Public Act 099-0674
 
HB5729 EnrolledLRB099 19376 NHT 43768 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.
 
    Section 5. Findings; declarations. The General Assembly
finds and declares the following:
        (1) Approximately half of Illinois high school
    graduates enrolling as full-time freshmen in Illinois
    public community colleges require remedial education.
        (2) Illinois employers report that recent high school
    and postsecondary institutional graduates often lack the
    critical skills necessary to succeed in high-demand and
    growing occupational areas and that they are unable to find
    qualified workers to meet their industry needs.
        (3) Student readiness for postsecondary education and
    careers cannot be reduced to a single metric, but must
    instead be understood as a multi-faceted set of knowledge,
    skills, and abilities that allow students to successfully
    meet the challenges of postsecondary education and career
    and live healthy, productive lives.
        (4) Enabling high school students to engage in career
    and postsecondary education development activities and
    incentivizing achievement in career-oriented education,
    particularly in high-demand industry sectors, promotes
    postsecondary and career readiness and facilitates
    better-informed postsecondary education decisions.
        (5) In response, Illinois should deploy a number of
    strategies to prepare more students for meaningful career
    opportunities by supporting postsecondary and career
    planning, promoting and incentivizing competency-based
    learning programs, reducing remedial education rates,
    increasing alignment between K-12 and postsecondary
    education systems, and implementing college and career
    pathway systems.
        (6) Aligning supports from State agencies, school
    districts, postsecondary education providers, employers,
    and other public and private organizations will lead to the
    development and implementation of a robust and coordinated
    postsecondary education and career readiness system in
    Illinois.
 
    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
    "Adaptive Competencies" means foundational skills needed
for success in college, careers, and life, such as, but not
limited to, work ethic, professionalism, communication,
collaboration and interpersonal skills, and problem-solving.
    "Career Exploration Activity" means an activity such as a
job shadow, attendance at a career exposition, or employer site
visit providing a student with the ability to engage directly
with employers for the purpose of gaining knowledge of one or
more industry sectors or occupations.
    "College-level mathematics course" means a mathematics
course that bears credit leading to a baccalaureate degree, a
certificate, or an associate degree from a postsecondary
institution.
    "Community college" means a public community college
organized under the Public Community College Act.
    "DCEO" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity.
    "Early college credit course" means a course through which
a high school student can receive postsecondary institution
course credit and includes dual credit courses, dual enrollment
courses, International Baccalaureate courses, Advanced
Placement courses, and courses with articulated credit with a
postsecondary institution.
    "Eligible School District" means a school district that has
satisfied the requirements set forth in Section 80 of this Act
and is eligible to award one or more College and Career Pathway
Endorsements.
    "Endorsement Area" means an industry sector or grouping of
sectors as organized and established pursuant to Section 80 of
this Act.
    "GECC" means the General Education Core Curriculum
developed by the IAI and adopted by IBHE and ICCB.
    "IAI" means the Illinois Articulation Initiative.
    "IBHE" means the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
    "ICCB" means the Illinois Community College Board.
    "IMACC" means the Illinois Mathematics Association of
Community Colleges.
    "Integrated courses" means courses that include
substantial instruction focused on both academic and
career-oriented competencies.
    "Intensive Career Exploration Experience" means a
structured, multi-day student experience, such as a career
exploration camp, that provides students with the opportunity
to explore various occupations relating to an Endorsement Area
with hands-on training and orientation activities.
    "IPIC" means the Illinois Pathways Interagency Committee
formed by intergovernmental agreement among at least the
following agencies: ISBE, ICCB, IBHE, ISAC, DCEO, and the
Department of Employment Security.
    "IPIC Agency" means a State agency participating in the
IPIC.
    "ISAC" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
    "ISBE" means the Illinois State Board of Education.
    "Local Community College" means, with respect to an
Eligible School District, a community college whose district
territory includes all or any portion of the district territory
of the Eligible School District.
    "Local school district" means, with respect to a
partnership agreement with a community college for
transitional mathematics instruction, a school district whose
district territory includes all or any portion of the district
territory of the community college.
    "Local Workforce Board" means the governing board of a
local workforce development area established pursuant to the
federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law
113-128).
    "Postsecondary institution" means a community college or
public university.
    "Professional Skills Assessment" means an observational
assessment of a student's performance in a Supervised Career
Development Experience given by an adult supervisor that
addresses, at minimum, the Adaptive Competencies of work ethic,
professionalism, communication, collaboration and
interpersonal skills, and problem-solving. The Professional
Skills Assessment is to be used as a feedback tool and student
development strategy and not for a grade or credit
determination.
    "Public university" means a public university listed in the
definition of "public institutions of higher education" under
the Board of Higher Education Act.
    "School district" means a public school district organized
and operating pursuant to the provisions of the School Code.
    "Statewide portability" means, with respect to
transitional mathematics instruction, all community colleges
other than the community college transcripting credit for
successful completion of the instruction provide the same
completion recognition for college-level mathematics course
placement purposes as the transcripting community college
provides.
    "Supervised Career Development Experience" means an
experience in which students obtain authentic and relevant work
experience relating to an Endorsement Area, such as an
internship, a school-based enterprise, a supervised
agricultural experience, cooperative education, or a research
apprenticeship, where the student either receives compensation
from an employer or credit by the school district and that
involves a Professional Skills Assessment.
    "Team-based Challenge" means a group problem-based
learning project relating to a student's Endorsement Area that
involves a problem relevant to employers within that
Endorsement Area, including mentoring from adults with
expertise in that Endorsement Area, and requires student
presentation of the outcomes of the project.
    "Transitional mathematics instruction" means instruction
delivered to a student during 12th grade for the purpose of
enabling the student to attain the transitional mathematics
competencies associated with the student's postsecondary
institution mathematics pathway and demonstrate readiness for
a college-level mathematics course. Transitional mathematics
instruction may be delivered through a mathematics course or an
integrated course or through a competency-based learning
system that includes a set of transitional mathematics
competencies.
 
    Section 15. Postsecondary and career expectations. By no
later than July 1, 2017, ISBE, ICCB, IBHE, and ISAC, in
consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall jointly
adopt and publicize model postsecondary and career
expectations for public school students in grades 8 through 12.
The model postsecondary and career expectations shall define
activities that school districts, parents, and community-based
organizations should support students in completing and
related knowledge students should possess by no later than the
end of each grade level. The model postsecondary and career
expectations must address the following categories:
        (1) career exploration and development;
        (2) postsecondary institution exploration,
    preparation, and selection; and
        (3) financial aid and financial literacy.
 
