HB0725 Re-Enrolled LRB096 04615 NHT 14672 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;
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         (d) High school graduation requirements under Section
14     27-22 of the School Code require students to take one year
15     of music, art, vocational education, or a foreign language,
16     which includes ASL; and
 
17     WHEREAS, The General Assembly hereby also declares the
18 purpose and intent of this amendatory Act to be as follows:
19         (a) To recognize ASL as the language of the American
20     deaf community; and
21         (b) To authorize and encourage public and independent
22     schools, including post-secondary schools, to offer ASL as
23     a course of study and to accept ASL credits as
24     foreign-language credits; therefore
 

 

 

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1     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
2 represented in the General Assembly:
 
3     Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
4 10-20.46 and 34-18.37 as follows:
 
5     (105 ILCS 5/10-20.46 new)
6     Sec. 10-20.46. American Sign Language courses. School
7 boards are encouraged to implement American Sign Language
8 courses into school foreign language curricula.
 
9     (105 ILCS 5/34-18.37 new)
10     Sec. 34-18.37. American Sign Language courses. The school
11 board is encouraged to implement American Sign Language courses
12 into school foreign language curricula.
 
13     Section 10. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
14 changing Section 8 and by adding Section 45 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.

 

 

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1     (b) In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new
2 student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
3 any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
4 such student also has satisfactorily completed:
5         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
6     the following 5 categories:
7             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
8         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
9         years may be collegiate level instruction;
10             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
11         and government);
12             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
13         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
14         fundamentals of computer programming);
15             (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and
16             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
17         may be deemed to include American Sign Language, music,
18         vocational education or art;
19         (2) except that institutions may admit individual
20     applicants if the institution determines through
21     assessment or through evaluation based on learning
22     outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
23     education courses and courses taken in a charter school
24     established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
25     applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
26     equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be

 

 

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1     acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
2     The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall
3     not discriminate in the University's admissions process
4     against an applicant for admission because of the
5     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
6     under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also
7     admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to
8     complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
9     high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
10     who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance
11     programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
12     providing that in either case, the institution
13     incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
14     courses or other academic activities that compensate for
15     course deficiencies; and
16         (3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
17     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
18     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
19     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
20     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
21     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
22     (c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
23 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
24 coursework required by subsection (b).
25     (d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
26 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT

 

 

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1 shall not be required to take the high school level General
2 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
3 admission.
4 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
5     (110 ILCS 305/45 new)
6     Sec. 45. American Sign Language courses. The University may
7 award academic credit for the successful completion of any
8 American Sign Language course offered or approved by the
9 University, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the
10 foreign language requirements of the University, except for
11 those requirements related to the content of a student's
12 academic major.
 
13     Section 15. The Southern Illinois University Management
14 Act is amended by changing Section 8e and by adding Section 30
15 as follows:
 
16     (110 ILCS 520/8e)  (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
17     Sec. 8e. Admissions.
18     (a) Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall
19 then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the
20 departments or colleges of the University unless such student
21 also has satisfactorily completed:
22         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
23     the following 5 categories:

 

 

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

 

 

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1     admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to
2     complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
3     high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
4     who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance
5     programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
6     providing that in either case, the institution
7     incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
8     courses or other academic activities that compensate for
9     course deficiencies; and
10         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
11     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
12     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
13     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
14     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
15     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
16     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
17 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
18 coursework required by subsection (a).
19     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
20 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
21 shall not be required to take the high school level General
22 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
23 admission.
24 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
25     (110 ILCS 520/30 new)

 

 

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1     Sec. 30. American Sign Language courses. The University may
2 award academic credit for the successful completion of any
3 American Sign Language course offered or approved by the
4 University, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the
5 foreign language requirements of the University, except for
6 those requirements related to the content of a student's
7 academic major.
 
8     Section 20. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
9 changing Section 5-85 and by adding Section 5-140 as follows:
 
10     (110 ILCS 660/5-85)
11     Sec. 5-85. Admission requirements.
12     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
13 of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University
14 unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
15         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
16     the following 5 categories:
17             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
18         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
19         years may be collegiate level instruction;
20             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
21         and government);
22             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
23         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
24         fundamentals of computer programming);

 

 

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

 

 

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1     activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
2         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
3     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
4     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
5     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
6     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
7     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
8     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
9 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
10 coursework required by subsection (a).
11     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
12 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
13 shall not be required to take the high school level General
14 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
15 admission.
16 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
17     (110 ILCS 660/5-140 new)
18     Sec. 5-140. American Sign Language courses. The University
19 may award academic credit for the successful completion of any
20 American Sign Language course offered or approved by the
21 University, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the
22 foreign language requirements of the University, except for
23 those requirements related to the content of a student's
24 academic major.
 

