97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5628

 

Introduced 2/15/2012, by Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Provides that the purpose of the Act is to ensure that children and youth who are parents, expectant parents, or the victims of domestic or sexual violence are identified by schools in a manner respectful of their privacy and safety; treated with dignity and regard; and provided the protection, instruction, and related support services necessary to enable them to meet State educational standards and successfully attain a high school diploma. Amends the School Code and the Illinois School Student Records Act to make changes concerning definitions, the transfer of students, the suspension or expulsion of pupils, home instruction, the review and revision of policies, confidentiality, specially trained personnel, accommodations and services, alternative public schools, the identification, evaluation, and placement of children with disabilities, an exception to the prohibition on unfunded mandates, compulsory school attendance, charter schools, and the right to inspect and copy school student permanent and temporary records. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

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. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to ensure
5that children and youth who are parents, expectant parents, or
6the victims of domestic or sexual violence are identified by
7schools in a manner respectful of their privacy and safety;
8treated with dignity and regard; and provided the protection,
9instruction, and related support services necessary to enable
10them to meet State educational standards and successfully
11attain a high school diploma.
 
12    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
131-3, 10-21.3a, 10-22.6, 10-22.6a, 13A-11, 14-8.02, 22-60,
1426-2, 26-2a, 26-3d, 27A-5, and 34-18.24 and by adding Sections
1510-30, 10-35, 10-40, and 10-45 as follows:
 
16    (105 ILCS 5/1-3)  (from Ch. 122, par. 1-3)
17    Sec. 1-3. Definitions.
18    (a) In this Code:
19    The terms "common schools", "free schools" and "public
20schools" are used interchangeably to apply to any school
21operated by authority of this Act.
22    "School board" means the governing body of any district

 

 

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1created or operating under authority of this Act, including
2board of school directors and board of education. When the
3context so indicates it also means the governing body of any
4non-high school district and of any special charter district,
5including board of school inspectors.
6    "Special charter district" means any city, township or
7district organized into a school district, under a special Act
8or charter of the General Assembly or in which schools are now
9managed and operating within such unit in whole or in part
10under the terms of such special Act or charter.
11    (b) In provisions of this Code relating to children and
12youth who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of
13domestic or sexual violence:
14    "At risk of academic failure" means a student who is at
15risk of failing to meet State learning standards or failing to
16graduate from elementary or high school and who demonstrates a
17need for educational support or social services beyond those
18provided by the regular school program.
19    "Domestic or sexual violence" means domestic violence,
20sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking. Domestic or
21sexual violence may occur through electronic communication.
22Domestic or sexual violence exists regardless of when the
23violence occurred, whether or not the domestic or sexual
24violence is the subject of a criminal investigation or the
25perpetrator has been criminally charged or convicted of a
26crime, whether or not an order of protection or a no-contact

 

 

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1order is pending before or has been issued by a court, and
2whether or not any domestic or sexual violence took place on
3school grounds during regular school hours or during a
4school-sponsored event. Consent to any act that may constitute
5domestic or sexual violence means a freely given agreement to
6the act. Lack of verbal or physical resistance or submission by
7the victim does not constitute consent, and the manner of dress
8of the victim does not constitute consent. For purposes of
9children and youth asserting their rights under provisions
10relating to domestic or sexual violence in Sections 10-21.3a,
1110-22.6, 10-22.6a, 10-45 (verification may be required for
12accommodations only, such as a change in classroom, not for
13services), 26-2, 26-2a, and 34-18.24, a school district may
14require verification. Any one of the following shall be
15acceptable verification of a child or youth's claim of domestic
16or sexual violence:
17        (1) A written statement from the youth or anyone who
18    has knowledge of the circumstances that support the youth's
19    claim. This may be in the form of a complaint.
20        (2) A police report, government agency record, or court
21    record.
22        (3) A statement or other documentation from a domestic
23    or sexual violence organization or any other organization
24    from which the youth sought services or advice.
25        (4) Documentation from a lawyer, clergy person,
26    medical professional, or other professional from whom the

 

 

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1    youth sought domestic or sexual violence services or
2    advice.
3        (5) Any other evidence, such as physical evidence of
4    violence, that supports the claim.
5    The person named to be the perpetrator, the perpetrator's
6family, or any other person named by the youth or named by the
7youth's parent or guardian to be unsafe to contact must not be
8contacted to verify the abuse. The perpetrator, the
9perpetrator's family, or any other person named by the youth or
10the youth's parent or guardian to be unsafe must not be
11contacted for any other reason without written permission of
12the youth or written permission of the youth's parent or
13guardian. Permission of the youth's parent or guardian shall
14not be pursued when the youth alleges that his or her health or
15safety would be threatened if the school or school district
16contacts the youth's parent or guardian to obtain written
17permission.
18    The youth may choose which form of documentation is
19submitted as acceptable verification. A youth who has provided
20acceptable verification that he or she is or has been a victim
21of domestic or sexual violence shall not be required to provide
22any additional verification if the youth's efforts to assert
23rights under this Code stem from a claim involving the same
24perpetrator. This applies to all schools and school districts,
25including special charter districts and districts organized
26under Article 33 or 34 of this Code.

 

 

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1    "Domestic or sexual violence organization" means a
2nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides
3assistance to victims of domestic or sexual violence or to
4advocates for such victims, including an organization carrying
5out a domestic or sexual violence program; an organization
6operating a shelter or a rape crisis center or providing
7counseling services; or an organization that seeks to eliminate
8domestic or sexual violence through legislative advocacy or
9policy change, public education, or service collaboration.
10    "Domestic violence" means abuse, as defined in Section 103
11of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, by a family or
12household member, as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois
13Domestic Violence Act of 1986.
14    "Electronic communication" includes communications via
15telephone, mobile phone, computer, e-mail, video recorder, fax
16machine, telex, or pager or any other electronic communication
17as defined in Section 12-7.5 of the Criminal Code of 1961.
18    "Equivalent educational experience" means an educational
19experience that is designed to promote a youth's continued
20learning and re-integration into the classroom and regular
21education program.
22    "Expectant parent" means a student who is pregnant or a
23student who intends to act as a parent and seeks services for
24teen parents and who has not yet received a diploma for
25completion of secondary education, as defined in Section 22-22
26of this Code.

 

 

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1    "Harassment" means unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature,
2including sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and
3other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual
4nature, and unwelcome conduct, including verbal, nonverbal, or
5physical conduct that is not sexual in nature, but is related
6to a student's status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim
7of domestic or sexual violence.
8    "Parent" means a student who is a custodial parent or a
9noncustodial parent taking an active role in the care and
10supervision of a child and who has not yet received a diploma
11for completion of secondary education, as defined in Section
1222-22 of this Code.
13    "Perpetrator" means an individual who commits or is alleged
14to have committed any act of domestic or sexual violence.
15    "Poor academic performance" means that a student has (i)
16scored in the 50th percentile or below on district-administered
17standardized tests; (ii) received a score on a State assessment
18that does not meet standards in one or more of the fundamental
19learning areas under Section 27-1 of this Code, as applicable
20for the student's grade level; or (iii) not met grade-level
21expectations on a district-designed assessment.
22    "School", for purposes of provisions of this Code relating
23to children and youth who are parents, expectant parents, or
24victims of domestic or sexual violence, means without
25limitation (i) a public or State-operated elementary or
26secondary school; (ii) a school operated pursuant to an

 

 

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1agreement with a public school district, including a
2cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board
3of control; (iii) a charter school operating in compliance with
4the Charter Schools Law; (iv) a school operated under Section
513A-3 of this Code; (v) an alternative school operated by third
6parties within the City of Chicago under Section 13A-11 of this
7Code; (vi) an alternative learning opportunities program
8operated under Article 13B of this Code; or (vii) a public
9school administered by a local public agency or the Department
10of Human Services operating pursuant to the authority of this
11Code.
12    "School district", for purposes of provisions of this Code
13relating to children and youth who are parents, expectant
14parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence, means any
15public entity responsible for administering schools, including
16districts subject to Article 33 or 34 of this Code, and
17includes other entities responsible for administering public
18schools, such as cooperatives, joint agreements, charter
19schools, special charter districts, regional offices of
20education, local agencies, and the Department of Human
21Services.
22    "Serious health condition" means an illness, injury,
23impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves
24inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical
25care facility or continuing treatment by a health care
26provider.

