105 ILCS 5/ School Code.

(105 ILCS 5/14-12.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-12.01)

Sec. 14-12.01. Account of expenditures - Cost report - Reimbursement. Each school board shall keep an accurate, detailed and separate account of all monies paid out by it for the maintenance of each of the types of facilities, classes and schools authorized by this Article for the instruction and care of pupils attending them and for the cost of their transportation, and shall annually report thereon indicating the cost of each such elementary or high school pupil for the school year ending June 30.

Applications for preapproval for reimbursement for costs of special education must be first submitted through the office of the regional superintendent of schools to the State Superintendent of Education on or before 30 days after a special class or service is started. Applications shall set forth a plan for special education established and maintained in accordance with this Article. Such applications shall be limited to the cost of construction and maintenance of special education facilities designed and utilized to house instructional programs, diagnostic services, other special education services for children with disabilities and reimbursement as provided in Section 14-13.01. Such application shall not include the cost of construction or maintenance of any administrative facility separated from special education facilities designed and utilized to house instructional programs, diagnostic services, and other special education services for children with disabilities. Reimbursement claims for special education shall be made as follows:

Each district shall file its claim computed in accordance with rules prescribed by the State Board of Education for approval on forms prescribed by the State Superintendent of Education. Data used as a basis of reimbursement claims shall be for the school year ended on June 30 preceding. Each school district shall transmit to the State Superintendent of Education its claims on or before August 15. The State Superintendent of Education before approving any such claims shall determine their accuracy and whether they are based upon services and facilities provided under approved programs. Upon approval, vouchers for the amounts due the respective districts shall be prepared and submitted during each fiscal year as follows: the first 3 vouchers shall be prepared by the State Superintendent of Education and transmitted to the Comptroller on the 30th day of September, December and March, respectively, and the final voucher, no later than June 20. If, after preparation and transmittal of the September 30 vouchers, any claim has been redetermined by the State Superintendent of Education, subsequent vouchers shall be adjusted in amount to compensate for any overpayment or underpayment previously made. If the money appropriated by the General Assembly for such purpose for any year is insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the claims approved.

Claims received at the State Board of Education after August 15 shall not be honored.

(Source: P.A. 94-1100, eff. 2-2-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/14-12.02)

Sec. 14-12.02. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 85-1150. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/14-13.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-13.01)

Sec. 14-13.01. Reimbursement payable by State; amounts for personnel and transportation.

(a) For staff working on behalf of children who have not been identified as eligible for special education and for eligible children with physical disabilities, including all eligible children whose placement has been determined under Section 14-8.02 in hospital or home instruction, 1/2 of the teacher's salary but not more than $1,000 annually per child or $9,000 per teacher, whichever is less. A child qualifies for home or hospital instruction if it is anticipated that, due to a medical condition, the child will be unable to attend school, and instead must be instructed at home or in the hospital, for a period of 2 or more consecutive weeks or on an ongoing intermittent basis. For purposes of this Section, "ongoing intermittent basis" means that the child's medical condition is of such a nature or severity that it is anticipated that the child will be absent from school due to the medical condition for periods of at least 2 days at a time multiple times during the school year totaling at least 10 days or more of absences. There shall be no requirement that a child be absent from school a minimum number of days before the child qualifies for home or hospital instruction. In order to establish eligibility for home or hospital services, a student's parent or guardian must submit to the child's school district of residence a written statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches stating the existence of such medical condition, the impact on the child's ability to participate in education, and the anticipated duration or nature of the child's absence from school. Home or hospital instruction may commence upon receipt of a written physician's statement in accordance with this Section, but instruction shall commence not later than 5 school days after the school district receives the physician's statement. Special education and related services required by the child's IEP or services and accommodations required by the child's federal Section 504 plan must be implemented as part of the child's home or hospital instruction, unless the IEP team or federal Section 504 plan team determines that modifications are necessary during the home or hospital instruction due to the child's condition. Eligible children to be included in any reimbursement under this paragraph must regularly receive a minimum of one hour of instruction each school day, or in lieu thereof of a minimum of 5 hours of instruction in each school week in order to qualify for full reimbursement under this Section. If the attending physician for such a child has certified that the child should not receive as many as 5 hours of instruction in a school week, however, reimbursement under this paragraph on account of that child shall be computed proportionate to the actual hours of instruction per week for that child divided by 5. The State Board of Education shall establish rules governing the required qualifications of staff providing home or hospital instruction.