 

 

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1     Section 25. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
2 by changing Section 10-85 and by adding Section 10-140 as
3 follows:
 
4     (110 ILCS 665/10-85)
5     Sec. 10-85. Admission requirements.
6     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
7 of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
8 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
9 completed:
10         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
11     the following 5 categories:
12             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
13         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
14         years may be collegiate level instruction;
15             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
16         and government);
17             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
18         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
19         fundamentals of computer programming);
20             (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and
21             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
22         may be deemed to include American Sign Language, music,
23         vocational education or art;
24         (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
25     individual applicants if it determines through assessment

 

 

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1     or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
2     coursework taken, including vocational education courses
3     and courses taken in a charter school established under
4     Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
5     demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
6     to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
7     high school courses required for admission. The Board of
8     Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not
9     discriminate in the University's admissions process
10     against an applicant for admission because of the
11     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
12     under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
13     University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
14     an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
15     curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
16     disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
17     organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
18     the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
19     the institution incorporates in the applicant's
20     baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
21     activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
22         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
23     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
24     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
25     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
26     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

 

 

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1     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
2     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
3 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
4 coursework required by subsection (a).
5     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
6 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
7 shall not be required to take the high school level General
8 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
9 admission.
10 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
11     (110 ILCS 665/10-140 new)
12     Sec. 10-140. American Sign Language courses. The
13 University may award academic credit for the successful
14 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
15 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
16 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
17 University, except for those requirements related to the
18 content of a student's academic major.
 
19     Section 30. The Governors State University Law is amended
20 by changing Section 15-85 and by adding Section 15-140 as
21 follows:
 
22     (110 ILCS 670/15-85)
23     Sec. 15-85. Admission requirements.

 

 

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1     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
2 of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
3 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
4 completed:
5         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
6     the following 5 categories:
7             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
8         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
9         years may be collegiate level instruction;
10             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
11         and government);
12             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
13         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
14         fundamentals of computer programming);
15             (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and
16             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
17         may be deemed to include American Sign Language, music,
18         vocational education or art;
19         (2) except that Governors State University may admit
20     individual applicants if it determines through assessment
21     or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
22     coursework taken, including vocational education courses
23     and courses taken in a charter school established under
24     Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
25     demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
26     to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the

 

 

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1     high school courses required for admission. The Board of
2     Trustees of Governors State University shall not
3     discriminate in the University's admissions process
4     against an applicant for admission because of the
5     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
6     under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State
7     University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
8     an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
9     curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
10     disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
11     organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
12     the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
13     the institution incorporates in the applicant's
14     baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
15     activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
16         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
17     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
18     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
19     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
20     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
21     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
22     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
23 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
24 coursework required by subsection (a).
25     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
26 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT

 

 

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1 shall not be required to take the high school level General
2 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
3 admission.
4 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
5     (110 ILCS 670/15-140 new)
6     Sec. 15-140. American Sign Language courses. The
7 University may award academic credit for the successful
8 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
9 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
10 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
11 University, except for those requirements related to the
12 content of a student's academic major.
 
13     Section 35. The Illinois State University Law is amended by
14 changing Section 20-85 and by adding Section 20-145 as follows:
 
15     (110 ILCS 675/20-85)
16     Sec. 20-85. Admission requirements.
17     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
18 of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State University
19 unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
20         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
21     the following 5 categories:
22             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
23         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2

 

 

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

 

 

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1     curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
2     disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
3     organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
4     the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
5     the institution incorporates in the applicant's
6     baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
7     activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
8         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
9     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
10     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
11     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
12     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
13     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
14     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
15 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
16 coursework required by subsection (a).
17     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
18 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
19 shall not be required to take the high school level General
20 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
21 admission.
22 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
23     (110 ILCS 675/20-145 new)
24     Sec. 20-145. American Sign Language courses. The
25 University may award academic credit for the successful

 

 

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1 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
2 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
3 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
4 University, except for those requirements related to the
5 content of a student's academic major.
 
6     Section 40. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
7 amended by changing Section 25-85 and by adding Section 25-140
8 as follows:
 
9     (110 ILCS 680/25-85)
10     Sec. 25-85. Admission requirements.
11     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
12 of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
13 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
14 completed:
15         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
16     the following 5 categories:
17             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
18         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
19         years may be collegiate level instruction;
20             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
21         and government);
22             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
23         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
24         fundamentals of computer programming);

 

 

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

 

 

HB0725 Re-Enrolled - 21 - LRB096 04615 NHT 14672 b

1     activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
2         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
3     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
4     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
5     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
6     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
7     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
8     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
9 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
10 coursework required by subsection (a).
11     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
12 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
13 shall not be required to take the high school level General
14 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
15 admission.
16 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
17     (110 ILCS 680/25-140 new)
18     Sec. 25-140. American Sign Language courses. The
19 University may award academic credit for the successful
20 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
21 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
22 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
23 University, except for those requirements related to the
24 content of a student's academic major.
 

