HB2527 EngrossedLRB100 10670 MLM 20894 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
53-15.12a as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a new)
7    Sec. 3-15.12a. High school diploma for adult learners.
8    (a) In this Section:
9    "Adult learner" means a person ineligible for reenrollment
10under subsection (b) of Section 26-2 of this Code and 34 CFR
11300.102.
12    "Board" means the Illinois Community College Board.
13    "Eligible applicant" means a non-profit entity in
14partnership with a regional superintendent of schools; the
15chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has
16the authority, under rules adopted by the State Board of
17Education, to issue a high school diploma; or a school district
18organized under Article 34 of this Code.
19    "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the
20Illinois Community College Board.
21    "High school diploma program for adult learners" means a
22program approved to operate under this Section that provides a
23program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the

 

 

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1issuance of a high school diploma.
2    (b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high
3school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by
4the Board prior to implementation. An eligible applicant shall
5include, without limitation, all of the following in the
6application for approval under subsection (c) of this Section:
7        (1) Evidence of an administrative structure, program
8    activities, program staff, a budget, and a specific
9    curriculum that is consistent with Illinois Learning
10    Standards, as well as Illinois content standards for
11    adults, but may be different from a regular school program
12    in terms of location, length of school day, program
13    sequence, multidisciplinary courses, pace, instructional
14    activities, or any combination of these.
15        (2) Evidence or documentation that the program will
16    issue a high school diploma only if an adult learner meets
17    all minimum requirements under this Code and its
18    implementing rules for receipt of a high school diploma.
19        (3) A description of specific academic, behavioral,
20    and emotional support services to be offered to adult
21    learners enrolled in the program.
22        (4) Evidence that the program will offer career and
23    technical education courses that lead to industry
24    certifications in high growth and in-demand industry
25    sectors or dual credit courses from a regionally accredited
26    post-secondary educational institution consistent with the

 

 

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1    Dual Credit Quality Act. The program may include partnering
2    with a community college district to provide career and
3    technical education courses that lead to industry
4    certifications.
5        (5) A description of specific program outcomes and
6    goals and metrics to be used by the program to determine
7    success.
8        (6) An assurance that all instructional staff hold an
9    educator license valid for the high school grades issued
10    under Article 21B of this Code.
11        (7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the
12    Board.
13    (c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high
14school diploma program for adult learners to the Board on forms
15prescribed by the Board.
16        (1) Initial approval shall be for a period not to
17    exceed 2 school years.
18        (2) Renewal of approval shall be for a period not to
19    exceed 4 school years and shall be contingent upon at least
20    specific documented outcomes of student progression,
21    graduation rates, and earning of industry-recognized
22    credentials.
23        (3) Program approval may be given only if the Executive
24    Director determines that the eligible applicant has met the
25    requirements of subsection (b) of this Section and any
26    rules adopted by the Board.

 

 

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1        (4) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the
2    contrary, a non-profit eligible applicant shall provide
3    the following to the Board:
4            (A) documentation that the non-profit entity will
5        fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) of this
6        Section;
7            (B) evidence that the non-profit entity has the
8        capacity to fulfill the requirements of this Section;
9            (C) a description of the coordination and
10        oversight that the eligible entity will provide in the
11        administration of the program by the non-profit
12        entity;
13            (D) evidence that the non-profit entity has a
14        history of providing services to adults 18 years of age
15        or older whose educational and training opportunities
16        have been limited by educational disadvantages,
17        disabilities, and challenges.
18        Funding for the purposes of this paragraph (4) may
19    include federal pass-through revenues, private funding, or
20    other funding sources the non-profit entity secures.
21    (d) The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement
22this Section.
 
23    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
24becoming law.