(b) For children described in Section 14-1.02, 80% of the cost of transportation approved as a related service in the Individualized Education Program for each student in order to take advantage of special educational facilities. Transportation costs shall be determined in the same fashion as provided in Section 29-5. For purposes of this subsection (b), the dates for processing claims specified in Section 29-5 shall apply.

(c) For each qualified worker, the annual sum of $9,000.

(d) For one full time qualified director of the special education program of each school district which maintains a fully approved program of special education the annual sum of $9,000. Districts participating in a joint agreement special education program shall not receive such reimbursement if reimbursement is made for a director of the joint agreement program.

(e) (Blank).

(f) (Blank).

(g) For readers, working with blind or partially seeing children 1/2 of their salary but not more than $400 annually per child. Readers may be employed to assist such children and shall not be required to be certified but prior to employment shall meet standards set up by the State Board of Education.

(h) For non-certified employees, as defined by rules promulgated by the State Board of Education, who deliver services to students with IEPs, 1/2 of the salary paid or $3,500 per employee, whichever is less.

The State Board of Education shall set standards and prescribe rules for determining the allocation of reimbursement under this section on less than a full time basis and for less than a school year.

When any school district eligible for reimbursement under this Section operates a school or program approved by the State Superintendent of Education for a number of days in excess of the adopted school calendar but not to exceed 235 school days, such reimbursement shall be increased by 1/180 of the amount or rate paid hereunder for each day such school is operated in excess of 180 days per calendar year.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any school district receiving a payment under this Section or under Section 14-7.02, 14-7.02b, or 29-5 of this Code may classify all or a portion of the funds that it receives in a particular fiscal year or from general State aid pursuant to Section 18-8.05 of this Code as funds received in connection with any funding program for which it is entitled to receive funds from the State in that fiscal year (including, without limitation, any funding program referenced in this Section), regardless of the source or timing of the receipt. The district may not classify more funds as funds received in connection with the funding program than the district is entitled to receive in that fiscal year for that program. Any classification by a district must be made by a resolution of its board of education. The resolution must identify the amount of any payments or general State aid to be classified under this paragraph and must specify the funding program to which the funds are to be treated as received in connection therewith. This resolution is controlling as to the classification of funds referenced therein. A certified copy of the resolution must be sent to the State Superintendent of Education. The resolution shall still take effect even though a copy of the resolution has not been sent to the State Superintendent of Education in a timely manner. No classification under this paragraph by a district shall affect the total amount or timing of money the district is entitled to receive under this Code. No classification under this paragraph by a district shall in any way relieve the district from or affect any requirements that otherwise would apply with respect to that funding program, including any accounting of funds by source, reporting expenditures by original source and purpose, reporting requirements, or requirements of providing services.

(Source: P.A. 96-257, eff. 8-11-09; 97-123, eff. 7-14-11.)

(105 ILCS 5/14-14.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-14.01)

Sec. 14-14.01. Warrants for reimbursement. The State Comptroller shall draw his warrants on the State Treasurer on or before September 30 of each year for the respective sums for reimbursement for special education reported to him on presentation of vouchers approved by the State Superintendent of Education.

(Source: P.A. 83-729.)

(105 ILCS 5/14-15.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-15.01)

Sec. 14-15.01. Community and Residential Services Authority.

