HB1977eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1977 Engrossed LRB095 06505 NHT 26606 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.142 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.142 new)

Sec. 2-3.142. School counselor ratio; pilot program.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish a 4-year pilot program in Limestone Walters Community Consolidated School District 316, Hutsonville Community Unit School District 1, and Aurora East Unit School District 131 to achieve a ratio of high school students to certified school counselors of 250 to 1. The amount appropriated in a fiscal year for the pilot program for Limestone Walters Community Consolidated School District 316, Hutsonville Community Unit School District 1, and Aurora East Unit School District 131 must not exceed $750,000.

(b) The State Board of Education shall work with the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling and local counseling directors to compile statistics on the pilot program established under this Section, such as graduation rates, college attendance rates, and dropout rates. The State Board shall report the statistics it has compiled and the State Board's findings and recommendations concerning the pilot program to the General Assembly 2 years after the pilot program has been established and 4 years after the pilot program has been established by filing copies of the report as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act.