 

 

HB0725 Re-Enrolled - 22 - LRB096 04615 NHT 14672 b

1     Section 45. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended
2 by changing Section 30-85 and by adding Section 30-150 as
3 follows:
 
4     (110 ILCS 685/30-85)
5     Sec. 30-85. Admission requirements.
6     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
7 of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
8 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
9 completed:
10         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
11     the following 5 categories:
12             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
13         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
14         years may be collegiate level instruction;
15             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
16         and government);
17             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
18         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
19         fundamentals of computer programming);
20             (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and
21             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
22         may be deemed to include American Sign Language, music,
23         vocational education or art;
24         (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
25     individual applicants if it determines through assessment

 

 

HB0725 Re-Enrolled - 23 - LRB096 04615 NHT 14672 b

1     or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
2     coursework taken, including vocational education courses
3     and courses taken in a charter school established under
4     Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
5     demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
6     to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
7     high school courses required for admission. The Board of
8     Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not
9     discriminate in the University's admissions process
10     against an applicant for admission because of the
11     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
12     under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois
13     University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
14     an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
15     curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
16     disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
17     organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
18     the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
19     the institution incorporates in the applicant's
20     baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
21     activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
22         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
23     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
24     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
25     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
26     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

 

 

HB0725 Re-Enrolled - 24 - LRB096 04615 NHT 14672 b

1     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
2     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
3 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
4 coursework required by subsection (a).
5     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
6 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
7 shall not be required to take the high school level General
8 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
9 admission.
10 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
11     (110 ILCS 685/30-150 new)
12     Sec. 30-150. American Sign Language courses. The
13 University may award academic credit for the successful
14 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
15 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
16 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
17 University, except for those requirements related to the
18 content of a student's academic major.
 
19     Section 50. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
20 by changing Section 35-85 and by adding Section 35-145 as
21 follows:
 
22     (110 ILCS 690/35-85)
23     Sec. 35-85. Admission requirements.

 

 

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1     (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
2 of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
3 University unless such student also has satisfactorily
4 completed:
5         (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
6     the following 5 categories:
7             (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
8         oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
9         years may be collegiate level instruction;
10             (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
11         and government);
12             (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
13         advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
14         fundamentals of computer programming);
15             (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and
16             (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, which
17         may be deemed to include American Sign Language, music,
18         vocational education or art;
19         (2) except that Western Illinois University may admit
20     individual applicants if it determines through assessment
21     or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
22     coursework taken, including vocational education courses
23     and courses taken in a charter school established under
24     Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
25     demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
26     to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the

 

 

HB0725 Re-Enrolled - 26 - LRB096 04615 NHT 14672 b

1     high school courses required for admission. The Board of
2     Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not
3     discriminate in the University's admissions process
4     against an applicant for admission because of the
5     applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
6     under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois
7     University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
8     an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
9     curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
10     disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
11     organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
12     the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
13     the institution incorporates in the applicant's
14     baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
15     activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
16         (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
17     required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
18     distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
19     the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
20     and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
21     categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
22     (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
23 recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
24 coursework required by subsection (a).
25     (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
26 scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT

 

 

HB0725 Re-Enrolled - 27 - LRB096 04615 NHT 14672 b

1 shall not be required to take the high school level General
2 Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to
3 admission.
4 (Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)
 
5     (110 ILCS 690/35-145 new)
6     Sec. 35-145. American Sign Language courses. The
7 University may award academic credit for the successful
8 completion of any American Sign Language course offered or
9 approved by the University, which may be applied toward the
10 satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the
11 University, except for those requirements related to the
12 content of a student's academic major.
 
13     Section 55. The Public Community College Act is amended by
14 adding Section 3-29.4 as follows:
 
15     (110 ILCS 805/3-29.4 new)
16     Sec. 3-29.4. American Sign Language courses. To adopt
17 regulations for the awarding of academic credit for the
18 successful completion of any American Sign Language course
19 offered or approved by a community college, which may be
20 applied toward the satisfaction of any foreign language
21 requirements of the community college, except for those
22 requirements related to the content of a student's academic
23 major.
 

 

 

HB0725 Re-Enrolled - 28 - LRB096 04615 NHT 14672 b

1     Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
2 Section 8.33 as follows:
 
3     (30 ILCS 805/8.33 new)
4     Sec. 8.33. 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 96th General Assembly.