(a) (1) The Community and Residential Services Authority is hereby created and shall consist of the following members:

A representative of the State Board of Education;

Four representatives of the Department of Human Services appointed by the Secretary of Human Services, with one member from the Division of Community Health and Prevention, one member from the Division of Developmental Disabilities, one member from the Division of Mental Health, and one member from the Division of Rehabilitation Services;

A representative of the Department of Children and Family Services;

A representative of the Department of Juvenile Justice;

A representative of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services;

A representative of the Attorney General's Disability Rights Advocacy Division;

The Chairperson and Minority Spokesperson of the House and Senate Committees on Elementary and Secondary Education or their designees; and

Six persons appointed by the Governor. Five of such appointees shall be experienced or knowledgeable relative to provision of services for individuals with a behavior disorder or a severe emotional disturbance and shall include representatives of both the private and public sectors, except that no more than 2 of those 5 appointees may be from the public sector and at least 2 must be or have been directly involved in provision of services to such individuals. The remaining member appointed by the Governor shall be or shall have been a parent of an individual with a behavior disorder or a severe emotional disturbance, and that appointee may be from either the private or the public sector.

(2) Members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of 4 years and shall continue to serve until their respective successors are appointed; provided that the terms of the original appointees shall expire on August 1, 1990. Any vacancy in the office of a member appointed by the Governor shall be filled by appointment of the Governor for the remainder of the term.

A vacancy in the office of a member appointed by the Governor exists when one or more of the following events occur:

(i) An appointee dies;

(ii) An appointee files a written resignation with the Governor;

(iii) An appointee ceases to be a legal resident of the State of Illinois; or

(iv) An appointee fails to attend a majority of regularly scheduled Authority meetings in a fiscal year.

Members who are representatives of an agency shall serve at the will of the agency head. Membership on the Authority shall cease immediately upon cessation of their affiliation with the agency. If such a vacancy occurs, the appropriate agency head shall appoint another person to represent the agency.

If a legislative member of the Authority ceases to be Chairperson or Minority Spokesperson of the designated Committees, they shall automatically be replaced on the Authority by the person who assumes the position of Chairperson or Minority Spokesperson.

(b) The Community and Residential Services Authority shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To conduct surveys to determine the extent of need, the degree to which documented need is currently being met and feasible alternatives for matching need with resources.

(2) To develop policy statements for interagency cooperation to cover all aspects of service delivery, including laws, regulations and procedures, and clear guidelines for determining responsibility at all times.

(3) To recommend policy statements and provide information regarding effective programs for delivery of services to all individuals under 22 years of age with a behavior disorder or a severe emotional disturbance in public or private situations.

(4) To review the criteria for service eligibility, provision and availability established by the governmental agencies represented on this Authority, and to recommend changes, additions or deletions to such criteria.

(5) To develop and submit to the Governor, the General Assembly, the Directors of the agencies represented on the Authority, and the State Board of Education a master plan for individuals under 22 years of age with a behavior disorder or a severe emotional disturbance, including detailed plans of service ranging from the least to the most restrictive options; and to assist local communities, upon request, in developing or strengthening collaborative interagency networks.

(6) To develop a process for making determinations in situations where there is a dispute relative to a plan of service for individuals or funding for a plan of service.

(7) To provide technical assistance to parents, service consumers, providers, and member agency personnel regarding statutory responsibilities of human service and educational agencies, and to provide such assistance as deemed necessary to appropriately access needed services.

(c) (1) The members of the Authority shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred while performing their duties.

(2) The Authority may appoint special study groups to operate under the direction of the Authority and persons appointed to such groups shall receive only reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(3) The Authority shall elect from its membership a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary.

(4) The Authority may employ and fix the compensation of such employees and technical assistants as it deems necessary to carry out its powers and duties under this Act. Staff assistance for the Authority shall be provided by the State Board of Education.

(5) Funds for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Authority shall be appropriated to the State Board of Education in a separate line item.

(d) (1) The Authority shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out its powers and duties under this Act.

