95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB5493

 

Introduced , by Rep. Jim Watson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the School Code to encourage school boards to implement American Sign Language (ASL) courses into school foreign language curriculum in a manner deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. In provisions concerning admissions requirements, provides that ASL constitutes a foreign language for the purposes of meeting those requirements. Requires the governing board of each public university to award academic credit for the successful completion of any ASL course offered or approved by the university, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the university. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.


LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5493 LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds and declares the
3 following:
4         (a) Illinois has over one million deaf and hard of
5     hearing residents;
6         (b) American Sign Language (ASL) is a fully-developed,
7     visual-gestural language with distinct grammar, syntax,
8     and symbols and is one of hundreds of signed languages in
9     the world; and
10         (c) The American deaf community is a group of citizens
11     who are members of a unique culture who share ASL as their
12     common language; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The General Assembly hereby also declares the
14 purpose and intent of this amendatory Act to be as follows:
15         (a) To recognize ASL as the language of the American
16     deaf community; and
17         (b) To authorize and encourage public and independent
18     schools, including post-secondary schools, to offer ASL as
19     a course of study and to accept ASL credits as
20     foreign-language credits; therefore
 
21     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
22 represented in the General Assembly:
 

 

 

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1     Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
2 10-20.46 and 34-18.37 as follows:
 
3     (105 ILCS 5/10-20.46 new)
4     Sec. 10-20.46. American Sign Language courses. School
5 boards are encouraged to implement American Sign Language
6 courses into school foreign language curriculum in a manner
7 deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education.
 
8     (105 ILCS 5/34-18.37 new)
9     Sec. 34-18.37. American Sign Language courses. The school
10 board is encouraged to implement American Sign Language courses
11 into school foreign language curriculum in a manner deemed
12 appropriate by the State Board of Education.
 
13     Section 10. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
14 changing Section 8 and by adding Section 40 as follows:
 
15     (110 ILCS 305/8)  (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
16     Sec. 8. Admissions.
17     (a) No student shall be admitted to instruction in any of
18 the departments of the University who shall not have attained
19 to the age of fifteen (15) years, and who shall not previously
20 undergo a satisfactory examination in each of the branches
21 ordinarily taught in the common schools of the state.
22     (b) In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new

 

 

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1 student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
2 any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
3 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); and
15             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
16         shall be deemed to include American Sign Language,
17         music, vocational education or art;
18         (2) except that institutions may admit individual
19     applicants if the institution determines through
20     assessment or through evaluation based on learning
21     outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
22     education courses and courses taken in a charter school
23     established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
24     applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
25     equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
26     acquired in the high school courses required for admission.

 

 

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1     The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall
2     not discriminate in the University's admissions process
3     against an applicant for admission because of the
4     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
5     under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also
6     admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to
7     complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
8     high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
9     who are 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 the 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     (c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
22 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
23 coursework required by subsection (b).
24     (d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
25 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
26 shall not be required to take the high school level General

 

 

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1 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
2 admission.
3 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
4     (110 ILCS 305/40 new)
5     Sec. 40. American Sign Language courses. The University
6 shall award academic credit for the successful completion of
7 any American Sign Language course offered or approved by the
8 University, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the
9 foreign language requirements of the University, except for
10 those requirements related to the content of a student's
11 academic major.
 
12     Section 15. The Southern Illinois University Management
13 Act is amended by changing Section 8e and by adding Section 25
14 as follows:
 
15     (110 ILCS 520/8e)  (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
16     Sec. 8e. Admissions.
17     (a) Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall
18 then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the
19 departments or colleges of the University unless such student
20 also has satisfactorily completed:
21         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
22     the following 5 categories:
23             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and

 

 

HB5493 - 6 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

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); and
9             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
10         shall be deemed to include American Sign Language,
11         music, vocational education or art;
12         (2) except that institutions may admit individual
13     applicants if the institution determines through
14     assessment or through evaluation based on learning
15     outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
16     education courses and courses taken in a charter school
17     established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
18     applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
19     equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
20     acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
21     The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University shall
22     not discriminate in the University's admissions process
23     against an applicant for admission because of the
24     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
25     under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also
26     admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to

 

 

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1     complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
2     high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
3     who are 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
16 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
17 coursework required by subsection (a).
18     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
19 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
20 shall not be required to take the high school level General
21 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
22 admission.
23 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
24     (110 ILCS 520/25 new)
25     Sec. 25. American Sign Language courses. The University

 

 

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1 shall award academic credit for the successful completion of
2 any American Sign Language course offered or approved by the
3 University, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the
4 foreign language requirements of the University, except for
5 those requirements related to the content of a student's
6 academic major.
 
