Public Act 100-0514
 
HB2527 EnrolledLRB100 10670 MLM 20894 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
3-15.12a as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a new)
    Sec. 3-15.12a. Alternate route to high school diploma for
adult learners.
    (a) The purpose of this amendatory Act of the 100th General
Assembly is to provide eligible applicants that have been or
are unable to establish agreements with a secondary or unit
school district in the area in which the applicant is located
with a process for attaining the authority to award high school
diplomas to adult learners.
    (a-5) In this Section:
    "Adult learner" means a person ineligible for reenrollment
under subsection (b) of Section 26-2 of this Code and 34 CFR
300.102.
    "Board" means the Illinois Community College Board.
    "Eligible applicant" means a community college established
and operating under the authority of the Public Community
College Act; a non-profit entity in partnership with a regional
superintendent of schools; the chief administrator of an
intermediate service center that has the authority, under rules
adopted by the State Board of Education, to issue a high school
diploma; or a school district organized under Article 34 of
this Code. In order to be an eligible applicant, an entity
under this definition, other than a school district organized
under Article 34 of this Code, must provide evidence or other
documentation that it is or has been unable to establish an
agreement with a secondary or unit school district in which the
eligible applicant is located to provide a program in which
students who successfully complete the program can receive a
high school diploma from their school district of residence.
    "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the
Illinois Community College Board.
    "High school diploma program for adult learners" means a
program approved to operate under this Section that provides a
program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the
issuance of a high school diploma.
    (b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high
school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by
the Board prior to implementation. A non-profit eligible
applicant shall operate this program only within the
jurisdictional authority of the regional superintendent of
schools, the chief administrator of an intermediate service
center, or a school district organized Article 34 of this Code
with whom the non-profit eligible applicant has entered into a
partnership. An approved program shall include, without
limitation, all of the following:
        (1) An administrative structure, program activities,
    program staff, a budget, and a specific curriculum that is
    consistent with Illinois Learning Standards, as well as
    Illinois content standards for adults, but may be different
    from a regular school program in terms of location, length
    of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary
    courses, pace, instructional activities, or any
    combination of these.
        (2) Issuance of a high school diploma only if an adult
    learner meets all minimum requirements under this Code and
    its implementing rules for receipt of a high school
    diploma.
        (3) Specific academic, behavioral, and emotional
    support services to be offered to adult learners enrolled
    in the program.
        (4) Career and technical education courses that lead to
    industry certifications in high growth and in-demand
    industry sectors or dual credit courses from a regionally
    accredited post-secondary educational institution
    consistent with the Dual Credit Quality Act. The program
    may include partnering with a community college district to
    provide career and technical education courses that lead to
    industry certifications.
        (5) Specific program outcomes and goals and metrics to
    be used by the program to determine success.
        (6) The requirement that all instructional staff must
    hold an educator license valid for the high school grades
    issued under Article 21B of this Code.
        (7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the
    Board.
    (c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high
school diploma program for adult learners to the Board on forms
prescribed by the Board.
        (1) Initial approval shall be for a period not to
    exceed 2 school years.
        (2) Renewal of approval shall be for a period not to
    exceed 4 school years and shall be contingent upon at least
    specific documented outcomes of student progression,
    graduation rates, and earning of industry-recognized
    credentials.
        (3) Program approval may be given only if the Executive
    Director determines that the eligible applicant has
    provided assurance through evidence of other documentation
    that it will meet the requirements of subsection (b) of
    this Section and any rules adopted by the Board. The Board
    shall make public any evaluation criteria it uses in making
    a determination of program approval or denial.
        (4) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the
    contrary, a non-profit eligible applicant shall provide
    the following to the Board:
            (A) documentation that the non-profit entity will
        fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) of this
        Section;
            (B) evidence that the non-profit entity has the
        capacity to fulfill the requirements of this Section;
            (C) a description of the coordination and
        oversight that the eligible entity will provide in the
        administration of the program by the non-profit
        entity;
            (D) evidence that the non-profit entity has a
        history of providing services to adults 18 years of age
        or older whose educational and training opportunities
        have been limited by educational disadvantages,
        disabilities, and challenges.
        (5) If an eligible applicant that has been approved
    fails to meet any of the requirements of subsection (b) of
    this Section and any rules adopted by the Board, the
    Executive Director shall immediately initiate a process to
    revoke the eligible applicant's approval to provide the
    program, pursuant to rules adopted by the Board.
    (d) The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement
this Section.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.