Public Act 093-0890
 
SB2360 Enrolled LRB093 20520 NHT 46321 b

    AN ACT concerning schools.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
2-3.25d as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25d)
    Sec. 2-3.25d. Academic early warning and watch status.
    (a) Those schools that do not meet adequate yearly progress
criteria, as specified by the State Board of Education, for 2
consecutive annual calculations, shall be placed on academic
early warning status for the next school year. Schools on
academic early warning status that do not meet adequate yearly
progress criteria for a third annual calculation shall remain
on academic early warning status. Schools on academic early
warning status that do not meet adequate yearly progress
criteria for a fourth annual calculation shall be placed on
initial academic watch status. Schools on academic watch status
that do not meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a fifth
or subsequent annual calculation shall remain on academic watch
status. Schools on academic early warning or academic watch
status that meet adequate yearly progress criteria for one
annual calculation shall be acknowledged for making
improvement and shall maintain their current statuses for the
next school year. Schools on academic early warning or academic
watch status that meet adequate yearly progress criteria for 2
consecutive annual calculations shall be considered as having
met expectations and shall be removed from any status
designation.
    The school district of a school placed on either academic
early warning status or academic watch status may appeal the
status to the State Board of Education in accordance with
Section 2-3.25m of this Code.
    A school district that has one or more schools on academic
early warning or academic watch status shall prepare a revised
School Improvement Plan or amendments thereto setting forth the
district's expectations for removing each school from academic
early warning or academic watch status and for improving
student performance in the affected school or schools.
Districts operating under Article 34 of this Code may prepare
the School Improvement Plan required under Section 34-2.4 of
this Code.
    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that is
initially placed on academic early warning status or that
remains on academic early warning status after a third annual
calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
school's local school council in a district operating under
Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code).
    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school placed on
initial academic watch status after a fourth annual calculation
must be approved by the school board (and by the school's local
school council in a district operating under Article 34 of this
Code, unless the school is on probation pursuant to subsection
(c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code) and the State
Superintendent of Education.
    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that
remains on academic watch status after a fifth annual
calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
school's local school council in a district operating under
Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code) and
the State Superintendent of Education. In addition, the
district must develop a school restructuring plan for the
school that must be approved by the school board (and by the
school's local school council in a district operating under
Article 34 of this Code) and subsequently approved by the State
Superintendent of Education.
    A school on academic watch status that does not meet
adequate yearly progress criteria for a sixth annual
calculation shall implement its approved school restructuring
plan beginning with the next school year, subject to the State
interventions specified in Section 2-3.25f of this Code.
    (b) Those school districts that do not meet adequate yearly
progress criteria, as specified by the State Board of
Education, for 2 consecutive annual calculations, shall be
placed on academic early warning status for the next school
year. Districts on academic early warning status that do not
meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a third annual
calculation shall remain on academic early warning status.
Districts on academic early warning status that do not meet
adequate yearly progress criteria for a fourth annual
calculation shall be placed on initial academic watch status.
Districts on academic watch status that do not meet adequate
yearly progress criteria for a fifth or subsequent annual
calculation shall remain on academic watch status. Districts on
academic early warning or academic watch status that meet
adequate yearly progress criteria for one annual calculation
shall be acknowledged for making improvement and shall maintain
their current statuses for the next school year. Districts on
academic early warning or academic watch status that meet
adequate yearly progress criteria for 2 consecutive annual
calculations shall be considered as having met expectations and
shall be removed from any status designation.
    A district placed on either academic early warning status
or academic watch status may appeal the status to the State
Board of Education in accordance with Section 2-3.25m of this
Code.
    Districts on academic early warning or academic watch
status shall prepare a District Improvement Plan or amendments
thereto setting forth the district's expectations for removing
the district from academic early warning or academic watch
status and for improving student performance in the district.
    The District Improvement Plan for a district that is
initially placed on academic early warning status must be
approved by the school board.
    The revised District Improvement Plan for a district that
remains on academic early warning status after a third annual
calculation must be approved by the school board.
    The revised District Improvement Plan for a district on
initial academic watch status after a fourth annual calculation
must be approved by the school board and the State
Superintendent of Education.
    The revised District Improvement Plan for a district that
remains on academic watch status after a fifth annual
calculation must be approved by the school board and the State
Superintendent of Education. In addition, the district must
develop a district restructuring plan that must be approved by
the school board and the State Superintendent of Education.
    A district on academic watch status that does not meet
adequate yearly progress criteria for a sixth annual
calculation shall implement its approved district
restructuring plan beginning with the next school year, subject
to the State interventions specified in Section 2-3.25f of this
Code.
    (c) All revised School and District Improvement Plans shall
be developed in collaboration with staff in the affected school
or school district. All revised School and District Improvement
Plans shall be developed, submitted, and approved pursuant to
rules adopted by the State Board of Education. The revised
Improvement Plan shall address measurable outcomes for
improving student performance so that such performance meets
adequate yearly progress criteria as specified by the State
Board of Education.
    (d) All federal requirements apply to schools and school
districts utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the
federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
    (e) The State Board of Education, from any moneys it may
have available for this purpose, must implement and administer
a grant program that provides 2-year grants to school districts
on the academic watch list and other school districts that have
the lowest achieving students, as determined by the State Board
of Education, to be used to improve student achievement. In
order to receive a grant under this program, a school district
must establish an accountability program. The accountability
program must involve the use of statewide testing standards and
local evaluation measures. A grant shall be automatically
renewed when achievement goals are met. The Board may adopt any
rules necessary to implement and administer this grant program.
(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/9/2004