 

 

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1    "Sexual assault" means any conduct of an adult or minor
2child proscribed in Sections 11-0.1, 11-1.20, 11-1.30,
311-1.40, 11-1.50, and 11-1.60 of the Criminal Code of 1961,
4including conduct committed by perpetrators who are strangers
5to the victim and conduct committed by perpetrators who are
6known or related by blood or marriage to the victim.
7    "Sexual violence" means sexual assault, stalking,
8harassment, or any conduct proscribed in Subdivisions 5 and 10
9of Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 1961.
10    "Stalking" means any conduct proscribed in Sections
1112-7.3, 12-7.4, and 12-7.5 of the Criminal Code of 1961,
12including stalking committed by perpetrators who are strangers
13to the victim and stalking committed by perpetrators who are
14known or related by blood or marriage to the victim.
15    "Student" or "pupil" means any child or youth enrolled,
16eligible to enroll, or previously enrolled in a school who has
17not yet received a diploma for completion of secondary
18education, as defined in Section 22-22 of this Code.
19    "Victim" means an individual who has been subjected to one
20or more acts of domestic or sexual violence. The individual is
21a "victim" of domestic or sexual violence regardless of when
22the violence occurred, whether or not the domestic or sexual
23violence is the subject of a criminal investigation or the
24perpetrator has been criminally charged or convicted of a
25crime, whether or not an order of protection or a no-contact
26order is pending before or has been issued by a court, and

 

 

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1whether or not any domestic or sexual violence took place on
2school grounds during regular school hours or during a
3school-sponsored event.
4    "Youth", except as otherwise provided in this Code, means a
5child, student, or juvenile below the age of 21 years who has
6not yet completed his or her prescribed course of study or has
7not received a diploma for completion of secondary education,
8as defined in Section 22-22 of this Code. "Youth" includes, but
9is not limited to, unaccompanied youth not in the physical
10custody of a parent or guardian.
11    The definitions under this subsection (b) apply to all
12schools and school districts, including special charter
13districts and districts organized under Article 33 or 34 of
14this Code.
15(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)
 
16    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.3a)
17    Sec. 10-21.3a. Transfer of students.
18    (a) Each school board shall establish and implement a
19policy governing the transfer of a student from one attendance
20center to another within the school district upon the request
21of the student's parent or guardian. Any request by a parent or
22guardian to transfer his or her child from one attendance
23center to another within the school district pursuant to
24Section 1116 of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education
25Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6316) must be made no later than 30

 

 

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1days after the parent or guardian receives notice of the right
2to transfer pursuant to that law. A student may not transfer to
3any of the following attendance centers, except by change in
4residence if the policy authorizes enrollment based on
5residence in an attendance area or unless approved by the board
6on an individual basis:
7        (1) An attendance center that exceeds or as a result of
8    the transfer would exceed its attendance capacity.
9        (2) An attendance center for which the board has
10    established academic criteria for enrollment if the
11    student does not meet the criteria, provided that the
12    transfer must be permitted if the attendance center is the
13    only attendance center serving the student's grade that has
14    not been identified for school improvement, corrective
15    action, or restructuring under Section 1116 of the federal
16    Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
17    Sec. 6316).
18        (3) Any attendance center if the transfer would prevent
19    the school district from meeting its obligations under a
20    State or federal law, court order, or consent decree
21    applicable to the school district.
22    (b) Each school board shall establish and implement a
23policy governing the transfer of students within a school
24district from a persistently dangerous school to another public
25school in that district that is not deemed to be persistently
26dangerous. In order to be considered a persistently dangerous

 

 

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1school, the school must meet all of the following criteria for
22 consecutive years:
3        (1) Have greater than 3% of the students enrolled in
4    the school expelled for violence-related conduct.
5        (2) Have one or more students expelled for bringing a
6    firearm to school as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921.
7        (3) Have at least 3% of the students enrolled in the
8    school exercise the individual option to transfer schools
9    pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.
10    (c) A student may transfer from one public school to
11another public school in that district if the student is a
12victim of a violent crime as defined in Section 3 of the Rights
13of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. The violent crime must have
14occurred on school grounds during regular school hours or
15during a school-sponsored event. A student who is a victim of
16domestic or sexual violence, regardless of when the violence
17occurred, whether or not the domestic or sexual violence is the
18subject of a criminal investigation or the student's
19perpetrator has been criminally charged or convicted, or
20whether the domestic or sexual violence occurred on school
21grounds during regular school hours or during a
22school-sponsored event, shall be permitted to transfer schools
23immediately and as needed, including to a school in another
24school district, if the student's continued attendance at a
25particular school facility or location poses a risk to his or
26her mental or physical well-being or safety. School districts

 

 

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1shall waive tuition for children and youth who transfer into a
2school district in which the child or youth is a nonresident to
3accommodate the mental and physical well-being or safety
4concerns of the youth who is a victim of domestic or sexual
5violence. A student who transfers due to domestic or sexual
6violence must have full access to extracurricular activities
7and any programs or activities offered by or under the auspices
8of the school to which the student has transferred. No adverse
9or prejudicial effects may result to any student who is a
10victim of domestic or sexual violence because of his or her
11availing himself or herself of or declining the provisions of
12this Section.
13    (d) Transfers made pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of
14this Section shall be made in compliance with the federal No
15Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110).
16(Source: P.A. 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)
 
17    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6)
18    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of pupils; school
19searches.
20    (a) To expel pupils guilty of gross disobedience or
21misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct
22perpetuated by electronic means, and no action shall lie
23against them for such expulsion. Expulsion shall take place
24only after the parents have been requested to appear at a
25meeting of the board, or with a hearing officer appointed by

 

 

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1it, to discuss their child's behavior. Such request shall be
2made by registered or certified mail and shall state the time,
3place and purpose of the meeting. The board, or a hearing
4officer appointed by it, at such meeting shall state the
5reasons for dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to
6become effective. If a hearing officer is appointed by the
7board he shall report to the board a written summary of the
8evidence heard at the meeting and the board may take such
9action thereon as it finds appropriate. An expelled pupil may
10be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the
11manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil
12must not be denied transfer because of the expulsion, except in
13cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the
14safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
15    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the superintendent
16of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean
17of students of any school to suspend pupils guilty of gross
18disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend pupils guilty of
19gross disobedience or misconduct on the school bus from riding
20the school bus, and no action shall lie against them for such
21suspension. The board may by policy authorize the
22superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
23principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils
24guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed 10 school days.
25If a pupil is suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct
26on a school bus, the board may suspend the pupil in excess of

 

 

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110 school days for safety reasons. Any suspension shall be
2reported immediately to the parents or guardian of such pupil
3along with a full statement of the reasons for such suspension
4and a notice of their right to a review. The school board must
5be given a summary of the notice, including the reason for the
6suspension and the suspension length. Upon request of the
7parents or guardian the school board or a hearing officer
8appointed by it shall review such action of the superintendent
9or principal, assistant principal, or dean of students. At such
10review the parents or guardian of the pupil may appear and
11discuss the suspension with the board or its hearing officer.
12If a hearing officer is appointed by the board he shall report
13to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the
14meeting. After its hearing or upon receipt of the written
15report of its hearing officer, the board may take such action
16as it finds appropriate. A pupil who is suspended in excess of
1720 school days may be immediately transferred to an alternative
18program in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this
19Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer because of the
20suspension, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to
21cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the
22alternative program.
23    (b-5) In all suspension and expulsion proceedings, a
24student may raise his or her status as a parent, expectant
25parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, which shall
26be considered as a mitigating factor in determining whether to

 

 

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1suspend or expel a student or in deciding the nature or
2severity of the disciplinary action at any time throughout the
3proceedings. An advocate or representative of the student's
4choice must be permitted to represent the student throughout
5the proceedings and to consult with the school board whenever
6there is evidence that the student's status as a parent,
7expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence may
8be a factor in the cause for expulsion or suspension. A student
9who raises his or her status as a victim of domestic or sexual
10violence shall not be required to work out the problem directly
11with the perpetrator or the perpetrator's advocate or
12representative, be personally questioned or cross-examined by
13the perpetrator or the perpetrator's advocate or
14representative, have any contact with the perpetrator or the
15perpetrator's advocate or representative, or be in the same
16room as the perpetrator or the perpetrator's advocate or
17representative during the proceedings. Suspension or expulsion
18proceedings must be conducted independently from any ongoing
19criminal investigation or proceeding, and lack of pursuit of
20criminal investigations or proceedings shall not be a factor in
21school disciplinary decisions. This subsection (b-5) applies
22to all schools and school districts, including special charter
23districts and districts organized under Article 33 or 34 of
24this Code.
25    (c) The Department of Human Services shall be invited to
26send a representative to consult with the board at such meeting

 

 

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1whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be the cause
2for expulsion or suspension.
3    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of
4time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case by
5case basis. A student who is determined to have brought one of
6the following objects to school, any school-sponsored activity
7or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable
8relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not
9less than one year:
10        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
11    "firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined
12    by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code,
13    firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners
14    Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section
15    24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961. The expulsion period
16    under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the
17    superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may
18    be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
19        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
20    regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other
21    object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily
22    harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in
23    subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion
24    requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by
25    the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination
26    may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

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1Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner
2consistent with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities
3Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or
4expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a
5transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with
6Article 13A of the School Code. The provisions of this
7subsection (d) apply in all school districts, including special
8charter districts and districts organized under Article 34.
9    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the
10superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
11principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a
12student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel
13a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2
14calendar years, as determined on a case by case basis, if (i)
15that student has been determined to have made an explicit
16threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a
17student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet
18website through which the threat was made is a site that was
19accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or
20was available to third parties who worked or studied within the
21school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii) the
22threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to the
23safety and security of the threatened individual because of his
24or her duties or employment status or status as a student
25inside the school. The provisions of this subsection (d-5)
26apply in all school districts, including special charter