(2) The Authority may accept monetary gifts or grants from the federal government or any agency thereof, from any charitable foundation or professional association or from any other reputable source for implementation of any program necessary or desirable to the carrying out of the general purposes of the Authority. Such gifts and grants may be held in trust by the Authority and expended in the exercise of its powers and performance of its duties as prescribed by law.

(3) The Authority shall submit an annual report of its activities and expenditures to the Governor, the General Assembly, the directors of agencies represented on the Authority, and the State Superintendent of Education.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

(105 ILCS 5/14-16)

Sec. 14-16. Participation in graduation ceremony.

(a) This Section may be referred to as Brittany's Law. The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) Each year, school districts across this State celebrate their students' accomplishments through graduation ceremonies at which high school diplomas are bestowed upon students who have completed their high school requirements.

(2) There are children with disabilities in this State who have finished 4 years of high school, but whose individualized education programs prescribe the continuation of special education, transition planning, transition services, or related services beyond the completion of 4 years of high school.

(3) It is well-established that the awarding of a high school diploma to and the high school graduation of a child with a disability is tantamount to the termination of eligibility for special education and related services for the student under applicable federal law.

(4) Many children with disabilities who will continue their public education in accordance with their individualized education programs after finishing 4 years of high school wish to celebrate their accomplishments by participating in a graduation ceremony with their classmates.

(5) The opportunity for classmates with disabilities and those without disabilities to celebrate their accomplishments together only occurs once, and the opportunity to celebrate the receipt of a diploma several years after one's classmates have graduated diminishes the experience for students whose age peers have left high school several years earlier.

(b) Beginning March 1, 2005, each school district that operates a high school must have a policy and procedures that allow a child with a disability who will have completed 4 years of high school at the end of a school year to participate in the graduation ceremony of the student's high school graduating class and receive a certificate of completion if the student's individualized education program prescribes special education, transition planning, transition services, or related services beyond the student's 4 years of high school. The policy and procedures must require timely and meaningful written notice to children with disabilities and their parents or guardians about the school district's policy and procedures adopted in accordance with this Section.

(c) The State Board of Education shall monitor and enforce compliance with the provisions of this Section and is authorized to adopt rules for that purpose.

(Source: P.A. 93-1079, eff. 1-21-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 14A heading) ARTICLE 14A. GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN (Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/14A-5)

Sec. 14A-5. Applicability. This Article applies beginning with the 2006-2007 school year.

(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/14A-10)

Sec. 14A-10. Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) that gifted and talented children (i) exhibit high performance capabilities in intellectual, creative, and artistic areas, (ii) possess an exceptional leadership potential, (iii) excel in specific academic fields, and (iv) have the potential to be influential in business, government, health care, the arts, and other critical sectors of our economic and cultural environment;

(2) that gifted and talented children require services and activities that are not ordinarily provided by schools; and

(3) that outstanding talents are present in children and youth from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/14A-15)

Sec. 14A-15. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to provide encouragement, assistance, and guidance to school districts in the development and improvement of educational programs for gifted and talented children as defined in Section 14A-20 of this Code. School districts shall continue to have the authority and flexibility to design education programs for gifted and talented children in response to community needs, but these programs must comply with the requirements established in Section 14A-30 of this Code by no later than September 1, 2006 in order to merit approval by the State Board of Education in order to qualify for State funding for the education of gifted and talented children, should such funding become available.

(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/14A-20)

Sec. 14A-20. Gifted and talented children. For purposes of this Article, "gifted and talented children" means children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with other children and youth of their age, experience, and environment. A child shall be considered gifted and talented in any area of aptitude, and, specifically, in language arts and mathematics, by scoring in the top 5% locally in that area of aptitude.

(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/14A-25)

Sec. 14A-25. Non-discrimination. Eligibility for participation in programs established pursuant to this Article shall be determined solely through identification of a child as gifted or talented. No program shall condition participation upon race, religion, sex, disability, or any factor other than the identification of the child as gifted or talented.

(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)