    Section 20. Competency-based, high school graduation
requirements pilot program. In consultation with ICCB and IBHE,
ISBE shall establish and administer a competency-based, high
school graduation requirements pilot program with school
districts selected pursuant to Section 25 of this Act. A school
district participating in the pilot program may select which of
the year and course graduation requirements set forth in
Section 27-22 of the School Code the school district wishes to
replace with a competency-based learning system. A school
district may participate in the pilot program for some or all
of its schools serving grades 9 through 12. The pilot program
shall include the following components and requirements:
        (1) The competency-based learning systems authorized
    through the pilot program shall include all of the
    following elements:
            (A) Students shall demonstrate mastery of all
        required competencies to earn credit.
            (B) Students must demonstrate mastery of Adaptive
        Competencies defined by the school district, in
        addition to academic competencies.
            (C) Students shall advance once they have
        demonstrated mastery, and students shall receive more
        time and personalized instruction to demonstrate
        mastery, if needed.
            (D) Students shall have the ability to attain
        advanced postsecondary education and career-related
        competencies beyond those needed for graduation.
            (E) Students must be assessed using multiple
        measures to determine mastery, usually requiring
        application of knowledge.
            (F) Students must be able to earn credit toward
        graduation requirements in ways other than traditional
        coursework, including learning opportunities outside
        the traditional classroom setting, such as Supervised
        Career Development Experiences.
        (2) A school district participating in the pilot
    program shall demonstrate that the proposed
    competency-based learning system is a core strategy
    supporting the community's efforts to better prepare high
    school students for college, career, and life. The
    application must identify the community partners that will
    support the system's implementation.
        (3) A school district participating in the pilot
    program must have a plan for educator administrator and
    educator professional development on the competency-based
    learning system and must demonstrate prior successful
    implementation of professional development systems for
    major district instructional initiatives.
        (4) A school district participating in the pilot
    program that is replacing graduation requirements in the
    core academic areas of mathematics, English language arts,
    and science with a competency-based learning system shall
    demonstrate how the competencies can be mastered through
    Integrated Courses or career and technical education
    courses.
        (5) A school district participating in the pilot
    program shall develop a plan for community engagement and
    communications.
        (6) A school district participating in the pilot
    program shall develop a plan for assigning course grades
    based on mastery of competencies within the
    competency-based learning system.
        (7) A school district participating in the pilot
    program shall establish a plan and system for collecting
    and assessing student progress on competency completion
    and attainment, including for learning opportunities
    outside of the traditional classroom setting.
        (8) A school district participating in the pilot
    program shall establish a system for data collection and
    reporting and must provide ISBE with such reports and
    information as may be required for administration and
    evaluation of the program.
        (9) A school district participating in the pilot
    program shall partner with a community college and a higher
    education institution other than a community college for
    consultation on the development and administration of its
    competency-based learning system. The plan shall address
    how high school graduates of a competency-based learning
    system will be able to provide information normally
    expected of postsecondary institutions for admission and
    financial aid.
        (10) A school district participating in the pilot
    program shall have a plan for engaging feeder elementary
    schools with the participating high school or schools on
    the establishment and administration of the
    competency-based learning system.
 