 

 

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1districts and districts organized under Article 34 of this
2Code.
3    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school
4authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as
5lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and
6equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as
7personal effects left in those places and areas by students,
8without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a
9search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General
10Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of
11privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects
12left in these places and areas. School authorities may request
13the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of
14conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking
15lots, and other school property and equipment owned or
16controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other
17illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including
18searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
19If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces
20evidence that the student has violated or is violating either
21the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules,
22such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and
23disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also
24turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities. The
25provisions of this subsection (e) apply in all school
26districts, including special charter districts and districts

 

 

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1organized under Article 34.
2    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or
3expulsion from school and all school activities and a
4prohibition from being present on school grounds.
5    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if
6a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any
7public or private school in this or any other state, the
8student must complete the entire term of the suspension or
9expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A of
10this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program
11under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the
12school district if there is no threat to the safety of students
13or staff in the alternative program. A school district that
14adopts such a policy must include a provision allowing for
15consideration of a student's status as a parent, expectant
16parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence as a
17mitigating factor in reviews during the disciplinary period and
18exempting on a case-by-case basis those students whose status
19as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual
20violence is a factor in the behavior that gives rise to the
21suspension or expulsion. This subsection (g) applies to all
22school districts, including special charter districts and
23districts organized under Article 33 or Article 34 of this
24Code.
25    (h) If a pupil is faced with either (i) suspension from
26school due to gross disobedience or misconduct or suspension

 

 

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1from riding a school bus due to gross disobedience or
2misconduct on the school bus as provided in this Section or
3(ii) expulsion due to gross disobedience or misconduct as
4provided in this Section and if there is a relationship between
5the behavior that gives rise to the suspension or expulsion
6proceedings and the pupil's status as a parent, expectant
7parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, then the
8suspension or expulsion requirement may be modified by the
9district superintendent on a case-by-case basis. This
10subsection (h) applies to all schools and school districts,
11including special charter districts and districts organized
12under Article 33 or 34 of this Code.
13(Source: P.A. 96-633, eff. 8-24-09; 96-998, eff. 7-2-10;
1497-340, eff. 1-1-12; 97-495, eff. 1-1-12; revised 9-28-11.)
 
15    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6a)
16    Sec. 10-22.6a. To provide by home instruction,
17correspondence courses or otherwise courses of instruction for
18pupils who are unable to attend school because of pregnancy and
19pregnancy-related conditions, the fulfillment of parenting
20obligations related to the health of the pupil's child, or
21health or safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual
22violence. Such instruction shall be provided to the pupil (1)
23before the birth of the child when the pupil's health care
24provider physician has indicated to the district, in writing,
25that the pupil is medically unable to attend regular classroom

 

 

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1instruction, and (2) for up to 3 months following the birth of
2the child or a miscarriage, (3) to care for the pupil's ill
3child when the child's health care provider has indicated to
4the district, in writing, that the pupil's child has a serious
5health condition, that the pupil is needed to provide care to
6this child, and that alternative care for the child that is
7adequate and affordable is unavailable, or (4) to treat
8physical or mental health complications or address safety
9concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence when the
10pupil's domestic or sexual violence organization or health care
11provider has indicated to the school or school district, in
12writing, that such care is needed and will cause an absence for
132 or more consecutive weeks of school.
14    The instruction course shall be designed to offer
15educational experiences that are equivalent to those given to
16pupils at the same grade level in the district and that are
17designed to enable the pupil to return to the classroom.
18    Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if a pupil
19is unable to attend regular classes because of the reasons set
20forth in this Section and if the pupil has participated in
21instruction under this Section that is administered by the
22school or school district, then the pupil must not be penalized
23for grading purposes nor be denied course completion, grade
24level advancement, or graduation solely on the basis of the
25pupil's absence from the regular education program during the
26period of this instruction. Schools shall not use homebound

 

 

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1instruction in lieu of making reasonable accommodations so that
2children and youth who are parents, expectant parents, or
3victims of domestic or sexual violence can receive regular
4classroom instruction.
5(Source: P.A. 84-1430.)
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-30 new)
7    Sec. 10-30. Review and revision of policies. All schools
8and school districts shall review all existing policies and
9procedures and revise any existing policies and procedures that
10may act as a barrier to the immediate enrollment and
11re-enrollment, attendance, graduation, and success in school
12of any youth who is a parent, expectant parent, or victim of
13domestic or sexual violence or any policies or procedures that
14may compromise a criminal investigation relating to domestic or
15sexual violence or re-victimize the youth. School districts
16shall adopt new policies and procedures, as needed, to
17implement this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly and
18to ensure that immediate and effective steps are taken to
19respond to youth who are parents, expectant parents, or victims
20of domestic or sexual violence. School districts shall confer
21with persons with expertise in youth who are parents and
22expectant parents and with persons with expertise in youth who
23are victims of domestic and sexual violence, including domestic
24and sexual violence organizations, in the review and revision
25of existing policies and procedures and the adoption and

 

 

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1implementation of new policies and procedures, including those
2related to confidentiality, parental involvement, and a
3youth's health or safety-related concerns in connection with
4notifying a parent or guardian; the development and
5distribution of materials related to such youth, including
6outreach to youth not in school; ensuring that all materials
7are age appropriate and culturally sensitive; and ensuring that
8youth are notified of and understand the policies and
9procedures, such as how and to whom to report any incident of
10domestic or sexual violence. School districts shall take all
11actions necessary to comply with this Section no later than
12July 1, 2013 and every 2 years after July 1, 2013.
 
13    (105 ILCS 5/10-35 new)
14    Sec. 10-35. Confidentiality. School districts shall adopt
15and implement a policy and protocol to ensure that all
16information concerning a youth's status and related
17experiences as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of
18domestic or sexual violence provided to the school or school
19district or its employees or agents pursuant to this Code or
20otherwise, including a statement of the youth or any other
21documentation, record, or corroborating evidence and the fact
22that the youth has requested or obtained assistance,
23accommodations, or services pursuant to this Code, shall be
24retained in the strictest confidence by the school or school
25district or its employees or agents and shall not be disclosed

 

 

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1to any other individual, including any other employee, except
2to the extent that disclosure is (i) requested or consented to
3in writing by the youth or the youth's parent or guardian, if
4it is safe to obtain written consent of the youth's parent or
5guardian, or (ii) otherwise required by applicable federal or
6State law. Prior to disclosing information about a student's
7status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or
8sexual violence, the school shall notify the student and
9discuss and address any safety concerns related to such
10disclosure, including instances where the student indicates or
11the school or school district or its employees or agents are
12otherwise aware that the student's health or safety may be at
13risk if disclosed to the student's parent or legal guardian. No
14youth shall be required to testify publicly concerning his or
15her status as a victim of domestic or sexual violence,
16allegations of domestic or sexual violence, his or her status
17as a parent or expectant parent, or the youth's efforts to
18enforce any of his or her rights under provisions in this Code
19relating to youth who are parents, expectant parents, or
20victims of domestic or sexual violence.
21    In the case of domestic or sexual violence, the person
22named to be the perpetrator, the perpetrator's family, or any
23other person named by the youth or named by the youth's parent
24or guardian to be unsafe to contact must not be contacted to
25verify the abuse. The perpetrator, the perpetrator's family, or
26any other person named by the youth or the youth's parent or

 

 

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1guardian to be unsafe must not be contacted for any other
2reason without written permission of the youth or written
3permission of the youth's parent or guardian. Permission of the
4youth's parent or guardian shall not be pursued when the youth
5alleges that his or her health or safety would be threatened if
6the school or school district contacts the youth's parent or
7guardian to obtain written permission. School districts shall
8take all actions necessary to comply with this Section no later
9than January 1, 2013.
 