7     Section 20. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
8 changing Section 5-85 and by adding Section 5-135 as follows:
 
9     (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
10     Sec. 5-85. Admission requirements.
11     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
12 of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University
13 unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
14         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
15     the following 5 categories:
16             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
17         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
18         years may be collegiate level instruction;
19             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
20         and government);
21             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
22         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
23         fundamentals of computer programming);
24             (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

 

 

HB5493 - 9 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

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

 

 

HB5493 - 10 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
2     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
3     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
4     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
5     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
6     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
7     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
8 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
9 coursework required by subsection (a).
10     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
11 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
12 shall not be required to take the high school level General
13 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
14 admission.
15 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
16     (110 ILCS 660/5-135 new)
17     Sec. 5-135. American Sign Language courses. The University
18 shall award academic credit for the successful completion of
19 any American Sign Language course offered or approved by the
20 University, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the
21 foreign language requirements of the University, except for
22 those requirements related to the content of a student's
23 academic major.
 
24     Section 25. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended

 

 

HB5493 - 11 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1 by changing Section 10-85 and by adding Section 10-135 as
2 follows:
 
3     (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
4     Sec. 10-85. Admission requirements.
5     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
6 of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
7 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
8 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); and
20             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
21         shall be deemed to include American Sign Language,
22         music, vocational education or art;
23         (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
24     individual applicants if it determines through assessment
25     or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the

 

 

HB5493 - 12 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

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

 

 

HB5493 - 13 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
2 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
3 coursework required by subsection (a).
4     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
5 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
6 shall not be required to take the high school level General
7 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
8 admission.
9 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
10     (110 ILCS 665/10-135 new)
11     Sec. 10-135. American Sign Language courses. The
12 University shall award academic credit for the successful
13 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
14 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
15 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
16 University, except for those requirements related to the
17 content of a student's academic major.
 
18     Section 30. The Governors State University Law is amended
19 by changing Section 15-85 and by adding Section 15-135 as
20 follows:
 
21     (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
22     Sec. 15-85. Admission requirements.
23     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any

 

 

HB5493 - 14 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1 of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
2 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
3 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); and
15             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
16         shall be deemed to include American Sign Language,
17         music, vocational education or art;
18         (2) except that Governors State University may admit
19     individual applicants if it determines through assessment
20     or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
21     coursework taken, including vocational education courses
22     and courses taken in a charter school established under
23     Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
24     demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
25     to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
26     high school courses required for admission. The Board of

 

 

HB5493 - 15 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1     Trustees of Governors State University shall not
2     discriminate in the University's admissions process
3     against an applicant for admission because of the
4     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
5     under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State
6     University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
7     an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
8     curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
9     disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
10     organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
11     the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
12     the institution incorporates in the applicant's
13     baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
14     activities that compensate for 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
22 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
23 coursework required by subsection (a).
24     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
25 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
26 shall not be required to take the high school level General

 

 

HB5493 - 16 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
2 admission.
3 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
4     (110 ILCS 670/15-135 new)
5     Sec. 15-135. American Sign Language courses. The
6 University shall award academic credit for the successful
7 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
8 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
9 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
10 University, except for those requirements related to the
11 content of a student's academic major.
 
12     Section 35. The Illinois State University Law is amended by
13 changing Section 20-85 and by adding Section 20-140 as follows:
 
14     (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
15     Sec. 20-85. Admission requirements.
16     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
17 of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State University
18 unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
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;

 

 

HB5493 - 17 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

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

 

 

HB5493 - 18 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1     disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
2     organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
3     the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
4     the institution incorporates in the applicant's
5     baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
6     activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
7         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
8     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
9     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
10     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
11     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
12     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
13     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
14 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
15 coursework required by subsection (a).
16     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
17 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
18 shall not be required to take the high school level General
19 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
20 admission.
21 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
22     (110 ILCS 675/20-140 new)
23     Sec. 20-140. American Sign Language courses. The
24 University shall award academic credit for the successful
25 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or

 

 

HB5493 - 19 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
2 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
3 University, except for those requirements related to the
4 content of a student's academic major.
 