    Section 25. Competency-based, high school graduation
requirements pilot program eligibility and application
process.
    (a) The pilot program established under Section 20 of this
Act shall be administered by the State Superintendent of
Education in 2 phases: (i) an initial application and selection
process phase, and (ii) a subsequent phase for full development
and implementation of a detailed plan for a competency-based
learning system for high school graduation requirements.
    (b) For the initial phase under clause (i) of subsection
(a) of this Section, the State Superintendent of Education
shall develop and issue a pilot program application that
requires:
        (1) demonstration of commitment from the school
    district superintendent; the president of the school board
    of the district; teachers within the school district who
    will be involved with the pilot program implementation; a
    community college partner; and a higher education
    institution other than a community college;
        (2) an indication of which of the year and course
    graduation requirements set forth in Section 27-22 of the
    School Code the school district wishes to replace with a
    competency-based learning system;
        (3) a general description of the school district's plan
    for implementing a competency-based learning system for
    high school graduation requirements, including how the
    plan addresses the requirements of Section 20 of this Act
    and this Section;
        (4) the school district's prior professional
    development and stakeholder engagement efforts that will
    support its successful development and implementation of a
    competency-based learning system, including, without
    limitation, prior implementation of professional
    development systems for major district instructional
    initiatives; and
        (5) identification of any waivers or modifications of
    State law or rules for implementation of the proposed plan.
    The demonstration of commitment from teachers as required
by paragraph (1) of this subsection (b) must include a
description of how teachers have been engaged throughout the
application development process. If the school district has an
exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers and the
president of the exclusive bargaining representative does not
submit a statement of commitment for the application, the
school district must submit either a statement by the president
of the position of the exclusive bargaining representative on
the application or a description of the school district's good
faith efforts to obtain such a statement.
    (c) Subject to subsection (g) of this Section, the State
Superintendent of Education shall select school districts
meeting the requirements set forth in this Section to
participate in the pilot program based on the quality of the
proposed plan, the strength of the local commitments,
including, without limitation, teachers within the school
district who will be involved in the program's implementation
and postsecondary institution partnerships, and demonstration
of prior professional development and stakeholder engagement
efforts that will support the proposed system's successful
implementation. The State Superintendent of Education, in
selecting the participating school districts, shall also
consider the diversity of school district types and sizes, the
diversity of geographic representation from across the State,
and the diversity of plan approaches (such as approaches that
involve one subject only, multiple subjects, and the types of
subjects).
    (d) School districts selected to participate in the pilot
program shall receive technical assistance coordinated by the
State Superintendent of Education to develop a full pilot
program implementation plan. The State Superintendent of
Education shall have discretion to remove a school district
from the pilot program during this period if the school
district does not submit a full pilot program implementation
plan that meets the State Superintendent of Education's
specifications.
    (e) School districts shall, as part of the development of
their application and participation in the competency-based
learning system pilot program, establish and maintain a
standing planning and implementation committee that includes
representation from administrators and teachers, including
teachers who will be involved in the competency-based learning
system's implementation. The teacher representatives shall be
selected by teachers or, where applicable, the exclusive
bargaining representative of its teachers, and the number of
teacher representatives shall be at least equal to
administrator representatives, unless otherwise agreed to by
the teachers or, where applicable, the exclusive bargaining
representative of its teachers. The standing planning and
implementation committee shall develop reports that shall be
included within the initial application, the full pilot program
plan, and any subsequent annual submissions to the State
Superintendent of Education as part of the assessment and
evaluation of the program. The reports shall describe the
members' assessment of the school district's plan or
implementation, as applicable, of the school district's
competency-based learning system and any recommendations for
modifications or improvements to the system. If the committee
does not reach consensus on the report, the administrator
members shall submit the report and the teacher members may
provide a position statement that must be included with the
report submitted to the State Superintendent of Education.
    (f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the School Code
or any other law of this State to the contrary, school
districts participating in the pilot program may petition the
State Superintendent of Education for a waiver or modification
of the mandates of the School Code or of the administrative
rules adopted by ISBE in order to support the implementation of
the school district's proposed competency-based learning
system. However, no waiver shall be granted under this
subsection (f) relating to State assessments, accountability
requirements, teacher tenure or seniority, teacher or
principal evaluations, or learning standards or that removes
legal protections or supports intended for the protection of
children or a particular category of students, such as students
with disabilities or English learners. Any waiver or
modification of teacher educator licensure requirements to
permit instruction by non-educators or educators without an
appropriate license must ensure that an appropriately licensed
teacher and the provider of instruction partner in order to
verify the method for assessing competency of mastery and
verify whether a student has demonstrated mastery. All requests
must be jointly signed by the school district superintendent
and the president of the school board and must describe the
position of teachers within the school district that will be
involved in the competency-based learning system's
implementation on the application. If the school district has
an exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers and the
president of the exclusive bargaining representative does not
submit a statement of support for the application, the school
district must submit either a statement by the president that
describes the position of the exclusive bargaining
representative on the application or a description of the
school district's good faith efforts to obtain such a
statement. The State Superintendent of Education shall approve
a waiver or modification request meeting the requirements of
this subsection (f) if the State Superintendent of Education
determines the request is reasonably necessary to support the
implementation of the school district's proposed
competency-based learning system, and the request shall not
diminish the overall support of teachers within the school
district involved with the system's implementation as
demonstrated in the school district's initial application to
participate in the pilot program. An approved request shall
take effect in accordance with the timeline set forth in the
school district's application, and an approved waiver or
modification shall remain in effect for so long as the school
district participates in the pilot program established by this
Act. The State Superintendent of Education's approval of a
school district plan for implementation of competency-based,
high school graduation requirements shall serve as a waiver or
modification of any conflicting requirements of Section 27-22
of the School Code. School districts participating in the pilot
program may additionally pursue waivers and modifications
pursuant to Section 2-3.25g of the School Code.
    (g) For purposes of this subsection (g), "annual cohort"
means the group of school districts selected by the State
Superintendent of Education to participate in the pilot program
during an annual application and selection process. The State
Superintendent of Education shall limit each annual cohort of
the pilot program as follows: the first 2 annual cohorts shall
be limited to no more than 12 school districts, and any
subsequent annual cohort shall be limited to no more than 15
school districts. A school district may submit only one
application for each annual cohort of the pilot program. The
application of a school district having a population exceeding
500,000 inhabitants may not include more than 6 schools. The
expansion of a school district's competency-based learning
system to a new school or new subject area identified in
Section 27-22 of the School Code shall require a new
application by the school district.
 
    Section 30. Competency-based, high school graduation
requirements pilot program statewide supports. Subject to the
availability of public or private resources, to support school
district participation in the pilot program established under
Section 20 of this Act and development of competency-based
graduation requirements, ISBE shall provide or support the
provision of:
        (1) grants to school districts participating in the
    pilot program to offset the costs of educator training and
    initial implementation;
        (2) technical assistance and professional development
    for pilot program plan implementation, including, but not
    limited to, peer-to-peer coaching models;
        (3) an evaluation of the pilot program, with a report
    of successes and challenges, objective outcome measures,
    qualitative measures of implementation, and
    recommendations for further program modification and
    improvement;
        (4) networking opportunities for participating school
    districts, including opportunities for both administrators
    and teachers;
        (5) a web-based library of pilot program
    implementation plans and models supporting future
    replication activities; and
        (6) communication materials and supports for
    stakeholder engagement in the development and
    implementation of competency-based learning systems.
 
    Section 35. Competency-based, high school graduation
requirements pilot program implementation. The pilot program
established under Section 20 of this Act shall be implemented
as follows:
        (1) By June 30, 2017, the State Superintendent of
    Education shall publish the application for school
    districts to participate in the initial cohort of the pilot
    program.
        (2) By no later than April 1, 2018, following a review
    and selection process established by the State
    Superintendent of Education pursuant to Section 25 of this
    Act, school districts shall be selected for the initial
    cohort of the pilot program.
        (3) By no later than October 1, 2018, school districts
    participating in the initial cohort of the pilot program
    shall develop and submit the full pilot program
    implementation plans described in Section 25 of this Act.
        (4) During the 2018-2019 school year, school districts
    participating in the initial cohort shall commence initial
    implementation activities in accordance with their full
    pilot program implementation plan.
        (5) During the 2021-2022 school year, the State
    Superintendent of Education or his or her designee shall
    evaluate the school districts participating in the pilot
    program and make recommendations to ISBE and the General
    Assembly for elimination, modification, or expansion of
    the pilot program.
        (6) The State Superintendent of Education may
    establish one or more additional cohorts of the pilot
    program for implementation commencing in the 2019-2020 and
    subsequent school years.
 