10    (105 ILCS 5/10-40 new)
11    Sec. 10-40. Specially trained personnel.
12    (a) Each school district shall designate or appoint at
13least one staff person at each school in the district who is
14employed at least half-time at the school and who is a teacher,
15school social worker, psychologist, counselor, or nurse
16trained to address in a culturally competent, confidential, and
17sensitive manner the needs of children and youth who are
18parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual
19violence.
20    Designated or appointed staff shall be responsible for,
21without limitation, all of the following activities:
22        (1) Communicating with and listening to youth who are
23    parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or
24    sexual violence.
25        (2) Connecting such youth to appropriate in-school

 

 

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1    services and other agencies, programs, and services as
2    needed.
3        (3) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of
4    the school and school district's policies, procedures, and
5    protocols in cases involving student allegations of
6    domestic or sexual violence.
7        (4) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of
8    the school and school district's policies, procedures, and
9    protocols as set forth in provisions of this Code
10    concerning students who are parents, expectant parents, or
11    victims of domestic or sexual violence.
12        (5) Assisting such youth in their efforts to exercise
13    and preserve their rights as set forth in provisions of
14    this Code concerning students who are parents, expectant
15    parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence.
16        (6) Assisting in providing staff development to
17    establish a positive and sensitive learning environment
18    for such youth.
19    (b) At a minimum, designated or appointed staff shall be
20trained to understand, provide information and referrals, and
21address issues pertaining to youth who are parents, expectant
22parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence, including
23the theories and dynamics of domestic and sexual violence, the
24necessity for confidentiality and the law, policy, procedures,
25and protocols implementing confidentiality, and the
26notification of such youth's parent or guardian regarding the

 

 

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1youth's status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of
2domestic or sexual violence or the enforcement of such youth's
3rights under this Code when such notice of the youth's status
4or the involvement of such youth's parent or guardian may put
5the health or safety of the youth at risk.
6    (c) School districts shall designate or appoint and train
7all specially trained personnel, and such personnel shall
8assist in implementing the duties described in this Section no
9later than April 1, 2013, except in those school districts
10where there exists a collective bargaining agreement at the
11time this Section becomes effective and where implementation of
12this Section would be a violation of that collective bargaining
13agreement on or before April 1, 2013. In the event
14implementation of some activities required under this Section
15is prevented by an existing collective bargaining agreement,
16school districts must comply with this Section to the fullest
17extent allowed by the existing collective bargaining agreement
18no later than April 1, 2013. In those instances where a
19collective bargaining agreement, which either fully or
20partially prevents full implementation of this Section,
21expires after April 1, 2013, school districts shall designate
22or appoint and train all specially trained personnel who shall
23implement the duties described in this Section no later than
24the effective date of the new collective bargaining agreement
25that immediately succeeds the collective bargaining agreement
26in effect at the time this Section becomes effective.

 

 

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1    (d) This Section applies to all schools and school
2districts, including special charter schools and districts and
3schools and districts organized under Article 33 or 34 of this
4Code.
 
5    (105 ILCS 5/10-45 new)
6    Sec. 10-45. Accommodations and services.
7    (a) To facilitate the full participation of youth who are
8parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual
9violence, schools and school districts shall provide these
10youth with reasonable accommodations and adjustments in school
11policy and practice, in-school support services, access to
12non-school based support services, and the ability to make up
13work missed on account of circumstances related to the youth's
14status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or
15sexual violence. Victims of domestic or sexual violence shall
16have access to these accommodations and services regardless of
17when or where the violence for which they are seeking
18accommodations or services occurred. All accommodations and
19services shall be continued for as long as necessary to
20maintain the mental and physical well-being and safety of the
21youth.
22    (b) Reasonable accommodations and adjustments shall
23include, but not be limited to, the provision of sufficiently
24private settings to ensure confidentiality and time off from
25class for meetings with counselors or other service providers;

 

 

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1assisting the youth in creating a student success plan;
2transfer of the victim of domestic or sexual violence or the
3student perpetrator to a different classroom or school; change
4of seating assignment; implementation of in-school, school
5grounds, and bus safety procedures; honoring court orders,
6including orders of protection and no-contact orders; and any
7other accommodation that may facilitate the full participation
8in the regular education program of youth who are parents,
9expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence.
10    (c) If a youth who is a parent, expectant parent, or victim
11of domestic or sexual violence is at risk of academic failure
12or displays poor academic performance, the youth or the youth's
13parent or guardian may request that the school and school
14district provide the youth with or refer the youth to education
15and support services designed to assist the youth in meeting
16State learning standards. Schools and school districts may
17either provide education or support services directly or may
18collaborate with public or private State, local, or
19community-based organizations or agencies that provide these
20services. Schools and school districts shall also assist youth
21who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or
22sexual violence in accessing the support services of non-school
23based organizations and agencies where such youth typically
24receive services in the community.
25    (d) Any youth who is unable, because of circumstances
26related to the youth's status as a parent, expectant parent, or

 

 

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1victim of domestic or sexual violence, to participate in
2classes on a particular day or days or at a particular time of
3day must be excused from any examination or any study or work
4assignments on such particular day or days or at such
5particular time of day. It is the responsibility of the
6teachers and of the school administrative personnel and
7officials to make available to each youth who is unable to
8participate because of circumstances related to the youth's
9status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or
10sexual violence a meaningful opportunity to make up any
11examination, study, or work requirements that he or she has
12missed because of such inability to participate on any
13particular day or days or at any particular time of day.
14    Costs assessed by a school or school district on youth for
15participation in such activities shall be considered savable
16fees for any youth whose parents or guardians are unable to
17afford them, consistent with the provisions of Section 10-20.13
18of this Code. School districts shall adopt written policies and
19procedures for waiver of such fees in accordance with rules
20adopted by the State Board of Education.
21    (e) When a school or school district employee or agent
22becomes aware of or suspects a youth's status as a parent,
23expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, it
24is the responsibility of the employee or agent of the school or
25school district to inform the youth of the available services
26and accommodations at school and in the community that may

 

 

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1assist the youth in maintaining his or her full educational
2participation and his or her successful performance. The school
3or school district employee or agent shall also refer the youth
4to the school district's specially trained personnel as set
5forth in Section 10-40 of this Code. Respecting youth privacy,
6confidentiality, mental and physical health, and safety shall
7be the paramount concern.
8    (f) Schools shall honor a youth's decision to obtain
9education and support services, accommodations, and non-school
10based support services, to terminate the receipt of such
11services, or to decline participation in such services. No
12youth is obligated to use education and support services,
13accommodations, or non-school based support services. In
14developing accommodations, adjustments, or educational support
15services, the privacy, mental and physical health, and safety
16of the youth shall be the paramount concern. No adverse or
17prejudicial effects may result to any youth because of his or
18her availing himself or herself of or declining the provisions
19of this Section.
20    (g) Any support services must be available to youth
21receiving education and support services in any school or by
22home or hospital instruction.
23    (h) Individual, peer, group, and family counseling
24services or psychotherapy shall be available consistent with
25the provisions of the Mental Health and Developmental
26Disabilities Code.
 

 

 

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1    (105 ILCS 5/13A-11)
2    Sec. 13A-11. Chicago public schools.
3    (a) The Chicago Board of Education may establish
4alternative schools within Chicago and may contract with third
5parties for services otherwise performed by employees,
6including those in a bargaining unit, in accordance with
7Sections 34-8.1, 34-18, and 34-49.
8    (b) Alternative schools operated by third parties within
9Chicago shall be exempt from all provisions of the School Code,
10except provisions concerning:
11        (1) Student civil rights;
12        (2) Staff civil rights;
13        (3) Health and safety;
14        (4) Performance and financial audits;
15        (5) The Illinois Goals Assessment Program;
16        (6) Chicago learning outcomes;
17        (7) Sections 2-3.25a through 2-3.25j of the School
18    Code;
19        (8) The Inspector General; and
20        (9) Section 34-2.4b of the School Code; and .
21        (10) Children and youth who are parents, expectant
22    parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence.
23(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95; 89-636, eff. 8-9-96.)
 
24    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02)  (from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.02)

 

 

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1    Sec. 14-8.02. Identification, Evaluation and Placement of
2Children.
3    (a) The State Board of Education shall make rules under
4which local school boards shall determine the eligibility of
5children to receive special education. Such rules shall ensure
6that a free appropriate public education be available to all
7children with disabilities as defined in Section 14-1.02. The
8State Board of Education shall require local school districts
9to administer non-discriminatory procedures or tests to
10limited English proficiency students coming from homes in which
11a language other than English is used to determine their
12eligibility to receive special education. The placement of low
13English proficiency students in special education programs and
14facilities shall be made in accordance with the test results
15reflecting the student's linguistic, cultural and special
16education needs. For purposes of determining the eligibility of
17children the State Board of Education shall include in the
18rules definitions of "case study", "staff conference",
19"individualized educational program", and "qualified
20specialist" appropriate to each category of children with
21disabilities as defined in this Article. For purposes of
22determining the eligibility of children from homes in which a
23language other than English is used, the State Board of
24Education shall include in the rules definitions for "qualified
25bilingual specialists" and "linguistically and culturally
26appropriate individualized educational programs". For purposes

 

 

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1of this Section, as well as Sections 14-8.02a, 14-8.02b, and
214-8.02c of this Code, "parent" means a parent as defined in
3the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20
4U.S.C. 1401(23)).
5    (b) No child shall be eligible for special education
6facilities except with a carefully completed case study fully
7reviewed by professional personnel in a multidisciplinary
8staff conference and only upon the recommendation of qualified
9specialists or a qualified bilingual specialist, if available.
10At the conclusion of the multidisciplinary staff conference,
11the parent of the child shall be given a copy of the
12multidisciplinary conference summary report and
13recommendations, which includes options considered, and be
14informed of their right to obtain an independent educational
15evaluation if they disagree with the evaluation findings
16conducted or obtained by the school district. If the school
17district's evaluation is shown to be inappropriate, the school
18district shall reimburse the parent for the cost of the
19independent evaluation. The State Board of Education shall,
20with advice from the State Advisory Council on Education of
21Children with Disabilities on the inclusion of specific
22independent educational evaluators, prepare a list of
23suggested independent educational evaluators. The State Board
24of Education shall include on the list clinical psychologists
25licensed pursuant to the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act.
26Such psychologists shall not be paid fees in excess of the

