093_HB2192

 
                                     LRB093 10102 NHT 10353 b

 1        AN ACT concerning schools.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by changing
 5    Sections 10-20.9a and 34-18.18 as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/10-20.9a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.9a)
 7        Sec. 10-20.9a.  Final Grade; Promotion.
 8        (a)  Teachers  shall  administer  the  approved   marking
 9    system  or other approved means of evaluating pupil progress.
10    The teacher shall maintain the responsibility  and  right  to
11    determine grades and other evaluations of students within the
12    grading  policies  of  the  district  based  upon  his or her
13    professional judgment of available criteria pertinent to  any
14    given  subject  area  or  activity  for  which  he  or she is
15    responsible.  District policy shall provide the procedure and
16    reasons by and for which a grade  may  be  changed;  provided
17    that   no  grade  or  evaluation  shall  be  changed  without
18    notification to the teacher concerning the nature and reasons
19    for such change. If such a change is made, the person  making
20    the  change  shall assume such responsibility for determining
21    the grade or evaluation, and shall initial such change.
22        (b)  School districts shall not promote students  to  the
23    next  higher  grade  level based upon age or any other social
24    reasons not  related  to  the  academic  performance  of  the
25    students.   On  or  before  September  1, 1998, school boards
26    shall adopt and enforce a policy on promotion  as  they  deem
27    necessary  to  ensure  that  students  meet  local  goals and
28    objectives and can perform at the expected grade level  prior
29    to  promotion. Decisions to promote or retain students in any
30    classes shall  be  based  on  successful  completion  of  the
31    curriculum,  attendance,  performance based on Illinois Goals
 
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 1    and Assessment Program tests, the Iowa Test of Basic  Skills,
 2    or  other  testing  or  any other criteria established by the
 3    school board.  Students determined by the local  district  to
 4    not  qualify  for promotion to the next higher grade shall be
 5    provided remedial assistance, which may  include,  but  shall
 6    not be limited to, a summer bridge program of no less than 90
 7    hours,   tutorial   sessions,   increased   or   concentrated
 8    instructional time, modifications to instructional materials,
 9    and retention in grade.
10        A  school  district may not promote a student to the next
11    higher grade level if the student has more than  10  days  of
12    unexcused   absences,  unless  the  student  makes  up  those
13    absences by attending a remedial or summer school class.
14    (Source: P.A. 89-610, eff. 8-6-96; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

15        (105 ILCS 5/34-18.18)
16        Sec.   34-18.18.  Student   promotion   and    graduation
17    Occupational standards.
18        (a)  The  Board  shall  not  require  a  student  to meet
19    occupational  standards  for   grade   level   promotion   or
20    graduation  unless  that student is voluntarily enrolled in a
21    job training program.
22        (b)  The school district may not promote a student to the
23    next higher grade level if the student has more than 10  days
24    of  unexcused  absences,  unless  the  student makes up those
25    absences by attending a remedial or summer school class.
26    (Source: P.A. 91-175, eff. 1-1-00; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

27        Section 90.  The State Mandates Act is amended by  adding
28    Section 8.27 as follows:

29        (30 ILCS 805/8.27 new)
30        Sec.  8.27.  Exempt  mandate.  Notwithstanding Sections 6
31    and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is  required
 
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 1    for  the  implementation  of  any  mandate  created  by  this
 2    amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.

 3        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 4    becoming law.