    Section 40. Guiding principles for and purposes of
transitional mathematics instruction.
    (a) ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE shall jointly establish and
administer requirements and supports for transitional
mathematics instruction pursuant to the requirements of
Sections 45 through 65 of this Act. In doing so, these agencies
shall be guided by all of the following principles:
        (1) Transitional mathematics instruction should be one
    of multiple strategies to reduce statewide remedial
    education rates, including better alignment of school
    district and postsecondary institution systems, targeted
    mathematics interventions throughout high school, and the
    use of corequisite remedial education models by
    postsecondary institutions.
        (2) Postsecondary institution placement into
    college-level mathematics courses should be based on more
    than a standardized assessment score, and postsecondary
    institutions should utilize multiple measures for
    placement in most instances.
        (3) All high school students who can demonstrate
    readiness for college-level mathematics courses should
    have access to such courses.
        (4) Students should be provided mathematics
    instruction aligned to their individualized postsecondary
    education and career objectives.
        (5) Mathematics instruction should be contextualized
    and emphasize real-world application whenever possible,
    and instructional strategies integrating mathematics
    competencies with other academic and career competencies
    are encouraged for all students.
    (b) The purposes of transitional mathematics instruction
are to:
        (1) provide the mathematical foundation for
    postsecondary education and careers that high school
    students are lacking from their previous education;
        (2) provide high school students with the mathematical
    knowledge and skills to meet their individualized
    postsecondary education and career objectives; and
        (3) provide high school students with the knowledge and
    skills to be successful in mathematics college-level
    courses.
 
    Section 45. Statewide panel to define transitional
mathematics instruction recommendations.
    (a) Subject to the availability of public or private
resources for its administration, ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE shall
jointly establish a statewide panel to recommend competencies
and other requirements for transitional mathematics
instruction that lead to various postsecondary institution
mathematics pathways. ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE shall consult with
the IMACC on the establishment and administration of the
statewide panel. The statewide panel shall include high school
educators and administrators and community college and
university faculty and administrators, including broad
representation from general education and career and technical
education. The statewide panel shall also consult with
representations of private sector employers on the definition
of competencies for postsecondary institution mathematics
pathways and consider mathematics utilized in pre-employment
screenings for entry-level careers. Following the delivery of
the statewide panel's recommendations, ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE
shall, in consultation with IMACC and the statewide panel,
jointly adopt competencies and requirements for transitional
mathematics instruction and related postsecondary institution
mathematics pathways.
    (b) The statewide panel shall define transitional
mathematics competencies aligned to ISBE-adopted learning
standards and requirements associated with, at minimum, the
following postsecondary institution mathematics pathways:
        (1) STEM Pathway. The STEM Pathway is for students with
    career goals involving occupations that require the
    application of calculus or advanced algebraic skills. In
    accordance with and subject to this Act, successful
    attainment of transitional mathematics competencies in the
    STEM Pathway guarantees student placement into a community
    college mathematics course in a calculus-based mathematics
    course sequence.
        (2) Technical Pathway. The Technical Pathway is for
    students with career goals involving occupations in
    technical fields that do not require the application of
    calculus, advanced algebraic, or advanced statistical
    skills. Mathematics in the Technical Pathway emphasizes
    the application of mathematics within career settings. In
    accordance with and subject to this Act, successful
    attainment of transitional mathematics competencies in the
    Technical Pathway guarantees student placement into a
    credit-bearing postsecondary mathematics course required
    for a community college career and technical education
    program.
        (3) Quantitative Literacy and Statistics Pathway. The
    Quantitative Literacy and Statistics Pathway is for
    students focused on attaining competency in general
    statistics, data analysis, quantitative literacy, and
    problem solving. The Quantitative Literacy and Statistics
    Pathway is intended for students whose career goals do not
    involve occupations relating to either the STEM or
    Technical Pathway or those who have not yet selected a
    career goal. In accordance with and subject to this Act,
    successful attainment of transitional mathematics
    competencies in the Quantitative Literacy and Statistics
    Pathway guarantees student placement into a community
    college GECC mathematics course not in a calculus-based
    course sequence.
    (c) The statewide panel shall make recommendations on
whether separate transitional mathematics competencies should
be defined for students with career goals involving occupations
that require the application of advanced statistics, such as
occupations in certain social science fields. The statewide
panel shall also provide recommendations for methods to
incorporate transitional mathematics competencies into
integrated courses.
    (d) The statewide panel shall recommend statewide criteria
for determining the projected readiness of 11th grade students
for college-level mathematics courses in each of the
postsecondary education mathematics pathways for purposes of
placement into transitional mathematics instruction in 12th
grade. The statewide criteria shall include standardized
assessment results, grade point average, and course
completions. The statewide criteria shall also define a minimal
level of mathematical competency necessary for student
placement into transitional mathematics instruction. Following
the delivery of such recommendations, ISBE and ICCB shall
jointly adopt statewide criteria for determining projected
readiness for college-level mathematics courses in each of the
postsecondary institution mathematics pathways for purposes of
placement into transitional mathematics instruction in 12th
grade.
    (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Act, in the event the statewide panel is not established
due to the unavailability of public and private resources and
ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE are therefore unable to jointly adopt
competencies and requirements for transitional mathematics
instruction and related postsecondary institution mathematics
pathways, then no transitional mathematics instruction is
required to be delivered by school districts or accepted for
placement by community colleges in accordance with this Act.
    (f) Subject to the availability of public or private
resources for its administration, ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE shall,
in consultation with the members of the statewide panel,
establish and administer procedures for approving transitional
mathematics instruction for statewide portability.
    (g) In accordance with timelines and publication
requirements established by IBHE, each public university must
adopt and publicize transparent criteria adopted by the
university for student placement into college-level
mathematics courses. IBHE must publicly report on the adoption
of such criteria and the extent to which public universities
are utilizing strategies to minimize placements into
non-credit-bearing remedial mathematics course sequences.
 