 

 

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1amount that would be received by a school psychologist for
2performing the same services. The State Board of Education
3shall supply school districts with such list and make the list
4available to parents at their request. School districts shall
5make the list available to parents at the time they are
6informed of their right to obtain an independent educational
7evaluation. However, the school district may initiate an
8impartial due process hearing under this Section within 5 days
9of any written parent request for an independent educational
10evaluation to show that its evaluation is appropriate. If the
11final decision is that the evaluation is appropriate, the
12parent still has a right to an independent educational
13evaluation, but not at public expense. An independent
14educational evaluation at public expense must be completed
15within 30 days of a parent written request unless the school
16district initiates an impartial due process hearing or the
17parent or school district offers reasonable grounds to show
18that such 30 day time period should be extended. If the due
19process hearing decision indicates that the parent is entitled
20to an independent educational evaluation, it must be completed
21within 30 days of the decision unless the parent or the school
22district offers reasonable grounds to show that such 30 day
23period should be extended. If a parent disagrees with the
24summary report or recommendations of the multidisciplinary
25conference or the findings of any educational evaluation which
26results therefrom, the school district shall not proceed with a

 

 

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1placement based upon such evaluation and the child shall remain
2in his or her regular classroom setting. No child shall be
3eligible for admission to a special class for the educable
4mentally disabled or for the trainable mentally disabled except
5with a psychological evaluation and recommendation by a school
6psychologist. Consent shall be obtained from the parent of a
7child before any evaluation is conducted. If consent is not
8given by the parent or if the parent disagrees with the
9findings of the evaluation, then the school district may
10initiate an impartial due process hearing under this Section.
11The school district may evaluate the child if that is the
12decision resulting from the impartial due process hearing and
13the decision is not appealed or if the decision is affirmed on
14appeal. The determination of eligibility shall be made and the
15IEP meeting shall be completed within 60 school days from the
16date of written parental consent. In those instances when
17written parental consent is obtained with fewer than 60 pupil
18attendance days left in the school year, the eligibility
19determination shall be made and the IEP meeting shall be
20completed prior to the first day of the following school year.
21After a child has been determined to be eligible for a special
22education class, such child must be placed in the appropriate
23program pursuant to the individualized educational program by
24or no later than the beginning of the next school semester. The
25appropriate program pursuant to the individualized educational
26program of students whose native tongue is a language other

 

 

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1than English shall reflect the special education, cultural and
2linguistic needs. No later than September 1, 1993, the State
3Board of Education shall establish standards for the
4development, implementation and monitoring of appropriate
5bilingual special individualized educational programs. The
6State Board of Education shall further incorporate appropriate
7monitoring procedures to verify implementation of these
8standards. The district shall indicate to the parent and the
9State Board of Education the nature of the services the child
10will receive for the regular school term while waiting
11placement in the appropriate special education class.
12    If the child is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually
13impaired and he or she might be eligible to receive services
14from the Illinois School for the Deaf or the Illinois School
15for the Visually Impaired, the school district shall notify the
16parents, in writing, of the existence of these schools and the
17services they provide and shall make a reasonable effort to
18inform the parents of the existence of other, local schools
19that provide similar services and the services that these other
20schools provide. This notification shall include without
21limitation information on school services, school admissions
22criteria, and school contact information.
23    In the development of the individualized education program
24for a student who has a disability on the autism spectrum
25(which includes autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder,
26pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified,

 

 

HB5628- 38 -LRB097 19148 NHT 64390 b

1childhood disintegrative disorder, and Rett Syndrome, as
2defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
3Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV, 2000)), the IEP team shall
4consider all of the following factors:
5        (1) The verbal and nonverbal communication needs of the
6    child.
7        (2) The need to develop social interaction skills and
8    proficiencies.
9        (3) The needs resulting from the child's unusual
10    responses to sensory experiences.
11        (4) The needs resulting from resistance to
12    environmental change or change in daily routines.
13        (5) The needs resulting from engagement in repetitive
14    activities and stereotyped movements.
15        (6) The need for any positive behavioral
16    interventions, strategies, and supports to address any
17    behavioral difficulties resulting from autism spectrum
18    disorder.
19        (7) Other needs resulting from the child's disability
20    that impact progress in the general curriculum, including
21    social and emotional development.
22Public Act 95-257 does not create any new entitlement to a
23service, program, or benefit, but must not affect any
24entitlement to a service, program, or benefit created by any
25other law.
26    If the student may be eligible to participate in the

 

 

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1Home-Based Support Services Program for Mentally Disabled
2Adults authorized under the Developmental Disability and
3Mental Disability Services Act upon becoming an adult, the
4student's individualized education program shall include plans
5for (i) determining the student's eligibility for those
6home-based services, (ii) enrolling the student in the program
7of home-based services, and (iii) developing a plan for the
8student's most effective use of the home-based services after
9the student becomes an adult and no longer receives special
10educational services under this Article. The plans developed
11under this paragraph shall include specific actions to be taken
12by specified individuals, agencies, or officials.
13    (c) In the development of the individualized education
14program for a student who is functionally blind, it shall be
15presumed that proficiency in Braille reading and writing is
16essential for the student's satisfactory educational progress.
17For purposes of this subsection, the State Board of Education
18shall determine the criteria for a student to be classified as
19functionally blind. Students who are not currently identified
20as functionally blind who are also entitled to Braille
21instruction include: (i) those whose vision loss is so severe
22that they are unable to read and write at a level comparable to
23their peers solely through the use of vision, and (ii) those
24who show evidence of progressive vision loss that may result in
25functional blindness. Each student who is functionally blind
26shall be entitled to Braille reading and writing instruction

 

 

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1that is sufficient to enable the student to communicate with
2the same level of proficiency as other students of comparable
3ability. Instruction should be provided to the extent that the
4student is physically and cognitively able to use Braille.
5Braille instruction may be used in combination with other
6special education services appropriate to the student's
7educational needs. The assessment of each student who is
8functionally blind for the purpose of developing the student's
9individualized education program shall include documentation
10of the student's strengths and weaknesses in Braille skills.
11Each person assisting in the development of the individualized
12education program for a student who is functionally blind shall
13receive information describing the benefits of Braille
14instruction. The individualized education program for each
15student who is functionally blind shall specify the appropriate
16learning medium or media based on the assessment report.
17    (d) To the maximum extent appropriate, the placement shall
18provide the child with the opportunity to be educated with
19children who are not disabled; provided that children with
20disabilities who are recommended to be placed into regular
21education classrooms are provided with supplementary services
22to assist the children with disabilities to benefit from the
23regular classroom instruction and are included on the teacher's
24regular education class register. Subject to the limitation of
25the preceding sentence, placement in special classes, separate
26schools or other removal of the disabled child from the regular

 

 

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1educational environment shall occur only when the nature of the
2severity of the disability is such that education in the
3regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services
4cannot be achieved satisfactorily. The placement of limited
5English proficiency students with disabilities shall be in
6non-restrictive environments which provide for integration
7with non-disabled peers in bilingual classrooms. Annually,
8each January, school districts shall report data on students
9from non-English speaking backgrounds receiving special
10education and related services in public and private facilities
11as prescribed in Section 2-3.30. If there is a disagreement
12between parties involved regarding the special education
13placement of any child, either in-state or out-of-state, the
14placement is subject to impartial due process procedures
15described in Article 10 of the Rules and Regulations to Govern
16the Administration and Operation of Special Education.
17    (e) No child who comes from a home in which a language
18other than English is the principal language used may be
19assigned to any class or program under this Article until he
20has been given, in the principal language used by the child and
21used in his home, tests reasonably related to his cultural
22environment. All testing and evaluation materials and
23procedures utilized for evaluation and placement shall not be
24linguistically, racially or culturally discriminatory.
25    (f) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to require
26any child to undergo any physical examination or medical

 

 

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1treatment whose parents object thereto on the grounds that such
2examination or treatment conflicts with his religious beliefs.
3    (g) School boards or their designee shall provide to the
4parents of a child prior written notice of any decision (a)
5proposing to initiate or change, or (b) refusing to initiate or
6change, the identification, evaluation, or educational
7placement of the child or the provision of a free appropriate
8public education to their child, and the reasons therefor. Such
9written notification shall also inform the parent of the
10opportunity to present complaints with respect to any matter
11relating to the educational placement of the student, or the
12provision of a free appropriate public education and to have an
13impartial due process hearing on the complaint. The notice
14shall inform the parents in the parents' native language,
15unless it is clearly not feasible to do so, of their rights and
16all procedures available pursuant to this Act and the federal
17Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of
182004 (Public Law 108-446); it shall be the responsibility of
19the State Superintendent to develop uniform notices setting
20forth the procedures available under this Act and the federal
21Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of
222004 (Public Law 108-446) to be used by all school boards. The
23notice shall also inform the parents of the availability upon
24request of a list of free or low-cost legal and other relevant
25services available locally to assist parents in initiating an
26impartial due process hearing. Any parent who is deaf, or does