5     Section 40. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
6 amended by changing Section 25-85 and by adding Section 25-135
7 as follows:
 
8     (110 ILCS 680/25-85)
9     Sec. 25-85. Admission requirements.
10     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
11 of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
12 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
13 completed:
14         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
15     the following 5 categories:
16             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
17         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
18         years may be collegiate level instruction;
19             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
20         and government);
21             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
22         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
23         fundamentals of computer programming);
24             (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

 

 

HB5493 - 20 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

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

 

 

HB5493 - 21 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
2     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
3     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
4     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
5     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
6     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
7     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
8 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
9 coursework required by subsection (a).
10     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
11 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
12 shall not be required to take the high school level General
13 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
14 admission.
15 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
16     (110 ILCS 680/25-135 new)
17     Sec. 25-135. American Sign Language courses. The
18 University shall award academic credit for the successful
19 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
20 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
21 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
22 University, except for those requirements related to the
23 content of a student's academic major.
 
24     Section 45. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended

 

 

HB5493 - 22 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1 by changing Section 30-85 and by adding Section 30-145 as
2 follows:
 
3     (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
4     Sec. 30-85. Admission requirements.
5     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
6 of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
7 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
8 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); and
20             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
21         shall be deemed to include American Sign Language,
22         music, vocational education or art;
23         (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
24     individual applicants if it determines through assessment
25     or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the

 

 

HB5493 - 23 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

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

 

 

HB5493 - 24 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
2 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
3 coursework required by subsection (a).
4     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
5 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
6 shall not be required to take the high school level General
7 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
8 admission.
9 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
10     (110 ILCS 685/30-145 new)
11     Sec. 30-145. American Sign Language courses. The
12 University shall award academic credit for the successful
13 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
14 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
15 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
16 University, except for those requirements related to the
17 content of a student's academic major.
 
18     Section 50. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
19 by changing Section 35-85 and by adding Section 35-140 as
20 follows:
 
21     (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
22     Sec. 35-85. Admission requirements.
23     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any

 

 

HB5493 - 25 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1 of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
2 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
3 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); and
15             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
16         shall be deemed to include American Sign Language,
17         music, vocational education or art;
18         (2) except that Western Illinois University may admit
19     individual applicants if it determines through assessment
20     or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
21     coursework taken, including vocational education courses
22     and courses taken in a charter school established under
23     Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
24     demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
25     to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
26     high school courses required for admission. The Board of

 

 

HB5493 - 26 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1     Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not
2     discriminate in the University's admissions process
3     against an applicant for admission because of the
4     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
5     under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois
6     University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
7     an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
8     curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
9     disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
10     organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
11     the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
12     the institution incorporates in the applicant's
13     baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
14     activities that compensate for 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
22 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
23 coursework required by subsection (a).
24     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
25 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
26 shall not be required to take the high school level General

 

 

HB5493 - 27 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
2 admission.
3 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
4     (110 ILCS 690/35-140 new)
5     Sec. 35-140. American Sign Language courses. The
6 University shall award academic credit for the successful
7 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
8 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
9 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
10 University, except for those requirements related to the
11 content of a student's academic major.
 
12     Section 55. The Public Community College Act is amended by
13 adding Section 3-29.3 as follows:
 
14     (110 ILCS 805/3-29.3 new)
15     Sec. 3-29.3. American Sign Language courses. To adopt
16 regulations for the awarding of academic credit for the
17 successful completion of any American Sign Language course
18 offered or approved by a community college, which may be
19 applied toward the satisfaction of any foreign language
20 requirements of the community college, except for those
21 requirements related to the content of a student's academic
22 major.
 

 

 

HB5493 - 28 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1     Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
2 Section 8.32 as follows:
 
3     (30 ILCS 805/8.32 new)
4     Sec. 8.32. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8
5 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the
6 implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of
7 the 95th General Assembly.

 

 

HB5493 - 29 - LRB095 15721 RAS 41728 b

1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3     105 ILCS 5/10-20.46 new
4     105 ILCS 5/34-18.37 new
5     110 ILCS 305/8 from Ch. 144, par. 29
6     110 ILCS 305/40 new
7     110 ILCS 520/8e from Ch. 144, par. 658e
8     110 ILCS 520/25 new
9     110 ILCS 660/5-85
10     110 ILCS 660/5-135 new
11     110 ILCS 665/10-85
12     110 ILCS 665/10-135 new
13     110 ILCS 670/15-85
14     110 ILCS 670/15-135 new
15     110 ILCS 675/20-85
16     110 ILCS 675/20-140 new
17     110 ILCS 680/25-85
18     110 ILCS 680/25-135 new
19     110 ILCS 685/30-85
20     110 ILCS 685/30-145 new
21     110 ILCS 690/35-85
22     110 ILCS 690/35-140 new
23     110 ILCS 805/3-29.3 new
24     30 ILCS 805/8.32 new