    Section 50. Transitional mathematics instruction placement
and delivery.
    (a) A school district electing or required to deliver
transitional mathematics instruction in accordance with
Section 65 of this Act shall use the statewide criteria
established pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 45 of this
Act to determine each student's projected readiness for
college-level mathematics courses upon high school graduation
in that student's selected postsecondary institution
mathematics pathway. The school district shall make a
pre-determination of student readiness at the end of the first
semester of 11th grade and may adjust readiness determinations
at the end of 11th grade. The readiness of a student who has
not selected a postsecondary institution mathematics pathway
shall be determined in accordance with the criteria for the
Quantitative Literacy and Statistics Pathways. Notwithstanding
the readiness determinations, instructional requirements for
students with disabilities shall be subject to the
individualized goals set forth within the student's
individualized education program required by State and federal
law.
    (b) Public high school graduates of school districts
implementing transitional mathematics instruction in
accordance with this Act may demonstrate readiness for
college-level mathematics courses at applicable postsecondary
institutions through any of the following methods:
        (1) At the end of 11th grade, the student does not meet
    the statewide criteria for demonstrating projected
    readiness for college-level mathematics courses upon high
    school graduation in the student's postsecondary education
    mathematics pathway, but the student subsequently achieves
    successful completion of transitional mathematics
    instruction for the postsecondary education mathematics
    pathway. Students who achieve successful completion shall
    receive transcripted credit for the transitional
    mathematics instruction from the community college partner
    and, subject to subsections (c) and (d) of this Section,
    shall be placed by applicable postsecondary institutions
    recognizing the transcripted credit in accordance with
    this Act into an appropriate college-level mathematics
    course in the student's postsecondary institution
    mathematics pathway. Students who do not achieve
    successful completion shall be subject to generally
    applicable postsecondary institution mathematics placement
    processes. For the purposes of this paragraph (1),
    successful completion means the student successfully
    demonstrates attainment of transitional mathematics
    competencies either through an overall grade for the
    mathematics-related portion of a course or demonstrated
    mastery of all transitional mathematics competencies
    delivered through a competency-based learning system.
        (2) At the end of 11th grade, the student meets the
    statewide criteria for demonstrating projected readiness
    for college-level mathematics courses upon high school
    graduation in the student's postsecondary education
    mathematics pathway, and the student subsequently
    successfully completes rigorous mathematics instruction in
    accordance with criteria jointly adopted by ISBE and ICCB.
        (3) The student meets applicable postsecondary
    institution criteria for demonstrating readiness for
    college-level mathematics courses in the student's
    postsecondary education mathematics pathway.
    (c) All postsecondary institutions that have entered into a
partnership agreement pursuant to Section 55 of this Act shall
recognize community college transcripted credit from
transitional mathematics instruction delivered by school
districts participating in the partnership agreement for
student placement into appropriate college-level mathematics
courses. If statewide portability approval procedures have
been established pursuant to subsection (f) of Section 45 of
this Act, then all community colleges shall recognize community
college transcripted credit from transitional mathematics
instruction that has been approved in accordance with the
statewide portability procedures. A public university is not
required to recognize transcripted credit from transitional
mathematics instruction for placement purpose unless the
public university voluntarily agrees to do so through entering
into a partnership agreement in accordance with Section 55 of
this Act. The placement determinations described in this
Section are valid for 18 months after high school graduation,
provided a postsecondary institution may require a short-term,
skill-based review or a corequisite remediation course for a
student who does not enroll in a college-level mathematics
course in the fall semester after high school graduation.
 
    Section 55. High school and community college partnership
agreements for transitional mathematics instruction.
    (a) Transitional mathematics instruction shall be
delivered by high school faculty with community college
collaboration as defined through a partnership agreement
meeting the requirements of this Section. While transitional
mathematics instruction may be delivered through stand-alone
mathematics courses, school districts and community colleges
may use integrated courses or competency-based learning
systems for the delivery of transitional mathematics
instruction.
    (b) School districts serving grades 9 through 12 electing
or required to deliver transitional mathematics instruction in
accordance with Section 65 of this Act shall enter into a
partnership agreement for transitional mathematics courses
with at least one community college. All partnership agreements
shall address the following:
        (1) The co-development by the school district and
    community college of transitional mathematics courses or a
    defined mathematics competency set or the adaptation of the
    State model transitional instructional units that align to
    the statewide competencies for particular postsecondary
    institution mathematics pathways, which shall also include
    the design of local performance indicators and evidence
    associated with those indicators.
        (2) The community college courses for which the
    successful completion of transitional mathematics
    instruction will guarantee placement, subject to
    subsection (b) of Section 50 of this Act.
        (3) The availability of dual enrollment and dual credit
    courses for high school students demonstrating current
    readiness for college-level mathematics courses.
        (4) Training and professional development to be
    provided to the high school instructors of transitional
    mathematics instruction.
        (5) The utilization of integrated courses or
    competency-based learning systems for transitional
    mathematics instruction.
    (c) A community college must enter into a partnership
agreement when requested to do so by a local school district
that has elected or is required to deliver transitional
mathematics instruction in accordance with Section 65 of this
Act, provided the community college receives an implementation
grant in an amount determined by ICCB to compensate for its
related instructional development and implementation
activities. A community college may require standardized terms
for all of its partner school districts. ISBE and ICCB shall
jointly resolve any disputes between a school district and
community college regarding the proposed terms of a partnership
agreement.
    (d) When developing partnership agreements, community
colleges and school districts shall consult with a public
university that has requested consultation in accordance with
requirements established by ICCB and IBHE. A public university
may, in its sole discretion, elect to become a party to a
partnership agreement.
    (e) Regional offices of education may, with the consent of
participating school districts, establish multi-district
partnership agreements with one or more postsecondary
institutions.
 
    Section 60. Transitional mathematics instruction statewide
supports.
    (a) ICCB shall permit transitional mathematics instruction
that has been transcripted by a community college in accordance
with the requirements of this Act to be claimed for
reimbursement for community college funding purposes.
    (b) Subject to the availability of public or private
resources, ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE, in collaboration with IMACC,
shall support at least 2 collaborative efforts among school
districts and postsecondary institutions to develop model
transitional mathematics instructional units. All
State-supported models shall include real-world application
projects that can be delivered to particular students based on
career interests. At least one of the State-supported
transitional mathematics models must be highly modularized for
blended-learning delivery, with:
        (1) a pre-assessment system to ensure that completion
    of modules are required only when the competencies have not
    been sufficiently mastered;
        (2) the ability for students to complete coursework in
    areas of need at their own pace;
        (3) the ability for transitional mathematics modules
    to be included within integrated courses or
    competency-based learning systems; and
        (4) the ability for students to complete dual credit
    modules upon completion of the transitional mathematics
    modules.
    (c) Provided that statewide portability procedures have
been established pursuant to subsection (f) of Section 45 of
this Act, ISBE and ICCB shall identify and publicize courses
for transitional mathematics instruction that meet the
statewide portability requirements and that can be delivered
fully online or through blended-learning models without the
requirement for in-person mathematics instruction at the high
school.
    (d) ISBE and ICCB shall jointly develop and provide a model
partnership agreement for school districts and community
colleges.
    (e) ISBE and ICCB shall provide standardized reports to
school districts and community colleges, including, but not
limited to:
        (1) reports that school districts and community
    colleges can use for determining students 11th grade
    projected readiness for college-level mathematics courses
    upon high school graduation; and
        (2) reports that compare participating students'
    postsecondary outcomes with other students, particularly
    those in traditional developmental education course
    sequences.
 