 

 

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1not normally communicate using spoken English, who
2participates in a meeting with a representative of a local
3educational agency for the purposes of developing an
4individualized educational program shall be entitled to the
5services of an interpreter.
6    (g-5) For purposes of this subsection (g-5), "qualified
7professional" means an individual who holds credentials to
8evaluate the child in the domain or domains for which an
9evaluation is sought or an intern working under the direct
10supervision of a qualified professional, including a master's
11or doctoral degree candidate.
12    To ensure that a parent can participate fully and
13effectively with school personnel in the development of
14appropriate educational and related services for his or her
15child, the parent, an independent educational evaluator, or a
16qualified professional retained by or on behalf of a parent or
17child must be afforded reasonable access to educational
18facilities, personnel, classrooms, and buildings and to the
19child as provided in this subsection (g-5). The requirements of
20this subsection (g-5) apply to any public school facility,
21building, or program and to any facility, building, or program
22supported in whole or in part by public funds. Prior to
23visiting a school, school building, or school facility, the
24parent, independent educational evaluator, or qualified
25professional may be required by the school district to inform
26the building principal or supervisor in writing of the proposed

 

 

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1visit, the purpose of the visit, and the approximate duration
2of the visit. The visitor and the school district shall arrange
3the visit or visits at times that are mutually agreeable.
4Visitors shall comply with school safety, security, and
5visitation policies at all times. School district visitation
6policies must not conflict with this subsection (g-5). Visitors
7shall be required to comply with the requirements of applicable
8privacy laws, including those laws protecting the
9confidentiality of education records such as the federal Family
10Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Illinois School
11Student Records Act. The visitor shall not disrupt the
12educational process.
13        (1) A parent must be afforded reasonable access of
14    sufficient duration and scope for the purpose of observing
15    his or her child in the child's current educational
16    placement, services, or program or for the purpose of
17    visiting an educational placement or program proposed for
18    the child.
19        (2) An independent educational evaluator or a
20    qualified professional retained by or on behalf of a parent
21    or child must be afforded reasonable access of sufficient
22    duration and scope for the purpose of conducting an
23    evaluation of the child, the child's performance, the
24    child's current educational program, placement, services,
25    or environment, or any educational program, placement,
26    services, or environment proposed for the child, including

 

 

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1    interviews of educational personnel, child observations,
2    assessments, tests or assessments of the child's
3    educational program, services, or placement or of any
4    proposed educational program, services, or placement. If
5    one or more interviews of school personnel are part of the
6    evaluation, the interviews must be conducted at a mutually
7    agreed upon time, date, and place that do not interfere
8    with the school employee's school duties. The school
9    district may limit interviews to personnel having
10    information relevant to the child's current educational
11    services, program, or placement or to a proposed
12    educational service, program, or placement.
13    (h) (Blank).
14    (i) (Blank).
15    (j) (Blank).
16    (k) (Blank).
17    (l) (Blank).
18    (m) (Blank).
19    (n) (Blank).
20    (o) (Blank).
21    (p) In the development of the individualized education
22program for a student who is also a parent, expectant parent,
23or victim of domestic or sexual violence, any appropriate
24accommodations or services for that student in connection with
25these circumstances, with the exception of information that is
26confidential under applicable privacy laws, shall be included

 

 

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1as part of the student's individualized education program.
2(Source: P.A. 95-257, eff. 1-1-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08;
396-657, eff. 8-25-09.)
 
4    (105 ILCS 5/22-60)
5    Sec. 22-60. Unfunded mandates prohibited.
6    (a) No public school district or private school is
7obligated to comply with the following types of mandates unless
8a separate appropriation has been enacted into law providing
9full funding for the mandate for the school year during which
10the mandate is required:
11        (1) Any mandate in this Code enacted after the
12    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General
13    Assembly.
14        (2) Any regulatory mandate promulgated by the State
15    Board of Education and adopted by rule after the effective
16    date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly
17    other than those promulgated with respect to this Section
18    or statutes already enacted on or before the effective date
19    of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.
20    (b) If the amount appropriated to fund a mandate described
21in subsection (a) of this Section does not fully fund the
22mandated activity, then the school district or private school
23may choose to discontinue or modify the mandated activity to
24ensure that the costs of compliance do not exceed the funding
25received.

 

 

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1    Before discontinuing or modifying the mandate, the school
2district shall petition its regional superintendent of schools
3on or before February 15 of each year to request to be exempt
4from implementing the mandate in a school or schools in the
5next school year. The petition shall include all legitimate
6costs associated with implementing and operating the mandate,
7the estimated reimbursement from State and federal sources, and
8any unique circumstances the school district can verify that
9exist that would cause the implementation and operation of such
10a mandate to be cost prohibitive.
11    The regional superintendent of schools shall review the
12petition. In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, he or she
13shall convene a public hearing to hear testimony from the
14school district and interested community members. The regional
15superintendent shall, on or before March 15 of each year,
16inform the school district of his or her decision, along with
17the reasons why the exemption was granted or denied, in
18writing. The regional superintendent must also send
19notification to the State Board of Education detailing which
20school districts requested an exemption and the results.
21    If the regional superintendent grants an exemption to the
22school district, then the school district is relieved from the
23requirement to establish and implement the mandate in the
24school or schools granted an exemption for the next school
25year. If the regional superintendent of schools does not grant
26an exemption, then the school district shall implement the

 

 

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1mandate in accordance with the applicable law or rule by the
2first student attendance day of the next school year. However,
3the school district or a resident of the school district may on
4or before April 15 appeal the decision of the regional
5superintendent to the State Superintendent of Education. The
6State Superintendent shall hear appeals on the decisions of
7regional superintendents of schools no later than May 15 of
8each year. The State Superintendent shall make a final decision
9at the conclusion of the hearing on the school district's
10request for an exemption from the mandate. If the State
11Superintendent grants an exemption, then the school district is
12relieved from the requirement to implement a mandate in the
13school or schools granted an exemption for the next school
14year. If the State Superintendent does not grant an exemption,
15then the school district shall implement the mandate in
16accordance with the applicable law or rule by the first student
17attendance day of the next school year.
18    If a school district or private school discontinues or
19modifies a mandated activity due to lack of full funding from
20the State, then the school district or private school shall
21annually maintain and update a list of discontinued or modified
22mandated activities. The list shall be provided to the State
23Board of Education upon request.
24    (c) This Section does not apply to (i) any new statutory or
25regulatory mandates related to revised learning standards
26developed through the Common Core State Standards Initiative

 

 

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1and assessments developed to align with those standards or
2actions specified in this State's Phase 2 Race to the Top Grant
3application if the application is approved by the United States
4Department of Education; or (ii) new statutory or regulatory
5mandates from the Race to the Top Grant through the federal
6American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 imposed on
7school districts designated as being in the lowest performing
85% of schools within the Race to the Top Grant application; or
9(iii) any statutory or regulatory mandates related to children
10or youth who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of
11domestic or sexual violence.
12    (d) In any instances in which this Section conflicts with
13the State Mandates Act, the State Mandates Act shall prevail.
14(Source: P.A. 96-1441, eff. 8-20-10.)
 
15    (105 ILCS 5/26-2)  (from Ch. 122, par. 26-2)
16    Sec. 26-2. Enrolled pupils below 7 or over 17.
17    (a) Any person having custody or control of a child who is
18below the age of 7 years or is 17 years of age or above and who
19is enrolled in any of grades kindergarten through 12 in the
20public school shall cause him to attend the public school in
21the district wherein he resides when it is in session during
22the regular school term, unless he is excused under paragraph
232, 3, 4, 5, or 6 of Section 26-1.
24    (b) A school district shall deny reenrollment in its
25secondary schools to any child 19 years of age or above who has

 

 

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1dropped out of school and who could not, because of age and
2lack of credits, attend classes during the normal school year
3and graduate before his or her twenty-first birthday, except
4any child who is a parent, expectant parent, or victim of
5domestic or sexual violence. A district may, however, enroll
6the child in a graduation incentives program under Section
726-16 of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities
8program established under Article 13B. No child shall be denied
9reenrollment for the above reasons unless the school district
10first offers the child due process as required in cases of
11expulsion under Section 10-22.6. If a child is denied
12reenrollment after being provided with due process, the school
13district must provide counseling to that child and must direct
14that child to alternative educational programs, including
15adult education programs, that lead to graduation or receipt of
16a GED diploma.
17    (c) A school or school district may deny enrollment to a
18student 17 years of age or older for one semester for failure
19to meet minimum academic standards if all of the following
20conditions are met:
21        (1) The student achieved a grade point average of less
22    than "D" (or its equivalent) in the semester immediately
23    prior to the current semester.
24        (2) The student and the student's parent or guardian
25    are given written notice warning that the student is
26    failing academically and is subject to denial from

