 b

1 submitting an approved application developed by the State
2 Board, beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. Applications
3 shall include a proposed assessment method or methods for
4 measuring student reading skills. Such methods may include the
5 reading portion of State tests. At the end of each school year
6 the district shall report assessment results to the State
7 Board. Districts not demonstrating performance progress using
8 an approved assessment method shall not be eligible for funding
9 in the third or subsequent years until such progress is
10 established.
11     (d) The State Superintendent of Education, in cooperation
12 with the school districts participating in the program, shall
13 annually report to the leadership of the General Assembly on
14 the results of the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant
15 Program and the progress being made on improving the reading
16 skills of students in grades 7 through 12.
17     (e) Grants under the Continued Reading Improvement Block
18 Grant Program shall be awarded provided there is an
19 appropriation for the program, and funding levels for each
20 district shall be prorated according to the amount of the
21 appropriation. Funding for the program established under
22 Section 2-3.51 of this Code shall not be reduced in order to
23 fund the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program.
24 (Source: P.A. 93-53, eff. 7-1-03.)