    Section 65. Transitional mathematics instruction
implementation.
    (a) Subject to the availability of public or private
resources, by no later than June 30, 2018, the statewide panel
established pursuant to Section 45 of this Act shall define the
transitional mathematics competencies and statewide criteria
for determining projected readiness for college-level
mathematics courses, and the school district and postsecondary
institution collaborative efforts established pursuant to
Section 60 of this Act shall develop the model transitional
mathematics instructional units.
    (b) By no later than June 30, 2019, ISBE and ICCB shall
jointly establish a phased implementation plan and benchmarks
that lead to full statewide implementation of transitional
mathematics instruction in all school districts with
timeframes that account for State and local resources and
capacity. The phased implementation plan shall be contingent
upon all of the following:
        (1) The availability of public or private resources
    necessary for the implementation of the statewide panel and
    the administration of the statewide portability procedures
    described in Section 45 of this Act.
        (2) The availability of public or private resources for
    the grants to community colleges described in subsection
    (c) of Section 55 of this Act.
        (3) The availability of at least one fully online or
    blended-learning course as described in subsection (c) of
    Section 60 of this Act that has been approved through the
    statewide portability procedures established pursuant to
    subsection (f) of Section 45 of this Act.
        (4) The right of school boards to opt out of
    implementation in accordance with subsection (c) of this
    Section.
    (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing implementation
requirements, the school board of any school district required
to implement transitional mathematics instruction pursuant to
the implementation plan adopted by ISBE and ICCB may, by action
of its board, opt out of implementation through a finding by
its board that the school district's cost of implementation
outweighs the potential benefits to students and families
through improved postsecondary education mathematics outcomes.
The school district must report any decision to opt out of
implementation to ISBE.
    (d) The implementation plan adopted by ISBE and ICCB
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section shall include an
evaluation and report to be issued by no later than June 30,
2022 that analyzes results, best practices, and challenges of
school districts and community colleges that have implemented
transitional mathematics instruction.
    (e) By June 30, 2018, IBHE shall adopt the requirements for
public universities described in subsection (g) of Section 45
of this Act and public universities shall adopt and publicize
the criteria described in subsection (g) of Section 45 of this
Act. By June 30, 2020, and then at least once every 2 years
thereafter, IBHE shall publicly report in accordance with
subsection (g) of Section 45 of this Act.
    (f) Commencing in the 2019-2020 school year, the school
board of any school district serving grades 9 through 12 may
elect to implement transitional mathematics instruction
preparing students for one or more of the postsecondary
institution mathematics pathways. If a school board makes an
election and a community college for that local school district
receives an implementation grant in accordance with subsection
(c) of Section 55 of this Act, the community college must enter
into a partnership agreement and provide the necessary support
for implementation within timelines established by ICCB.
 
    Section 70. Reading and communication transitional
competencies. Subject to the availability of public or private
resources for its administration, ISBE, ICCB, and IBHE shall
jointly establish a statewide panel to recommend competencies
for reading and communication aligned to applicable learning
standards adopted by ISBE that, if attained by a student, lead
to student placement into appropriate community college GECC
communications courses. The statewide panel shall recommend
strategies to embed the reading and communications
developmental competencies in appropriate high school
coursework.
 
    Section 75. College and Career Pathway Endorsements
System.
    (a) Public high school graduates may attain College and
Career Pathway Endorsements on high school diplomas in
accordance with the requirements of Section 80 of this Act. The
IPIC Agencies shall establish and administer a system for
awarding and supporting College and Career Pathway
Endorsements in accordance with the requirements of Sections 80
and 85 of this Act and oversee its implementation in accordance
with the timelines set forth in Section 90 of this Act.
    (b) The College and Career Pathway Endorsements System is
established for the purposes of:
        (1) recognizing and incentivizing student attainment
    of knowledge and demonstration of skills important for
    success in both postsecondary education and employment;
        (2) encouraging career exploration and development to
    improve students' decision-making for subsequent education
    and career advancement;
        (3) promoting greater consistency of college and
    career pathway program structures within particular
    sectors;
        (4) aligning supports from the State, employers, and
    regional intermediary support organizations; and
        (5) institutionalizing college and career pathways as
    a key strategy for preparing more Illinois students for
    postsecondary education success and rewarding career
    opportunities.
 