 

 

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1    enrollment for one semester unless a "D" average (or its
2    equivalent) or better is attained in the current semester.
3        (3) The parent or guardian is provided with the right
4    to appeal the notice, as determined by the State Board of
5    Education in accordance with due process.
6        (4) The student is provided with an academic
7    improvement plan and academic remediation services.
8        (5) The student fails to achieve a "D" average (or its
9    equivalent) or better in the current semester.
10    A school or school district may deny enrollment to a
11student 17 years of age or older for one semester for failure
12to meet minimum attendance standards if all of the following
13conditions are met:
14        (1) The student was absent without valid cause for 20%
15    or more of the attendance days in the semester immediately
16    prior to the current semester.
17        (2) The student and the student's parent or guardian
18    are given written notice warning that the student is
19    subject to denial from enrollment for one semester unless
20    the student is absent without valid cause less than 20% of
21    the attendance days in the current semester.
22        (3) The student's parent or guardian is provided with
23    the right to appeal the notice, as determined by the State
24    Board of Education in accordance with due process.
25        (4) The student is provided with attendance
26    remediation services, including without limitation

 

 

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1    assessment, counseling, and support services.
2        (5) The student is absent without valid cause for 20%
3    or more of the attendance days in the current semester.
4    A school or school district may not deny enrollment to a
5student (or reenrollment to a dropout) who is at least 17 years
6of age or older but below 19 years for more than one
7consecutive semester for failure to meet academic or attendance
8standards.
9    (d) No child may be denied enrollment or reenrollment under
10this Section in violation of the Individuals with Disabilities
11Education Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act.
12    (e) In this subsection (e), "reenrolled student" means a
13dropout who has reenrolled full-time in a public school. Each
14school district shall identify, track, and report on the
15educational progress and outcomes of reenrolled students as a
16subset of the district's required reporting on all enrollments.
17A reenrolled student who again drops out must not be counted
18again against a district's dropout rate performance measure.
19The State Board of Education shall set performance standards
20for programs serving reenrolled students.
21    (f) The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules
22necessary to implement the changes to this Section made by
23Public Act 93-803.
24(Source: P.A. 95-417, eff. 8-24-07.)
 
25    (105 ILCS 5/26-2a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a)

 

 

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1    Sec. 26-2a. A "truant" is defined as a child subject to
2compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid
3cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof.
4    "Valid cause" for absence shall be illness, attendance at
5pregnancy-related medical appointments, observance of a
6religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family
7emergency, fulfillment of the student's parenting
8responsibilities (including, but not limited to, arranging and
9providing child care, caring for the student's sick child, and
10attending medical appointments for the student's child), or
11addressing circumstances resulting from domestic or sexual
12violence (including, but not limited to, experiencing domestic
13or sexual violence, recovering from physical or psychological
14injuries, seeking medical attention, seeking services from a
15domestic or sexual victim services organization, seeking
16psychological or other counseling, participating in safety
17planning, temporarily or permanently relocating, seeking legal
18assistance or remedies, or taking other actions to increase the
19safety or health of the student or to protect the student from
20future domestic or sexual violence) and shall include such
21other situations beyond the control of the student as
22determined by the board of education in each district, or such
23other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the
24parent or the student for the safety or health of the student.
25    "Chronic or habitual truant" shall be defined as a child
26who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is

 

 

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1absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more
2of the previous 180 regular attendance days.
3    "Truant minor" is defined as a chronic truant to whom
4supportive services, including prevention, diagnostic,
5intervention and remedial services, alternative programs and
6other school and community resources have been provided and
7have failed to result in the cessation of chronic truancy, or
8have been offered and refused.
9    A "dropout" is defined as any child enrolled in grades 9
10through 12 whose name has been removed from the district
11enrollment roster for any reason other than the student's
12death, extended illness, removal for medical non-compliance,
13expulsion, aging out, graduation, or completion of a program of
14studies and who has not transferred to another public or
15private school and is not known to be home-schooled by his or
16her parents or guardians or continuing school in another
17country.
18    "Religion" for the purposes of this Article, includes all
19aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as
20belief.
21(Source: P.A. 96-1423, eff. 8-3-10; 97-218, eff. 7-28-11.)
 
22    (105 ILCS 5/26-3d)  (from Ch. 122, par. 26-3d)
23    Sec. 26-3d. All regional superintendents, district
24superintendents, and special education joint agreement
25directors shall collect data concerning truants, chronic

 

 

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1truants, and truant minor pupils as designated by the State
2Board of Education. On or before August 15 of each year, this
3data must be submitted to the State Board of Education. All
4regional superintendents, district superintendents, and
5special education joint agreement directors shall separately
6identify and report on the number of truant, chronic truant,
7and truant minor pupils in their regions or school districts
8who are expectant parents or parents.
9(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)
 
10    (105 ILCS 5/27A-5)
11    Sec. 27A-5. Charter school; legal entity; requirements.
12    (a) A charter school shall be a public, nonsectarian,
13nonreligious, non-home based, and non-profit school. A charter
14school shall be organized and operated as a nonprofit
15corporation or other discrete, legal, nonprofit entity
16authorized under the laws of the State of Illinois.
17    (b) A charter school may be established under this Article
18by creating a new school or by converting an existing public
19school or attendance center to charter school status. Beginning
20on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd
21General Assembly, in all new applications submitted to the
22State Board or a local school board to establish a charter
23school in a city having a population exceeding 500,000,
24operation of the charter school shall be limited to one campus.
25The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the

 

 

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193rd General Assembly do not apply to charter schools existing
2or approved on or before the effective date of this amendatory
3Act.
4    (c) A charter school shall be administered and governed by
5its board of directors or other governing body in the manner
6provided in its charter. The governing body of a charter school
7shall be subject to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open
8Meetings Act.
9    (d) A charter school shall comply with all applicable
10health and safety requirements applicable to public schools
11under the laws of the State of Illinois.
12    (e) Except as otherwise provided in the School Code, a
13charter school shall not charge tuition; provided that a
14charter school may charge reasonable fees for textbooks,
15instructional materials, and student activities.
16    (f) A charter school shall be responsible for the
17management and operation of its fiscal affairs including, but
18not limited to, the preparation of its budget. An audit of each
19charter school's finances shall be conducted annually by an
20outside, independent contractor retained by the charter
21school. Annually, by December 1, every charter school must
22submit to the State Board a copy of its audit and a copy of the
23Form 990 the charter school filed that year with the federal
24Internal Revenue Service.
25    (g) A charter school shall comply with all provisions of
26this Article, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, and

 

 

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1its charter. A charter school is exempt from all other State
2laws and regulations in the School Code governing public
3schools and local school board policies, except the following:
4        (1) Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of the School Code
5    regarding criminal history records checks and checks of the
6    Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Murderer and
7    Violent Offender Against Youth Database of applicants for
8    employment;
9        (2) Sections 24-24 and 34-84A of the School Code
10    regarding discipline of students;
11        (3) The Local Governmental and Governmental Employees
12    Tort Immunity Act;
13        (4) Section 108.75 of the General Not For Profit
14    Corporation Act of 1986 regarding indemnification of
15    officers, directors, employees, and agents;
16        (5) The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;
17        (6) The Illinois School Student Records Act;
18        (7) Section 10-17a of the School Code regarding school
19    report cards; and
20        (8) The P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act;
21    and .
22        (9) All provisions concerning students who are
23    parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or
24    sexual violence.
25    The change made by Public Act 96-104 to this subsection (g)
26is declaratory of existing law.

 

 

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1    (h) A charter school may negotiate and contract with a
2school district, the governing body of a State college or
3university or public community college, or any other public or
4for-profit or nonprofit private entity for: (i) the use of a
5school building and grounds or any other real property or
6facilities that the charter school desires to use or convert
7for use as a charter school site, (ii) the operation and
8maintenance thereof, and (iii) the provision of any service,
9activity, or undertaking that the charter school is required to
10perform in order to carry out the terms of its charter.
11However, a charter school that is established on or after the
12effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General
13Assembly and that operates in a city having a population
14exceeding 500,000 may not contract with a for-profit entity to
15manage or operate the school during the period that commences
16on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd
17General Assembly and concludes at the end of the 2004-2005
18school year. Except as provided in subsection (i) of this
19Section, a school district may charge a charter school
20reasonable rent for the use of the district's buildings,
21grounds, and facilities. Any services for which a charter
22school contracts with a school district shall be provided by
23the district at cost. Any services for which a charter school
24contracts with a local school board or with the governing body
25of a State college or university or public community college
26shall be provided by the public entity at cost.

 

 

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1    (i) In no event shall a charter school that is established
2by converting an existing school or attendance center to
3charter school status be required to pay rent for space that is
4deemed available, as negotiated and provided in the charter
5agreement, in school district facilities. However, all other
6costs for the operation and maintenance of school district
7facilities that are used by the charter school shall be subject
8to negotiation between the charter school and the local school
9board and shall be set forth in the charter.
10    (j) A charter school may limit student enrollment by age or
11grade level.
12    (k) If the charter school is approved by the Commission,
13then the Commission charter school is its own local education
14agency.
15(Source: P.A. 96-104, eff. 1-1-10; 96-105, eff. 7-30-09;
1696-107, eff. 7-30-09; 96-734, eff. 8-25-09; 96-1000, eff.
177-2-10; 97-152, eff. 7-20-11; 97-154, eff. 1-1-12; revised
189-28-11.)
 
19    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.24)
20    Sec. 34-18.24. Transfer of students.
21    (a) The board shall establish and implement a policy
22governing the transfer of a student from one attendance center
23to another within the school district upon the request of the
24student's parent or guardian. Any request by a parent or
25guardian to transfer his or her child from one attendance

 

 

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1center to another within the school district pursuant to
2Section 1116 of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education
3Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6317) must be made no later than 30
4days after the parent or guardian receives notice of the right
5to transfer pursuant to that law. A student may not transfer to
6any of the following attendance centers, except by change in
7residence if the policy authorizes enrollment based on
8residence in an attendance area or unless approved by the board
9on an individual basis:
10        (1) An attendance center that exceeds or as a result of
11    the transfer would exceed its attendance capacity.
12        (2) An attendance center for which the board has
13    established academic criteria for enrollment if the
14    student does not meet the criteria, provided that the
15    transfer must be permitted if the attendance center is the
16    only attendance center serving the student's grade that has
17    not been identified for school improvement, corrective
18    action, or restructuring under Section 1116 of the federal
19    Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
20    Sec. 6317).
21        (3) Any attendance center if the transfer would prevent
22    the school district from meeting its obligations under a
23    State or federal law, court order, or consent decree
24    applicable to the school district.
25    (b) The board shall establish and implement a policy
26governing the transfer of students within the school district

 

 

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1from a persistently dangerous attendance center to another
2attendance center in that district that is not deemed to be
3persistently dangerous. In order to be considered a
4persistently dangerous attendance center, the attendance
5center must meet all of the following criteria for 2
6consecutive years:
7        (1) Have greater than 3% of the students enrolled in
8    the attendance center expelled for violence-related
9    conduct.
10        (2) Have one or more students expelled for bringing a
11    firearm to school as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921.
12        (3) Have at least 3% of the students enrolled in the
13    attendance center exercise the individual option to
14    transfer attendance centers pursuant to subsection (c) of
15    this Section.
16    (c) A student may transfer from one attendance center to
17another attendance center within the district if the student is
18a victim of a violent crime as defined in Section 3 of the
19Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. The violent crime
20must have occurred on school grounds during regular school
21hours or during a school-sponsored event. A student who is a
22victim of domestic or sexual violence, regardless of when the
23violence occurred, whether or not the domestic or sexual
24violence is the subject of a criminal investigation or the
25student's perpetrator has been criminally charged or convicted
26of a crime, whether or not an order of protection or a

 

 

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1no-contact order is pending before or issued by a court, and
2whether or not any domestic or sexual violence took place on
3school grounds during regular school hours or during a
4school-sponsored event, shall be permitted to transfer schools
5immediately and as needed, including to another school
6district, if the student's continued attendance at a particular
7school facility or location poses a risk to his or her mental
8or physical well-being or safety. School districts shall waive
9tuition for youth who transfer into a school district in which
10the youth is a nonresident to accommodate the mental or
11physical well-being or safety concerns of the youth who is a
12victim of domestic or sexual violence. A student who transfers
13due to domestic or sexual violence must have full access to
14extracurricular activities and any programs or activities
15offered by or under the auspices of the school to which the
16student has transferred. No adverse or prejudicial effects may
17result to any student who is a victim of domestic or sexual
18violence.
19    (d) Transfers made pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of
20this Section shall be made in compliance with the federal No
21Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110).
22(Source: P.A. 92-604, eff. 7-1-02; 93-633, eff. 12-23-03.)
 
23    Section 10. The Illinois School Student Records Act is
24amended by changing Section 5 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (105 ILCS 10/5)  (from Ch. 122, par. 50-5)
2    Sec. 5. (a) A parent or any person specifically designated
3as a representative by a parent shall have the right to inspect
4and copy all school student permanent and temporary records of
5that parent's child, except where a student is a parent,
6expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence. All
7information concerning a student's status and related
8experiences as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of
9domestic or sexual violence, including a statement of the
10student or any other documentation, record, or corroborating
11evidence and the fact that the student has requested or
12obtained assistance, accommodations, or services related to
13that status, shall be retained in the strictest confidence. The
14information contained in the student's permanent or temporary
15record may be disclosed if, prior to disclosing the information
16about a student's status as a parent, expectant parent, or
17victim of domestic or sexual violence, the school or school
18district notifies the student and discusses and addresses any
19health or safety concerns related to such disclosure. If the
20health or safety concerns cannot be satisfied to the student's
21satisfaction, the information concerning the student's status
22and related experiences as a parent, expectant parent, or
23victim of domestic or sexual violence shall not be disclosed as
24part of the student's permanent or temporary record. A student
25shall have the right to inspect and copy his or her school
26student permanent record. No person who is prohibited by an

 

 

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1order of protection from inspecting or obtaining school records
2of a student pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of
31986, as now or hereafter amended, shall have any right of
4access to, or inspection of, the school records of that
5student. If a school's principal or person with like
6responsibilities or his designee has knowledge of such order of
7protection, the school shall prohibit access or inspection of
8the student's school records by such person.
9    (b) Whenever access to any person is granted pursuant to
10paragraph (a) of this Section, at the option of either the
11parent or the school a qualified professional, who may be a
12psychologist, counsellor or other advisor, and who may be an
13employee of the school or employed by the parent, may be
14present to interpret the information contained in the student
15temporary record. If the school requires that a professional be
16present, the school shall secure and bear any cost of the
17presence of the professional. If the parent so requests, the
18school shall secure and bear any cost of the presence of a
19professional employed by the school.
20    (c) A parent's or student's request to inspect and copy
21records, or to allow a specifically designated representative
22to inspect and copy records, must be granted within a
23reasonable time, and in no case later than 15 school days after
24the date of receipt of such request by the official records
25custodian.
26    (d) The school may charge its reasonable costs for the

 

 

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1copying of school student records, not to exceed the amounts
2fixed in schedules adopted by the State Board, to any person
3permitted to copy such records, except that no parent or
4student shall be denied a copy of school student records as
5permitted under this Section 5 for inability to bear the cost
6of such copying.
7    (e) Nothing contained in this Section 5 shall make
8available to a parent or student confidential letters and
9statements of recommendation furnished in connection with
10applications for employment to a post-secondary educational
11institution or the receipt of an honor or honorary recognition,
12provided such letters and statements are not used for purposes
13other than those for which they were specifically intended, and
14        (1) were placed in a school student record prior to
15    January 1, 1975; or
16        (2) the student has waived access thereto after being
17    advised of his right to obtain upon request the names of
18    all such persons making such confidential recommendations.
19    (f) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to
20impair or limit the confidentiality of:
21        (1) Communications otherwise protected by law as
22    privileged or confidential, including but not limited to,
23    information communicated in confidence to a physician,
24    psychologist or other psychotherapist, school social
25    worker, school counselor, school psychologist, or school
26    social worker, school counselor, or school psychologist

 

 

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1    intern who works under the direct supervision of a school
2    social worker, school counselor, or school psychologist;
3    or
4        (2) Information which is communicated by a student or
5    parent in confidence to school personnel; or
6        (3) Information which is communicated by a student,
7    parent, or guardian to a law enforcement professional
8    working in the school, except as provided by court order.
9    (g) No school employee shall be subjected to adverse
10employment action, the threat of adverse employment action, or
11any manner of discrimination because the employee is acting or
12has acted to protect communications as privileged or
13confidential pursuant to applicable provisions of State or
14federal law or rule or regulation.
15(Source: P.A. 96-628, eff. 1-1-10.)
 
16    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17becoming law.

 

 

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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    105 ILCS 5/1-3from Ch. 122, par. 1-3
4    105 ILCS 5/10-21.3a
5    105 ILCS 5/10-22.6from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6
6    105 ILCS 5/10-22.6afrom Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6a
7    105 ILCS 5/10-30 new
8    105 ILCS 5/10-35 new
9    105 ILCS 5/10-40 new
10    105 ILCS 5/10-45 new
11    105 ILCS 5/13A-11
12    105 ILCS 5/14-8.02from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.02
13    105 ILCS 5/22-60
14    105 ILCS 5/26-2from Ch. 122, par. 26-2
15    105 ILCS 5/26-2afrom Ch. 122, par. 26-2a
16    105 ILCS 5/26-3dfrom Ch. 122, par. 26-3d
17    105 ILCS 5/27A-5
18    105 ILCS 5/34-18.24
19    105 ILCS 10/5from Ch. 122, par. 50-5