    Section 80. College and Career Pathway Endorsements.
    (a) College and Career Pathway Endorsements are
established to recognize public high school graduates who
complete the requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this
Section.
    (b) School district participation in this program is
voluntary.
    (c) As of the 2019-2020 school year, Eligible School
Districts may award one or more College and Career Pathway
Endorsements on high school diplomas in Endorsement Areas
established by ISBE in consultation with the other IPIC
Agencies and appropriate stakeholders, including postsecondary
institutions and employers. When establishing the Endorsement
Areas, the agencies shall consider the Illinois career cluster
framework, prevalent models for comprehensive pathway systems
in Illinois high schools that articulate to postsecondary
institutions and career training programs, prevalent models
for guided pathway systems at postsecondary institutions, and
the postsecondary institution mathematics pathways established
pursuant to this Act. The Endorsement Areas shall also provide
for a multidisciplinary endorsement for students that change
career pathways during high school while meeting the
individualized plan, professional learning, and academic
readiness requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this
Section.
    (d) To earn a College and Career Pathway Endorsement, a
student shall satisfy all of the following requirements:
        (1) Develop and periodically update an individualized
    plan for postsecondary education or training, careers, and
    financial aid. This individualized plan shall also include
    student development of a resume and personal statement with
    student reflection on attainment of Adaptive Competencies.
    The Eligible School District shall certify to ISBE that its
    individualized planning process spans grades 9 through 12
    and includes an annual process for updating the plan.
        (2) Complete a career-focused instructional sequence,
    including at least 2 years of coursework or equivalent
    competencies within an Endorsement Area or, for students
    attaining a multidisciplinary endorsement, multiple
    Endorsement Areas. An Eligible School District must
    consult with its regional education for employment
    director on the establishment of the career-focused
    instructional sequence. For all areas other than for
    multidisciplinary endorsements, the Eligible School
    District and a Local Community College shall certify to
    ISBE and ICCB that the career-focused instructional
    sequence is articulated to a certificate or degree program
    with labor market value, with opportunities for ongoing
    student advancement. ISBE and ICCB may adopt requirements
    for certifying that the instructional sequence meets the
    requirements of this paragraph (2). This certification
    must be re-certified at least once every 5 years
    thereafter. Commencing in the 2022-2023 school year,
    students must earn at least 6 hours of credit through early
    college credit courses within the career-focused
    instructional sequence.
        (3) Complete a minimum of 2 Career Exploration
    Activities or one Intensive Career Exploration Experience,
    a minimum of 2 Team-based Challenges, and at least 60
    cumulative hours of participation in one or more Supervised
    Career Development Experiences.
        (4) Demonstrate readiness for non-remedial coursework
    in reading and mathematics by high school graduation
    through criteria certified by the Eligible School District
    and a Local Community College to ISBE and ICCB. The
    criteria shall align to any local partnership agreement
    established pursuant to Section 55 of this Act and may
    allow the demonstration of readiness through various
    methods, including assessment scores, grade point average,
    course completions, or other locally adopted criteria.
    (e) To become an Eligible School District and award College
and Careers Pathway Endorsements, a school district shall
submit information in a form determined by ISBE and ICCB that
indicates the school district's intent to award College and
Career Pathway Endorsements in one or more Endorsement Areas
and includes the certifications described in subsection (d) of
this Section. Either ISBE or ICCB may require supporting
evidence for any certification made by the school district in
the submission. An Eligible School District must participate in
any quality review process adopted by ISBE for College and
Career Pathway Endorsement systems, provided that the quality
review process is at no cost to the Eligible School District.
 
    Section 85. Statewide planning and supports for College and
Career Pathway Endorsement programs.
    (a) By no later than June 30, 2017, the IPIC Agencies shall
develop and adopt a comprehensive interagency plan for
supporting the development of College and Career Pathway
Endorsement programs throughout the State. Thereafter, the
plan shall be re-assessed and updated at least once every 5
years. The plan shall:
        (1) designate priority, State-level industry sectors
    consistent with those identified through federal and State
    workforce and economic development planning processes;
        (2) articulate a strategy for supporting College and
    Career Pathway Endorsement programs that includes State
    and federal funding, business and philanthropic
    investments, and local investments;
        (3) consider the need for school districts and
    postsecondary institutions to phase in endorsement
    programs and the elements specified in subsection (d) of
    Section 80 of this Act over multiple years; and
        (4) address how College and Career Pathway Endorsement
    programs articulate to postsecondary institution degree
    programs.
    (b) In accordance with the interagency plan developed
pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section and within the
limits of available public and private resources, the IPIC
Agencies shall establish a public-private steering committee
for each priority State-level industry sector that includes
representatives from one or more business-led, sector-based
partnerships. By no later than June 30, 2018, each steering
committee shall recommend to the IPIC Agencies a sequence of
minimum career competencies for particular occupational
pathways within that sector that students should attain by high
school graduation as part of a College and Career Pathway
Endorsement program. The IPIC Agencies shall establish methods
to recognize and incentivize College and Career Pathway
Endorsement programs that:
        (1) address a priority State-level industry sector;
        (2) are developed jointly by school districts,
    community colleges, Local Workforce Development Boards,
    and employers; and
        (3) align to sequences of minimum career competencies
    defined pursuant to this subsection (b), with any regional
    modifications appropriate for local economic development
    objectives.
    (c) In accordance with the interagency plan developed
pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section and within the
limits of available public and private resources, the IPIC
Agencies shall provide all of the following supports for
College and Career Pathway Endorsement program:
        (1) Provide guidance documents for implementation of
    each of the various elements of College and Career Pathway
    Endorsement programs.
        (2) Provide or designate one or more web-based tools to
    support College and Career Pathway Endorsement programs,
    including a professional learning portfolio, Professional
    Skills Assessment, and mentoring platform.
        (3) Make available a statewide insurance policy for
    appropriate types of Supervised Career Development
    Experiences.
        (4) Provide or designate one or more model
    instructional units that provide an orientation to all
    career cluster areas.
        (5) Coordinate with business-led, sector-based
    partnerships to:
            (A) designate available curricular and
        instructional resources that school districts can
        voluntarily select to address requirements for College
        and Career Pathway Endorsement programs;
            (B) designate stackable industry-based
        certifications, the completion of which demonstrates
        mastery of specific career competencies and that are
        widely valued by employers within a particular sector;
            (C) deliver or support sector-oriented
        professional development, Career Exploration
        Activities, Intensive Career Exploration Experiences,
        Team-based Challenges, and Supervised Career
        Development Experiences; and
            (D) develop recognition and incentives for school
        districts implementing and students attaining College
        and Career Pathway Endorsements that align to the
        sequence of minimum career competencies defined
        pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.
    (d) To support articulation of College and Career Pathway
Endorsement programs into higher education, by no later than
June 30, 2018 ICCB and IBHE shall jointly adopt, in
consultation with postsecondary institutions, requirements for
postsecondary institutions to define first-year course
schedules and degree programs with Endorsement areas to support
the successful transition of Endorsement recipients into
related degree programs. These requirements shall take effect
in the 2020-2021 school year.
 
    Section 90. Implementation of the College and Career
Pathway Endorsement programs.
    (a) By no later than June 30, 2017:
        (1) the IPIC Agencies shall define the framework for
    Endorsement Areas and ISBE shall define the high school
    course codes that relate to each area; and
        (2) the IPIC Agencies shall adopt the comprehensive
    plan required by subsection (a) of Section 85 of this Act.
    (b) By no later than June 30, 2018:
        (1) the public-private steering committees described
    in subsection (b) of Section 85 of this Act shall recommend
    to the IPIC Agencies a sequence of minimum career
    competencies for particular occupational pathways within
    that sector that students should attain by high school
    graduation as part of a College and Career Pathway
    Endorsement program;
        (2) ICCB and IBHE shall adopt the requirements for
    postsecondary institutions described in subsection (d) of
    Section 85 of this Act; and
        (3) the IPIC Agencies shall commence the development of
    the statewide supports described in Section 85 of this Act.
    (c) By no later than June 30, 2019, (i) Eligible School
Districts shall submit the information and certifications
required by ISBE and ICCB to offer Career Pathway Endorsement
programs for 2020 high school graduates; and (ii) the IPIC
Agencies shall initially offer the statewide supports
described in Section 85 of this Act.
    (d) By no later than the 2020-2021 school year,
postsecondary institutions shall implement the requirements
adopted by ICCB and IBHE pursuant to subsection (d) of Section
85 of this Act.
 
    Section 900. Administrative rules. ISBE, in consultation
with the other State agencies described in this Act, as
applicable, may adopt such administrative rules as may be
necessary for the implementation of this Act. ICCB and IBHE may
adopt such administrative rules as may be necessary to
implement Sections 45 through 70 and subsection (d) of Section
85 of this Act.
 
    Section 905. The School Code is amended by changing Section
27-22 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/27-22)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-22)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 99-434 and
99-485)
    Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.
    (a) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 1984-1985 school year
through the 2004-2005 school year must, in addition to other
course requirements, successfully complete the following
courses:
        (1) three years of language arts;
        (2) two years of mathematics, one of which may be
    related to computer technology;
        (3) one year of science;
        (4) two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government;
    and
        (5) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language or (D) vocational education.
    (b) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2005-2006 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
        (1) Three years of language arts.
        (2) Three years of mathematics.
        (3) One year of science.
        (4) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government.
        (5) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
    (c) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2006-2007 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
        (1) Three years of language arts.
        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
    which must be English and the other of which may be English
    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
    graduation requirements.
        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
    Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content.
        (4) One year of science.
        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government.
        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
    (d) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2007-2008 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
        (1) Three years of language arts.
        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
    which must be English and the other of which may be English
    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
    graduation requirements.
        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
    Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content.
        (4) Two years of science.
        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government.
        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
    (e) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2008-2009 school year
or a subsequent school year must, in addition to other course
requirements, successfully complete all of the following
courses:
        (1) Four years of language arts.
        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
    which must be English and the other of which may be English
    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
    graduation requirements.
        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
    Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
    one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
    course if the pupil successfully completes Algebra II or an
    integrated mathematics course with Algebra II content.
        (4) Two years of science.
        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government.
        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
    (f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform
school districts of standards for writing-intensive
coursework.
    (f-5) If a school district offers an Advanced Placement
computer science course to high school students, then the
school board must designate that course as equivalent to a high
school mathematics course and must denote on the student's
transcript that the Advanced Placement computer science course
qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for
students in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (e)
of this Section.
    (g) This amendatory Act of 1983 does not apply to pupils
entering the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior
school years or to students with disabilities whose course of
study is determined by an individualized education program.
    This amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly does not
apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school
year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities
whose course of study is determined by an individualized
education program.
    (h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
provisions of Section 27-22.05 of this Code and the
Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-885, eff. 8-15-14.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 99-434 and 99-485)
    Sec. 27-22. Required high school courses.
    (a) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 1984-1985 school year
through the 2004-2005 school year must, in addition to other
course requirements, successfully complete the following
courses:
        (1) three years of language arts;
        (2) two years of mathematics, one of which may be
    related to computer technology;
        (3) one year of science;
        (4) two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government;
    and
        (5) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language or (D) vocational education.
    (b) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2005-2006 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
        (1) Three years of language arts.
        (2) Three years of mathematics.
        (3) One year of science.
        (4) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government.
        (5) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
    (c) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2006-2007 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
        (1) Three years of language arts.
        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
    which must be English and the other of which may be English
    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
    graduation requirements.
        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
    Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content.
        (4) One year of science.
        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government.
        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
    (d) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2007-2008 school year
must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully
complete all of the following courses:
        (1) Three years of language arts.
        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
    which must be English and the other of which may be English
    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
    graduation requirements.
        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
    Algebra I and one of which must include geometry content.
        (4) Two years of science.
        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government.
        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
    (e) As a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma,
each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2008-2009 school year
or a subsequent school year must, in addition to other course
requirements, successfully complete all of the following
courses:
        (1) Four years of language arts.
        (2) Two years of writing intensive courses, one of
    which must be English and the other of which may be English
    or any other subject. When applicable, writing-intensive
    courses may be counted towards the fulfillment of other
    graduation requirements.
        (3) Three years of mathematics, one of which must be
    Algebra I, one of which must include geometry content, and
    one of which may be an Advanced Placement computer science
    course if the pupil successfully completes Algebra II or an
    integrated mathematics course with Algebra II content.
        (4) Two years of science.
        (5) Two years of social studies, of which at least one
    year must be history of the United States or a combination
    of history of the United States and American government
    and, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the
    2016-2017 school year and each school year thereafter, at
    least one semester must be civics, which shall help young
    people acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and
    attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and
    responsible citizens throughout their lives. Civics course
    content shall focus on government institutions, the
    discussion of current and controversial issues, service
    learning, and simulations of the democratic process.
    School districts may utilize private funding available for
    the purposes of offering civics education.
        (6) One year chosen from (A) music, (B) art, (C)
    foreign language, which shall be deemed to include American
    Sign Language, or (D) vocational education.
    (f) The State Board of Education shall develop and inform
school districts of standards for writing-intensive
coursework.
    (f-5) If a school district offers an Advanced Placement
computer science course to high school students, then the
school board must designate that course as equivalent to a high
school mathematics course and must denote on the student's
transcript that the Advanced Placement computer science course
qualifies as a mathematics-based, quantitative course for
students in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (e)
of this Section.
    (g) This amendatory Act of 1983 does not apply to pupils
entering the 9th grade in 1983-1984 school year and prior
school years or to students with disabilities whose course of
study is determined by an individualized education program.
    This amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly does not
apply to pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school
year or a prior school year or to students with disabilities
whose course of study is determined by an individualized
education program.
    (h) The provisions of this Section are subject to the
provisions of Section 27-22.05 of this Code and the
Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-885, eff. 8-15-14; 99-434, eff. 7-1-16 (see
P.A. 99-485 for the effective date of changes made by P.A.
99-434); 99-485, eff. 11-20-15.)
 
    Section 995. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
Public Act.
 
    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.